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The chemistry and status of rechargeable molten-salt batteries

Conference · · Proc. - Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6288440

The chemistry and the state of development of rechargeable molten salt cells and batteries of current interest are reviewed in this work. Molten-salt cells offer the most attractive combination of high specific energy (100-200 Wh/kg), high specific power (50-200 W/kg), and long cycle life (300-1500 cycles) of any rechargeable cells under investigation at this time. It is these important features that justify the development and application of cells that have the disadvantages of operation at elevated temperatures, and difficult materials problems. There are two major categories of molten-salt cells: those in which the molten salt is the sole electrolyte, and those in which the molten salt serves as a reactant and as an auxiliary electrolyte (the main electrolyte is a solid). In the first category are such cells as LiAl/LiCl-KCl/FeS, LiAl/LiCl-KCl/FeS/sub 2/, and Li/sub 4/Si/LiCl-KCl/FeS/sub 2/; in the second category are Na/Na/sub 2/O . xAl/sub 2/O/sub 3//Na/sub 2/S /SUB n/ -S, Na/Na/sup +/ glass/Na/sub 2/S /SUB n/ -S, Na/Na/sub 2/O . xAl/sub 2/O/sub 3//SCl/sub 3/AlCl/sub 4/ in NaCl-AlCl/sub 3/, and Li/Li/sub 2/O/LiNO/sub 3/-KNO/sub 3//V/sub 2/O/sub 5/. These cells have operating temperatures ranging from 150 to 475/sup 0/C, and all must be sealed from the atmosphere because of the alkali metal reactants and hydrolytic degradation of molten salt electrolytes.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA
OSTI ID:
6288440
Report Number(s):
CONF-8305100-
Journal Information:
Proc. - Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. - Electrochem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 84-2; ISSN PESOD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English