Active metal fuel cells
First Claim
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1. A lithium fuel cell, comprising:
- an anode comprising solid lithium metal as fuel;
a cathode structure comprising a static electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and a fluid oxidant; and
a lithium ion conductive protective membrane adjacent to the lithium anode, the membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode structure, the membrane isolating the anode from components of the cathode structure;
wherein the ionically conductive component comprises a liquid electrolyte and the fluid oxidant comprises oxygen continuously supplied from the air; and
further comprising lithium dissolved in a solvent on the anode side of the membrane;
wherein the anode is configured such that lithium ions electrically migrate through the membrane to the cathode side during discharge of the fuel cell.
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Abstract
Active metal fuel cells are provided. An active metal fuel cell has a renewable active metal (e.g., lithium) anode and a cathode structure that includes an electronically conductive component (e.g., a porous metal or alloy), an ionically conductive component (e.g., an electrolyte), and a fluid oxidant (e.g., air, water or a peroxide or other aqueous solution). The pairing of an active metal anode with a cathode oxidant in a fuel cell is enabled by an ionically conductive protective membrane on the surface of the anode facing the cathode.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A lithium fuel cell, comprising:
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an anode comprising solid lithium metal as fuel; a cathode structure comprising a static electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and a fluid oxidant; and a lithium ion conductive protective membrane adjacent to the lithium anode, the membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode structure, the membrane isolating the anode from components of the cathode structure; wherein the ionically conductive component comprises a liquid electrolyte and the fluid oxidant comprises oxygen continuously supplied from the air; and further comprising lithium dissolved in a solvent on the anode side of the membrane; wherein the anode is configured such that lithium ions electrically migrate through the membrane to the cathode side during discharge of the fuel cell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of providing continuous electrical power, the method comprising:
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i) providing a lithium fuel cell comprising; an anode comprising solid lithium metal as fuel; a cathode structure comprising a static electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and a fluid oxidant; and a lithium ion conductive protective membrane adjacent to the lithium anode, the membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode structure, the membrane isolating the anode from components of the cathode structure; wherein the ionically conductive component is a liquid electrolyte and the fluid oxidant comprises oxygen continuously supplied from the air; and further comprising lithium dissolved in a solvent on the anode side of the membrane, and wherein lithium ions electrically migrate through the membrane to the cathode side during discharge of the fuel cell; ii) discharging the fuel cell; and iii) supplementarily adding fresh solid lithium metal fuel for the anode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of removing waste product in the cathode structure of a lithium fuel cell, the method comprising:
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i) providing a lithium fuel cell comprising; an anode comprising solid lithium metal as fuel; a cathode structure comprising a static electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and a fluid oxidant; and a lithium ion conductive protective membrane adjacent to the lithium anode, the membrane interposed between the anode and the cathode structure, the membrane isolating the anode from components of the cathode structure; wherein the ionically conductive component is a liquid electrolyte and the fluid oxidant comprises oxygen continuously supplied from the air; and further comprising lithium dissolved in a solvent on the anode side of the membrane, and wherein lithium ions electrically migrate through the membrane to the cathode side during discharge of the fuel cell; ii) discharging the fuel cell, thereby creating waste products in the cathode structure; and iii) flushing the cathode structure to remove the waste products from the cathode structure. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification