A molten sodium battery includes molten sodium making an anode active material, a cathode active material, a sodium container accommodating the molten sodium therein, a partition wall including an anode chamber in an interior thereof, and a cathode container air-tightly accommodating the cathode active material and the partition wall therein. The molten sodium battery further includes the cathode container including a joint having an Opening communicating an inside of the cathode container with an outside thereof, and the partition wall containing a partition-wall body within the cathode container having a plate shape which contains the anode chamber at around central site thereof in a thickness direction, and a through bore connecting the anode chamber with an outside of the anode chamber, and a head fitted into the opening in the joint and bonded integrally with the partition-wall body which is communicated with the anode chamber by the through bore.

The present technology provides rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur galvanic cells and batteries incorporating such cells as well as methods of using such cell and batteries. The present galvanic cells provide high specific energy and high power at lower cost than conventional alkali metal-sulfur cells.

A solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries, and more particularly a composition of a solid electrolyte, a binder, and a solvent used to manufacture a solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries that is thin and has high ion conductivity. In particular, a solid electrolyte film composition for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries including a solvent having a dielectric constant of x (1.5<x<3.0). The thickness of a solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries manufactured using the solid electrolyte film composition is 60 .Math.m or less, and the solid electrolyte film is capable of being stably used for at least 1000 hours or more, and up to 2000 hours, based on the evaluation of Li plating and stripping.

The present technology provides rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur galvanic cells and batteries incorporating such cells as well as methods of using such cell and batteries. The present galvanic cells provide high specific energy and high power at lower cost than conventional alkali metal-sulfur cells.

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.

A battery includes negative electrode material and positive electrode material where the materials are in a solid phase except for selected portions that are heated to transform the selected portions into a fluid. The fluid portion of negative electrode material is directed to a negative electrode region of a reaction chamber and the fluid portion of positive electrode material is directed to a positive electrode region of the reaction chamber where a solid electrolyte containing ions of the negative electrode separates the positive electrode region from the negative electrode region.

A solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries, and more particularly a composition of a solid electrolyte, a binder, and a solvent used to manufacture a solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries that is thin and has high ion conductivity. In particular, a solid electrolyte film composition for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries including a solvent having a dielectric constant of x (1.5<x<3.0). The thickness of a solid electrolyte film for sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries manufactured using the solid electrolyte film composition is 60 m or less, and the solid electrolyte film is capable of being stably used for at least 1000 hours or more, and up to 2000 hours, based on the evaluation of Li plating and stripping.

A cathode mixture having a low irreversible capacity is disclosed. The cathode mixture contains: a cathode active material having a S element; a sulfur-containing compound having a B element and a S element; and a conductive additive, wherein the cathode mixture does not substantially have a Li element, and a standard value that is defined by the following formula is at least 0.56 when the diffracted intensity at 11.5 in 2 is defined as I.sub.11.5, the diffracted intensity at 23.1 in 2 is defined as I.sub.23.1, and the diffracted intensity at 40 in 2 is defined as I.sub.40 in the X-ray diffraction measurement using CuK radiation:

standard value=(I.sub.11.5I.sub.40)/(I.sub.23.1I.sub.40).

Provided herein is an apparatus for storing electric energy including at least one electrochemical cell having an anode space and a cathode space that are separated by a solid electrolyte, a first store for anode material that is connected to the anode space, and a second store for cathode material that is connected to the cathode space. The cathode space is also connected to a third store. The second and third stores are connected to one another by means of a gas conduit that opens into the upper region of the second and third stores. A conveying apparatus for gas having a reversible conveying direction is accommodated in the gas conduit. Further provided herein is a method of operating the apparatus.

Provided is a method of preparing an alkali-sulfur cell comprising: (a) combining a quantity of an active material, a quantity of an electrolyte containing an alkali salt dissolved in a solvent, and a conductive additive to form a deformable and electrically conductive electrode material, wherein the conductive additive, containing conductive filaments, forms a 3D network of electron-conducting pathways; (b) forming the electrode material into a quasi-solid electrode (the first electrode), wherein the forming step includes deforming the electrode material into an electrode shape without interrupting the 3D network of electron-conducting pathways such that the electrode maintains an electrical conductivity no less than 10.sup.6 S/cm; (c) forming a second electrode (the second electrode may be a quasi-solid electrode as well); and (d) forming an alkali-sulfur cell by combining the quasi-solid electrode and the second electrode having an ion-conducting separator disposed between the two electrodes.