An electrolyte capable of lip roving the stability of a lithium-metal battery is provided. The electrolyte includes an organic solvent, a cosolvent, which is different from the organic solvent and includes a fluorine-based compound, and an additive having a lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) value than the organic solvent.

An object provides a power generation apparatus performing the purification of an Al alloy melt using scrap as raw material. A power generation apparatus includes: a container body with aluminum alloy melt and molten salt in a liquid junction with the aluminum alloy melt; an anode which is in contact with the aluminum alloy melt; and a cathode which is in contact with the molten salt. DC power is obtained from between the anode and the cathode by an anode reaction on the aluminum alloy melt side and a cathode reaction on the molten salt side. When the aluminum alloy melt and the molten salt are separated by a separator allowing ionic conduction between the aluminum alloy melt and molten salt, the power generation efficiency is enhanced. The amount of a reactant in the Al alloy melt is monitored by measuring the electrical quantity associated with the power generation.

The present invention provides a method of preparing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery which includes forming a first electrolyte layer by immersing an electrode current collector in a composition for forming the first electrolyte layer and applying a current, and forming a second electrolyte layer by immersing the electrode current collector having the first electrolyte layer formed thereon in a composition for forming the second electrolyte layer and applying a current, wherein one of the composition for forming the first electrolyte layer and the composition for forming the second electrolyte layer is a composition for forming an organic electrolyte layer, and another one is a composition for forming an inorganic electrolyte layer, and the composition for forming an inorganic electrolyte layer includes a compound represented by Formula 1.

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.

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.

The present disclosure provides an energy storage device comprising a negative electrode, a molten electrolyte in electrical communication with the negative electrode, and a positive electrode in electrical communication with the molten electrolyte. One or more of the negative electrode, positive electrode, and molten electrolyte may be at least partially liquid at an operating temperature of the energy storage device. The positive electrode may be at least partially solid at the operating temperature of the energy storage device.

A metal-air battery and methods for generating electricity in a metal-air battery are described herein. The battery and the method includes heating an anhydrous salt to obtain a molten salt electrolyte; contacting the molten salt electrolyte to at least one cathode communicating with air; reducing air at the cathode to obtain oxygen ions for diffusing through the molten salt electrolyte; oxidizing at least one metal anode by the oxygen ions in the electrolyte thereby generating electricity and forming a metal anode oxide; and cooling at least one section of the metal-air battery for precipitating the metal anode oxide.

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.

Provided herein are methods for making a metal and metal-alloy anode battery having electrolytes which include Al—Cl.sub.4.sup.1− and are free of any Al.sub.2Cl.sub.7.sup.−1 anions. These batteries are observed to have improved electrochemical performance. Also set forth herein are electrolytes include AlCl.sub.4.sup.1− and are free of any Al.sub.2Cl.sub.7.sup.1− anions. Also set forth herein are electrochemical cells which include electrolytes which include AlCl.sub.4.sup.1− and are free of any Al.sub.2Cl.sub.7.sup.1− anions.

An electrolyte composition can be capable of becoming molten when heated sufficiently. The electrolyte can include at least one lithium halide salt; and at least one lithium non-halide salt combined with the at least one lithium halide salt so as to form an electrolyte composition capable of becoming molten when above a melting point about 350° C. A lithium halide salt includes a halide selected from F and Cl. A first lithium non-halide salt can be selected from the group consisting of LiVO.sub.3, Li.sub.2SO.sub.4, LiNO.sub.3, and Li.sub.2MoO.sub.4. A thermal battery can include the electrolyte composition, such as in the cathode, anode, and/or separator region therebetween. The battery can discharge electricity by having the electrolyte composition at a temperature so as to be a molten electrolyte.