DAY 4 Charging Up

Today we learnt more about making batteries.

Our mentor used the membrane produced on DAY 3 for the separator of the battery, which serves a dual purpose that will be explained later. Here you can see him cutting it to fit the shape of the electrodes.

This is the glove box, which our mentor used to prepare the separator cum electrolyte. The electrolyte used consists of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) mixed with equal ratios of ethylene carbonate and diethyl carbonate. In the glove box, the separator membrane is soaked in the electrolyte. This prevents unwanted leakage of electrolyte under normal physical pressure. All this takes place in a glove box, which contains very little moisture and oxygen, to prevent unwanted reactions.

Vacuum Indication Mini Antechamber - used for transfering items into and out of the glovebox.

Tank of argon gas connected to the glove box. The glove box is filled with argon gas, to provide an inert atmosphere for safe handling of reactive materials within the box.

The final product is this flat battery.