Provided herein are energy storage devices. In some cases, the energy storage devices are capable of being transported on a vehicle and storing a large amount of energy. An energy storage device is provided comprising at least one liquid metal electrode, an energy storage capacity of at least about 1 MWh and a response time less than or equal to about 100 milliseconds (ms).

A battery cell capable of self-priming with molten metal produced within the battery cell includes a cathode compartment configured to contain a catholyte that releases metal ions, an anode compartment at least partially containing an anode current collector that receives electrons from an external power supply, an ion-selective membrane positioned between the cathode compartment and the anode compartment and configured to selectively transport the metal ions from the cathode compartment to the anode compartment when self-priming the battery cell, and an electron transport structure extending between the anode current collector and the ion-selective membrane within the anode compartment and configured to transport the electrons from the anode current collector to the ion-selective membrane when self-priming the battery cell. Self-priming includes combining the electrons with the metal ions arriving at an interface between the electron transport structure and the ion-selective membrane to produce the molten metal within the anode compartment.

An electrochemical reactor includes positive and negative electrodes. A conductive and/or dielectric liquid is provided between the positive and negative electrodes. A first isolation member provided on the positive electrode isolates the positive electrode from the liquid, and a second isolation member provided on the negative electrode isolates the negative electrode from the liquid. The first and second isolation member each includes a liquid-repellent porous membrane. The reactor further includes a pressure-applying member which pressurizes the liquid to fill the pores of the first and second liquid-repellent porous membranes with the liquid, thereby causing an electrochemical reaction involving the positive and negative electrodes.

A rechargeable lithium air battery is provided. The battery contains a ceramic separator forming an anode chamber, a molten lithium anode contained in the anode chamber, an air cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The cathode has a temperature gradient comprising a low temperature region and a high temperature region, and the temperature gradient provides a flow system for reaction product produced by the battery.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising a negative electrode, a molten electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, and a positive electrode in electrical communication with the molten electrolyte. One or more of the negative electrode, positive electrode, and molten electrolyte may be at least partially liquid at an operating temperature of the energy storage device. The positive electrode may be at least partially solid at the operating temperature of the energy storage device.

A metal-air battery and methods for generating electricity in a metal-air battery are described herein. The battery and the method includes heating an anhydrous salt to obtain a molten salt electrolyte; contacting the molten salt electrolyte to at least one cathode communicating with air; reducing air at the cathode to obtain oxygen ions for diffusing through the molten salt electrolyte; oxidizing at least one metal anode by the oxygen ions in the electrolyte thereby generating electricity and forming a metal anode oxide; and cooling at least one section of the metal-air battery for precipitating the metal anode oxide.

There is disclosed a polymer electrolyte composition that comprises a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1), at least one electrolyte salt selected from the group consisting of lithium salts, sodium salts, and magnesium salts, and a molten salt having a melting point of 250° C. or less: ##STR00001## wherein X.sup.− represents a counter anion.

A non-aqueous electrolyte solution for a battery, includes: an additive A which is at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following Formula (A); an additive B which is at least one selected from the group consisting of lithium monofluorophosphate and lithium difluorophosphate; and an additive C which is at least one selected from the group consisting of compounds containing a sulfur-oxygen bond. In Formula (A), R.sup.1 represents a fluorine atom, or a fluorinated hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms; and each of R.sup.2 to R.sup.4 independently represents a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, a hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a fluorinated hydrocarbon group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to rechargeable electrochemical battery cells (molten air batteries). The cells use air and a molten electrolyte, are quasi-reversible (rechargeable) and have the capacity for multiple electrons stored per molecule and have high intrinsic electric energy storage capacities. The present disclosure also relates to the use of such in a range of electronic, transportation and power generation devices, such as greenhouse gas reduction applications, electric car batteries and increased capacity energy storage systems for the electric grid.

There is disclosed a polymer electrolyte composition that comprises a polymer having a structural unit represented by the following formula (1), at least one electrolyte salt selected from the group consisting of lithium salts, sodium salts, and magnesium salts, and a molten salt having a melting point of 250° C. or less:

##STR00001## wherein X.sup.− represents a counter anion.