Liquid metal electrodes in secondary batteries. [Review of developments in batteries of various types]

Conference · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7186197

Steunenberg, R K

Among the liquid metals that might be considered for use as electrode materials in high-performance secondary (electrically rechargeable) batteries, lithium and sodium show the greatest promise because of their low equivalent weight, electronegativity, resistivity, and polarization. Much of the early work on molten alkali metals in electrochemical cells was directed toward the development of thermally regenerative cells for the direct conversion of heat to electrical energy. The more recent work, however, has been aimed at the use of these metals in high-performance secondary batteries for electric automobiles or load leveling in electric utility systems. Most of the earlier work on cells having liquid lithium negative electrodes employed chlorine, sulfur, or other strongly electronegative materials as the positive electrode, with a molten-salt electrolyte. However, the present effort is directed mainly toward cells with solid lithium alloy (e.g., Li--Al, Li--Si) negative electrodes and metal sulfide positive electrodes. The current research and development work on sodium-electrode batteries involves a liquid sodium electrode; a solid, ion-conducting electrolyte; and a liquid sulfur or metal chloride positive electrode. Both types of systems show promise for the electric automobile and load-leveling applications. 4 tables.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., Ill. (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 7186197
• Report Number(s): CONF-760503-10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250901 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Design & Development
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
AUTOMOBILES
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
LITHIUM-CHLORINE BATTERIES
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
METAL-METAL BATTERIES
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
STORAGE
VEHICLES