Abstract: The invention is embodied in a hermetically sealed alkali metal battery container. Two opposed outer metallic casings each having an open end and a closed end are hermetically sealed to a ceramic ring which supports an inner casing of a solid alkali ion-conductive material. The hermetic seal is accomplished by means of a pressure accepting shoulder formed on one of the casings and a metal pressure sleeve which acts on the shoulder to draw the open ends of each of the casings into sealing engagement respectively with upper and lower surfaces of the ceramic ring.

Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type comprising: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) a cathodic reaction zone containing a cathodic reactant comprising a liquid electrolyte which is electrochemically reactive with said anodic reactant and an electrode of porous conductive material which is at least partially immersed in said cathodic reactant; and (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones, said porous conductive material being in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit. The improvement of the invention comprises employing a cation-permeable barrier having major grooves or channels being devoid of said porous conductive material and being adapted in size and shape such that polysulfide salts within said cathodic reaction zone can flow therein by capillary forces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection or determination of an element in a substance comprising that element by monitoring the e.m.f. generated between the substance and a reference material, in which the reference material is a solid compound of said element separated from the substance by said electrolyte.

Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) one or more anodic reaction zones; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) an electrode which is disposed within said cathodic reaction zone. The improvement comprises employing an electrode, at least a portion of which consists essentially of a porous metal substrate which (i) is coated, at least in part, with an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of: (a) metals of Groups I, II and III of the Periodic Table of elements, (b) Transition Series metals, and (c) tin, lead, antimony and bismuth to a thickness which is greater than about 500 angstroms, but which results in said electrode portion having a resistivity of less than about 4 ohm-cm.sup.

Abstract: A cathode cell casing and a hermetically sealed sodium-sulfur cell are disclosed. The metallic cathode cell casing is made of one of several specific metals. The cell casing includes also an opposed anode cell casing portion joined to a ring supporting an inner casing of a solid sodium ion-conductive material. A hermetically sealed sodium-sulfur cell has the above type of casing with a sodium negative electrode in the inner casing and a positive electrode of sulfur in conductive material in the cathode casing portion surrounding the inner casing. A high resistance electrical wire is positioned within the inner casing, contacts its closed end and extends to and contacts the interior surface of the anode casing portion.

Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) one or more anodic reaction zones containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) an electrode which is disposed within said cathodic reaction zone such that it is (i) at least partially immersed in said cathodic reactant, and (ii) in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric cell of the sodium-sulphur type particularly adapted for undergoing complete recharging. It comprises a cathode tank containing sulphur, an anode tank containing sodium, these reagents being separated by a solid electrolyte tube disposed in said cathode tank fitted with graphite felt washers ensuring cathode collection of the current generated, wherein said electrolyte tube is surrounded by a grating which is connectable to the negative terminal of the recharging current source by means of a resistor. The invention is used in cells for electric vehicles.

Abstract: An alkali metal-sulphur cell has an outer tubular casing and an inner tubular solid electrolyte dividing the cell into anode and cathode compartments and whose interior provides one of such compartments. The outer tubular casing and the tubular solid electrolyte are spaced apart to define an annular space, which provides the other compartment of the cell.A primary porous coating is provided on at least one surface of the solid electrolyte and an outer layer is provided on the primary porous coating, the outer layer being more dense than the primary porous coating.

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur storage battery having a sealed housing which contains a solid electrolyte incorporating an anodic reactant such as sodium, a cathodic current collector (which may be the housing) extending in a direction generally parallel to the solid electrolyte and cathodic electro-conductive material disposed between and in contact with the solid electrolyte and the cathodic current collector. The cathodic electro-conductive material is impregnated with a cathodic reactant and includes a fiber content, the individual fibers of which have a direction normal to the direction of the cathodic current collector. One suitable material for the cathodic electro-conductive material is a graphite felt and which is impregnated with sodium polysulfide or sulfur.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry comprising an intimate mixture of colloidal silica, (preferably an amorphous, precipitated, hydrated silica), caustic potash, boric acid and alumina is first prepared and then dried. The dried aggregates are thereafter crushed, calcined and rapidly quenched. It is preferred to dry the slurry in a spray drier and thereafter omit crushing after drying and to calcine the dried admixture by means of a plasma arc so that the mixture is rapidly quenched after calcination. The calcined mixture is introduced into a crusher, such as a ball mill, with a carbonaceous cellulating agent and reduced to a fine pulverulent material. The pulverulent material is then cellulated in a cellulating furnace to form cellular borosilicate bodies. Where desired, the calcined material may be utilized as a ceramic frit.

