The invention relates to a battery in which a plurality of consecutive electrochemical cells are coupled together. The cells are arranged in a shell or envelope, separation means being provided between the individual cells contained in the envelope whereby a leakproof arrangement which also inhibits corrosion is provided.

Photoelectrochemical cells and their arrangement are described in various patent specifications and articles in literature. Amongst these there may be mentioned "Semiconductive Liquid Solar Cells", A. Heller ed., The Electrochemical Society, Proceedings Volume 77-3, Princeton, New Jersey (1977); and U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,064,326, the disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference.

Bipolar electrodes have been described by J. Manassen, G. Hodes and D. Cahen in "Electrode Materials and Processes for Energy Conversion and Storage", J.D.E. McIntyre et al ed., The Electrochemical Society, Proceedings Volume 77-6, Princeton, New Jersey (1977), p. 110.

Hitherto no simple satisfactory system has been described for the arrangement in series of a plurality of electrochemical, in particular photoelectrochemical, cells resulting in the required elevated voltages while overcoming problems of leakage and corrosion.

In accordance with the present invention a battery comprising a plurality of cells is characterised by the cells being arranged in series in an envelope, each cell comprising an electrode, a counterelectrode, and an electrolyte, the electrode and the counterelectrode of each cell being attached to and forming electrical contact with respective conductive means; and by at least one separation means for separating the cells from one another so as to form a liquid-tight fit within the envelope whereby each of the cells is liquid tight.

Preferably, the cells are photoelectrochemical cells such as those of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,064,326 and comprise a photoelectrode and a counterelectrode attached to the conductive means .

The separation means may be able to slide in the envelope, this movement occuring when volume changes of the electrolyte take place due to temperature changes.

The electrodes of one example of a cell may be attached to the two separators forming the lateral boundaries of the compartment, respectively. Alternatively, a separation means may be made of metal, and be electrically insulated on a first side thereof facing one of the cells, and form the counterelectrode for the cell on the other side of the separation means

At the two ends of the, preferably tubular, battery, end separation means or closure members may be provided which are rigidly or firmly attached to the walls of the envelope, with resilient conductive means being provided to allow for volume changes. Preferably, a chamber is provided at one end of the envelope to allow for changes in the volume of the cells of the battery.

A desired voltage can be attained by selecting the number of cells in the battery.

The separation means forming the boundaries of the individual compartments may be made of a suitable chemically resistant resilient material which forms a sliding seal with the envelope, for example plastics or rubber. Such a partition can be made from inert metals provided with a suitable material at its rim in contact with the envelope such as rubber and polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene, or the like. Preferably, such a partition comprises a groove in its peripheral rim and an inert resilient material adapted to provide a sliding but leakproof fit with the envelope. When a metal is used, the photoelectrodes can be welded to the separation means or partition at both its lateral sides. In some cases the surface in contact with the electrolyte must be coated with a suitable inert coating. The surfaces of the partition in contact with the electrolyte are preferably selected such that they ought not to have any catalytic properties in the electrolyte system used.

The envelope which constitutes the housing of the individual compartments defining the cells of the battery can have any suitable cross-section, e.g., circular, oval, rectangular or polygonal, or any combination thereof. The preferred material is glass or a polymer which has suitable optical properties. In one example, the envelope may be constituted by a fluorescent lamp envelope of the type which are commonly available, whose surface is substantially transparent to solar radiation and which comprises end members having a single prong inserted within each end thereof. By flattening the envelope surface, the photoelectrode may be placed in close proximity to the wall of the envelope. Bent shapes make it possible to concentrate solar energy onto the photoelectrodes particularly when used in conjunction with reflector means. Such reflector means may be provided on the inside or outside of the envelope. Reflector means can form part of the envelope, be attached thereto or may be arranged at some distance apart from the envelope.

The envelope preferably comprises an arrangement, in case of photoelectrochemical cells, such that entry of solar radiation is permitted from a suitable direction. Radiation may enter directly or via reflection by any appropriate means.

