Supported liquid membrane electrochemical separators
First Claim
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1. A separator for use in electrochemical cells, comprising:
- a hydrophobic microporous membrane; and
a liquid ionic transport agent comprising an organic agent dissolved in an organic solvent supported by a porous matrix of the membrane that selectively transports specific cation or anion species through the membrane while rejecting others, wherein said liquid ionic transport agent is insoluble in the electrochemical electrolyte solution.
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Abstract
Supported liquid membrane separators improve the flexibility, efficiency and service life of electrochemical cells for a variety of applications. In the field of electrochemical storage, an alkaline secondary battery with improved service life is described in which a supported liquid membrane is interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. The supported liquid membranes of this invention can be used in energy production and storage systems, electrosynthesis systems, and in systems for the electrowinning and electrorefining of metals.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A separator for use in electrochemical cells, comprising:
- a hydrophobic microporous membrane; and
a liquid ionic transport agent comprising an organic agent dissolved in an organic solvent supported by a porous matrix of the membrane that selectively transports specific cation or anion species through the membrane while rejecting others, wherein said liquid ionic transport agent is insoluble in the electrochemical electrolyte solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- a hydrophobic microporous membrane; and
- 8. A supported liquid membrane comprising a hydrophobic microporous membrane having a thickness between about 0.5 and 25 mils, whose pores support a mixture of a water insoluble organic complexing agent dissolved in a organic solvent therefore, wherein the mixture, which is substantially insoluble in the electrochemical electrolyte solution, selectively transports specific cation and anion species through said membrane.
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11. In an alkaline battery comprising at least one pair of a positive electrode and a negative electrode the improvement comprising a hydrophobic microporous membrane which supports within its porous matrix a liquid ionic transport agent interposed between the negative and the positive electrode, said agent which is substantially insoluble in the electrochemical electrolyte solution and consisting essentially of an organic ion transport agent in a polar organic solvent therefore, such that the electrolyte insoluble agent selectively transports specific cation and anion species through the microporous membrane.
Specification