Lithium metal synthesis
System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.
1. A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
a cathodic half-cell comprising:
a cathode half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
an anodic half-cell comprising:
an anode half-cell housing;
an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing; and
an ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, the ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane having a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within a polymeric matrix selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene, and having lithium ions bound to the plurality of ion-conducting particles of the organic/inorganic membrane via electrostatic forces, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymeric matrix, the ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both;
wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.
10. A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
a cathodic half-cell comprising:
a cathode half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
an anodic half-cell comprising:
an anode half-cell housing;
an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing; and
an ion-permeable membrane comprising:
a polymeric matrix;
a plurality of ion-conducting particles having lithium bound thereto via electrostatic forces, the plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matric, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymeric matrix;
a plurality of ion-conducting particles deposited within the polymeric matrix, the plurality of ion-conducting particles having lithium ions bound thereto via electrostatic forces;
the ion-permeable membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, the ion-permeable membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both;
wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.
15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.