US4315059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molten salt lithium cells
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1980-07-18
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Granted: 1982-02-09
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Expires: 2000-07-18
Abstract
Abstract Lithium-based cells are promising for applications such as electric vehicles and load-leveling for power plants since lithium is very electropositive and light weight. One type of lithium-based cell utilizes a molten salt electrolyte and is operated in the temperature range of about 400°-500° C. Such high temperature operation accelerates corrosion problems and a substantial amount of energy is lost through heat transfer. The present invention provides an electrochemical cell (10) which may be operated at temperatures between about 100°-170° C. Cell (10) comprises an electrolyte (16), which preferably includes lithium nitrate, and a lithium or lithium alloy electrode (12).
Inventors
- 👤 Ian D. Raistrick
- 👤 Jaime Poris
- 👤 Robert A. Huggins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M8/00; H01M8/06; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; H01M10/399; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
In an electrochemical cell having a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from said first electrode, and an electrolyte contacting said second electrode, said first electrode including lithium as an electroactive species thereof, the improvement comprising: said electrolyte including nitrate moieties; and, means for permitting conduction of lithium in an ionic form between said electrolyte and said first electrode while substantially isolating said first electrode from said electrolyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an electrochemical cell having a first electrode, a second electrode spaced from said first electrode, and an electrolyte contacting said second electrode, said first electrode including lithium as an electroactive species thereof, the improvement comprising: said electrolyte including nitrate moieties; and, means for permitting conduction of lithium in an ionic form between said electrolyte and said first electrode while substantially isolating said first electrode from said electrolyte.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 1 wherein: said electrolyte includes a lithium salt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 2 wherein: said lithium salt is lithium nitrate having a predetermined melting point and said electrolyte includes sufficient amount of another salt species to lower said predetermined melting point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 2 wherein: said electrolyte is a composition having a melting point between about 100° C. to about 170° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 3 wherein: said another salt includes an oxidizing species selected from the group consisting of nitrate, nitrite, borate, sulfate and phosphate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 1 wherein: said electrolyte includes lithium nitrate and another nitrate salt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 1 wherein: said electrolyte is about 41 mole percent lithium nitrate and about 59 mole percent potassium nitrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 2 wherein: said first electrode has a surface adjacent to said electrolyte, and said means is a coherent layer on said surface and interposed between said surface and said electrolyte, said coherent layer being stable in and contacting said electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 8 wherein said coherent layer includes lithium oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 8 wherein: said coherent layer is of a thickness of about 10 A to about 100 A.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell as in claim 2 wherein: said means is integral with said first electrode and defines a substantially crystalline structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cell comprising: a one electrode defining a surface, said surface including lithium; an electrolyte disposed about said surface and a spaced distance therefrom, said electrolyte including lithium nitrate, said spaced distance defining an interface between said surface and said electrolyte; and, means for stabilizing said interface and for controlling contact between said lithium of said surface and said lithium nitrate of said electrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A cell comprising: a one electrode defining a surface, said surface including lithium; an electrolyte disposed about said surface and a spaced distance therefrom, said electrolyte including lithium nitrate, said spaced distance defining an interface between said surface and said electrolyte; and, means for stabilizing said interface and for controlling contact between said lithium of said surface and said lithium nitrate of said electrolyte.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cell as in claim 12 further comprising: means for heating said electrolyte to above a melting point thereof; and, said means for stabilizing and controlling permits conduction of lithium ions between said surface and said electrolyte when said electrolyte is melted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cell as in claim 12 further comprising: another electrode, said another electrode being positive with respect to said one electrode and spaced therefrom, said another electrode being formed of a chemically inert material and contacting said electrolyte.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The cell as in claim 14 wherein said chemically inert material of said another electrode is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, rhodium, iridium, palladium, platinum, and carbon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The cell as in claim 12 further comprising: another electrode, said another electrode being positive with respect to said one electrode and spaced therefrom, said another electrode being formed of a material having a potential with respect to said one electrode of between about 2.5 volts to about 4.3 volts.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cell as in claim 16 wherein said material of said another electrode is selected from the group consisting of oxides of Cr, V, Mo and Mn.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cell as in claim 12 wherein: said one electrode consists essentially of elemental lithium or of a lithium alloy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cell as in claim 18 wherein said electrolyte consists essentially of lithium nitrate and potassium nitrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrochemical cell comprising: a first electrode having a surface, said surface including lithium as an electroactive species; a second electrode spaced from said first electrode; and, an electrolyte which comprises a lithium salt, said electrolyte communicating with said first and second electrodes to form an integral layer on said surface of said first electrode, wherein said layer is interposed between said surface and said first electrode, said layer being capable of selectively permitting passage of lithium ions between said electrolyte and said first electrode while substantially isolating ionic species other than lithium ions from said first electrode when said electrolyte is in the molten state.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrochemical cell comprising: a first electrode having a surface, said surface including lithium as an electroactive species; a second electrode spaced from said first electrode; and, an electrolyte which comprises a lithium salt, said electrolyte communicating with said first and second electrodes to form an integral layer on said surface of said first electrode, wherein said layer is interposed between said surface and said first electrode, said layer being capable of selectively permitting passage of lithium ions between said electrolyte and said first electrode while substantially isolating ionic species other than lithium ions from said first electrode when said electrolyte is in the molten state.
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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) | 1985-02-08 | 1985-08-10 | 1986-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-02-08 | 1989-08-10 | 1990-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-02-08 | 1993-08-10 | 1994-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |