Binding Li to Cu strips

[seanof1]

Is there a way to bind Li foil to Cu Foil? I have been handed a project (small lithium battery) where I am working in a Ar enviroment glove box. The Li keeps moving off the Cu strips and I have not been able to to produce a small Li battery. Can I use a flux, or is there another binder that would be better. Will it require a crucible to melt the the Li at 180*c and dip the strips in or could it be done with a cold slury of some sort and allowed to dri.

 

[metman]

I don’t understand what you mean by moving off. How are you trying to attach the Li foil? Are attempting to diffusion bond it by heating or what is the process? I understand the Argon atmosphere because Li is very reactive with O2 (air).

What is the Cu thickness and how thick does the Li coating need to be?

I would try melting the Li in a ceramic crucible obviously not because of temperature but to preclude alloying the Li with a metal or alloy crucible. And then dip the Cu as you suggest

If the Cu foil can be thick enough, you could machine or stamp a pocket into the Cu then use the Cu as a crucible to melt the Li directly with hopes of bonding. But I think you will very likely require a flux as you suggest. You might get some help with flux from Handy and Harmon Company. Also you might need to use a dry Hydrogen atmosphere instead of Argon in which case you will need a sealed retort but (for SAFETY purge with Argon or Nitrogen gas before) purging with Hydrogen.

Is it possible to electroplate the Li onto the Cu?


Design for RELIABILITY, manufacturability, and maintainability

 

[TomDOT]

Does the copper absolutely need to be a foil? When I was doing lithium battery research for a summer in 1991 at the NSWC, I just pressed the lithium strip onto a platinum mesh (with a lead attached to the mesh.) Lithium was soft enough that this was quite sufficient bonding to build the cells. Should work just as well with a copper mesh.

We had a very simple small mechanical press (simple lever, stainless blocks, hinge/pivot point) in the glove box to do the pressing. Quick and easy.

 

[Metalhead97]

seanof1,

Your not going to get Li strip to metallurgically bond with Cu strip unless you remove the passive oxide films on the surface. As TomDOT recommended, use a copper mesh as a scaffold for the Li.

MH

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