US4130500A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lithium-aluminum-magnesium electrode composition
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1977-12-14
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Granted: 1978-12-19
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Expires: 1997-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A negative electrode composition is presented for use in a secondary, high-temperature electrochemical cell. The cell also includes a molten salt electrolyte of alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides and a positive electrode including a chalcogen or a metal chalcogenide as the active electrode material. The negative electrode composition includes up to 50 atom percent lithium as the active electrode constituent and a magnesium-aluminum alloy as a structural matrix. Various binary and ternary intermetallic phases of lithium, magnesium, and aluminum are formed but the electrode composition in both its charged and discharged state remains substantially free of the alpha lithium-aluminum phase and exhibits good structural integrity.
Inventors
- 👤 Carlos A. Melendres
- 👤 Stanley Siegel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/40; H01M4/46; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
A solid electrode composition for use in the negative electrode of a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell having molten salt electrolyte including alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides and in a positive electrode including a chalcogen or a transition metal chalcogenide, said solid electrode composition comprising about 5 to 50 atom percent lithium and about 95 to 50 atom percent alloy of aluminum and magnesium, said aluminum-magnesium alloy comprising about 5 to 20 atom percent magnesium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
A solid electrode composition for use in the negative electrode of a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell having molten salt electrolyte including alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides and in a positive electrode including a chalcogen or a transition metal chalcogenide, said solid electrode composition comprising about 5 to 50 atom percent lithium and about 95 to 50 atom percent alloy of aluminum and magnesium, said aluminum-magnesium alloy comprising about 5 to 20 atom percent magnesium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrode composition of claim 1 wherein said composition is substantially free of the alpha lithium-aluminum alloy phase.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The negative electrode composition of claim 1 wherein said aluminum-magnesium alloy consists essentially of aluminum and magnesium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The negative electrode composition of claim 1 wherein said composition includes at least one of the intermetallic phases LiMgAl 2 and Li 2 Mg x Al y where the sum of x and y is about 2, but the composition is substantially free of the alpha phase of lithium-aluminum alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The negative electrode composition of claim 1 wherein said composition includes magnesium-aluminum alloy phase, an intermetallic phase of LiMgAl 2 and beta lithium-aluminum alloy phase, but is substantially free of the alpha phase of lithium-aluminum alloy.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of preparing a negative electrode composition for use in a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell having molten-salt electrolyte including alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides and a positive electrode including chalcogens or transition metal chalcogenides, said method comprising forming an alloy of magnesium-aluminum having about 5 to 20 atom percent magnesium; and electrochemically depositing about 5 to 50 atom percent lithium into the magnesium-aluminum alloy.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of preparing a negative electrode composition for use in a high-temperature, secondary electrochemical cell having molten-salt electrolyte including alkali metal halides or alkaline earth metal halides and a positive electrode including chalcogens or transition metal chalcogenides, said method comprising forming an alloy of magnesium-aluminum having about 5 to 20 atom percent magnesium; and electrochemically depositing about 5 to 50 atom percent lithium into the magnesium-aluminum alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said magnesium-aluminum alloy is formed into a porous mass prior to electrodepositing lithium therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said magnesium-aluminum alloy is formed by extrusion of melt into wire form and compaction into a porous compact of magnesium-aluminum.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-12-18 | 1982-06-19 | 1982-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-12-18 | 1986-06-19 | 1986-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-12-18 | 1990-06-19 | 1990-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |