Metal-air low temperature ionic liquid cell

An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:

• a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
• a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen;
• an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150° C. at 1 atm., the ionic liquid being contained in a space between the fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes;
• wherein the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode;
• and
• one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes;
• wherein the ionically conductive medium further comprises a dissolved metal-containing additive.

A method of operating an electrochemical metal-air cell, the cell comprising:

• (i) a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
• (ii) flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen;
• (iii) an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150° C. at 1 atm.;
• and (iv) one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing a space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes, and the ionic liquid being contained in the space between the fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes, wherein the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode;
• wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode each further comprise a backing attached thereto in which the backing is impermeable to the ionic liquid;
• and wherein the fuel electrode and the air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen;
• the method comprising:
• oxidizing the metal fuel at the fuel electrode;
• reducing absorbed gaseous oxygen at the air electrode;
• and
• conducting ions within the ionic liquid for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel electrode and air electrode;
• wherein the method is performed with the ionic liquid at a temperature at or above its melting point.

An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:

• a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
• a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen;
• and
• an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150° C. at 1 atm. and contained in a space between the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes;
• and
• one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes;
• wherein the reduction reaction supported at the air electrode reduces one mole of gaseous oxygen via multiple electrons produced at the flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing the metal fuel, and
• wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen.