Record Details

A liquid sulfur dioxide battery

ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

Field Value
Title A liquid sulfur dioxide battery
Names Schaer, Michael Jon (creator)
Meredith, Robert (advisor)
Date Issued 1964-12-16 (iso8601)
Note Graduation date: 1965
Abstract A liquid sulfur dioxide battery, such as K/KCl SbCl₅ (0.25
molar) + IBr₃ (15 %wt) + SO₂ (1)/carbon matrix is shown to have an
open circuit voltage greater than 3.70 volts and an initial voltage of
3.15 volts, decreasing to 2.40 volts in 10 minutes at a current density
of 20 ma./sq. cm. at a temperature of 20°C. The anode and cathode
are in a parallel arrangement and are separated by a distance of
0.15 cm. thus simulating the actual conditions in a wafer type battery.
The battery cell is tested at four temperatures in the range
20°C to -44°C. The performance decreases at the lower temperatures.
The individual types of polarization, such as activation, concentration,
and IR drop are isolated. Activation polarization is evaluated
for the Br°-Br⁻ cathode and the Zn⁰-Zn⁺⁺ anode by the double
pulse galvanostatic method. The rate constant, k[subscript s], for the Br⁰-Br⁻ reaction
is evaluated to be 0.23 cm./sec. at -20°C. Concentration
polarization is mathematically shown to be very small at the current
densities studied (less than 100 millivolts at 20 ma./sq. cm.). The
IR drop in the electrolyte contributes appreciably to the total polarization
of the cell. However, the largest single factor in the total
polarization of the cell is the corrosion film formed on the anode surface
by the reaction of the anode with the liquid sulfur dioxide electrolyte.
Oxidizing agents, such as water, anhydrous ferric chloride,
and anhydrous antimony pentachloride appear to alleviate this polarization.
somewhat.
Polarization data are tabulated for the dissolution of zinc, magnesium,
calcium, lithium, sodium, and potassium. Data are also
tabulated for the reduction of IBr₃ on porous stainless steel, flat
stainless steel, and a porous carbon matrix.
Genre Thesis/Dissertation
Topic Electric batteries
Identifier http://hdl.handle.net/1957/48441

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