PROCESS FOR RECHARGING SECONDARY BATTERIES

摘要

An improved process for recharging secondary cells or batteries of the type which in the discharged state comprise:(A) An anodic reaction zone containing a molten alakali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit;(B) A cathodic reaction zone containing (1) cathodic reactants selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (2) an electrode of porous, electronically conductive material which is at least partially immersed in said cathodic reactants; and(C) A cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer inter posed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones, said porous, electronically conductive material being in electrical contact with both said cationpermeable barrier and an external circuit. The improvement of the invention comprises maintaining a temperature gradient within the cathodic reaction zone during recharging such that the temperature of the cathodic reactants in a first region adjacent said solid electrolyte is sufficiently higher than the temperature of said reactants in a second region not adjacent said solid electrolyte such that sulfur in said first region vaporizes and is transported to said second region where it condenses.