International Business Machines Corporation
Rechargeable metal halide battery

Abstract:

Provided is a rechargeable metal halide battery with an anode; an electrolyte including (i) an oxidizing gas, (ii) a metal halide, and (iii) a heterocyclic compound solvent; and a current collector contacting the active cathode material. As the metal halide of the electrolyte acts as an active cathode material that can receive, store, and release metal ions during charging and discharging of the battery, the battery does not require a dedicated cathode. The lack of a dedicated cathode results in a rechargeable battery with high power density that is lightweight and inexpensive to make.