Alkali metal, sulfur battery or cell with single phase sulfur electrode. [additive to cathodic reactant to improve charge/discharge capacity]
This invention concerns an improved secondary battery or cell of the type having one or more anodic reaction zones containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit, one or more cathodic reaction zones, and a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transport interposed between and in contact with the anodic and cathodic reaction zones. The cathodic reaction zone(s) contains a cathodic reactant and an electrode of porous conductive material which is at least partially immersed in the cathodic reactant. When the battery or cell is in the theoretically fully charged state, the cathodic reactant consists of sulfur; when it is at least partially discharged, the reactant consists of a composition comprising a molten polysulfide salt of the anodic reactant or a composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur-saturated polysulfide salts of the anodic reactant. The above-mentioned porous, conductive material is in electrical contact with both the cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit. The improvement comprises increasing the charge/discharge capacity of the battery or cell by dissolving in the cathodic reactant an additive which comprises either an element which will react with molten sulfur to form a polysulfide salt which is soluble in and forms a liquid solution with both sulfur and alkali metal polysulfide salts or a polysulfide salt of the element which is soluble in and forms a liquid solution with both sulfur and alkali metal polysulfide salts. 1 figure.
- Assignee:
- Ford Motor Co.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4002807
- OSTI ID:
- 7318804
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
250903* -- Energy Storage-- Batteries-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
ADDITIVES
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALI METALS
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ARSENIC
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIC SULFIDES
CATHODES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORUS SULFIDES
SEMIMETALS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM OXIDES
SODIUM SULFIDES
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS