Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100119895 | OXYGEN RECOVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING OXYGEN IN AN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL - An oxygen recovery system configured to recover evolved oxygen from a regenerative electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes an oxygen reduction cathode, a fuel electrode configured to be a fuel anode when the cell is operated to generate electricity and a cathode for reducing fuel thereon when the cell is operated to regenerate the fuel, and an oxygen evolution anode that is configured to evolve oxygen from an electrolyte solution when the cell is operated to regenerate the fuel. The oxygen recovery system includes an oxygen separator located downstream of the oxygen evolution anode in a recharge direction of flow. The oxygen separator is configured to separate the evolved oxygen from the electrolyte solution. An oxygen recovery path is disposed between the oxygen separator and the oxygen reduction cathode. The oxygen recovery path is configured to direct the evolved oxygen separated from the electrolyte solution to the oxygen reduction cathode. | 05-13-2010 |
20100243459 | ELECTRODE FOR A CHARGE STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - An electrode for a charge storage device and a method for forming the electrode. The electrode comprises an electrode body having an essentially continuous phase of an active material, an essentially continuous phase of an electroconductive material, and an essentially continuous phase of void space. The active material is oxidized by applying a potential to the electrode body in the charge storage device so as to transform the active material to an oxide species thereof. The resulting oxide species of the active material has a higher active surface area than the active material prior to the oxidizing. | 09-30-2010 |
20100285375 | METAL-AIR LOW TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUID CELL - The present application relates to an electrochemical metal-air cell in which a low temperature ionic liquid is used. | 11-11-2010 |
20110070506 | RECHARGEABLE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM WITH A CHARGING ELECTRODE CHARGE/DISCHARGE MODE SWITCHING IN THE CELLS - One aspect of the present invention provides a rechargeable electrochemical cell system for generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The cell system comprises N electrochemical cells each comprising a fuel electrode, an oxidant electrode, a charging electrode, and an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to two. Any number of cells may be used. The cell system includes a plurality of switches that are switcheable to a discharge mode coupling the oxidant electrode of each cell to the fuel electrode of the subsequent cell, a charge mode coupling the charging electrode of each cell to the fuel electrode of the subsequent cell, and a bypass mode coupling charging electrode or the oxidant electrode of a previous cell to the fuel electrode of a subsequent cell. | 03-24-2011 |
20110086278 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH FLOW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode configured to operate as an anode to oxidize a fuel when connected to a load. An electrode holder includes a cavity for holding the fuel electrode, at least one inlet connected to the cavity on one side of the cavity and configured to supply an ionically conductive medium to the cavity, and at least one outlet connected to the cavity on an opposite side of the cavity and configured to allow the ionically conductive medium to flow out of the cavity. A plurality of spacers extend across the fuel electrode and the cavity in a spaced relation from each other to define a plurality of flow lanes in the cavity. | 04-14-2011 |
20110189551 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH DIFFUSER - An electrochemical cell includes a first electrode configured to operate as an anode to oxidize a fuel when connected to a load. The first electrode includes a permeable electrode body configured to allow flow of an ionically conductive medium therethrough. An electrode holder includes a cavity for holding the first electrode. A diffuser is positioned in the cavity between the first electrode and the electrode holder with a gap formed between the diffuser and the electrode holder. The diffuser includes openings configured to allow flow of the ionically conductive medium therethrough and to distribute the flow through the first electrode. A second electrode is positioned in the cavity on a side of the first electrode that is opposite the diffuser, and is configured to operate as a cathode when connected to the load and in contact with the ionically conductive medium. | 08-04-2011 |
20110200893 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL, AND PARTICULARLY A CELL WITH ELECTRODEPOSITED FUEL - 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. | 08-18-2011 |
20110250512 | METAL-AIR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH HIGH ENERGY EFFICIENCY MODE - The present invention relates to a metal-air electrochemical cell with a high energy efficiency mode. | 10-13-2011 |
20110281184 | METAL-AIR CELL WITH PERFORMANCE ENHANCING ADDITIVE - Systems and methods drawn to an electrochemical cell comprising a low temperature ionic liquid comprising positive ions and negative ions and a performance enhancing additive added to the low temperature ionic liquid. The additive dissolves in the ionic liquid to form cations, which are coordinated with one or more negative ions forming ion complexes. The electrochemical cell also includes an air electrode configured to absorb and reduce oxygen. The ion complexes improve oxygen reduction thermodynamics and/or kinetics relative to the ionic liquid without the additive. | 11-17-2011 |
