Bipolar battery

Claim 2

A bipolar battery having a plurality of cells with each of said cells comprising: a negative electrode; a positive electrode and a separator element disposed between said negative electrode and said positive electrode, said separator element electrically insulating said electrodes from one another; an electrolyte disposed within at least one of said negative electrode, said positive electrode and said separator element where said electrolyte is in contact with both said electrodes; and an electrode containment structure including a cup-like electrode holder, a perimeter metallic seal ring forming a negative electrode compartment and a peripheral ceramic seal ring electrically isolating said positive and negative electrodes.

Claim 3

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said negative electrode is selected from the group consisting of an alkaline metal alloy and an alkaline earth alloy.

Claim 4

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said positive electrode is selected from the group consisting of at least one chalcogenides.

Claim 5

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 2 wherein said metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of lithium alloy, sodium alloy, potassium alloy, calcium alloy, barium alloy and strontium alloy.

Claim 6

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 3 wherein said chalcogenide is selected from the group consisting of transition metal chalcogenides and sodium chalcogenides.

Claim 7

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said cup-like electrode holder comprises a refractory metal coated steel.

Claim 8

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 6 wherein said cup-like electrode holder includes lateral extension elements.

Claim 9

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said cup-like electrode holder comprises at least one of a graphite liner over steel and a refractory metal.

Claim 10

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said separator element comprises a ceramic material.

Claim 11

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said perimeter metallic seal ring further includes a negative electrode seal ring and a negative electrode flange ring.

Claim 12

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 6 wherein said cup-like electrode holder includes indentations permitting reciprocating action during cycling of said bipolar battery.

Claim 13

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 6 wherein said cup-like holder telescopically couples to the adjoining said cup-like holder and captures the perimeter of said separator element.

Claim 14

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 further including an external ceramic ring.

Claim 15

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 13 wherein said external ceramic ring is bonded to said peripheral ceramic seal ring.

Claim 16

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 13 further including an electrically insulating, humidity resistant seal of the opening between successive ones of said external ceramic rings.

Claim 17

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 further including a supportive peripheral ceramic seal ring.

Claim 18

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral ceramic seal ring comprises a sulfide ceramic.

Claim 19

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrode containment structure comprises at least two elements.

Claim 20

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 wherein said electrode containment structure is sealed using a sulfide ceramic material.

Claim 21

The bipolar battery as defined in claim 1 further including a dispersed current collecting network bonded to said cup-like electrode holder.

Claim 22

A bipolar battery cell, comprising: a negative electrode; a positive electrode and a separator element disposed between said negative electrode and said positive electrode, said separator element electrically insulating said electrodes from one another; an electrolyte disposed within at least one of said negative electrode, said positive electrode and said separator element where said electrolyte is in contact with both said electrodes; and an electrode containment structure including a cup-like electrode holder comprising a ceramic coating on a metal substrate, a perimeter metallic seal ring forming a negative electrode compartment and a peripheral ceramic seal ring electrically isolating said positive and negative electrodes.

Claim 23

A bipolar battery cell, comprising: a negative electrode; a positive electrode and a separator element disposed between said negative electrode and said positive electrode, said separator element electrically insulating said electrodes from one another; an electrolyte disposed within at least one of said negative electrode, said positive electrode and said separator element where said electrolyte is in contact with both said electrodes; and an electrode containment structure including a cup-like electrode holder comprising a ceramic coating on a metal substrate, a perimeter metallic seal ring forming a negative electrode compartment and a peripheral ceramic seal ring electrically isolating said positive and negative electrodes.

Claim 24

The bipolar battery cell as defined in claim 21 wherein said cup-like electrode holder includes an intermetallic layer.

Claim 25

The bipolar battery intermetallic layer defined in claim 22 wherein said intermetallic layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminides, silicides and phosphides.