An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, at least one positive electrode reservoir configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in the at least one positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir. An electrode material distribution system is configured to transfer, during a discharge state of the apparatus, fluid negative electrode material from the selected negative electrode reservoir to the reaction chamber.

An electrolyte element (10) comprises a perforated sheet (11) of non-reactive metal such as an aluminium-bearing ferritic steel, and a non-permeable ceramic layer (16b) of sodium-ion-conducting ceramic bonded to one face of the perforated sheet (11) by a porous ceramic sub-layer (16a). The perforated sheet (11) may be of thickness in the range 50 m up to 500 m, and the thickness of the non-permeable ceramic layer (16b) may be no more than 50 m, for example 20 m or 10 m. Thus the electrolyte properties are provided by the non-permeable thin layer (16b) of ceramic, while mechanical strength is provided by the perforated sheet (11). The electrolyte element (10) may be used in a rechargeable molten sodium-metal halide cell, in particular a sodium/nickel chloride cell (20). It makes cells with increased power density possible.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, at least one positive electrode reservoir configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in the at least one positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir. An electrode material distribution system is configured to transfer, during a discharge state of the apparatus, fluid negative electrode material from the selected negative electrode reservoir to the reaction chamber.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, a plurality of positive electrode reservoirs configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in a selected positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir and positive electrode material in a non-selected positive electrode reservoir. An electrode material distribution system is configured to cycle fluid positive electrode material between the selected positive electrode reservoir and the reaction chamber and configured to transfer, during a discharge state of the apparatus, fluid negative electrode material from the selected negative electrode reservoir to the reaction chamber.

An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, a plurality of positive electrode reservoirs configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in a selected positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir and positive electrode material in a non-selected positive electrode reservoir. An electrode material distribution system is configured to cycle fluid positive electrode material between the selected positive electrode reservoir and the reaction chamber and configured to transfer, during a discharge state of the apparatus, fluid negative electrode material from the selected negative electrode reservoir to the reaction chamber.

The present disclosure is directed to electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components, such as cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes, and methods for making such electrochemical cells. The cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes can be formed from a binder resin and various conductive and active materials, mixtures of which are injected into a mold under heat and pressure to form the components of the electrochemical cells. The cathode can include conductive metallic powder, flakes, ribbons, fibers, wires, and/or nanotubes. Further, electrochemical arrays can be formed from multiple electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components.

A device for storing electrical energy is disclosed. The device includes an electrochemical cell having a cathode chamber for holding a liquid cathode material and an anode chamber for holding a liquid anode material. The cathode and anode chambers are separated by a solid electrolyte, wherein the solid electrolyte is surrounded by a planar construction having openings, through which the cathode material can flow. The planar construction is made of an electrically conductive material. The cathode chamber includes at least one segment, wherein each segment has a jacket composed of an electrically conductive material and the jacket is fastened to the planar construction having openings in a fluid-tight and electrically conductive manner and wherein each segment is filled with a porous felt or a porous material different from porous felt. A method for assembling and starting up the device and a method for operating the device is also disclosed.

The present disclosure is directed to electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components, such as cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes, and methods for making such electrochemical cells. The cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes can be formed from a binder resin and various conductive and active materials, mixtures of which are injected into a mold under heat and pressure to form the components of the electrochemical cells. The cathode can include conductive metallic powder, flakes, ribbons, fibers, wires, and/or nanotubes. Further, electrochemical arrays can be formed from multiple electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components.

The present disclosure is directed to electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components, such as cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes, and methods for making such electrochemical cells. The cathodes, anodes, and/or electrolytes can be formed from a binder resin and various conductive and active materials, mixtures of which are injected into a mold under heat and pressure to form the components of the electrochemical cells. The cathode can include conductive metallic powder, flakes, ribbons, fibers, wires, and/or nanotubes. Further, electrochemical arrays can be formed from multiple electrochemical cells having injection molded or 3D printed components.

A process and system are disclosed for producing lithium oxide from lithium nitrate. In the process and system, the lithium nitrate is thermally decomposed in a manner such that a fraction of the lithium nitrate forms lithium oxide, and such that a remaining fraction of the lithium nitrate does not decompose to lithium oxide. The thermal decomposition may be terminated after a determined time period to ensure that there is a remaining fraction of lithium nitrate and to thereby produce a lithium oxide in lithium nitrate product. The lithium oxide in lithium nitrate product may have one or more transition-metal oxides, hydroxides, carbonates or nitrates added thereto to form a battery electrode. The lithium oxide in lithium nitrate product may alternatively be subjected to carbothermal reduction to produce lithium metal.