Abstract: In an electrochemical cell, such as a sodium sulphur cell, having a solid ceramic sodium-ion permeable electrolyte forming part of the boundary of a sodium-containing region, to seal this region, the ceramic electrolyte or a ceramic extension thereof is sealed to a metal housing or metal closure element using glass with the glass-to-metal interface protected against the effect of sodium vapour by a niobium coating over the metal in the region where the interface is exposed to the sodium or this interface is protected from such exposure by niobium foil.

Abstract: Improved sodium-sulfur batteries are provided by enhancing the utilization of active positive-electrode material. In sodium-sulfur batteries, employing a liquid sodium electrode separated from a liquid sulfur electrode by a solid .beta.-alumina electrolyte separator, where the sulfur is impregnated in an electronically conducting matrix such as porous carbon, enhanced utilization of active electrode material is achieved during the charging-discharging cycling by enhancing the electronic resistivity adjacent the .beta.-alumina in the sulfur electrode. This can be achieved in a variety of ways, particularly employing porous carbon of higher resistivity adjacent the .beta.-alumina as compared to the porous carbon distant from the .beta.-alumina.

Abstract: Electric accumulators of the type comprising an anode compartment containing an anode formed from at least one metal selected from the group consisting of metals belonging to Groups Ia, IIa, IIb and IIIb of the periodic table of elements; a cathode compartment containing a cathode formed at least partly from a conducting member comprising a substance capable of accepting electrons, to form anions by cathodic reduction, and an electrolyte consisting of a substance capable of dissolving the product or products generated during discharge of the accumulator; the anode compartment and cathode compartment being separated from each other by a wall impervious to fluids and formed from a solid mineral electrolyte capable of allowing selective migration of the anode metal, in the form of cations are improved by adding to the anode compartment a salt of the anode metal between the anode and the separation wall.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell, the cathode current collector in the sulphur/polysulphide cathodic reactant comprises a carbon or graphite tube containing a solid metal, e.g. aluminum, core and a liquid metal, e.g. tin or a tin-lead alloy, as a conducting interface between the carbon or graphite tube and the core. In a preferred construction, the current collector is axially located within a cylindrical electrolyte tube, the space between the electrolyte tube and graphite tube containing the sulphur/polysulphides and a graphite felt. The outer surface of the graphite tube in this case may have grooves or recesses to form a sulphur reservoir.

Abstract: An electric accumulator having an alkali metal as the reactant at the negative electrode, and a cationically conductive separator physically separating the reactant at the negative electrode from a reactant at the positive electrode, while permitting passage of cations of the alkali metal therethrough, characterized in that the reactant at the positive electrode comprising a mixture which, in the fully charged state, comprises 5 to 75 mole % of aluminium chloride and 95 to 25 mole % iron III chloride.

Abstract: A molten salt electrochemical system for battery applications comprises tetravalent sulfur as the active cathode material with a molten chloroaluminate solvent comprising a mixture of AlCl.sub.3 and MCl having a molar ratio of AlCl.sub.3 /MCl from greater than 50.0/50.0 to 80/20.

Abstract: In a sodium sulphur cell, the cathode current collector in the sulphur/polysulphide cathodic reactant comprises a carbon or graphite tube containing a solid metal, e.g. aluminum, core and a deformable electronic conductor, e.g. graphite felt, as a conducting interface between the carbon or graphite tube and the core. In a preferred construction, the current collector is axially located within a cylindrical electrolyte tube, the space between the electrolyte tube and graphite tube containing the sulphur/polysulphides and a graphite felt. The outer surface of the graphite tube in this case may have grooves or recesses to form a sulphur reservoir.

