US3716409A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cathodes for secondary electrochemical power-producing cells
Assignee: United States Atomic Energy Commission
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Filing: 1971-09-08
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1991-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A secondary electrochemical power-producing cell including an anode containing lithium, an electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a cathode containing sulfur. The cathode comprises plates of a porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur alternating with layers, which may also comprise porous substrate plates, containing electrolyte. The cathode may further be encased in additional electrolyte-impregnated porous material. The cathode may also comprise a metal housing having an orifice at one end, a plate of porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur sealing the orifice, and a layer of electrolyte-impregnated porous substrate material mounted on the exterior surface of the sulfur-impregnated plate, liquid sulfur being located within the housing enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 E Cairns
- 👤 M Kyle
- 👤 H Shimotake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
52 words
In a secondary electrochemical power-producing cell comprising an anode containing lithium, an electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a cathode containing sulfur, the improvement wherein said cathode comprises a plurality of essentially parallel plates composed of a porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur in alternation with a plurality of layers containing said electrolyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
52 words
In a secondary electrochemical power-producing cell comprising an anode containing lithium, an electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a cathode containing sulfur, the improvement wherein said cathode comprises a plurality of essentially parallel plates composed of a porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur in alternation with a plurality of layers containing said electrolyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte-containing layers comprise plates composed of a porous substrate material impregnated with said electrolyte, there being one more electrolyte-impregnated than sulfur-impregnated plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claiM 2 wherein said porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur is selected from the group consisting of porous graphite, porous carbon, and porous stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum foam, chromium foam, niobium expanded metal mesh, and porous stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein said substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous graphite and said substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is molybdenum foam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte-containing layers comprise plates composed of a porous substrate material impregnated with said electrolyte, there being one more sulfur-impregnated than electrolyte-impregnated plate, and wherein said cathode is entirely enclosed in a layer of porous substrate material impregnated with said electrolyte entirely sealing each sulfur-impregnated plate within electrolyte-impregnated porous substrate material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous graphite or porous carbon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 7 wherein said substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum foam, chromium foam, and porous niobium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous graphite and said substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is molybdenum foam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said essentially parallel sulfur-impregnated plates are joined to the surface of a plate composed of the same porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur, the plane of said surface being essentially perpendicular to the plane of said parallel plates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein said porous substrate material is porous graphite or porous carbon.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 10 wherein all surfaces of said cathode are coated with a thin layer of porous substrate material impregnated with electrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein said porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous graphite, and wherein all surfaces of said sulfur-impregnated porous graphite cathode are coated with a 0.33-0.50 mm layer of molybdenum impregnated with electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said electrolyte contains a lithium halide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein said electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of LiF-LiCl-KCl, LiCl-KCl-KI, LiCl-KCl-CsCl, and LiF-LiCl-KCl-KI.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a secondary electrochemical power-producing cell comprising an anode containing lithium, an electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a cathode containing sulfur, the improvement wherein said cathode comprises a housing of electrically-conducting, sulfur and Li2S-resistant material having an orifice at one end, a plate of porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur secured to said housing and sealing said orifice, a layer of porous substrate material impregnated with electrolyte mounted on the exterior surface of said sulfur-impregnated plate, and liquid sulfur located within the enclosure of said housing in contact with the inner surface of said sulfur-impregnated plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a secondary electrochemical power-producing cell comprising an anode containing lithium, an electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a cathode containing sulfur, the improvement wherein said cathode comprises a housing of electrically-conducting, sulfur and Li2S-resistant material having an orifice at one end, a plate of porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur secured to said housing and sealing said orifice, a layer of porous substrate material impregnated with electrolyte mounted on the exterior surface of said sulfur-impregnated plate, and liquid sulfur located within the enclosure of said housing in contact with the inner surface of said sulfur-impregnated plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said housing material is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum, niobium, chromium, high-density carbon, and chrome-plated metals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improvement of claim 17 wherein said porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous graphite or porous carbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement of claim 18 wherein said porous substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of molybdenum foam, chromium foam, and porous niobium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement of claim 19 wherein said housing material is niobium, said porous substrate material impregnated with sulfur is porous carbon, and sAid porous substrate material impregnated with electrolyte is molybdenum foam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein said electrolyte contains a lithium halide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |