M/Xn (MAl, Mg; XBr, I) batteries based on anion transport mechanism

A new type of electrochemical storage energy batteries of M/X-n (M=Al, Mg; X=Br, I, n = 3, 2) were found. They can operate with nonaqueous electrolyte or solid electrolyte showing high voltage and moderate rate performances. The discharging mechanism is related to the formation and growth of the electrolyte phase MXn on the surface of M electrode. The MXn phase is X- conductor and X- anions play the transport role in electrode and electrolyte in these systems. Our finding shows that anion-conducting electrochemical batteries can be also promising for energy storage compared to cation-conducting systems in current batteries. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.