The disclosure provides seals for devices that operate at elevated temperatures and have reactive metal vapors, such as lithium, sodium or magnesium. In some examples, such devices include energy storage devices that may be used within an electrical power grid or as part of a standalone system. The energy storage devices may be charged from an electricity production source for later discharge, such as when there is a demand for electrical energy consumption.

The present invention relates to an electrode for a lithium secondary battery, a method for preparing the same, an electrode assembly for a lithium secondary battery comprising the same, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same, wherein the electrode comprises an electrode active material, an aqueous binder, a compound represented by Formula 1, and a compound represented by Formula 2. Formula 1 and Formula 2 are the same as set forth in the specification. The electrode for a lithium secondary battery improves the physical properties of the aqueous binder in a manner whereby a cross-linking reaction material is combined with the aqueous binder, so that the electrode can improve initial charge/discharge efficiency and the life span of a lithium secondary battery, preferably a lithium sulfur battery, and improve the area capacity of the electrode.

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 electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode having a first liquid phase having a first active metal, a positive electrode having a second liquid phase having a second active metal, and a liquid electrolyte having a salt of the first active metal and a salt of the second active metal. The electrochemical cell also includes a bipolar faradaic membrane, disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, having a first surface facing the negative electrode and a second surface facing the positive electrode. The bipolar faradaic membrane is configured to allow cations of the first active metal to pass through and to impede cations of the second active metal from transferring from the positive electrode to the negative electrode and is at least partially formed from a material having an electronic conductivity sufficient to drive faradaic reactions at the second surface with the cations of the positive electrode.

A fluoride ion battery includes a substantially lithium-free anode and cathode. At least one of the anode or cathode contains fluorine, and a substantially lithium-free liquid electrolyte is used for charge transport. The electrolyte is liquid at temperatures below about 200 degrees Celsius, and can be formed from an organic-soluble fluoride salt dissolved in selected classes of solvents.

An object of the present invention is to provide a negative electrode active material etc. which have a high capacity density and which can improve cycle characteristics of a sodium secondary battery using a molten salt electrolyte. The negative electrode active material for a sodium secondary battery using a molten salt electrolyte includes tricobalt tetroxide. In the negative electrode active material, the tricobalt tetroxide preferably has an average particle size d.sub.50 of 10 m or less and a maximum particle size d.sub.max of 30 m or less.

This invention relates to a lithium-sulfur battery and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a molten salt-based lithium-sulfur battery and a method of manufacturing the same, in which a metal foam including lithium or a lithium alloy, as an anode active material, and sulfur or metal sulfide, as a cathode active material, is used as a support and a current collector, and a solid-state electrolyte is used to thus improve energy density and power output characteristics.

A rechargeable, self-heating aluminum-chalcogen battery is provided, with an aluminum or aluminum alloy negative electrode, a positive electrode of elemental chalcogen, and a mixture of chloride salts providing a molten salt electrolyte. The predominant chloride salt in the electrolyte is AlCh. Additional chloride salts are chosen from alkali metal chlorides. The cell operates at a modestly elevated temperatures, ranging from 90? C. to 250? C.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising at least one electrochemical cell comprising a negative current collector, a negative electrode in electrical communication with the negative current collector, an electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, a positive electrode in electrical communication with the electrolyte and a positive current collector in electrical communication with the positive electrode. The negative electrode comprises an alkali metal. Upon discharge, the electrolyte provides charged species of the alkali metal. The positive electrode can include a Group IIIA, IVA, VA and VIA of the periodic table of the elements, or a transition metal (e.g., Group 12 element).

A combined heat and power plant for the decentralized supply of power and of heat may include at least one prime mover for providing electrical energy while providing waste gas, at least one thermal store for storing thermal energy provided by the waste gas, and at least one high-temperature battery in which the electrical energy provided by the prime mover can be stored. The high-temperature battery can be supplied by the waste gas provided by the prime mover to keep the high-temperature battery warm.