公开(公告)号：US20190326603A1

公开(公告)日：2019-10-24

申请号：US16393645

申请日：2019-04-24

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Brandon James Hopkins ,  Douglas P. Hart ,  Yang Shao-Horn

IPC: H01M4/62 ,  H01M2/16 ,  H01M10/054 ,  H01M2/32 ,  H01M2/36

Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a battery may include displacing a first flowable medium with a second flowable medium along a first electrode to interrupt fluid communication of the first flowable medium with the first electrode—thus interrupting operation of the battery—while a second electrode remains in contact with a flowable medium (e.g., one or more of the first flowable medium or another flowable medium, such as a gel). For example, a membrane (e.g., an underwater oleophobic material) may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An oil may displace an aqueous electrolyte on a first side of the membrane toward a metallic electrode while the aqueous form of the electrolyte remains in contact with an air electrode on a second side of the separator membrane disposed toward the air electrode.

公开(公告)号：US11374226B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-28

申请号：US16393645

申请日：2019-04-24

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Brandon James Hopkins ,  Douglas P. Hart ,  Yang Shao-Horn

IPC: H01M4/62 ,  H01M10/054 ,  H01M50/46 ,  H01M50/60 ,  H01M50/571 ,  H01M12/08 ,  H01M50/449 ,  H01M4/02

Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a battery may include displacing a first flowable medium with a second flowable medium along a first electrode to interrupt fluid communication of the first flowable medium with the first electrode—thus interrupting operation of the battery—while a second electrode remains in contact with a flowable medium (e.g., one or more of the first flowable medium or another flowable medium, such as a gel). For example, a membrane (e.g., an underwater oleophobic material) may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. An oil may displace an aqueous electrolyte on a first side of the membrane toward a metallic electrode while the aqueous form of the electrolyte remains in contact with an air electrode on a second side of the separator membrane disposed toward the air electrode.

公开(公告)号：US20190123407A1

公开(公告)日：2019-04-25

申请号：US16091897

申请日：2017-03-01

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Brandon James Hopkins ,  Douglas P. Hart

IPC: H01M12/02 ,  H01M12/08 ,  H01M10/0525

Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a metal-air battery includes displacing an electrolyte within a gap of the metal-air battery with a liquid. The liquid may be substantially nonreactive with the electrolyte, and the anode of the metal-air battery is less reactive with the liquid than with the electrolyte. Upon displacement of the electrolyte from the gap, the liquid may remain in the gap of the metal-air battery to reduce the likelihood of corrosion of the anode and, therefore, reduce the power drain of the battery resulting from such corrosion. To return the metal-air battery to an activated state for generating power, the electrolyte may be moved back into the gap to displace the liquid. A fluid circuit may be in fluid communication with the gap and may displace one of the liquid and the electrolyte in the gap with the other one of the liquid and the electrolyte from the fluid circuit.

公开(公告)号：US11251475B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-15

申请号：US16091897

申请日：2017-03-01

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Brandon James Hopkins ,  Douglas P. Hart

IPC: H01M12/02 ,  H01M10/0525 ,  H01M12/06 ,  H01M4/38 ,  H01M50/77 ,  H01M10/46 ,  H01M12/08 ,  H01M10/052 ,  H01M4/46

Abstract: Corrosion mitigation in a metal-air battery includes displacing an electrolyte within a gap of the metal-air battery with a liquid. The liquid may be substantially nonreactive with the electrolyte, and the anode of the metal-air battery is less reactive with the liquid than with the electrolyte. Upon displacement of the electrolyte from the gap, the liquid may remain in the gap of the metal-air battery to reduce the likelihood of corrosion of the anode and, therefore, reduce the power drain of the battery resulting from such corrosion. To return the metal-air battery to an activated state for generating power, the electrolyte may be moved back into the gap to displace the liquid. A fluid circuit may be in fluid communication with the gap and may displace one of the liquid and the electrolyte in the gap with the other one of the liquid and the electrolyte from the fluid circuit.

公开(公告)号：US10230124B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US14557924

申请日：2014-12-02

Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Inventor： Brandon James Hopkins ,  Alexander H. Slocum ,  Xinwei Chen ,  Yet-Ming Chiang ,  Frank Yongzhen Fan ,  Ahmed Helal ,  Zheng Li ,  Kyle C. Smith ,  W. Craig Carter

IPC: H01M8/18 ,  H01M8/20 ,  H01M8/04276

Abstract: The flow cell includes first and second reservoirs having a selected volume containing a flowable redox electrode. A membrane separates charged and discharged material. An energy-extraction region includes electronically conductive porous current collectors through or adjacent to which the flowable redox electrodes flow and to which charge transfer occurs. Structure is provided for altering orientation of the flow cell whereby gravity induces flow of the flowable redox electrode between the first and second reservoirs to deliver power. By varying the angle of the cell, flow rate and power delivered on discharge or the charge rate on charge may be varied.