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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Secondary battery or cell. [additive to cathodic reactant to improve charge/discharge capacity]

Patent ·
OSTI ID:7318810
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 reation 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 single-phase composition comprising a molten polysulfide salt of the anodic reactant or a two-phase 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 including in the cathodic reactant controlled amounts of certain metals, alloys comprising such metals, salts of these metals, and oxides of these metals. 4 figures, 1 table.
Assignee:
Ford Motor Co.
Patent Number(s):
US 4002806
OSTI ID:
7318810
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English