Abstract: A high temperature secondary battery comprises an anode containing lithium, a cathode containing a chalcogen or chalcogenide, a molten salt electrolyte containing lithium ions, and a separator comprising a porous sheet comprising a homogenous mixture of 2-20 wt.% chrysotile asbestos fibers and the remainder inorganic material non-reactive with the battery components. The non-reactive material is present as fibers, powder, or a fiber-powder mixture.

Abstract: In an electrochemical cell, such as a sodium-sulphur cell, having a tube of solid electrolyte material separating a liquid alkali metal from a cathodic reactant, the electrolyte tube is surrounded by constraining means which apply an inward pressure as the cell temperature rises. This is achieved either by having a suitable means, e.g., wire, around the tube with a lower coefficient of expansion than the tube, or by putting powder or particles or corrugated metal or other constraining means between the tube and a surrounding housing, the materials being chosen to have appropriate coefficients of expansion to give the required inward pressure.

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur battery is described which contains, in addition to a conventional sodium electrode, a conventional sulfur electrode and a conventional solid electrolyte, an additive which reduces the operating temperature of the cell without significant deleterious effects on operating characteristics.

Abstract: In a sodium-sulphur cell having a solid electrolyte and a cathode current collector with a porous conductive matrix, e.g. carbon or graphite felt, in the region between the electrolyte and the current collector, the matrix is formed of a plurality of discrete elements with electronically conductive material, e.g. graphite foil, between the elements extending across the region between the current collector and the electrolyte to increase the conductivity across that region.

Abstract: An improved thermoelectric generator of the type having (1) enclosure means for a first reaction zone; (2) enclosure means for a second reaction zone; (3) a reaction zone separator which (a) separates and essentially completes enclosure of the two reaction zones and (b) comprises a cationically-conductive, solid electrolyte that is essentially impermeable to elemental alkali metal and compounds thereof and ionically conductive with respect to cations of the alkali metal; (4) alkali metal within the first reaction zone and in fluid communication with the solid electrolyte; (5) an electrode within the second reaction zone in electrical contact with the solid electrolyte and sufficiently porous to permit alkali metal vapor to pass therethrough; (6) conduction means for electron flow between the alkali metal within the first reaction zone and the electrode; (7) inlet means for introducing the alkali metal into the first reaction zone; and (8) temperature control means adapted to maintain a temperature in the firs

Abstract: The invention relates to a new structure for a sodium-sulphur cell. Such a cell comprises a cathode tank containing sulphur, an electrolyte tube closed, at its lower end, containing sodium and immersed in sulphur, a sodium anode tank, a ceramic support holding the said tank and the tube, the cathode tank being fitted with graphite felt washers ensuring cathode collection of the current, the outside face of the electrolyte tube being, except for the lower end, lined with a porous insulating coating, a graphite felt part being, moreover, inserted between the said lower end of the electrolyte tube and the bottom of the cathode tank. The invention is implemented in sodium sulphur cell batteries for electric vehicles.

Abstract: A high surface area short diffusion path sodium/sulfur cell is provided having a plurality of half-cells in spaced-apart planes extending through the block in a first direction with a second group of half-cells in the planes intermediate the planes of the first group of half-cells extending through the block in a direction normal to the direction of the first group of half-cells. The construction is strong and stable, provides for large surface area contact with the cell reactants and avoids narrow passageways which result in high resistance. The sodium and sulfur can be circulated through the active cell volume during charging and discharging of the battery permitting large storage capacity. Current collection can be achieved employing graphite fibers twisted between aluminum wires, with the aluminum wires welded to an aluminum manifold.

Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two-phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) a current collector which at least partially exposed to said cathodic reactant and which is in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit.

