Electrochemical cell aqueous electrolyte and method
First Claim
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- (a) an anode of an anodic metal which is reactive with water; and
,(b) a non-reactive electrically conductive cathode spaced from said anode, each of said anode and said cathode being at least partially immersed during operation in a liquid electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of a negatively charged electrolytic ionic specie, said electrolyte being saturated at the interface region between the electrolyte and the anode with respect to the product formed between said ionic specie and said anodic metal as a result of the electrochemical reaction at said anode, said cell being adapted to operate at an elevated temperature sufficiently high to produce useful electrical current at a preselected rate.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical cell and a method of controllably generating electricity with the cell wherein the cell comprises an anode of a metal which is highly reactive with water, a cathode of a nonreactive, electrically conductive material spaced from the anode, and an electrolyte which is an aqueous solution of a negatively charged electrolytic ionic specie and which is saturated with respect to the electrochemical reaction product between the anodic metal and the electrolytic ionic specie.
The cell advantageously operates at elevated temperatures, is stable and safe, generates high current densities, provides a readily manageable electrolyte system and is controllable by control of the operating temperature alone.
13 Citations
80 Claims
-
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
-
(a) an anode of an anodic metal which is reactive with water; and
,(b) a non-reactive electrically conductive cathode spaced from said anode, each of said anode and said cathode being at least partially immersed during operation in a liquid electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of a negatively charged electrolytic ionic specie, said electrolyte being saturated at the interface region between the electrolyte and the anode with respect to the product formed between said ionic specie and said anodic metal as a result of the electrochemical reaction at said anode, said cell being adapted to operate at an elevated temperature sufficiently high to produce useful electrical current at a preselected rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
-
(a) a lithium anode; and
,(b) a non-reactive electrically conductive cathode spaced from said anode, each of said anode and said cathode being at least partially immersed during operation in a liquid electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide, said electrolyte being saturated at the interface region between the electrolyte and the anode with respect to said lithium hydroxide, said cell being adapted to operate at an elevated temperature sufficiently high to produce useful electrical current at a preselected rate. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A method of generating electricity in an electrochemical cell, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing an anode of an anodic metal which is reactive with water, and a cathode of a nonreactive, electrically conductive material; (b) at least partially immersing each of said anode and said cathode in an aqueous liquid electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of a negatively charged electrolytic ionic specie, said electrolyte being saturated with respect to the product formed between said ionic specie and said anodic metal as a result of the electrochemical reaction at said anode; (c) maintaining said cell at an elevated temperature sufficiently high to produce a useful electrical current at a preselected rate; and (d) withdrawing electrical current from a circuit connecting said anode and said cathode. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
-
-
64. A method of generating electricity in an electrochemical cell, said method comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a lithium anode and a cathode of a nonreactive, electrically conductive material; (b) at least partially immersing each of said anode and said cathode in an aqueous liquid electrolyte comprising an aqueous solution of lithium hydroxide, said electrolyte being saturated with respect to said lithium hydroxide; (c) maintaining said cell at an elevated temperature sufficiently high to produce a useful electrical current at a preselected rate; and (d) withdrawing electrical current from a circuit connecting said anode and said cathode. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80)
-
Specification