Alkali-metal generator and absorber

A device for generating an alkali metal in elemental form, the device comprising:

• an alkali-containing solid containing the alkali metal in a non-elemental form;
• a heater for heating the alkali-containing solid to a temperature of no more than 300° C.;
• first and second solid metal electrodes positioned in contact with at least one surface of the alkali-containing solid, at least a portion of the at least one surface of the alkali-containing solid being exposed to a surrounding environment, at least one of the electrodes being an ion-injecting metal electrode;
• and
• electrical interconnects coupled to the first and second solid metal electrodes for interfacing with a driver that applies a voltage between the first and second solid metal electrodes to move ions of the alkali metal through the alkali-containing solid, at least a portion of the ions being converted into elemental form upon reaching one of the solid metal electrodes and thereafter vaporizing in the elemental form from the exposed portion of the at least one surface of the alkali-containing solid into the surrounding environment.