A method of assembling a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The method includes inserting rechargeable energy storage cells into a battery housing, the battery housing having a base portion, a side portion extending from the base portion, and an aperture defined by the side portion, wherein the rechargeable energy storage cells are inserted into the battery housing through the aperture; installing an insulator on the rechargeable energy storage cells; and securing a housing cover to the battery housing such that the insulator and the rechargeable energy storage cells are maintained in compression between the housing cover and the housing base portion. Also disclosed is a rechargeable battery including a battery housing, a housing cover, a plurality of rechargeable energy storage cells disposed within the battery housing, and an insulator disposed between the rechargeable energy storage cells and the housing cover and maintained in compression.

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 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.

A electrochemical storage device, referred to herein as a radical-ion battery, is described. The radical-ion battery includes an electrolyte, first free radicals, and second free radicals, wherein the first free radicals and the second free radicals are different chemical species. The radical-ion battery also includes a separator that allows select ions to pass therethrough, but separates the electrolyte from the second free radicals.

Described herein are composites, including metal-metal composites and liquid-solid composites, that exhibit improved properties. Also provided are methods of making and using these composites.

Compositions that include liquid metal particles and a carbon-based scaffold are disclosed. The composition may be used in a number of different applications, including battery and capacitor applications. Also disclosed are methods of making liquid metal-based compositions.

High energy rechargeable batteries employing catalyzed molten nitrate positive electrodes and alkali metal negative electrodes are disclosed. Novel and advantageous aspects of the present invention are enabled by the provision catalytically active materials that support the reversible formation of NO.sub.3.sup. from O.sup.2 and NO.sub.2.sup. during battery charging. Such catalytically active materials allow highly efficient cycling and selectively eliminate irreversible side reactions that occur when cycling without such catalysts.

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.

Provided are an electrolyte for a sodium secondary battery and a sodium secondary battery using the same. More particularly, the sodium secondary battery includes an anode containing sodium, a cathode containing a transition metal, and a sodium ion conductive solid electrolyte provided between the anode and the cathode, wherein the cathode is impregnated in an electrolyte containing a molten sodium salt and an electrolyte additive, the electrolyte additive including an inorganic sodium salt.

A synthesis technology for sulfur-carbon Nanocomposite is provided, which was achieved by ultrasonification to allow formation of homogeneously distributed Sulfur nanoparticles on Carbon. Sulfur is uniformly distributed with mesoporous functionalized carbon to produce Sulfur-Carbon (SC) nano-link. The performance of an EC cell assembled using the (SC) nanocomposite cathode in Li-S battery has a capacity >910 mAh/g at low current density without fading up to 80 cycles with different C-rate. The synthesis process is cost effective and scalable for large quantity of (CS) nanocomposites.