A sulfate/sulfide based rechargeable battery and uses thereof

A rechargeable battery having a solid-state device for oxygen storage and release, the rechargeable battery comprising:

• a gas-tight shell that contains or is made in its entirety of an oxygen-ion conducting electrolyte and defines a contained volume;
• an oxygen storage material consisting of a sulfate/sulfide redox couple, contained in said contained volume;
• a first electrode in contact with said electrolyte on a first side and in contact with said contained volume;
• a second electrode in contact with said electrolyte on a second side of the electrolyte and in contact with an oxygen containing atmosphere;
• an electrical contact made with each electrode;
• wherein the electrodes are selected from an electronically conducting material;
• wherein the oxygen exchanged with the atmosphere outside the gas tight container, may or may not be involved in further chemical reactions or be utilised as a source of pure oxygen;
• wherein the oxygen storage material is selected from a list consisting of the following elements:
• gadolinium, lanthanum, cerium, neodymium, samarium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, holmium, terbium, ytterbium, yttrium, scandium, lutetium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, lithium, sodium, potassium, and combinations thereof;
• and wherein the oxygen storage material is sealed inside the shell, and wherein the electrolyte membrane is an oxide-ion conducting ceramic comprising CeO2, ZrO2, LaGaO3, or mixtures thereof.