Electrochemical cells

#The U.S. Energy Information Agency projects a 48% increase in world energy consumption by 2041 and global industries are rapidly adapting to these new opportunities. At the center of their efforts is the demand for a new battery that is more efficient, more environmentally friendly, more affordable and more convenient. The Department of Defense has stated a goal of generating 25% of its energy from renewable sources by the year 2025. Additionally, the military must have readily available sources of hydrogen when fielding stealthy fuel-cell powered vehicles.

#Liquid batteries, whether flow or no-flow, are known in the art and work on the same principles as solid batteries, except the electrolyte is liquid. Such batteries are comprised of electrochemical cells which are based on reduction-oxidation chemistry. Oxidation occurs on the anode side of the cell and reduction on the cathode side. The solvents used in electrochemical cells are varied. In many circumstances, aqueous solutions are used on both sides of an electrochemical cell with each side (cathode side and anode side) in contact with an electrode (i.e., the cathode and anode respectively). The electrodes of the two-half cells are placed in electrical contact to allow for current to flow. To maintain charge balance, an electrochemical cell must also allow for the passage of ions. In some batteries, this is done with a salt bridge separating the cathode solution from the anode solution. The bridge prevents mixing of the two solutions. The prior art teaches that if the solutions were to mix, the half-cells could be destroyed by direct chemical reaction.

#Some electrochemical cells deploy membranes or salt bridges to prevent shorting and to separate multiple electrolyte solutions. Such membranes are costly and readily degrade over time. WO2017/106215 reports electrochemical cells which may be used in the absence of membranes and which use two or more immiscible electrolytes.

#The accompanying figures constitute a part of this disclosure. The figures serve to provide a further understanding of certain exemplary embodiments. The disclosure and claims are not limited to embodiments illustrated in the figures.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic of one embodiment of electrochemical cells of the disclosure.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic of one embodiment of an electrochemical battery of the disclosure.

#Various embodiments will now be explained in greater detail. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of this disclosure or of the claims. Any discussion of certain embodiments or features, including those depicted in the figures, serve to illustrate certain exemplary aspects of the disclosure. The disclosure and claims are not limited to the embodiments specifically discussed herein or illustrated in the figures.

#Embodiments of the disclosure include electrochemical cells and batteries that can operate with a single electrolyte solution. Such cells and batteries do not require multiple electrolyte solutions separated by a membrane, by a salt bridge or by other techniques. In one such embodiment, an electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode current collector and a porous, non-conductive spacer between the anode and the cathode current collector is provided.

#The electrochemical cells of the disclosure, including this embodiment and other embodiments of electrochemical cells described herein, may be used to form batteries to supply electricity, hydrogen, or both to applications. Electrical applications include, for example, grid applications such as cell phone tower backup power or backup power for wind farms or solar farms. The electricity could also be used to power vehicles, household appliances, consumer goods or toys. When configured to run to produce hydrogen, the hydrogen may be delivered to an application such as a fuel cell for electricity production or a vehicle or to, for example, an engine or furnace for burning. The electrochemical cells may be configured such that electricity is primarily delivered, hydrogen is primarily delivered, or both are delivered in various ratios. In some embodiments, the cells and batteries of the disclosure run in flow mode in that electrolyte is added to the cell or battery and then removed after use, thereby replenishing the supply of electrolyte to the cell or battery. When run in hydrogen mode, electricity mode, or combination of hydrogen and electricity, the batteries of the disclosure may be configured to power a number of different devices such as electric vehicles and other electric devices. Examples of such vehicles include scooters, motorized grocery cars, battery backups, forklifts, trucks, passenger cars, lift trucks, motorcycles, fork trucks, planes, boats, quads, tractors and other industrial and agricultural vehicles. The hydrogen from the batteries of the disclosure can be delivered to a fuel cell which generates electricity for a motor for vehicle transport. The electricity from the batteries of the disclosure may be used to power the fuel cell controller and/or power other vehicle electronics such as an electric motor.