20110305959 | TUNED HYDROPHOBICITY - An electrochemical cell comprising an electrolyte comprising water and a hydrophobic ionic liquid comprising positive ions and negative ions. The electrochemical cell also includes an air electrode configured to absorb and reduce oxygen. A hydrophilic or hygroscopic additive modulates the hydrophobicity of the ionic liquid to maintain a concentration of the water in the electrolyte is between 0.001 mol % and 25 mol %. | 12-15-2011 |
20110316485 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH STEPPED SCAFFOLD FUEL ANODE - 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. | 12-29-2011 |
20120009491 | METAL-AIR ROOM-TEMPERATURE IONIC LIQUID ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH LIQUID FUEL - Provided in one embodiment is an electrochemical cell for generating power, and more particularly to a metal-air electrochemical cell using a low temperature ionic liquid and a liquid metal fuel. | 01-12-2012 |
20120015264 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL WITH CATCH TRAY - An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode configured to operate as an anode to consume a fuel when the fuel electrode and an associated cathode are connected to a load. An ionically conductive medium either present or flowing through the electrochemical cell is configured to conduct ions and participate in electrochemical reactions between the anode and the cathode. The cell further includes a catch tray containing catalyst material to induce the ionization of precipitates of fuel and/or fuel additives that may separate in solid form from the fuel electrode. The catch tray may be positioned to prevent a congestion of the precipitates in the ionically conductive medium, or the waste of electrically disconnected fuel and/or additives. | 01-19-2012 |
20120068667 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM WITH A PROGRESSIVE OXYGEN EVOLVING ELECTRODE / FUEL ELECTRODE - One aspect of the present invention provides an electrochemical cell system comprising at least one electrochemical cell configured to be selectively connected to a load to discharge the cell by generating electrical current using a fuel and an oxidant. The electrochemical cell system may alternatively be connected to a power supply to recharge the cell. The electrochemical cell system comprises a plurality of electrodes and electrode bodies therein. The electrochemical cell system further comprises a switching system configured to permit progressive movement of the anodes used for charging each electrochemical cell, maintaining a minimum distance from a progressively moving cathode that is the site of fuel growth. | 03-22-2012 |
20120098499 | BATTERY RESETTING PROCESS FOR SCAFFOLD FUEL ELECTRODE - An electrochemical cell includes a fuel electrode configured to operate as an anode to oxidize a fuel when connected to a load. The cell also includes an oxidant electrode configured to operate as a cathode to reduce oxygen when connected to the load. The fuel electrode comprises a plurality of scaffolded electrode bodies. The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell system and method of resetting the electrochemical cell by applying a charge (i.e. voltage or current) to the cell to drive oxidation of the fuel, wherein the fuel electrode operates as an anode, and the second cell operates as a cathode, removing uneven distributions of fuel that may cause premature shorting of the electrode bodies to improve capacity, energy stored, and cell efficiency. | 04-26-2012 |
20120121992 | METAL-AIR CELL WITH HYDROPHOBIC AND HYGROSCOPIC IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEDIUMS - A rechargeable cell includes an air electrode for absorbing and reducing oxygen to a reduced oxygen species during discharge and oxidizing the reduced oxygen species during recharge to evolve oxygen. An outer surface of the air electrode is permeable to oxygen and water. A fuel electrode of the cell includes a metal fuel that it oxidizes during discharge and reduces during recharge. First and second ionically conductive layers of the cell have an interface therebetween. The first layer is between an inner surface of the air electrode and the interface. The second layer is an ionic liquid between an inner surface of the fuel electrode and the interface. The first layer is hygroscopic and the ionic liquid is hydrophobic so water absorbed through the air electrode is essentially prevented from diffusing across the interface into the ionic liquid. | 05-17-2012 |
20120139496 | MULTI-MODE CHARGING OF HIERARCHICAL ANODE - One aspect of the present invention provides an electrochemical cell system comprising at least one electrochemical cell configured to be connected to a power supply to recharge the cell. The electrochemical cell system comprises a plurality of electrodes and electrode bodies therein. The electrochemical cell system further comprises a switching system configured to permit modifications of the configuration of anodes and cathodes during charging of the electrochemical cell, and a controller configured to control the switching system. The controller is configured to selectively apply the electrical current to a different number of said electrode bodies based on at least one input parameter so as to adjust a rate and density of the growth of the electrodeposited metal fuel | 06-07-2012 |
