Composition and Manufacturing Effects on Electrical Conductivity of Li/FeS2 Thermal Battery Cathodes. Issue 8 (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reinholz, Emilee L.; Roberts, Scott A.; Apblett, Christopher A.; Lechman, Jeremy B.; Schunk, P. Randall
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 163:Issue 8(2016)
• Page Start: A1723
• Page End: A1729
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: cathodes -- electrical conductivity -- FeS2 -- finite element method -- mesoscale simulations -- microcomputed tomography -- molten salt batteries -- processing -- pyrite -- thermal batteries; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/2.1191608jes
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : Electrical conductivity is key to the performance of thermal battery cathodes. In this work we present the effects of manufacturing and processing conditions on the electrical conductivity of Li/FeS2 thermal battery cathodes. We use finite element simulations to compute the conductivity of three-dimensional microcomputed tomography cathode microstructures and compare results to experimental impedance spectroscopy measurements. A regression analysis reveals a predictive relationship between composition, processing conditions, and electrical conductivity; a trend which is largely erased after thermally-induced deformation. The trend applies to both experimental and simulation results, although is not as apparent in simulations. This research is a step toward a more fundamental understanding of the effects of processing and composition on thermal battery component microstructure, properties, and performance.