Page 333 - Lindens Handbook of Batteries

CHAPTER 14

LITHIUM PRIMARY BATTERIES

Thomas B. Reddy

14.1 GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

Lithium metal is attractive as a battery anode material because of its light weight, high voltage, high
electrochemical equivalence, and good conductivity. Because of these outstanding features, the use
of lithium has dominated the development of high-performance primary batteries during the last
three decades. (Chapters 26 and 27 cover lithium secondary batteries.) 1
Serious development of high-energy-density battery systems was started in the 1960s and con-
centrated on nonaqueous primary batteries using lithium as the anode. The lithium batteries were
first used in the early 1970s in selected military applications, but their use was limited as suitable
cell designs, formulations, and safety considerations had to be resolved. Lithium primary cells and
batteries have since been designed, using a number of different chemistries, in a variety of sizes and
configurations. Sizes range from less than 5 mAh to 10,000 Ah; configurations range from small
coin and cylindrical cells for memory backup and portable applications to large prismatic cells for
standby power.
Lithium primary batteries, with their outstanding performance and characteristics, are being
used in increasing quantities in a variety of applications, including cameras, memory backup cir-
cuits, security devices, calculators, watches, etc. Nevertheless, lithium primary batteries have not
attained a major share of the market as was anticipated, because of their high initial cost, concerns
with safety, the advances made with competitive systems, and the cost-effectiveness of the alkaline/
manganese battery. Worldwide sales of lithium primary batteries for 2009 have been estimated at
$1.3 billion. 2

14.1.1 Advantages of Lithium Cells

Primary cells using lithium anodes have many advantages over conventional batteries. The advanta-
geous features include the following:
1. High voltage. Lithium batteries have voltages up to about 4 V, depending on the cathode mate-
rial, compared with 1.5 V for most other primary battery systems. The higher voltage reduces the
number of cells in a battery pack by a factor of at least 2.
2. High specific energy and energy density. The energy output of a lithium battery (up to 870 Wh/kg
and 1180 Wh/L) is 2 to 5 times better than that of conventional zinc anode batteries.
3. Operation over a wide temperature range. Many of the lithium batteries will perform over a
temperature range from about 70 to -40°C, with some capable of performance to 150°C or as low
as -80°C.

14.1