Transport in polyiodide networks of a self assembled lithium iodide battery

As MEMS devices for biomedical and other applications continue to develop and decrease in dimensions, the demand for power supplies with the appropriate size and energy density continues to grow. Although energy density is an important factor, one of the most crucial factors is the ability to fabricate cells in a variety of shapes so to enable the greatest design flexibility when fabricating a device. Recently [1,2] our group has introduced an electrochemically self formed battery to grant a path towards the greatest flexibility. In short, a nanocomposite of an alkali halide such as lithium iodide is placed between current collectors and polarized thereby creating a lithium anode and polyiodide cathode in-situ. As with primary lithium-iodine cells the transport within the cathode is a complex mechanism involving the Li, F and e all within the polyiodide network. After our recent work on in-situ ETS evaluation of the technology, we have launched on an effort to greater understand the limiting transport mechanisms in the positive electrode as a function of polyiodide network development.