Electrochemical cell, and particularly a cell with electrodeposited fuel
First Claim
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1. A method for operating an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
- a first electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel during discharging and reducing reducible ions of the metal fuel during recharging;
a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode for at least reducing an oxidizer during discharging;
a charging electrode for oxidizing oxidizable ions of the oxidizer during recharging;
an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes, the ionically conductive medium comprising the reducible metal fuel ions and an additive comprising poly(ethylene glycol)tetrahydrofurfuryl,wherein the method comprises recharging the electrochemical cell by;
i. applying an electrical current between the charging electrode and the first electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the first electrode functioning as a cathode, such that the reducible metal fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as the metal fuel in oxidizable form on the first electrode; and
ii. removing the electrical current to discontinue the charging.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell for generating electrical power that includes an anode, a cathode, a charging electrode and an ionically conductive medium containing at least metal fuel ions and poly(ethylene glycol)tetrahydrofurfuryl. The present invention also relates to a method for charging the cell by electrodeposition of metal fuel on the anode thereof.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method for operating an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
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a first electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel during discharging and reducing reducible ions of the metal fuel during recharging; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode for at least reducing an oxidizer during discharging; a charging electrode for oxidizing oxidizable ions of the oxidizer during recharging; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes, the ionically conductive medium comprising the reducible metal fuel ions and an additive comprising poly(ethylene glycol)tetrahydrofurfuryl, wherein the method comprises recharging the electrochemical cell by; i. applying an electrical current between the charging electrode and the first electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the first electrode functioning as a cathode, such that the reducible metal fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as the metal fuel in oxidizable form on the first electrode; and ii. removing the electrical current to discontinue the charging. - 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, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An electrochemical cell comprising:
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a first electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel during discharging and reducing reducible ions of the metal fuel during recharging; a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode for at least reducing an oxidizer during discharging; a charging electrode for oxidizing oxidizable ions of the oxidizer during recharging; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes, the ionically conductive medium comprising reducible metal fuel ions and an additive comprising poly(ethylene glycol)tetrahydrofurfuryl. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification