Copper chloride cathode for a secondary battery

US4945012A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Ratnakumar V. Bugga · Arcadia, US
• Salvador DiStefano · Alhambra, US
• Ganesan Nagasubramanian · La Cañada Flintridge, US
• Clyde P. Bankston · West Hollywood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 11, 1989
• Grant date: Jul 31, 1990
• Expiry date: Sep 11, 2009

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Higher energy and power densities are achieved in a secondary battery based on molten sodium and a solid, ceramic separator such as a beta alumina and a molten catholyte such as sodium tetrachloroaluminate and a copper chloride cathode. The higher cell voltage of copper chloride provides higher energy densities and the higher power densities result from increased conductivity resulting from formation of copper as discharge proceeds.