Metallization pattern on solid electrolyte or porous support of sodium battery process
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsJin Yong Kim, Guosheng Li, Xiaochuan Lu, Vincent L. Sprenkle, John P. Lemmon
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Abstract
A new battery configuration and process are detailed. The battery cell includes a solid electrolyte configured with an engineered metallization layer that distributes sodium across the surface of the electrolyte extending the active area of the cathode in contact with the anode during operation. The metallization layer enhances performance, efficiency, and capacity of sodium batteries at intermediate temperatures at or below about 200° C.
Claims29
A sodium-conducting solid electrolyte for a sodium battery, comprising:
- an engineered metallization layer that defines an electrically conducting pattern disposed on a surface of the sodium-conducting solid electrolyte with features engineered to be filled with sodium metal from a sodium metal-forming anode during operation that form distinct metal islands across the surface of the solid electrolyte, the metallization layer expands the active area of a cathode in electrical communication with the anode via the solid electrolyte compared with the battery absent the metallization layer.
A sodium battery, comprising:
- a sodium-conducting solid electrolyte having an engineered metallization layer that defines an electrically conducting pattern on a surface thereof, the electrically conducting pattern includes features engineered to be filled with sodium metal from a sodium metal-forming anode that forms distinct metal islands across the surface of the solid electrolyte during operation, the metallization layer expands the active area of a cathode in electrical communication with the anode via the solid electrolyte compared with a battery absent the metallization layer.
A sodium battery, comprising:
- an engineered metallization layer that defines an electrically conducting pattern disposed on a surface of the sodium-conducting solid electrolyte selected from the group consisting of:
- a beta double-prime alumina [(β″)-alumina], a sodium-conductive ceramic, a super-ionic conductor, Na3Zr2Si2PO12, and combinations thereof, with features engineered to be filled with sodium metal from a sodium metal-forming anode during operation that form distinct metal islands across the surface of the solid electrolyte, the metallization layer expands the active area of a cathode in electrical communication with the anode via the solid electrolyte compared with the battery absent the metallization layer.
A method for fabricating a sodium battery, comprising the step of:
- introducing an engineered metallization layer on the surface of a solid electrolyte operatively disposed in the sodium battery, the metallization layer defining an electrically conducting pattern with features engineered to be filled with sodium metal from a sodium metal-forming anode during operation forming distinct metal islands across the surface of the solid electrolyte that expands the active area of a cathode in electrical communication with the anode via the solid electrolyte compared with the battery absent the engineered metallization layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.