Lithium/organosulfur redox cell having protective solid electrolyte barrier formed on anode and method of making same

A lithium/organosulfur redox cell capable of operating at ambient temperatures comprising:

• (a) a solid lithium anode formed from a material selected from the class consisting of elemental lithium and one or more lithium base alloys or mixtures thereof;
• (b) a liquid organosulfur cathode having the formula of (R(S).sub.Y).sub.N where y=1 to 6, n=2 to 20, and R is one or more different aliphatic or aromatic organic moieties having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may include one or more oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or fluorine atoms associated with the chain when R comprises an aliphatic chain, wherein the linear chain may be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, and wherein either the aliphatic chain or the aromatic ring may have substituted groups thereon;
• and
• (c) a barrier layer formed adjacent a surface of said solid lithium anode consisting of a reaction product of said solid lithium anode with said liquid organosulfur cathode.

A method of forming a lithium/organosulfur redox cell having a solid lithium anode and a liquid organosulfur cathode with a barrier layer formed adjacent a surface of said anode facing said cathode which comprises:

• (a) providing a solid lithium anode formed from a material selected from the class consisting of elemental lithium and one or more lithium base alloys comprising over 50 wt.% lithium or mixtures thereof;
• (b) providing a liquid organosulfur cathode having the formula (R(S).sub.Y).sub.N where y=1 to 6, n=2 to 20, and R is one or more different aliphatic or aromatic organic moieties having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, which may include one or more oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, or fluorine atoms associated with the chain when R comprises an aliphatic chain, wherein the linear chain may be linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, and wherein either the aliphatic chain or the aromatic ring may have substituted groups thereon;
• and
• (c) contacting said solid lithium anode with said liquid organosulfur cathode to form a barrier layer adjacent a surface of said solid lithium anode facing said liquid organosulfur cathode.