Wick-and-pool electrodes for electrochemical cell
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
InventorsMichael F. Roche, Suzan M. Faist, James G. Eberhart, Laurids E. Ross
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Abstract
An electrode system includes a reservoir of liquid-metal reactant, and a wick extending from a submersed location within the reservoir into the molten electrolyte of an electrochemical cell structure. The wick is flooded with the liquid metal and thereby serves as one electrode within the cell. This electrode system has application in high-temperature batteries employing molten alkali metals or their alloys as active material within an electrode submersed within a molten salt electrolyte. It also can be used in electrochemical cells where the purification, separation or electrowinning of liquid metals is accomplished.
Claims9
A liquid-metal electrode system for providing electrode reactant into an electrode within an electrochemical cell also including a second electrode of opposite polarity, said system comprising a cell structure containing a volume of liquid electrolyte, a reservoir containing said liquid metal outside said volume of liquid electrolyte, a wick having a first portion of its length in contact with said liquid metal within said reservoir, and having a second portion of its length opposite to said first portion submerged within said volume of electrolyte, said wick having sufficiently more attraction for said liquid metal than for said electrolyte to draw said liquid metal into said second portion submerged within said electrolyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.