US 12,237,474 B2
Solid electrolyte-based molten lithium electrochemical cells
Yang Jin, Zhengzhou (CN); Kai Liu, Beijing (CN); and Jialiang Lang, Fushun (CN)
Assigned to MetaGenesis, Ltd., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Appl. No. 16/978,520
Filed by MetaGenesis, Ltd., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CN2019/076966
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 4, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/170074, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. PCT/CN2018/078399 (WO), filed on Mar. 8, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0020996 A1, Jan. 21, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/39 (2006.01); H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 4/131 (2010.01); H01M 4/134 (2010.01); H01M 4/505 (2010.01); H01M 4/525 (2010.01); H01M 4/58 (2010.01); H01M 4/75 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/0562 (2010.01)
CPC H01M 10/399 (2013.01) [H01M 4/0471 (2013.01); H01M 4/131 (2013.01); H01M 4/134 (2013.01); H01M 4/505 (2013.01); H01M 4/525 (2013.01); H01M 4/58 (2013.01); H01M 4/75 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/0562 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
an anode, wherein the anode comprises molten lithium metal or a molten lithium alloy;
a cathode in spaced relation to the anode, wherein the cathode is a molten Sn—Pb alloy; and
a solid electrolyte in a form of a cylinder positioned between the anode and the cathode, wherein the solid electrolyte is Li7−xLa3Zr2−xTaxO12 (LLZTO), wherein x is from 0.1 to 1.0; and
wherein the electrochemical cell is configured to operate at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 300° C.;
the solid electrolyte has a density from 99% to 99.9%;
the molten Sn—Pb alloy comprises from 70 mol % to 80 mol % Sn, and from 20 mol % to 30 mol % Pb, wherein mol % is based on a total mole of Sn and Pb in the molten Sn—Pb alloy;
the electrochemical cell exhibits a Coulombic efficiency of at least 99.0% and an energy efficiency of at least 60% at a current density of 50 mA×cm−2 and a temperature of 240° C.; and
a discharge cut-off capacity of the electrochemical cell is 600 mAh×cm−2, and an amount of lithium in the cathode at the discharge cut-off capacity is from 30 mol % to 40 mol %, based on a total mole of Li, Sn, and Pb in a discharged cathode.