Secondary battery or cell with dual electrode. [alkali metal/S, usually Na/S]

Patent · Tue Oct 12 00:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7325238

Ludwig, F A

An improved secondary battery or cell has the following characteristics: 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 containing a cathodic reactant which, when the battery or cell is at least partially discharged, are selected from the group consisting of a single-phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of the anodic reactant and a two-phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur-saturated polysulfide salts of the anodic reactant; a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with the anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and electrode means within the cathodic reaction zone for transporting electrons to the vicinity of the cation-permeable barrier during discharge and for transporting electrons away from the vicinity of the barrier during charge, the electrode being in contact with both cation-permeable barrier and external circuit and being immersed, at least in part, in the cathodic reactant. The improvement of the invention comprises an electrode means which comprises first and second electrodes. The first electrode is adapted to be used in charging the battery or cell, disposed in a first region of the cathodic reaction zone, contiguous with or adjacent to a first section of the cation-permeable barrier, and formed of a conductive material which is more readily wet by molten polysulfide than by molten sulfur. The second electrode is adapted to be used in discharging the battery or cell, disposed in a second region of the cathodic reaction zone, contiguous with or adjacent to a second portion of the cation-permeable barrier, and formed of a material which is more readily wettable by molten sulfur than by molten polysulfide.

• Assignee: Ford Motor Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3985575
• OSTI ID: 7325238
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 30 Jan 1976
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
METAL-NONMETAL BATTERIES
DESIGN
OFF-PEAK ENERGY STORAGE
SODIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
CATHODES
ALKALI METALS
LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERIES
SULFIDES
SULFUR
CHALCOGENIDES
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS
METALS
NONMETALS
STORAGE
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
250901* - Energy Storage- Batteries- Design & Development
250903 - Energy Storage- Batteries- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries