Nano-FeS[sub 2] for Commercial Li/FeS[sub 2] Primary Batteries

The rate capability of lithium cells containing a nano- pyrite sample was compared to that of micrometer-sized under an active material loading equivalent to that of commercial lithium battery electrodes. The nano- sample had an average particle size of 0.5 μm and each particle consisted of nano- crystals on the order of 50 nm. The rate capability of nano- was superior to that of the electrodes with an average crystal size of 10 μm but no improvement was found relative to the electrodes having an average crystal size of 1 μm. The rate capability of commercial batteries may be limited by the ion conductivity of the electrolyte when samples have crystal sizes smaller than 1 μm. © 2002 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.