20120202127 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM WITH SHUNT CURRENT INTERRUPT - An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive medium flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more disperser chambers are provided to disrupt or minimize electrical current flowing between the electrochemical cells, such as between the cathode of one cell and the anode of a subsequent cell by dispersing the ionically conductive medium. Air is introduced into the disperser chamber to prevent the formation of foamed ionically conductive medium, which may reconnect the dispersed ionically conductive medium, allowing the current to again flow therethrough. | 08-09-2012 |
20120321967 | IONIC LIQUID CONTAINING SULFONATE IONS - Embodiments are related to ionic liquids and more specifically to ionic liquids used in electrochemical metal-air cells in which the ionic liquid includes sulfonate ions as the anion. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321969 | SYNTHESIS OF HETERO COMPOUNDS USING DIALKYLCARBONATE QUATERNATION - Methods of preparing hetero ionic complexes, and ionic liquids from bisulfate salts of heteroatomic compounds using dialkylcarbonates as a primary quaternizing reactant are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making electrochemical cells comprising the ionic liquids, and an electrochemical cell comprising an alkaline electrolyte and a hetero ionic complex additive. | 12-20-2012 |
20120321970 | METAL-AIR CELL WITH ION EXCHANGE MATERIAL - Embodiments of the invention are related to anion exchange membranes used in electrochemical metal-air cells in which the membranes function as the electrolyte material, or are used in conjunction with electrolytes such as ionic liquid electrolytes. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323004 | METHODS OF PRODUCING SULFATE SALTS OF CATIONS FROM HETEROATOMIC COMPOUNDS AND DIALKYL SULFATES AND USES THEREOF - Methods of preparing sulfate salts of heteroatomic compounds using dialkyl sulfates as a primary reactant are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of making ionic liquids from the sulfate salts of the heteroatomic compound, and electrochemical cells comprising the ionic liquids. | 12-20-2012 |
20130001098 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AMMONIA (NH3) GENERATION - Various apparatuses and methods for producing ammonia are provided. One embodiment has uses a plurality of environments and an electrode configured to be exposed to the plurality of environments. The electrode is configured to receive hydrogen while being exposed to one of the environments, reduce nitrogen while being exposed to another environment, and allow the hydrogen and nitrogen to react with each other to form ammonia. Other embodiments provide for simultaneous hydrogen oxidation and nitrogen reduction at the same electrode, which in turn react for formation of ammonia. | 01-03-2013 |
20130022881 | HYGROPHOBIC CONDUCTOR LAYER FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL - The present application relates to a layer of an oxidant electrode having hygrophobic and current collecting properties, and electrochemical metal-air cell utilizing the same. | 01-24-2013 |
20130049694 | ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL, AND PARTICULARLY A CELL WITH ELECTRODEPOSITED FUEL - The present invention relates to a method for charging the cell by electrodeposition of metal fuel on the anode thereof | 02-28-2013 |
20130095393 | GAS VENT FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL - An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive medium flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more gas vents are provided along a flow path for the ionically conductive medium, so as to permit gasses that evolve in the ionically conductive medium during charging or discharging to vent outside the cell system, while constraining the ionically conductive medium within the flow path of the electrochemical cell system. | 04-18-2013 |
20130115523 | IMMERSIBLE GASEOUS OXIDANT CATHODE FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL SYSTEM - An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an oxidant reduction electrode module containing an oxidant reduction electrode mounted to a housing to form a gaseous oxidant space therein that is immersed into the ionically conductive medium. A fuel electrode is spaced from the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the ionically conductive medium may conduct ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A gaseous oxidant channel extending through the gaseous oxidant space provides a supply of oxidant to the oxidant reduction electrode, such that the fuel electrode and the oxidant reduction electrode are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce the oxidant at the oxidant reduction electrode, to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load. | 05-09-2013 |
20130115526 | AIR CATHODE WITH GRAPHITE BONDING/BARRIER LAYER - An electrochemical cell includes a housing, a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel; an oxidant electrode spaced from the fuel electrode, having fuel electrode and oxidant facing sides, and a liquid ionically conductive medium for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant electrodes to support electrochemical reactions thereat. The fuel and oxidant electrodes are configured to, during discharge, oxidize the metal fuel at the fuel electrode and reduce a gaseous oxidant at the oxidant electrode to generate a discharge potential difference therebetween for application to a load. The oxidant electrode includes an active layer configured to participate in the electrochemical reactions, and a current collector electrically coupled to the active layer. The oxidant electrode further includes a graphite layer comprising a mixture of graphite particles and solvophobic binder, the graphite layer providing a surface thereof for exposure to a sealant that adheres the oxidant electrode to the housing. | 05-09-2013 |
