초록 ▼

Disclosed herein are secondary electrochemical cells using lithium and hydrogen elements as active materials. In the process of charging hydrogen delivers electron to lithium, Li+-ion simultaneously cross Li+-ion conductive separator and deposits as metallic lithium or in matrix intercalated lithium

Disclosed herein are secondary electrochemical cells using lithium and hydrogen elements as active materials. In the process of charging hydrogen delivers electron to lithium, Li+-ion simultaneously cross Li+-ion conductive separator and deposits as metallic lithium or in matrix intercalated lithium. During discharge, Li delivers electron to proton of catholyte and moves as Li+-ion across Li+-ion conductive separator. Reversible fuel cells, water electrolyzers, metal hydrides or lithium itself can be used as sources of hydrogen.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A secondary lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell comprising: a) a reversible hydrogen electrode in contact with a catholyte, wherein the hydrogen electrode is in communication with a hydrogen supply;b) a reversible lithium electrode in contact with an anolyte, wherein the anolyte does not includ

1. A secondary lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell comprising: a) a reversible hydrogen electrode in contact with a catholyte, wherein the hydrogen electrode is in communication with a hydrogen supply;b) a reversible lithium electrode in contact with an anolyte, wherein the anolyte does not include any aqueous solvent;c) a lithium salt; andd) a Li+-ion permeable separator disposed between the catholyte and anolyte. 2. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the lithium electrode comprises metallic lithium or lithium intercalated in a matrix comprising silicon, tin, or carbon. 3. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen electrode comprises a metallic catalyst supported by a carbonaceous material, or a hydrogen absorbing alloy. 4. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen electrode comprises Pd/C, Pt/C, Ni/C, Ru/C, or Rh/C. 5. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen electrode comprises a hydrogen adsorbing alloy having the formula AB5, AB2, and A2B7, wherein A comprises at least one of Mg or La, and B comprises Ni. 6. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 5 wherein the cell is sealed with lithium electrode in charging mode and metal alloy in hydrogen desorbed mode or lithium electrode in discharged mode and metal alloy in hydrogen adsorbed mode. 7. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1 wherein a source of hydrogen for battery charging is hydrogen generated under pressure inside a sealed housing in process of discharging, wherein the hydrogen pressure rises linearly with the cell's delivered discharging capacity. 8. Lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the cell is sealed with regard to the lithium electrode in charging mode. 9. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the lithium ion is deposited on the lithium electrode during charging and released during discharging. 10. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the catholyte comprises an aqueous solvent. 11. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the lithium salt comprises LiCIO4, LiPF6, LiBF4, lithium(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)imide, lithium bis(perfluoroethylsulfonyl) imide, lithium bis(oxalato)borate, or a combination thereof. 12. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply is in communication with the cathode of least one water electrolyzer. 13. The lithium-hydrogen electrochemical cell of claim 12, wherein the electrochemical cell is connected in series with the water electrolyzer, and the number of lithium-hydrogen cells is equal to number of electrolyzers. 14. The lithium-hydrogen secondary electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the hydrogen supply is in communication with the negative electrode of least one reversible fuel cell. 15. The lithium-hydrogen secondary electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein the negative electrode of the reversible fuel cell is connected to the hydrogen electrode of lithium hydrogen cell and the lithium electrode of the lithium hydrogen cell is connected to the positive electrode of the reversible fuel cell. 16. The lithium-hydrogen secondary electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein the reversible fuel cell is a proton exchange membrane reversible fuel cell, an alkaline reversible fuel cell, an acid reversible fuel cell, or solid electrolyte reversible fuel cell. 17. A battery comprising a plurality of the lithium-hydrogen secondary electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the cells are connected in parallel and series and have a common hydrogen manifold. 18. The battery of claim 17, exhibiting no more than 20% capacity loss over 700 charge/discharge cycles. 19. The battery of claim 17, wherein the hydrogen supply is in communication with at least one reversible fuel cell. 20. The battery of claim 19, wherein the number of series-connected fuel cells is equal to number of series connected lithium-hydrogen cells.