Secondary battery or cell with composite electrode. [separate portions of electrode optimized for charging and discharging]

Patent · Mon Nov 22 23:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7328872

Ludwig, F A

An improved secondary battery or cell has 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 transfer interposed between and in contact with the anodic and cathodic reaction zones. The cathodic reaction zone(s) contains a cathodic reactant and an electrode which is at least partially filled with the cathodic reactant. The electrode is in electrical contact with both the cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit. When the battery or cell is at least partially discharged, the above-mentioned cathodic reactant consists of either a single-phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of the anodic reactant or a two-phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur-saturated polysulfide salts of the anodic reactant. The improvement comprises a composite electrode comprising at least one first portion of porous conductive material which is more readily wet by molten polysulfide than by molten sulfur and at least one second portion of porous conductive material which is more readily wet by molten sulfur than by molten polysulfide. 6 figures.

• Assignee: Ford Motor Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3993503
• OSTI ID: 7328872
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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