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.

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.

Provided is a current collector including a laminate in which a conductive substrate and an insulator are laminated, wherein the insulator is a porous insulator formed with an open pore channel penetrating through the insulator. The current collector may be used as a current collector for an electrode of a secondary battery and stably maintain capacity of the secondary battery at the time of repeating charge and discharge cycles.

Provided is a current collector including a laminate in which a conductive substrate and an insulator are laminated, wherein the insulator is a porous insulator formed with an open pore channel penetrating through the insulator. The current collector may be used as a current collector for an electrode of a secondary battery and stably maintain capacity of the secondary battery at the time of repeating charge and discharge cycles.

A three-dimensional porous composite electrode includes a three-dimensional porous current-collector and an active material layer including an active material and having a three-dimensional structure along a surface of the three-dimensional porous current-collector. The three-dimensional porous current-collector extends along a first direction, includes a current-collecting material and has a porosity gradient along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The three-dimensional porous composite electrode has a ratio gradient of the active material to the current-collecting material along the second direction.

A three-dimensional porous composite electrode includes a three-dimensional porous current-collector and an active material layer including an active material and having a three-dimensional structure along a surface of the three-dimensional porous current-collector. The three-dimensional porous current-collector extends along a first direction, includes a current-collecting material and has a porosity gradient along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The three-dimensional porous composite electrode has a ratio gradient of the active material to the current-collecting material along the second direction.

Disclosed is a multilayer cable-type secondary battery including a first electrode assembly comprising one or more first inner electrodes and a sheet-type first separation layer-outer electrode complex spirally wound to surround outer surfaces of the first inner electrodes, a separation layer surrounding the first electrode assembly to prevent short circuit of the electrodes, and a second electrode assembly comprising one or more second inner electrodes surrounding an outer surface of the separation layer and a sheet-type second separation layer-outer electrode complex spirally wound to surround outer surfaces of the second inner electrodes.

A method of charging a metal-air fuel cell. The method includes a step of orienting an anode chamber horizontally. The method further method includes a step of providing metal particles suspended in an electrolyte to flow through the anode chamber in a downstream direction oriented horizontally. The method further method includes a step of allowing a bed of the metal particles to form on the anode current collector. The plurality of particle collectors perturb the flow of electrolyte through the anode chamber and encourage settling of the particles one of on and between the particle collectors. The method further method includes a step of maintaining uniform formation of the bed.

A method of charging a metal-air fuel cell. The method includes a step of orienting an anode chamber horizontally. The method further method includes a step of providing metal particles suspended in an electrolyte to flow through the anode chamber in a downstream direction oriented horizontally. The method further method includes a step of allowing a bed of the metal particles to form on the anode current collector. The plurality of particle collectors perturb the flow of electrolyte through the anode chamber and encourage settling of the particles one of on and between the particle collectors. The method further method includes a step of maintaining uniform formation of the bed.

Provided herein are three-dimensional ion transport networks and current collectors for electrodes of electrochemical cells. Exemplary electrodes include interconnected layers and channels including an electrolyte to facilitate ion transport. Exemplary electrodes also include three dimensional current collectors, such as current collectors having electronically conducting rods, electronically conducting layers or a combination thereof.