Voltage-enhanced energy storage devices
AssigneeAmbri Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Bradwell, Xingwen Yu, Greg A. Thompson
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell comprising a negative current collector, a negative electrode in electrical communication with the negative current collector, an electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, a positive electrode in electrical communication with the electrolyte and a positive current collector in electrical communication with the positive electrode. The negative electrode comprises an alkali metal. Upon discharge, the electrolyte provides charged species of the alkali metal. The positive electrode can include a Group IIIA, IVA, VA and VIA of the periodic table of the elements, or a transition metal (e.g., Group 12 element).
Claims42
An energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell, said at least one electrochemical cell comprising:
- (a) a negative current collector;
- (b) a negative electrode in electrical communication with said negative current collector, wherein said negative electrode comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and wherein said negative electrode is in a liquid state at an operating temperature of at least about 100° C.;
- (c) an electrolyte in electrical communication with said negative electrode, wherein upon discharge said electrolyte provides charged species of said alkali or alkaline earth metal, and wherein said electrolyte is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- (d) a positive electrode in electrical communication with said electrolyte, wherein said positive electrode comprises one or more Group 12 elements, and wherein said positive electrode is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- and
- (e) a positive current collector in electrical communication with said positive electrode;
- wherein said energy storage device has an open circuit voltage greater than about 1 Volt (V) after at least about 100 charge/discharge cycles.
An energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell, said at least one electrochemical cell comprising:
- (a) a negative electrode that, in a charged state of said at least one electrochemical cell, comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein said negative electrode is in a liquid state at an operating temperature of at least about 100° C.;
- (b) an electrolyte in electrical communication with said negative electrode, wherein upon charge of said at least one electrochemical cell, said electrolyte provides charged species of said alkali or alkaline earth metal, and wherein said electrolyte is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- and
- (c) a positive electrode in electrical communication with said electrolyte, wherein said positive electrode comprises a metal or metalloid, and wherein said positive electrode is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- wherein (i) in a discharged state of said at least one electrochemical cell, said positive electrode does not contain said alkali or alkaline earth metal, or (ii) in a partially or fully charged state of said at least one electrochemical cell, said electrolyte comprises cations of said metal or metalloid dissolved therein,
- wherein said at least one electrochemical cell exhibits an open circuit voltage greater than about 1 Volt (V) after at least about 100 charge/discharge cycles.
A method for charging an energy storage device, comprising:
- (a) providing an energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell, comprising:
- (i) a negative electrode comprising an alkali or alkaline earth metal, wherein said negative electrode is in a liquid state at an operating temperature of at least about 100° C.;
- (ii) an electrolyte adjacent to said negative electrode, wherein said electrolyte comprises a salt of said alkali or alkaline earth metal, and wherein said electrolyte is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- and
- (iii) a positive electrode adjacent to said electrolyte, wherein said positive electrode comprises a metal or metalloid other than an alkali metal, and wherein said positive electrode is in a liquid state at said operating temperature;
- and
- (b) charging said at least one electrochemical cell through an external load that is electrically coupled to said energy storage device to attain a voltage from about 1 Volt (V) to 3 V after at least about 100 charge/discharge cycles at said operating temperature, wherein upon charging, cations of said metal or metalloid are dissolved into said electrolyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.