Methods for extending the cycle life of solid, secondary electrolytic cells during recharge of the electrolytic cells

Claim 1

A method for extending the cycle life of an electrolytic cell comprising a lithium anode, a cathode comprising recyclable cathodic material which provides for an electrolytic cell potential after fabrication of at least 2.0 volts when used in combination with the lithium anode, and a solid, single-phase, solvent-containing electrolyte which comprises a solid polymeric matrix, an alkali salt, and an electrolytic solvent, wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, which method comprises: (a) charging the electrolytic cell in ifs discharged state at a rate of from at least about 0. 1 to about 0.5 milliamp per square centimeter until the potential of the cell increases by at least 0.5 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell; b) interrupting charging procedure (a) and conducting a high magnitude discharge on said cell of from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes in duration; and (c) reestablishing and maintaining the charging ram of charging procedure (a) until the potential of the electrolytic cell increases by at least 0.6 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell prior to recharging step (a).

Claim 2

A method for extending the cycle life of an electrolytic cell comprising a lithium anode, a cathode comprising recyclable cathodic material which provides for an electrolytic cell potential after fabrication of at least 2.0 volts when used in combination with the lithium anode, and a solid, single-phase, solvent-containing electrolyte which comprises a solid polymeric matrix, an alkali salt, and an electrolytic solvent, wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, which method comprises: (a) charging the electrolytic cell in ifs discharged state at a rate of from at least about 0. 1 to about 0.5 milliamp per square centimeter until the potential of the cell increases by at least 0.5 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell; b) interrupting charging procedure (a) and conducting a high magnitude discharge on said cell of from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes in duration; and (c) reestablishing and maintaining the charging ram of charging procedure (a) until the potential of the electrolytic cell increases by at least 0.6 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell prior to recharging step (a).

Claim 13

A method for extending the cycle life of an electrolytic cell comprising a lithium anode, a cathode comprising a vanadium oxide selected from the group consisting of V 6 O 13 , V 2 O 5 , and LiV 3 O 8 and a solid, single-phase, solvent-containing electrolyte which comprises a solid polymeric matrix, an alkali salt, and an electrolytic solvent, wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, which method comprises: (a) charging the electrolytic cell in its discharged state at a rate of from at least about 0.1 to about 0.5 milliamp per square centimeter until the potential of the cell increases by at least 0.5 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell; (b) interrupting charging procedure (a) and conducting a high magnitude discharge at a rate of at least 15 milliamps per cm 2 on said cell of from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes in duration; and (c) reestablishing and maintaining the charging rate of charging procedure (a) until the potential of the electrolytic cell increases by at least 0. 1 volts as compared to the potential of the cell after charging procedure step (a).

Claim 14

A method for extending the cycle life of an electrolytic cell comprising a lithium anode, a cathode comprising a vanadium oxide selected from the group consisting of V 6 O 13 , V 2 O 5 , and LiV 3 O 8 and a solid, single-phase, solvent-containing electrolyte which comprises a solid polymeric matrix, an alkali salt, and an electrolytic solvent, wherein the electrolyte is interposed between the anode and the cathode, which method comprises: (a) charging the electrolytic cell in its discharged state at a rate of from at least about 0.1 to about 0.5 milliamp per square centimeter until the potential of the cell increases by at least 0.5 volts as compared to the potential of the discharged cell; (b) interrupting charging procedure (a) and conducting a high magnitude discharge at a rate of at least 15 milliamps per cm 2 on said cell of from about 10 seconds to 2 minutes in duration; and (c) reestablishing and maintaining the charging rate of charging procedure (a) until the potential of the electrolytic cell increases by at least 0. 1 volts as compared to the potential of the cell after charging procedure step (a).