Rechargeable Lithium Batteries [and Discussion]

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences Vol. 354; no. 1712; pp. 1577 - 1594
• Main Authors: Bruce, Peter G., Cahn, R., Bagshaw, N. E., Hamnett, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 15-07-1996
• Subjects: Carbon; Cathodes; Dry cells; Electric potential; Electrochemical cells; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Lithium; Lithium batteries; Materials
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.1996.0066

Much of materials electrochemistry represents a fusion of solid-state chemistry and electrochemistry. The commercial success
of the world's first rechargeable lithium battery, introduced recently by Sony, is a triumph of materials electrochemistry.
By developing radically new anodes, cathodes and electrolytes, a cell has been produced which can store three times the energy
per unit weight and volume compared with conventional systems. This represents a revolution in battery technology. The Sony
cell was developed in response to a demand from consumer electronic products such as camcorders. The future development of
such products, e.g. mobile telephones and lap-top computers, of biomedical devices, such as the artificial heart, and of electric
vehicles, is crucially dependent on developing advanced batteries. The markets for many of these devices are vast. The Sony
cell is based on the rocking-chair concept and is composed of a carbon anode, LiCoO$_{2}$ cathode and non-aqueous electrolyte.
The advantages and disadvantages of the rocking-chair battery will be compared with those of the rechargeable lithium battery
based on a lithium-metal anode. The Sony cell represents merely a first-generation lithium system. Future substantial improvements
in performance will also rely on innovative materials electrochemistry. The search for new intercalation cathodes which can
offer advantages compared with LiCoO$_{2}$ are discussed. In particular, the development of new 3 and 4 V cathodes, based
on LiMn$_{2}$O$_{4}$ spinel materials, is presented. These materials have a number of important advantages which make them
attractive as the basis for a new generation of rechargeable lithium batteries. The new synthetic routes to the spinel materials
are described, as are the structures, microstructures and electrochemical performance of these materials.