Porous carbonaceous electrode structure and method for secondary electrochemical cell
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorThomas D. Kaun
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Abstract
Positive and negative electrodes are provided as rigid, porous carbonaceous matrices with particulate active material fixedly embedded. Active material such as metal chalcogenides, solid alloys of alkali metal or alkaline earth metals along with other metals and their oxides in particulate form are blended with a thermosetting resin and a solid volatile to form a paste mixture. Various electrically conductive powders or current collector structures can be blended or embedded into the paste mixture which can be molded to the desired electrode shape. The molded paste is heated to a temperature at which the volatile transforms into vapor to impart porosity as the resin begins to cure into a rigid solid structure.
Claims16
An improved electrode for use in a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell including a molten salt electrolyte, said electrode comprises a solid, porous matrix of thermosetting, carbonaceous material of about 50-65% porosity having solid particles of metal sulfide selected from the group consisting of sulfides of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper, fixedly embedded therein in a generally uniform distribution and exposed to interstitial volume within said porous matrix.
A paste composition for forming an electrode for use in a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell, said paste composition comprising a thermosetting material in liquid form, particulate active material and solid volatile in a generally uniform mixture, said particulate active material being selected from the group consisting of sulfides of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper and said solid volatile being about 50-65% of the total volume of paste constituents.
A method of preparing an electrode including a particulate active material selected from the group consisting of sulfides of iron, cobalt, nickel and copper for use in a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell, said method comprising blending thermosetting carbonaceous material in liquid form with the particulate active material and solid volatile to form a generally uniform paste, said solid volatile being provided in sufficient amount to be about 50-65% of the total volume of paste constituents;
- and heating said paste to transform said volatile to vapor and to cure said thermosetting, carbonaceous material into a rigid, porous matrix containing said active material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.