 Solution

This is a primary cell and should not be treated as rechargeable. Discharge converts the fluorinated-carbon electrode into carbon and lithium fluoride. It does not simply insert lithium into a host that can be reversibly deintercalated. Reversing electric current does not cleanly reconstruct the original distributed C–F bonding and electrode microstructure.

Insulating LiF, loss of the original reaction interfaces and unwanted electrolyte reactions obstruct reversibility. Replating lithium can also produce an irregular metallic deposit and internal shorting. A thermodynamically possible formal reverse reaction is therefore not evidence of a practical rechargeable cell.