Abstract: An alkali metal sulphur cell has an outer tubular casing and an inner tubular solid electrolyte whose interior constitutes the cathode compartment of the cell. The outer tubular casing and the tubular solid electrolyte are spaced apart to define an annular space, at least the part of which adjacent the outer surface of the tubular solid electrolyte constitutes the anode compartment of the cell. Means are provided for causing the alkali metal to be distributed over the outer surface of the tubular solid electrolyte. Barrier means additional to the solid electrolyte are disposed between the sulphur material and at least a part of the outer casing. The barrier means may comprise a coating on one or both surfaces of the tubular solid electrolyte, alkali metal flow restrictor means or a coating on at least a part of the inner surface of the outer casing.

Abstract: The invention is embodied in a structure for containing an alkali metal battery. A closed metal housing includes a flange having an opening therethrough. An electronically and ionically insulating ceramic member is bonded to an exterior surface of the metal housing and encircles the opening through the flange thereby to define a passageway which is an extension of the opening. An electrically insulating, cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer has an interior volume and an exterior surface area. The cation-permeable barrier is bonded to the ceramic member in such a manner that the interior volume of the metal housing, the passageway defined by the ceramic member and the interior volume of the cation-permeable barrier form a first closed electrode reaction zone.

Abstract: The invention comprises an electric battery of the kind for use with a liquid anode, a liquid cathode and a solid electrolyte, and having a number of cells nested one within the other such that adjacent cells share and are separated by a common electrode.The common electrode may provide a series connection or a parallel connection between adjacent cells.

Abstract: In an electric cell having a solid electrolyte which bounds on one side a mpartment for liquid anode and on its opposite side a compartment for liquid cathode, the liquid anode compartment is made of very limited capacity. The bulk of the liquid anode required by the cell is held in a reservoir and fed to the liquid anode compartment by a capillary duct to provide a restricted feed which limits the flow of liquid anode therebetween. The reservoir may be disposed within the cell, or outside the cell, and may supply liquid anode to several cells.

Abstract: Substituted lithium orthosilicates are provided havingA. the formulaLi.sub.4.sub.+w.sub.-x.sub.-2y Si.sub.1.sub.-w.sub.-x.sub.-y Al.sub.w P.sub.x S.sub.y O.sub.4whereinW IS 0 TO ABOUT 0.45,X IS 0 TO ABOUT 0.5, ANDY IS 0 TO ABOUT 0.35,With the proviso that one or both of w or x+2y is at least about 0.1, andB. the monoclinic Li.sub.4 SiO.sub.4 crystal structure. These substituted orthosilicates are useful as solid electrolytes in electrochemical cells such as galvanic cells and electrolytic cells.

Abstract: A thermo-electric generator of the kind making use of beta alumina ceramic through which sodium is circulated to produce an electric potential between the two surfaces of the ceramic has the ceramic in the form of a tube closed at its upper end and with its open end extending into liquid sodium. A heat pipe extends into the ceramic tube and there is an external tubular casing around the ceramic tube forming a closed structure for housing sodium in liquid and vapor form both inside and outside the ceramic tube. The heat pipe may be arranged either as a heat source or heat sink for the sodium inside the ceramic tube, the housing forming the heat sink in the former case of the heat source in the latter. The ceramic tube may, at its open end, be sealed to the housing and a pump used for pumping the sodium from the cold face to the hot face of the ceramic or capillary means may be used to circulate the sodium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sodium-sulphur battery for electrical drive. It is formed by elements each comprising a cathode tank containing sulphur, a solid electrolyte tube closed at its lower end, containing sodium and arranged in the said cathode tank, a ceramic insulating support for keeping the said electrolyte tube in the said cathode tank, an anode tank containing a supply of sodium, that battery being characterized in that it comprises m groups of n modules each comprising p elements, those elements being electrically interconnected in parallel in each of the modules by means of plates connected to the bottoms of the said cathode tanks and anode tanks respectively, each of the said plates comprising a substantially central bore. The invention is implemented for propelling all electric vehicles.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte composite is provided which is suitable for use as the separating member between a sodium reservoir source and a sulfur reservoir source in a sodium-sulfur battery; the solid electrolyte composite is manufactured by providing a membrane of a crystalline ionic conductive sodium polyaluminate on a portion of a porous, anhydrous crystalline supporting body consisting of alpha-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3. The sodium polyaluminate is initially applied in the form of a precursor which is then subsequently heated to form the ionic conductive crystalline sodium polyaluminate membrane.

