Electrochemical energy storage devices
摘要
說明書
Advantageously, for certain embodiments, each electrode may be used as an anode or a cathode, depending on a charging configuration used when initially charging the energy storage devices. For example, a first of the two electrodes may be connected to a negative terminal of a voltage source and a second of the two electrodes may be connected to a positive terminal of the voltage source during charging of the energy storage device. After charging, the first electrode may function as an anode and the second electrode may function as the cathode. Upon discharging, the energy storage device may be recharged in the opposite configuration, i.e., where the first electrode may be connected to the positive terminal of the voltage source and the second electrode may be connected to the negative terminal of the voltage source. After this charging cycle, the first electrode may function as the cathode and the second electrode may function as the anode.
This advantageous configuration may be achieved, in embodiments, by the charge storage mechanism and the chemistry involved. For example, in embodiments, the electrodes may comprise an oxide of the same metal, though levels of oxidation of each of the electrodes may be different and may change during charging and discharging. For example, in a specific embodiment, the electrodes may both comprise an iron oxide. Other examples are possible, including where different metals or metal oxides comprise the different electrodes.
