Improved beta-alumina electrolytes for advanced storage batteries. Progress report, September 1980

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6133293· OSTI ID:6133293

DeJonghe, L. C.

Beta batteries, using sodium-beta alumina solid electrolytes as an ion permeable separator between molten sodium metal and sodium polysulphide storage electrodes, continue to be technologically and economically promising systems for load leveling and for vehicle propulsion. While significant progress is being made towards developing reliable systems, a number of fundamental factors relating to durability remain poorly understood. A determining factor in the ultimate viability of the system is the lifetime of the solid electrolyte upon cell cycling. One of the problems is that a variety of electrolyte degradation processes may take place simultaneously, and that actual cell lifetime testing can take up to several years per cell. Systematic cell lifetime tests are therefore very costly. The objective of this research project is to determine the mechanisms of electrochemical failure initiation and propagation for polycrystalline Na-..beta.. alumina tubes used for the advanced storage beta batteries that are currently under development. Of particular interest is the definition of those factors that contribute adversely to slow, in-cell electrolyte degradation or to rapid failure. Progress is reported.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 6133293
• Report Number(s): LBL-12357; ON: DE81028118
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
FAILURES
MICROSTRUCTURE
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
SOLID ELECTROLYTES
ACOUSTIC EMISSION TESTING
BATTERY SEPARATORS
CRACKS
CURRENT DENSITY
FRACTURING
GRAIN SIZE
MONOCRYSTALS
PLATING
POLYCRYSTALS
PRECIPITATION
SERVICE LIFE
SODIUM
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
TUBES
ACOUSTIC TESTING
ALKALI METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
COMMINUTION
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DEPOSITION
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ELEMENTS
MATERIALS TESTING
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
METALS
MICROSCOPY
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SIZE
SURFACE COATING
TESTING
250903* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
360203 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Mechanical Properties
360202 - Ceramics
Cermets
& Refractories- Structure & Phase Studies