Electrolyte compositions and methods
First Claim
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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a consumable metal anode which comprises a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and aluminum;
a cathode spaced from said anode; and
,an electrolyte in contact with said anode and said cathode and defining an interface with said anode during operation of the cell, said electrolyte including a surfactant containing at least 8 carbon atoms and having a structure characterized by a hydrophilic polar group and a hydrophobic tail in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce both the surface tension of said electrolyte and the rate of the parasitic corrosion reaction occurring between said electrolyte and said anode metal at said interface.
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Abstract
A surfactant is present in an aqeuous alkaline electrolyte of a consumable metal anode electrochemical cell in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce both the surface tension of the electrolyte and the rate of the parasitic corrosion reaction occurring between the electrolyte and the anode. The surfactant is useful in minimizing the harmful side effects, such as increased heat generation, anode consumption without producing useful energy and increased hydrogen gas production rates, such as are associated with the parasitic corrosion reaction experienced in such electrochemical cells.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
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a consumable metal anode which comprises a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and aluminum; a cathode spaced from said anode; and
,an electrolyte in contact with said anode and said cathode and defining an interface with said anode during operation of the cell, said electrolyte including a surfactant containing at least 8 carbon atoms and having a structure characterized by a hydrophilic polar group and a hydrophobic tail in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce both the surface tension of said electrolyte and the rate of the parasitic corrosion reaction occurring between said electrolyte and said anode metal at said interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
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a reactive metal anode which comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and aluminum; a cathode spaced from said anode; and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte in contact with said anode and said cathode and defining an interface with said anode during operation of said cell, said electrolyte including an anionic surfactant containing at least 8 carbon atoms and having a structure characterized by a hydrophilic polar group and a hydrophobic tail in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce both the surface tension of said electrolyte and the rate of the parasitic corrosion reaction occurring between said electrolyte and said anode metal at said interface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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- 24. A method of reducing parasitic consumption of a consumable metal anode which comprises a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and aluminum in an electrochemical cell having an aqueous electrolyte, comprising adding a surfactant containing at least 8 carbon atoms and having a structure characterized by a hydrophilic polar group and a hydrophobic tail to the aqueous electrolyte in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce the surface tension of said electrolyte.
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37. A method of providing electrical energy from an electrochemical cells, comprising the steps of:
supplying an aqueous alkaline electrolyte to an electrochemical reaction zone defined between a cathode and a spaced consumable metal anode of said cell wherein said anode comprises a reactive metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and aluminum, said electrolyte including a surfactant containing at least 8 carbon atoms and having a structure characterized by a hydrophilic polar group and a hydrophobic tail in a concentration sufficient to substantially reduce both the surface tension of said electrolyte and the rate of the parasitic corrosion reaction occurring between said electrolyte and said anode metal. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
Specification