Rechargeable electrochemical cell

US6730441B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Gunther Hambitzer · DE

Inventors

• Gunther Hambitzer · Remchingen, DE
• Bernd Kreidler · Ellwangen, DE
• Volker Döge · Karlsruhe, DE
• Ulrike Dörflinger · Remchingen, DE
• Klaus Schorb · Rheinstetten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2001
• Grant date: May 4, 2004
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Rechargeable electrochemical cell, with a negative electrode, which in charged state contains an active metal selected from the group of the alkaline metals, the alkaline-earth metals and the metals of the second subgroup of the periodic table of elements; an electrolyte solution based on sulfur dioxide; and a positive electrode containing the active metal, from where ions come out into the electrolyte solution during the charging process.A self discharge reaction takes place at the negative electrode, for which the sulfur dioxide of the an electrolyte solution reacts with the active metal of the negative electrode to form a poorly soluble compound. According to the invention, the electrochemical charge quantity of the sulfur dioxide in the cell, calculated with one faraday per mole sulfur dioxide, is smaller than the charge amount of the active metal which can be theoretically electrochemically accumulated in the positive electrode.