Patent ID: 8481207

Claim:
A rechargeable electrochemical cell for generating power, comprising: a porous fuel electrode for absorbing a low melting temperature metal fuel in liquid form; an air electrode for exposure to a source of gaseous oxidizer; a charging electrode selected from the group consisting of the air electrode and a third electrode; the electrodes being spaced apart from one another; and an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid, the ionically conductive medium being contained between the electrodes for conducting ions to support the electrochemical reactions at the electrodes; wherein the cell is configured such that during discharging with the fuel and air electrodes coupled to a load (a) the fuel electrode oxidizes the metal fuel, and (b) the air electrode reduces the oxidizer, thus generating a discharging potential difference between the fuel and air electrodes; wherein the cell is configured such that during charging with the fuel and charging electrodes coupled to a power source to apply a charging potential difference therebetween (a) metal ions of the low melting temperature metal fuel are reduced and electrodeposited onto the fuel electrode as the low melting temperature metal fuel for absorption in liquid form by the fuel electrode, and (b) the charging electrode oxidizes ions of the oxidizer.