A battery includes an anode chamber configured to contain an anolyte and including an anode, a cathode chamber configured to contain a catholyte including a cathode, and a separator between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber. The anode includes sodium, and the cathode includes aluminum. The battery is configured to be operated above a melting point of the anolyte and the catholyte, such that the anolyte is a molten anolyte and the catholyte is a molten catholyte.

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 current collector, and a positive electrode in electrical communication with the positive current collector and electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises a material that is solid at the operating temperature of the energy storage device.

A battery cell with a magnesium and beta alumina current collector includes a magnesium core with a beta alumina covering and bare magnesium collectors. The preferred embodiment uses a two chamber battery cell with a ceramic separator, where the cathode chamber contains the current collector and a compound of 38% common salt (NaCl) containing 80 micrograms of Iodine (I) per gram of common salt (NaCl), 18% Iron (Fe), 15% Zinc, (Zn), 16% Copper (Cu), 5% Nickel (Ni) and 4% Silver (Ag), and the anode chamber contains a compound of 38% common salt (NaCl) containing 80 micrograms of Iodine (I) per gram of common salt (NaCl).

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.

An electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an ion-conducting composite membrane disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The composite membrane includes a porous substrate having pores and a porosity from about 5 vol % to about 80 vol %, and a selective ion-conductive filler disposed at least partially within the pores. The filler includes an intercalation material. Methods of making the ion-conducting composite membrane and using an electrochemical cell having the ion-conducting composite membrane are also provided.

An electrode unit for an electrochemical device, comprising (i) a solid electrolyte which divides a space for molten cathode material, selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur and polysulfide of the alkali metal anode material, and a space for molten alkali metal anode material, and (ii) a porous solid state electrode directly adjacent to the solid electrolyte within the space for the cathode material, with a non-electron-conducting intermediate layer S present between the solid state electrode and the solid electrolyte, wherein this intermediate layer S has a thickness in the range from 0.5 to 5 mm and, before the first charge of the electrochemical device, has been impregnated fully with a polysulfide composition, comprising (A) pure polysulfides Met.sub.2S.sub.x with Met=alkali metal of the alkali metal anode material selected from lithium, sodium, potassium, and x is dependent on the alkali metal and is 2, 3, 4 or 5 for Na and is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 for Li and is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 for K, or (B) mixtures of the polysulfides of one and the same alkali metal from (A) with one another.

An energy storage assembly includes the following: at least one electrochemical cell, wherein the at least one electrochemical cell comprises an anode that is liquid during operation, an electrolyte that is liquid during operation, and a cathode that is liquid during operation; and a magnetic field-generating structure disposed outside the at least one electrochemical cell for generating a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field-generating structure is configured such that the generated magnetic field penetrates the at least one electrochemical cell.

An energy storage device comprising a cathode comprising: (i) an Fe source; (ii) at least one sulfur species and (iii) NaCl,
wherein the mol percent of S is less than 10, based on the total moles of (i), (ii) and (iii).

The disclosure provides electrochemical batteries, electrochemical battery housings and methods for assembling electrochemical batteries. The battery housing can include a container, a container lid assembly and an electrical conductor. The container can include a cavity that extends into the container from a cavity aperture. The lid assembly can seal the cavity, and can include an electrically conductive container lid and an electrically conductive flange. The container lid can cover the cavity aperture and can include a conductor aperture that extends through the container lid. The flange can cover the conductor aperture and can be electrically isolated from the container lid. The conductor can be connected to the flange and can extend through the conductor aperture into the cavity. The conductor can be electrically isolated from the container lid.

Cell and batteries containing them employing a cathode having a intercalating metal oxide in combination with a sodium metal haloaluminate. At operating temperatures, the positive electrode (cathode) of the invention comprises electroactive cathode material permeated with and in physical and electrical contact with the sodium metal haloaluminate catholyte. The positive and negative electrodes are separated with a solid alkali metal conducting electrolyte. The intercalating metal oxice is not in direct physical contact with the solid electrolyte. Electric and ionic conductivity between the solid electrolyte and the positive electrode is mediated by the sodium haloaluminate catholyte. Batteries of the invention are useful for bulk energy storage, particularly for electric utility grid storage, as well as for electric vehicle propulsion.