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).

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 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.

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.

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.

Apparatus and methods to reduce granule disruption during manufacture of electrochemical cells, such as a metal halide electrochemical cell, are provided. In one embodiment, a current collector can include a diffuser strip extending beneath an aperture configured to receive an injection stream of molten electrolyte. The diffuser strip can be configured to dissipate an injection stream of molten electrolyte when the molten electrolyte is injected into an electrochemical cell. In this way, disruption of a granule bed by the injection of the molten electrolyte during manufacture of the electrochemical cell can be reduced.

An object provides a power generation apparatus performing the purification of an Al alloy melt using scrap as raw material. A power generation apparatus includes: a container body with aluminum alloy melt and molten salt in a liquid junction with the aluminum alloy melt; an anode which is in contact with the aluminum alloy melt; and a cathode which is in contact with the molten salt. DC power is obtained from between the anode and the cathode by an anode reaction on the aluminum alloy melt side and a cathode reaction on the molten salt side. When the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt are separated by a separator allowing ionic conduction between the aluminum alloy melt and molten salt, the power generation efficiency is enhanced. The amount of a reactant in the Al alloy melt is monitored by measuring the electrical quantity associated with the power generation.

Provided are an electrolyte for a sodium secondary battery, and a sodium secondary battery using the same, and the sodium secondary battery using the electrolyte for a sodium secondary battery according to the present invention may have an excellent cycle characteristic, charge-discharge capacity, and stability, thereby making it possible to be operated without deterioration at a low temperature for a long time.

An electrochemical cell includes a bifunctional air cathode, an anode, and a ceramic electrolyte separator disposed substantially between the bifunctional air cathode and the anode. The anode includes a solid metal and an electrolyte configured to transition to a liquid phase in an operating temperature range. The electrolyte includes at least one of an alkali oxide, boron oxide, a carbonate, a phosphate, and a group III-X transition metal oxide.

An electrochemical cell including: a negative electrode including calcium and an alkali metal; a positive electrode including one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zn, Ga, Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Te, Bi, Pb, Sb, Zn, Sn and Mg; and an electrolyte including a salt of calcium and a salt of the alkali metal. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the calcium and alkali metal to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode exists as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.