Electrochemical cell with stepped scaffold fuel anode
First Claim
1. A method for operating an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
- a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation;
an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode;
a charging electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode, the charging electrode being selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant electrode, and (b) a separate charging electrode spaced apart from the oxidant electrode;
an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes;
the series of permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode comprising;
a proximal permeable electrode body, proximal to the charging electrode;
a distal permeable electrode body, distal from the charging electrode;
wherein, in a direction from the distal permeable electrode body to the proximal permeable electrode body, at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the proximal permeable electrode body is located inward of at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the distal permeable electrode body;
wherein the method comprises;
charging the electrochemical cell by;
i. applying an electrical current between the charging electrode and at least one of the permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the at least one permeable electrode body functioning as a cathode, such that reducible fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as fuel in oxidizable form on the at least one permeable electrode body;
ii, said electrodeposition causing growth of the fuel among the permeable electrode bodies such that the electrodeposited fuel establishes an electrical connection between the permeable electrode bodies; and
iii. removing the electrical current to discontinue the charging.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode configured to operate as an anode to oxidize a fuel when connected to a load, and configured to operate as a cathode when connected to a power supply. The fuel electrode comprises a plurality of scaffolded electrode bodies, wherein the scaffolded electrode bodies are of varying size. The electrode bodies are of a larger size at positions distal from a charging electrode configured to act as an anode when connected to the power supply, and of a smaller size at positions proximal to the charging electrode. When connected to a load, the scaffolded electrode bodies-containing fuel electrode acts as the electrochemical cell anode and electrodeposited fuel is oxidized.
269 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for operating an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
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a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation; an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; a charging electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode, the charging electrode being selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant electrode, and (b) a separate charging electrode spaced apart from the oxidant electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the series of permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode comprising; a proximal permeable electrode body, proximal to the charging electrode; a distal permeable electrode body, distal from the charging electrode; wherein, in a direction from the distal permeable electrode body to the proximal permeable electrode body, at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the proximal permeable electrode body is located inward of at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the distal permeable electrode body; wherein the method comprises; charging the electrochemical cell by; i. applying an electrical current between the charging electrode and at least one of the permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the at least one permeable electrode body functioning as a cathode, such that reducible fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as fuel in oxidizable form on the at least one permeable electrode body; ii, said electrodeposition causing growth of the fuel among the permeable electrode bodies such that the electrodeposited fuel establishes an electrical connection between the permeable electrode bodies; and iii. 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)
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20. An electrochemical cell comprising:
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a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation; an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; a charging electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode, the charging electrode being selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant electrode, and (b) a separate charging electrode also spaced apart from the oxidant electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the series of permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode comprising; a proximal permeable electrode body, proximal to the charging electrode; a distal permeable electrode body, distal from the charging electrode; wherein, in a direction from the distal permeable electrode body to the proximal permeable electrode body, at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the proximal permeable electrode body is located inward of at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the distal permeable electrode body, wherein the spaced apart relation of said permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode enables an electrical current to be applied between the charging electrode and at least one of the permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the at least one permeable electrode body functioning as a cathode, such that reducible fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as fuel in oxidizable form on the at least one permeable electrode body, wherein the electrodeposition causes growth of the fuel among the permeable electrode bodies such that the electrodeposited fuel establishes an electrical connection between the permeable electrode bodies. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for operating an electrochemical cell, wherein the cell comprises:
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a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation; an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; a charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; wherein at least a portion of peripheral edges of the permeable electrode bodies are arranged in an inwardly stepped configuration in a direction of fuel growth; wherein the method comprises; charging the electrochemical cell by; i. applying an electrical current between the charging electrode and at least one of the permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the at least one permeable electrode body functioning as a cathode, such that reducible fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as fuel in oxidizable form on the at least one permeable electrode body; ii. said electrodeposition causing growth of the fuel among the permeable electrode bodies in the first direction such that the electrodeposited fuel establishes an electrical connection between the permeable electrode bodies; and iii, removing the electrical current to discontinue the charging. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. An electrochemical cell comprising:
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a fuel electrode comprising a series of permeable electrode bodies arranged in spaced apart relation; an oxidant electrode spaced apart from the fuel electrode; a charging electrode; an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; wherein at least a portion of peripheral edges of the permeable electrode bodies are arranged in an inwardly stepped configuration in a direction of fuel growth; wherein the spaced apart relation of said permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode enables an electrical current to be applied between the charging electrode and at least one of the permeable electrode bodies of the fuel electrode with the charging electrode functioning as an anode and the at least one permeable electrode body functioning as a cathode, such that reducible fuel ions are reduced and electrodeposited as fuel in oxidizable form on the at least one permeable electrode body, wherein the electrodeposition causes growth of the fuel among the permeable electrode bodies in the direction of fuel growth such that the electrodeposited fuel establishes an electrical connection between the permeable electrode bodies. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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Specification