Electric current producing galvanic cell

Abstract

A galvanic cell is disclosed comprising a porous cathode and an anode including a metal less noble than zinc selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium and aluminum. The cell also includes an electrolyte for electrolytic conduction between the cathode and anode which electrolyte comprises a solvent including thionyl chloride. A first solute consisting essentially of a salt of the selected anode metal is dissolved in the solvent in a concentration of between 0.5 and 3.0 moles per liter. A second solute selected from the group of compounds consisting of phosphoryl chloride, sulfolane, sulfur dioxide and mixtures thereof is also dissolved in the solvent in a concentration of between 0.5 and 6.0 moles per liter.

I claim: .[.1. A galvanic cell comprising: 
     
        .[. .  The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said first solute is a tetrachloroborate of the selected anode metal..]. .[.5. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said first solute is a hexachloroarsenate of the selected anode metal..]. .[.6. The galvanic cell of claim 5 wherein said first solute is a hexachloroantimonate of the selected anode metal..]. .[.7. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said anode includes lithium and wherein said first solute is selected from the group of lithium salts consisting of lithium perchlorate, lithium chloroaluminate, lithium tetrachloroborate, lithium hexachloroarsenate and lithium hexachloroantimonate..]. .[.8. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said anode includes magnesium and wherein said first solute is selected from the group of magnesium salts consisting of magnesium perchlorate, magnesium chloroaluminate, magnesium tetrachloroborate, magnesium hexachloroarsenate and magnesium hexachloroantimonate..]. .[.9. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said anode includes lithium and said first solute consists essentially of lithium chloroaluminate..]. .[.10. The galvanic cell of claim 9 wherein said second solute consists of a mixture of two members of the group of compounds consisting of phosphoryl chloride, sulfolane and sulfur dioxide..]. .[.11. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said porous cathode comprises carbon..]. .[.12. The galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein said second solute is sulfolane..]. .[.13. The galvanic cell of claim 1 where said second solute is phosphoryl chloride..]. .Iadd. 14. A galvanic cell comprising: A. a porous solid cathode;   B. an anode that includes lithium; and   C. an electrolyte for electrolytic conduction between said anode and cathode consisting essentially of thionyl chloride in which is dissolved a. a first solute consisting essentially of lithium chloroaluminate in a concentration of between 0.5 and 3.0 moles per liter, and   b. a second solute consisting of a mixture of sulfolane and sulfur dioxide in a concentration of between 0.5 and 6.0 moles per liter. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. A galvanic cell comprising:     A. a porous solid cathode;   B. an anode including a metal less noble than zinc selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium and aluminum; and   C. an electrolyte for electrolytic conduction between said anode and cathode consisting essentially of thionyl chloride in which is dissolved a. a first solute consisting essentially of a salt of the selected anode metal in a concentration of between 0.5 and 3.0 moles per liter, and   b. a second solute consisting of sulfolane in a concentration of between 0.5 and 6.0 moles per liter. .Iaddend.