An electrochemical power system is provided involving a fuel cell comprising an anode capable of oxidizing a species comprising hydrogen, a cathode capable of reducing O.sub.2 or H2O, and a molten eutectic salt electrolyte.

According to one embodiment, a secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator. The positive electrode includes a first electrolyte containing aluminum ions. The negative electrode is capable of allowing lithium ions to be inserted and extracted. The separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator has lithium ion conductivity.

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).

Provided is an electrode for a sodium molten-salt battery in which degradation of the electrode can be suppressed even when charging and discharging are repeated, and which has excellent cycle characteristics. The electrode for a sodium molten-salt battery includes a current collector and an electrode mixture adhering to a surface of the current collector, in which the electrode mixture includes an electrode active material and a binder containing a polymer, and the polymer does not contain a fluorine atom. The polymer can include, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of polyamide resins and polyimide resins or at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic resins, rubber-like polymers, and cellulose derivatives.

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 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 invention relates to a molten metal battery of liquid bismuth and liquid tin electrodes and a eutectic electrolyte. The electrodes may be coaxial and coplanar. The eutectic electrolyte may be in contact with a surface of each electrode. The eutectic electrolyte may comprise ZnCl.sub.2:KCl.

An energy storage system that includes a molten sodium-containing salt in contact with a layer disposed on a surface of a -alumina solid electrolyte, wherein the surface layer comprises a composite comprising carbon, a metal, and a metal oxide.

An electrode is provided having a front region adjacent to a separator and a back region adjacent to a current collector. The electrode includes an anion-absorbing material and a cation-absorbing material. The electrode exhibits a compositional profile such that the anion-absorbing material is present at a higher volume percent at the back region than at the front region. Also provided are electrochemical cells that employ such an electrode as a positive electrode. Optionally, the cells include an electrolyte comprised of a solution of a solvent and a salt dissolved therein at a concentration of at least about 2M when the cell is in a fully discharged state.

Provided is a sodium molten-salt battery having good charge-discharge cycle characteristics. The sodium molten-salt battery includes a positive electrode that contains a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode that contains a negative electrode active material, and a molten-salt electrolyte that contains a sodium salt and an ionic liquid that dissolves the sodium salt. The negative electrode active material contains non-graphitizable carbon. The ionic liquid is a salt of a bis(sulfonyl)imide anion and a first onium cation that does not cause a Faradaic reaction with the non-graphitizable carbon. The molten-salt electrolyte contains a second onium cation in an amount of 1,000 ppm by mass or less. The second onium cation is represented by a general formula (1): R.sup.1R.sup.2R.sup.3R.sup.4N.sup.+ where R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are each independently a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.