20130115532 | INTERNAL CONVECTION CELL - An electrochemical cell includes a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon, and an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode. An ionically conductive medium is provided for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A charging electrode is also included, selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode. The charging electrode is configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium. One or more flow diverters are also provided in the electrochemical cell, and configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode. | 05-09-2013 |
20130115533 | FILTER FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL - An electrochemical cell system is configured to utilize an ionically conductive liquid flowing through a plurality of electrochemical cells. One or more hydrophilic filters for venting of gas from the cells are provided along a flow path for the ionically conductive liquid, so as to permit gasses that evolve in the ionically conductive liquid during charging or discharging to vent outside the cell system, while constraining the ionically conductive liquid within the flow path of the electrochemical cell system. | 05-09-2013 |
20130157148 | ALUMINUM-BASED METAL-AIR BATTERIES - Provided in one embodiment is an electrochemical cell, comprising: (i) a plurality of electrodes, comprising a fuel electrode that comprises aluminum and an air electrode that absorbs gaseous oxygen, the electrodes being operable in a discharge mode wherein the aluminum is oxidized at the fuel electrode and oxygen is reduced at the air electrode, and (ii) an ionically conductive medium, comprising an organic solvent; wherein during non-use of the cell, the organic solvent promotes formation of a protective interface between the aluminum of the fuel electrode and the ionically conductive medium, and wherein at an onset of the discharge mode, at least some of the protective interface is removed from the aluminum to thereafter permit oxidation of the aluminum during the discharge mode. | 06-20-2013 |
20140113206 | DEGENERATE DOPING OF METALLIC ANODES - Embodiments of the invention relate to an electrochemical cell comprising: (i) a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, (ii) a positive electrode, (iii) an ionically conductive medium, and (iv) a dopant; the electrodes being operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode and the dopant increases the conductivity of the metal fuel oxidation product. In an embodiment, the oxidation product comprises an oxide of the metal fuel which is doped degenerately. In an embodiment, the positive electrode is an air electrode that absorbs gaseous oxygen, wherein during discharge mode, oxygen is reduced at the air electrode. Embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of producing an electrode comprising a metal and a doped metal oxidation product. | 04-24-2014 |
20140266055 | HETERO-IONIC AROMATIC ADDITIVES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS COMPRISING A METAL FUEL - An embodiment of the invention provides for an electrochemical cell comprising: a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, a second electrode, and an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes; the ionically conductive medium comprising hetero-ionic aromatic additives. The fuel electrode and the second electrode are operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode functioning as an anode, whereby electrons are generated for conduction from the fuel electrode to the second electrode via a load. An ionically conductive medium and methods of operating an electrochemical cell are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266056 | SYNERGISTIC ADDITIVES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS WITH ELECTRODEPOSITED FUEL - An embodiment of the invention provides for an electrochemical cell comprising: a fuel electrode comprising a metal fuel, a second electrode, an ionically conductive medium communicating the electrodes, the ionically conductive medium comprising at least two different additives, wherein at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of: macroheterocyclic compounds, phosphonium salts, hetero-ionic compounds and their derivatives; and, at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of: macroheterocyclic compounds, phosphonium salts, hetero-ionic compounds, and their derivatives. The fuel electrode and the second electrode are operable in a discharge mode wherein the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode functioning as an anode, whereby electrons are generated for conduction from the fuel electrode to the second electrode via a load. An ionically conductive medium and methods of operating an electrochemical cell are also disclosed. | 09-18-2014 |
20150030941 | INTERNAL CONVECTION CELL - An electrochemical cell includes a permeable fuel electrode configured to support a metal fuel thereon, and an oxidant reduction electrode spaced from the fuel electrode. An ionically conductive medium is provided for conducting ions between the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, to support electrochemical reactions at the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes. A charging electrode is also included, selected from the group consisting of (a) the oxidant reduction electrode, (b) a separate charging electrode spaced from the fuel and oxidant reduction electrodes, and (c) a portion of the permeable fuel electrode. The charging electrode is configured to evolve gaseous oxygen bubbles that generate a flow of the ionically conductive medium. One or more flow diverters are also provided in the electrochemical cell, and configured to direct the flow of the ionically conductive medium at least partially through the permeable fuel electrode. | 01-29-2015 |