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Lithium/Sulfur Dioxide Batteries

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Battery Hazards and Accident Prevention

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Abstract

The lithium/sulfur dioxide battery is a high-energy system capable of delivering 320 Wh/kg (520 Wh/liter). The active cathode material is a gas, SO2, which is present at a pressure of ~30 psi at room temperature. All cells, therefore, contain a vent mechanism in the case. Sulfur dioxide is a poisonous gas with an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit of 5 ppm in an 8-h day. Exposure of 100–500 ppm can pose immediate danger to life and health.1,2 The electrolyte solvent, acetonitrile, is a moderately toxic, flammable liquid having a boiling point of 81°C. The lowest published toxic concentration for inhalation by humans is 160 ppm for 4 h.1

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

    Samuel C. Levy

  2. Southwest Electrochemical Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

    Per Bro

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© 1994 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Levy, S.C., Bro, P. (1994). Lithium/Sulfur Dioxide Batteries. In: Battery Hazards and Accident Prevention. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1459-0_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1459-0_11

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1461-3

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