Abstract: An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) one or more anodic reaction zones containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing (1) a cathodic reactant comprising a liquid electrolyte which is electrochemically reversibly reactive with said anodic reactant and which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (2) an electrode in contact with said liquid electrolyte; and (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones, said electrode being in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and an external circuit.

Abstract: A rechargeable galvanic battery which contains liquid sodium, as the negative electro-chemically active material, and liquid sulfur, as the positive electro-chemically active material, and a ceramic solid electrolyte, which is capable of conducting sodium ions. The sodium is completely absorbed in a fine-pored metal felt or mat. The sulfur is completely absorbed in a graphite felt or mat. The metal felt has open pores which face toward the solid electrolyte. The pore structure of the metal felt is undisturbed even in the transition area between the metal felt and the solid electrolyte. The metal felt fills the entire anode space of the battery. At least at the operating temperature of the battery, an intimate contact over a large surface area exists between the metal felt and the solid electrolyte. The maximum distance between the metal felt and the solid electrolyte is in the order of the magnitude of the pore width of the metal felt.

Abstract: Solid-electrolyte battery, particularly for the storage of electrical energy, with at least one anode space and one cathode space forming electrode spaces, which are connected with one another by ionic conduction through a solid electrolyte and which have collecting and equalizing spaces for the reactants and reaction products, wherein the solid-electrolyte battery includes a number of parallel-connected, hole-like electrode spaces including anode and cathode spaces, which are bounded by the solid electrolyte and distributed alternately and close together, so that each of the electrode spaces presents reaction surfaces simultaneously to at least two neighboring electrode spaces of the opposite polarity.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric cell of the sodium-sulphur type, suitable more particularly for undergoing a complete recharge. It comprises a cathode tank containing sulphur, an anode tank containing sodium, these reagents being separated by a solid electrolyte tube disposed in said cathode tank which is fitted with graphite felt washers ensuring cathode collection of the current generated, wherein some washers are disposed to have an edge distant from the wall of said electrolyte tube in order to avoid depositing sulphur on said tube during recharging. The invention is used in electric cells for electric vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sodium-sulphur type electric cell. The cell includes a cathode tank containing sulphur and an anode tank containing sodium, fixed to an alumina plate, as well as an electrolyte tube immersed in the sulphur, such fixing being effected by disposing an aluminium seal between the tank and the plate and compressing at a temperature close to but less than the melting point of aluminium, at least the cathode tank being advantageously made of chrome-plated steel. The invention is implemented in electric cells for electric propulsion.

Abstract: A sodium-sulphur cell is provided having a ceramic spacer means disposed in he liquid sulphur compartment to provide a region substantially free from cathodic reactions. The spacer means is disposed adjacent to materials likely to be adversely affected by said cathodic reactions, such as glass seals used to join the solid electrolyte to a ceramic support member, or a metallic end cap provided to close the liquid sulphur compartment.

Abstract: In an electric cell having a solid electrolyte and employing sodium as the iquid anode and sulphur as the liquid cathode, the liquid anode is contained in two compartments separated by a corrosion resistant barrier. Liquid anode is arranged to flow between the compartments through a flow restrictor which permits a rate of flow sufficient to meet the normal charge and discharge requirements of the cell but limits higher rates of flow.One of the compartments has a very limited capacity for liquid sodium and is disposed about one side of the solid electrolyte to define a wicking space to constrain liquid sodium to flow over the solid electrolyte. The other compartment provides a reservoir for containing the bulk of the liquid sodium.In the event of damage to the solid electrolyte, only a very limited amount of liquid sodium is readily available to mix and react with the liquid sulphur.

