Enabling multi-cation electrolyte usage in LMBs for lower cost and operating temperature

Alloy anodes form a promising path to the use of multi-cation electrolytes by increasing chemical stability. In this study, a lithium-magnesium alloy anode was developed such that lower cost and lower melting temperature multi-cation electrolytes could be incorporated in liquid metal batteries (LMBs). In a first part of this work, Lithium-magnesium was proven to be a viable anode in a standard uni-cation (Li+) Li-Mg/LiCl-LiF-LiI/Sb-Pb battery. SEM and EDS confirmed the stability of this anode with respect to the cathode (Sb-Pb) and the standard uni-cation electrolyte. Performance metrics (voltage, efficiencies, etc.) for the Li-Mg anode cell were found to be comparable to the analogous pure Li anode system. In a second part of this work, using the alloyed Li-Mg anode, we demonstrated successful cycling of cells using multi cation electrolytes in Li-Mg/LiBr-KBr/Sb-Pb and Li-Mg/LiCl-KCl/Sb-Pb LMBs. Each of these multi-cation electrolyte systems boasted an active materials energy cost of (<150$/kWh), which is less expensive than the metric cost to implement storage batteries in the electrical grid.[1] These results open the door to incorporating lower cost and lower melting temperature electrolyte candidates in LMBs by using alloyed anodes.

Department dc:contributor.department

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

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Blanchard, Allan (Allan B.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Donald R. Sadoway.

• 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/1721.1/80900

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/80900