Technical and economic feasibility of a high-temperature self-assembling battery

A conceptual high-temperature battery system for large-scale grid power applications was proposed, described, and evaluated. Unlike conventional battery technologies whose maximum current rate is constrained by at least one solid phase, the novel three-layer liquid-phase electrode-electrolyte-electrode cell facilitates high diffusivity and facile interfacial kinetics, which results in rapid ion transport and low activation overpotential. In addition to the extremely high currents enabled by the absence of solid-liquid interfaces, this cell configuration represents a robust design that can be easily manufactured. The molten components will self assemble due to their immiscibility and different densities. Another key feature is that a molten metalloid acts as the positive electrode, while an alkali or alkaline earth metal acts as the negative electrode, providing two electronically conductive molten electrodes. The cell is estimated to have a lifespan of 10-15 years with >3,000 deep-discharge cycles, to require minimal maintenance, and to supply 1-5 A/cm2 at 0.9 V with 80% DC-DC cycle-efficiency.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Bradwell, David (David Johnathon)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Donald R. Sadoway and Gerbrand Ceder.

• Materials Science and Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37683

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37683