Abstract:
A non-aqueous, primary battery having an electrolytic solution consisting essentially of an organic solvent containing an electrolyte salt, a separator, a light metal anode and a blended cathode mix comprising a mixture of silver chromate and a metallic phosphate having a discharge potential in the electrolyte solution higher than silver chromate. The battery preferably has a lithium anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte consisting essentially of methyl formate solvent containing lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF. sub. 6) which provides a single voltage plateau for the discharge of silver. Silver phosphate is the preferred metallic phosphate having a discharge potential in the electrolytic solution higher than silver chromate for the silver cation contributes to the capacity of the cell. The electrochemical system of this invention is particularly useful in small primary batteries commonly referred to as "button cells" due to its high volumetric energy density, retention of cell dimensions, and improvement of the rate of discharge characteristic of the silver chromate.