Electrochemical Cells

Abstract

Electrochemical cells and batteries that can operate with a single electrolyte solution, such as those comprising an anode, a cathode current collector, and a porous, non-conductive spacer between the cathode current collector and anode. Membraneless electrochemical cells and batteries are also disclosed. The electrochemical cells and batteries disclosed herein may be used, for example, to produce electricity or to generate hydrogen or both, and to deliver electricity or hydrogen or both to process applications.

1 - 237 . (canceled) 
     
     
         238 . An electrochemical cell, which comprises:
 a. an anode selected from aluminum, gallium, indium, thallium and alloys comprising at least one of these;   b. a cathode current collector; and   c. a porous, non-conductive spacer between the cathode current collector and anode.   
     
     
         239 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 238 , wherein the anode is aluminum or an alloy comprising aluminum. 
     
     
         240 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 238 , wherein the cathode current collector is selected from steel, the graphite allotrope of carbon, carbon impregnated with a metal and carbon foam. 
     
     
         241 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 238 , wherein the porous, non-conductive spacer is selected from an organic polymer, fiberglass film, glass wool, wood, paper, cloth, cardboard and nylon. 
     
     
         242 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 238 , further comprising a single electrolyte solution in contact with both the anode and cathode current collector of the cell. 
     
     
         243 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 242 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises water as a solvent. 
     
     
         244 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 242 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises an alcohol as a solvent. 
     
     
         245 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 244 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol. 
     
     
         246 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 242 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises an oxidant and a metal salt. 
     
     
         247 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 246 , wherein the oxidant is a salt, and wherein the oxidant and metal salt have different anion components. 
     
     
         248 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 247 , wherein the oxidant is a salt of peroxydisulfate and the metal salt is a metal salt of sulfate. 
     
     
         249 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 248 , wherein the peroxydisulfate salt is sodium peroxydisulfate and the metal sulfate salt is sodium sulfate. 
     
     
         250 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 242 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises a base. 
     
     
         251 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 250 , wherein the base is sodium hydroxide. 
     
     
         252 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 242 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises water, an oxidant, a metal salt and a base. 
     
     
         253 . A method of generating electricity, which comprises connecting an electrochemical cell of  claim 242  to a load. 
     
     
         254 . A method of generating hydrogen, which comprises contacting both the anode and cathode current collector of the cell of  claim 238  with a single electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         255 . A method of operating an electrochemical cell of  claim 238  as a flow cell, which comprises:
 contacting both the anode and cathode current collector of the cell with a single electrolyte solution; 
 operating the electrochemical cell to generate electricity, hydrogen, or both electricity and hydrogen; and 
 providing additional electrolyte solution, or one or more components thereof, to the electrochemical cell during its operation. 
 
     
     
         256 . The method of  claim 255 , which further comprises:
 withdrawing spent electrolyte solution, or one or more components thereof, from the electrochemical cell during its operation.   
     
     
         257 . The method of  claim 256 , which comprises withdrawing spent electrolyte solution, or one or more components thereof, simultaneously with providing additional electrolyte solution, or one or more components thereof. 
     
     
         258 . An electrochemical cell comprising a single aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with a non-metallic current collector, an oxidant, and a metal solid wherein current travels from the metal solid to the current collector via a load,
 or   an electrochemical cell comprising a single aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with a non-metallic current collector, an oxidant, and a metal solid wherein current travels from the metal solid to the current collector via a load, and wherein the pH is greater or equal to 12,   or   an electrochemical cell comprising a single aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with a non-metallic current collector, an oxidant, and one or more anodes wherein current travels from the one or more anodes to the current collector via a load, and wherein the pH is greater or equal to 10.   
     
     
         259 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a. a cathode;   b. an anode adjacent to the cathode at a distance;   c. a first polar electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode and disposed within the distance comprising an oxidant;   d. a second polar electrolyte solution in contact with the anode and disposed within the distance comprising a suitable metal ion; and   e. a separation agent;   
       wherein the first and second electrolyte solutions are in contact with each other and are immiscible, and wherein there is no membrane in between the first and second electrolyte solutions, 
       or 
       an electrochemical cell comprising:
 a. a cathode; 
 b. an anode adjacent the cathode at a distance; 
 c. a first polar aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode and disposed within the distance comprising S 2 O 8   2− ; 
 d. a second polar electrolyte alcoholic solution in contact with the anode and disposed within the distance comprising Al 3+ ; and 
 e. borosilicate within both the first and second electrolyte solutions; 
 
       wherein the first and second electrolyte solutions are in contact with each other and are immiscible, and wherein there is no membrane in between the first and second electrolyte solutions, 
       or 
       an electrochemical cell comprising:
 a. a non-metallic cathode; 
 b. a non-metallic anode adjacent the cathode at a distance; 
 c. a first polar aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode and disposed within the distance comprising S 2 O 8   2− ; and 
 d. a second polar electrolyte alcoholic solution in contact with the anode and disposed within the distance comprising a metal solid; 
 
       wherein the first and second electrolyte solutions are in contact with each other and are immiscible, and wherein there is no membrane in between the first and second electrolyte solutions, 
       or 
       an electrochemical cell comprising:
 a. a cathode; 
 b. an anode adjacent to the cathode at a distance; 
 c. a first aqueous electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode and disposed within the distance comprising an oxidant; 
 d. a second polar electrolyte solution in contact with the anode and disposed within the distance comprising a metal and an oxidant; and 
 e. a separation agent; 
 
       wherein the first and second electrolyte solutions are in contact with each other and are immiscible, and wherein there is no membrane in between the first and second solutions.