Patent ID: 7695861

Claim:
A chemical source of electrical energy comprising: a positive electrode (cathode) comprising an electrically conductive material substantially free of sulphur or sulphur-containing components; a permeable separator; a negative electrode (anode) comprising a material substantially free of lithium or lithium-containing components and selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive material and a material that is able reversibly to intercalate lithium ions; a mixture of lithium sulphide and sulphur in a first aprotic electrolyte comprising at least one lithium salt in at least one solvent, the mixture provided as a colloid solution or a suspension or a semi-solid emulsion or an ointment and disposed between the positive electrode and the permeable separator; and a second aprotic electrolyte comprising at least one lithium salt in at least one solvent provided between the permeable separator and the negative electrode; wherein the electrodes, permeable separator and electrolytes are contained within a cell and upon application of a charge to the cell, the positive electrode incorporates sulphide ions from the first aprotic electrolyte and the negative electrode incorporates lithium ions from the second aprotic electrolyte.