Abstract: Electrochemical storage cell or battery based on sodium and sulfur having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated from each other by a dividing wall capable of conducting sodium ions, is provided with a screening electrode disposed in the chamber containing sulfur as a reactant between the dividing wall and the outer cell wall of said chamber to electrically screen the cell wall and thereby minimize corrosion of the cell wall.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-sodium electrochemical cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium-sodium, lithium-sodium as an amalgam, and lithium-sodium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode functioning with a lithium-sodium type anode and a solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte, and a solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode, the solid lithium-sodium aluminate electrolyte having an approximate composition of LiNa0.9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: This invention relates to a sodium sulfur storage battery including sulfur as a cathodic reactant, sodium as an anodic reactant and a non-porous solid electrolyte, the storage battery having a partition means in a chamber of sodium. According to this invention, even if a part of the solid electrolyte is broken, direct reaction between the both reactants is controlled in a smaller scale thus preventing the spread of electrolyte deterioration.

Abstract: An alkali metal-sulphur cell of tubular form, has an inner tubular member constituting the solid electrolyte, an outer tubular member and a current collecting pole extending into the interior of the inner tubular member which forms the cathode compartment of the cell. The outer tubular member, the inner tubular member and the current collecting pole have shoulder formations which abut one another through sealing means and are urged towards one another by axially acting spring means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel sodium-sulfur storage battery comprising a sodium reservoir made of metal incorporating a heater between double walls, a solid electrolyte connected thereto, an anodic reactant contained therein and a cathode reactant contained thereout, and a battery housing which contains the above-mentioned components and being sealed at the upper part thereof. According to this invention, a sodium-sulfur storage battery having superior performance, longer service life, and of low price is obtainable.

Abstract: .beta."-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is a highly desirable material for serving the double function of solid electrolyte and separator in a rechargeable battery that employs sodium, Na, as the anode and sulfur, S, as the cathode. But conventional means for manufacturing the .beta."-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 require temperatures between 1400.degree. and 1600.degree. C. By reacting .theta.-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 with Na.sub.2 O, or a compound that yields Na.sub.2 O on decomposition, the desired .beta."-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 is obtained at temperatures as low as 950.degree. C.

Abstract: A current collecting pole associated with an alkali metal-sulphur cell comprises a first layer of an electronically conducting material which is resistant to the corrosive action of sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides (e.g. carbon or graphite) and which defines a continuous surface in contact with the sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides and a second layer of a higher electronically conducting material which is in electrical contact with the first layer over the surface of the latter remote from the sulphur and alkali metal polysulphides.

Abstract: A cell is fabricated using a solid alkali metal anode and a fluid cathode which are separated by a modified aluminate solid barrier which permits the flow of only the alkali metal ions. The fluid cathode can contain a solid, gaseous, or liquid oxidizer in a liquid electrolyte. Operating temperatures for these cells range from less than -40.degree. C to approximately 95.degree. C. At ambient temperatures, energy densities of the cells range from approximately 0.7 to 1.8 watt-hour per cubic centimeter. These cells are electrically rechargeable by raising their temperature above the melting point of sodium.

Abstract: An electrochemical storage cell or battery based on alkali metal and sulfur with at least one anode chamber containing alkali metal and one cathode chamber containing sulfur-alkali compounds separated from each other by an ion-conducting solid electrolyte wherein the sulfur-alkali compounds are at least partially dissolved in an organic liquid solvent with a boiling point above the operating temperature of the cell, the operating temperature being in the range of about 100.degree. to 200 C. The solvent permits lower operating temperature with reduced rate of corrosion.

Abstract: A lithium/chalcogen thermal cell having a ceramic electrolyte and a lithium ion-containing salt intermediate the anode and the electrolyte. The chalcogen is preferably selenium or sulphur and the ceramic electrolyte is preferably .beta.alumina, or .beta."alumina, or Li.sub.4 SiO.sub.4, or Li.sub.4 TiO.sub.4. Contact between the anode and the electrolyte is prevented by the intermediate salt and the ceramic electrolyte prevents self discharge of the cell resulting from dissolution of the electrode materials.