Energizer's Lithium Iron Disulfide Commercial Batteries: Continuous Service Improvement Enabled by a Dedicated Focus on Safety and Reliability

摘要

Energizer has produced an AA lithium iron disulfide (LiFeS_2) cell for consumer use since 1990. Since 1998, significant changes have been made in manufacturing techniques, scale of production, and product design, which resulted in improved cell performance and cost reduction. All of these factors have necessitated a drive towards change based on an enhanced understanding of material properties, production processes, and electrochemical fundamentals with a strong focus on design intent. Our manufacturing approach places an emphasis on quality at the source, and effectively utilizes sensors and feedback loops to ensure product consistency. As a result of these efforts, the FR06 battery provides the highest specific and volumetric energy density of any commercial primary or secondary AA battery, regardless of chemistry, based on a 200mA rating drain. Energies in excess of 300 Wh/Kg and 600 Wh/1 have been demonstrated. A balance of performance, safety, and reliability objectives have been achieved based on: identifying the critical properties of separators, understanding pyrite particle size interactions with safety and rate capability, establishing models that predict and confirm the volumetric solids expansion that occurs during pyrite reduction, and understanding how this defines the minimum level of void within the jellyroll.