Abstract: Beta double prime alumina is provided having a sensible amount of at least one polyvalent cationic species intercalated therein. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, such beta double prime alumina is provided having trivalent and/or tetravalent cationic species intercalated therein, especially species derived from the lanthanide and actinide series of elements. Certain of the foregoing materials exhibit phosphorescence or fluorescence, and some are believed to be capable of producing laser emission upon suitable irradiation.Methods for modifying beta double prime aluminas comprising contacting crystals of the aluminas with polyvalent cation-containing salts such as in the molten state or in the gaseous state are also provided. Laser and other optical devies are disclosed employing the modified beta double prime aluminas of this invention.

Abstract: A humidity sensor which responds to changes in atmospheric water content by changes in sensor impedance, has a non-porous, water impervious, ionic-conductive beta-alumina substrate, a pair of spaced apart, thin electrodes mounted on at least one major surface of the substrate, and an electrical lead in contact with each of the electrodes.

Abstract: A solid state, ambient temperature electrochemical cell is described which includes a lithium type or a sodium type anode, a cathode of pressed sulfur and carbon containing therein a nominal amount of a non-aqueous solvent with ionic conductivity enhancing material, a solid ion-conducting electrolyte between and in contact with the anode and the cathode, and a casing enclosing the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte. Such a cell is described also which includes a liquid mercury-indium alloy on at least a portion of the solid ion-conducting electrolyte in contact with the anode.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte consists essentially of hydronium beat"-alumina having the formulanH.sub.2 O.nX.5Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.qH.sub.2 Owherein n is a range from 0.75 to 1; X is an oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, Li.sub.2 O, and m(MgO)p(Li.sub.2 O) wherein the total of m and p equals n; and q is a range from 0 to 2.8. A method is disclosed for forming such a solid ion-conductive electrolyte.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-type electrochemical cell is described which comprises a casing, a lithium-type anode positioned within the casing, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode functioning with a lithium-type anode and a solid lithium-sodium beta"-alumina electrolyte, and a solid lithium-sodium beta"-alumina electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte consists essentially of hydronium beta"-alumina having the formulanH.sub.2 O. nX.5Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.qH.sub.2 Owherein n is a range from 0.75 to 1; X is an oxide selected from the group consisting of MgO, Li.sub.2 O, and m(MgO)p(Li.sub.2 O) wherein the total of m and p equals n; and q is a range from 0 to 2.8. A method is disclosed for forming such a solid ion-conductive electrolyte.

Abstract: A solid ion-conductive electrolyte is described which comprises a polymer film, a plurality of solid polycrystalline ion-conductive particles embedded therein, and the particles exposed at both opposite surfaces of the film.

Abstract: A sealed lithium electrochemical cell with sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as a solid alloy, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode functioning with a lithium-type anode and a solid sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte, and a solid sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode.

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: A sealed lithium-sodium electrochemical cell with sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte 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 sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte, and a solid sodium beta-alumina ion-conductive electrolyte positioned within the casing between the anode and cathode and in contact with both the anode and cathode

Abstract: A sealed lithium-chlorine cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising chlorine with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.sup.. 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-reducible gas cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode consisting of a reducible gas in a non-aqueous electrolyte with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.sup.. 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-iodine cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode is selected from the class consisting of iodine, and iodine with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85 percent of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-bromine cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising bromine with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.sup.. 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A solid state electrochemical cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, or alloys of lithium with indium or thallium, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising a non-stoichiometric lithium compound in which the composition can be expressed by the formula Li.sub.x M.sub.y O.sub.z wherein the subscript x is in the range 0<x<1, M is a cation which can change its oxidation state in accordance with the value of x, the subscript y is in the range 0<y.ltoreq.3, and z has a value such that electrical neutrality of the compound is established, 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 LiNaO.9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85.0% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-solid sulfur cell for ambient temperature operation is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a nonaqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising of solid sulfur in a nonaqueous electrolyte with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.9Al.sub. 2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-sulfur monochloride cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a non-aqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode consisting of sulfur monochloride with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.sup.. 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

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

Abstract: A sealed lithium-phosphorous cell for ambient temperature operation is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a nonaqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode comprising of phosphorous in a nonaqueous electrolyte with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO 9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.

Abstract: A sealed lithium-reducible phosphorous oxyhalide cell is described which comprises a casing, an anode positioned within the casing, the anode selected from the class consisting of lithium, lithium as an amalgam, and lithium in a nonaqueous electrolyte, a cathode positioned within the casing, the cathode consisting of a reducible phosphorous oxyhalide, and a reducible phosphorous oxyhalide with an ionic conductivity enhancing material, 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 LiNaO.9Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 of which 1.3 to 85% of the total alkali ion content is lithium.