Molten salt battery with solid metal cathode

Abstract

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.

1 .- 78 . (canceled) 
     
     
         79 . An electrochemical energy storage device, comprising:
 a first electrode comprising a first material;   a second electrode comprising a plurality of solid particles comprising antimony, wherein said antimony is reactive with said first material; and   a liquid electrolyte disposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said plurality of solid particles of said second electrode is dispersed in said liquid electrolyte, and wherein said liquid electrolyte is capable of conducting ions of said first material.   
     
     
         80 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein said first material comprises one or more metals. 
     
     
         81 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein said first material comprises calcium or a calcium alloy. 
     
     
         82 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 81 , wherein said first material further comprises lithium, sodium, magnesium, copper, zinc, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         83 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein said first electrode comprises a semi-solid or a liquid at an operating temperature of said electrochemical energy storage device. 
     
     
         84 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 83 , wherein said operating temperature is from about 300° C. to 650° C. 
     
     
         85 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein an individual particle of said plurality of solid particles has a dimension of at least about 0.0001 millimeters. 
     
     
         86 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein an individual particle of said plurality of solid particles has a dimension of less than or equal to about 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         87 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein said liquid electrolyte comprises a calcium salt. 
     
     
         88 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 87 , wherein said calcium salt is calcium chloride. 
     
     
         89 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 87 , wherein said liquid electrolyte further comprises a salt additive. 
     
     
         90 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 89 , wherein said salt additive comprises lithium chloride, sodium chloride, potassium chloride, strontium chloride, lithium bromide, sodium bromide, calcium bromide, potassium bromide, strontium bromide, barium chloride, barium bromide, or any composition thereof. 
     
     
         91 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , further comprising an intermetallic material disposed at one or more interfaces between said plurality of solid particles of said second electrode and said liquid electrolyte upon discharge of said electrochemical energy storage device, wherein said intermetallic material comprises said first material and said antimony. 
     
     
         92 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 91 , wherein said intermetallic material is included in an intermetallic layer at a given interface of said one or more interfaces. 
     
     
         93 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 91 , wherein said intermetallic material is included in a shell at least partially circumscribing a given solid particle of said plurality of solid particles. 
     
     
         94 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , wherein said negative current collector comprises an electrically conductive current lead or a porous metallic structure. 
     
     
         95 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 79 , further comprising a separator disposed between said first electrode and said second electrode, wherein said separator prevents said second electrode from contacting said first electrode. 
     
     
         96 . The electrochemical energy storage device of  claim 95 , wherein said separator comprises pores of an average diameter of less than or equal to about 0.8 millimeters.