Patent ID: 11942595
Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC H  Y | IPC H

Claim 6:
7. A method, comprising:
storing energy in a rechargeable battery by
providing a rechargeable battery comprising a cathode comprising NiyFe1-y and NiyFe1-y X2, where 0≤y≤1, an anode comprising Al and MX deposited onto an aluminum current collector, a porous separator positioned between the cathode and the anode, an electrolyte comprising MAlX4, the porous separator impregnated with the electrolyte, and greater than 0 mol % and up to 10 mol % sulfur relative to moles of NiyFe1-y in the cathode, wherein after 2-5 cycles, the sulfur is present as oxidized sulfur species, wherein M is Na, Li, K, or a combination thereof, and X is Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof, wherein the anode comprises 50 mol % to 130 mol % MX relative to moles of NiyFe1-y in the cathode, and wherein the electrolyte is a molten salt electrolyte that is a solid at temperatures less than 50° C.;

heating the electrolyte to a temperature T1, wherein the temperature T1 is above a melting point of the electrolyte, thereby melting the electrolyte;
charging the temperature-activated rechargeable battery while maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte at or greater than the temperature T1; and
allowing the electrolyte to cool to a temperature T2, wherein the temperature T2 is below the melting point of the electrolyte, thereby solidifying the electrolyte and storing energy in the temperature-activated rechargeable battery.