Particular embodiments described herein provide for a privacy cover in an electronic device. The battery system can be configured to monitoring one or more condition of a battery using a battery electrolyte controller that is separate from the battery, adjusting one or more properties of an electrolyte in an electrolyte conduit, where the electrolyte conduit is coupled to an inlet and an outlet on the battery, and activating a pump to move the electrolyte with the adjusted one or more properties into the battery.

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof. Embodiments include a cathode material within a lithium-air battery, where the cathode is formed of a binder-free, monolithic, polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes pores that improve the oxygen transport properties of electrolyte solution and improve the formation of lithium peroxide along the surface and/or within the pores of the carbon aerogel. The cathode and underlying carbon aerogel provide optimal properties for use within the lithium-air battery.

It is provided a secondary zinc-air electrochemical cell comprising an air cathode that is a bifunctional air electrode (BAE); a zinc-containing anode; a free electrolyte contained in a reservoir; and a first and a second separators; wherein the zinc-containing anode is disposed between the BAE and the free electrolyte, and is separated from the BAE by the first separator and separated from the free electrolyte by the second separator. It is also provided a process for the preparation of the secondary zinc-air cell, and a battery comprising at least one cell, and wherein no free electrolyte contained in a reservoir is disposed between the BAE and the zinc-containing anode.

The invention relates to an electrolyte solution suitable for use in a zinc-bromine battery, comprising zinc bromide and a mixture of at least two complexing agents selected from the group consisting of 1-R.sup.2-2-methyl pyridinium bromide and 1-R.sup.3-3-methyl pyridinium bromide salts, wherein each of R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is independently an alkyl group having not less than five carbon atoms.

Provided is a terminal assembly for an electrochemical battery comprising a terminal connector; a conductive flat-plate with an electrically conducting perimeter; an electrically insulating tape member; and a terminal bipolar electrode plate. The electrically insulating tape member is in between the conductive flat-plate and the terminal bipolar electrode plate such that the electrically insulating tape member does not cover the entire surface area of the conductive flat-plate. The electrically conducting perimeter enables bi-directional uniform current flow through the conductive flat-plate between the terminal connector and the terminal bipolar electrode plate. Also provided is a battery frame member for a static rechargeable battery comprising a liquid diversion system; a gutter; a sealing member; a gas channel; and a ventilation hole. Also provided is a static rechargeable electrochemical battery comprising a pair of terminal assemblies, at least one bipolar electrode interposed between the pair of terminal assemblies, and a battery frame member.

An intermittently-flowable electrode comprising conductive particles and a liquid fluidizing medium in which said conductive particles are suspended, wherein the electrode alternately performs as a flowable electrode and as a self-assembled electrode. Further disclosed are electrochemical devices comprising said intermittently flowable electrode and energy storage, energy harvesting and water desalination systems comprising said devices. Further provided is a method of operating the intermittently-flowable electrode and the electrochemical devices.

Disclosed are an electrode for secondary batteries containing a high-density carbon defect structure and a method of producing the same. The electrode can prevent deterioration of battery performance due to dendrite formation by inhibiting self-diffusion and aggregation of metal nuclei, and can exhibit an unprecedentedly high number of charge/discharge cycles and excellent energy efficiency by uniformly electrodepositing metal ions on the surface of the electrode. When the method of producing a carbon electrode for a secondary battery is used, an electrode containing a high-density carbon defect structure can be produced, and thus a battery with higher efficiency and a longer lifespan can be produced. The secondary battery comprising the electrode is useful for fields related to medium/large-scale energy storage technology, in particular, for mobile devices, automobile batteries, and renewable-energy power generation systems.

An electrochemical cell includes an air electrode in flow communication with a storage tank containing an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, a lithium electrode, a catalyst layer in contact with the air electrode or a gas diffusion layer associated with the air electrode, and a separator layer in contact with the lithium electrode and catalyst layer. The catalyst layer includes a catalyst for two electron reversible oxygen reduction. The catalyst comprises gold, and a cobalt coordination complex or polymer thereof. The cobalt coordination complex comprises a cobalt ion chelated by a tetradentate organic chelating ligand.

The present invention includes a method including providing an anode and a cathode; providing a desalination device operably coupled to establish an electrical potential between the anode and the cathode when the desalination device is operating; providing water containing dissolved solids; thereby establishing the electrical potential; reducing a salinity of the water by supplying the water to the desalination device; and generating electrical power by reducing the salinity of the water.

An energy storage system comprises a plurality of electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cells include a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode. An electrolyte in communication with the pair of electrodes. A flow shaping baffle is situated between the pair of electrodes. The flow shaping baffle includes a plurality of channels extending from a first end proximate the cathode to a second end proximate the anode along an axis substantially perpendicular to the electrodes. The first end has a first diameter and the second end has a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the second diameter. The disclosed energy storage system does not require expensive pumps or ion exchange membranes and can operate efficiently over a long service life.