Abstract: A battery includes a fluid negative electrode and a fluid positive electrode separated by a solid electrolyte at least when the electrodes and electrolyte are at an operating temperature. The solid electrolyte includes ions of the negative electrode material forming the fluid negative electrode and has a softness less than beta-alumina solid electrolyte (BASE) ceramics. In one example, the fluid negative electrode comprises lithium (Li), the fluid positive electrode comprises sulfur (S) and the solid electrolyte comprises lithium iodide (LiI).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A thermal battery includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode separated from the negative electrode by an electrolyte where at least the positive electrode is in a fluid state at the operating temperature of the battery. A solid product isolation system decreases the concentration of solid products within the fluid positive electrode at least within the region near the electrolyte.

Abstract: A thermal runaway mitigation system cools fluid electrode material in a thermal battery to prevent a thermal runaway in the thermal battery. In response to a thermal runaway trigger, the thermal runway prevention system cools at least one of the fluid positive electrode material and the fluid negative electrode material. In some situations, the fluid material electrode material is sufficiently cooled to place the electrode material in a solid state.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, a plurality of positive electrode reservoirs configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in a selected positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir and positive electrode material in a non-selected positive electrode reservoir.

Abstract: Performance of a thermal lithium battery is improved by improving the ion-transport characteristics of a solid lithium iodide electrolyte. The lithium iodide lattice of the solid electrolyte includes defects that improve the ion-transport characteristics of the solid lithium iodide electrolyte. In one example, the defects are due to the introduction of nanoparticles that result in grain boundary defects. The defects resulting at the grain boundaries with the nanoparticles improve the ion transport characteristics of the electrolyte. In another example, defects originating from the synthesis process are pinned by the presence of nanoparticles and/or the reinforcing structure. In another example, the defects are aliovalent substitution defects. A cation that is aliovalent to the lithium cation (Li+), such as a barium cation (Ba2+), creates an aliovalent substitution defect in the lithium iodide lattice.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a plurality of negative electrode reservoirs configured to contain a negative electrode material, a plurality of positive electrode reservoirs configured to contain a positive electrode material and a reaction chamber. A heating system is configured to heat negative electrode material within a selected negative electrode material reservoir and to heat positive electrode material in a selected positive electrode material reservoir to maintain the electrode materials in the selected reservoirs in a fluid state while maintaining, in a non-fluid state, negative electrode material in a non-selected negative electrode reservoir and positive electrode material in a non-selected positive electrode reservoir.

Abstract: A lithium or sodium battery includes a cathode containing manganese; an anode containing an active anode material; a separator; an electrolyte; and a transition metal ion sequestration agent; wherein the transition metal ion sequestration agent contains a micron or nano-sized inorganic compound and the transition metal ion sequestration agent is located on and/or within the separator; on and/or within the anode; in the electrolyte; or any combination thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a thermally-triggered intumescent material or a gas-triggered intumescent material. Such devices prevent or minimize short circuits in a device that could lead to thermal run-away. Such devices may include batteries or supercapacitors.

Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a thermally-triggered intumescent material or a gas-triggered intumescent material. Such devices prevent or minimize short circuits in a device that could lead to thermal run-away. Such devices may include batteries or supercapacitors.

Abstract: A method of image processing is provided for generating an image of an object in a computer X-ray tomography apparatus having an X-ray source and a detector. The method desirably permits relatively coarse spacing between adjacent detector views and correspondingly lowers exposure to X-ray radiation while maintaining a high resolution image. The method includes the step of acquiring actual detector data for multiple views of the object. After actual detector data is acquired for adjacent views of the object, the actual detector data from these adjacent views is interpolated to obtain virtual detector data between the adjacent views as though a virtual detector had been placed therebetween. The actual detector data and the resultant virtual detector data is then mapped into Radon space. The process is repeated until Radon space is sufficiently filled with actual detector data and virtual detector data to permit image reconstruction.