High discharge capacity lithium battery using a pH raising additive

摘要

A high capacity electrochemical battery cell is disclosed. More particularly a cell having a lithium negative electrode and an iron disulphide positive electrode. Before use in the cell, the iron disulphide has an inherent pH, or a mixture of iron disulphide and an pH raising additive compound have a calculated pH, of at least a predetermined minimum pH value. In a preferred embodiment, the pH raising additive compound comprises a Group IIA element of the Periodic Table of the Elements, or an acid scavenger or pH control agent such as an organic amine, cycloaliphatic epoxy, amino alcohol or over-based calcium sulphonate. In one embodiment, the iron disulphide particles utilized in the cell have a specific reduced average particle size range. Methods for preparing cathodes and electrochemical battery cells comprising such cathodes including (a) iron disulphide or (b) a mixture of iron disulphide and the pH raising additive compound, having (a) an inherent pH or (b) a calculated pH greater than or equal to a predetermined minimum value are disclosed.