Cathodes for molten salt batteries

Carbon-based chlorine cathodes were evaluated in molten-salt rechargeable lithium water-stack-type cells. Chlorine-based cathodes having open-circuit voltages (OCVs) of 2.8-3.3 V were investigated for their high rate capability. Carbon cathodes augmented with thermally and electrochemically stable additives demonstrated good performance with 2-in-diameter stacked-wafer configuration cells. Specific cathode capacities of 0.17-0.21 Ah/g at current densities of 124-248 mA/cm² were observed. Pulse power levels of 1.5-2 W/cm² were observed for pulses of 3.5 s and 8 s durations at current densities of 0.6-1.0 A/cm². Performance projection to the system level indicates a specific energy of 145 kJ/kg and and an energy density of 248 kJ/L for the 8 s duration pulses with a 2 s period between pulses