Metal-air low temperature ionic liquid cell
First Claim
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1. An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:
- a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen;
an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150°
C. at 1 atm. and contained in a space between the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes, the ionic liquid positioned to contact both the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode; and
one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes;
wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen, andwherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode each further comprise a backing attached thereto in which the backing is impermeable to the ionic liquid.
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Abstract
The present application relates to an electrochemical metal-air cell in which a low temperature ionic liquid is used.
28 Citations
65 Claims
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1. An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:
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a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel; a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen; an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150°
C. at 1 atm. and contained in a space between the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes, the ionic liquid positioned to contact both the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode; andone or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes; wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen, and wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode each further comprise a backing attached thereto in which the backing is impermeable to the ionic liquid. - 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, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:
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a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel; a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen; an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150°
C. at 1 atm., the ionic liquid being contained in a space between the fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes;
wherein the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode; andone or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes; wherein the ionically conductive medium further comprises a dissolved metal-containing additive. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method of operating an electrochemical metal-air cell, the cell comprising:
- (i) a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
(ii) flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen;
(iii) an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150°
C. at 1 atm.; and
(iv) one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing a space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes, and the ionic liquid being contained in the space between the fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes, wherein the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode;
wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode each further comprise a backing attached thereto in which the backing is impermeable to the ionic liquid; and
wherein the fuel electrode and the air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen;
the method comprising;oxidizing the metal fuel at the fuel electrode; reducing absorbed gaseous oxygen at the air electrode; and conducting ions within the ionic liquid for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel electrode and air electrode; wherein the method is performed with the ionic liquid at a temperature at or above its melting point. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
- (i) a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel;
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64. An electrochemical metal-air cell, comprising:
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a flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel; a flexible air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen; and an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150°
C. at 1 atm. and contained in a space between the flexible fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes; andone or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid therein, said seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes; wherein the reduction reaction supported at the air electrode reduces one mole of gaseous oxygen via multiple electrons produced at the flexible fuel electrode for oxidizing the metal fuel, and wherein the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode are arranged in a compacted non-linear configuration with an external surface of the air electrode exposed for absorbing gaseous oxygen. - View Dependent Claims (65)
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Specification