Conventional photoelectrodes, counterelectrodes and electrolytes can be used for the individual photoelectrochemical cells.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of assembling a battery comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells in an envelope, is characterised by the steps of inserting a module within the envelope, the module comprising a partition adapted to provide a liquid-tight seal within the envelope, conductive means extending throagh the partition, a counterelectrode in electrical contact with the conductive means on a first side of the partition and an electrode in electrical contact with the conductive means on the opposite side of the partition from the countereloctrode; filling the envelope with a predetermined quantity of an electrolyte solution; and inserting an additional module within the envelope to form a cell comprising an electrode, a counterelectrode and electrolyte.

Some examples of batteries constructed in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings which are not to scale and in which:-

• Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tubular multi-cell arrangement;
• Figure 2a is a cross-sectional end view of a schematic representation of one example of a photoelectrochemical battery provided with reflector means; and,
• Figure 2b is a cross-sectional end view of a schematic representation of a second example of a photoelectrochemical battery provided with reflector means.

As shown in Figure 1, the photoelectrochemical battery comprises an envelope 11 which, in the embodiment shown, has a circular cross-section. The envelope 11 has a plurality of individual compartments 12, each of which constitutes a photoelectrochemical cell comprising a photoelectrode 13, an electrolyte 14, and a counterelectrode 15. A partition 16 is provided as the boundary of each compartment at each of its ends. Electrodes 13 and 15 are attached to corresponding conductive members 17 extending through corresponding partitions. The terminal right-hand side cell is closed by a closure member 18, which is firmly attached to the envelope 11, and an electrically conductive member 19 extends through closure member 18. The left hand side of the envelope is closed by a closure member 20. A chamber of airspace 21 is provided between closure member 20 and partition 16, and a spring 22 provides contact between conductive member 17 in partition 16' and the contact member 23 extending through closure member 20.

Figure 2a illustrates a battery with an envelope of circular cross-section housing a photoelectrode 31 and counterelectrode 33, in an envelope 32 containing electrolyte 34. A two part reflector 35 is attached so as to concentrate solar radiation onto the photoelectrode 31.

Figure 2b illustrates a similar arrangement, comprising a photoelectrode 41 and a counterelectrode 43, in a housing 42 which is an envelope having a rectangular cross-section. A reflector 45 is attached to the housing so as to concentrate solar radiation onto the photoelectrode 41.

In both Figures 2a and 2b the reflector is preferably parabolic with the photoelectrode positioned at the focus of the paraboloid.

The following examples illustrate some nonlimiting experimental batteries.

Example 1:

A 1 cm long 2 mm diameter titanium bar is spotwelded to a titanium foil electrode having a 0.67 mm thickness and a 1 cm² polycrystalline CdSe surface. The bar is inserted in the central hole of a 15.5 mm diameter rubber piston of a disposable 5 ml plastic syringe. At the other side of the piston a 1 cm² cobalt sulphide covered stainless steel 0.3 mm thick counterelectrode is attached by spotwelding on the titanium bar. The welding is done in such a way that the two electrodes are parallel with the connecting bar, whose thickness separates between them. This structure constitutes a module.

An 18 cm long glass tube of 15 mm internal diameter is stoppered with a rubber stopper through which a titanium bar is inserted, holding a photoelectrode. 2 ml of alkaline polysulphide solution is introduced while holding the tube vertically and the first module is slid therein. While the module is pushed downwardly, a hollow needle is inserted between the glasswall and the piston in order to let trapped air escape. When the module is in place the needle is removed. Again 2 ml of alkaline polysulphide solution is introduced and the second module is slid in the same fashion. After eight modules are introduced in this way, the tube is closed with a rubber stopper having a piece of titanium extending therethrough. A counterelectrode and piston are secured to the inner side of the titanium piece by way of a small steel spring.

This tube, when exposed to sunlight of 100 mW/cm²(AM1), gives an open circuit voltage of 5.5 volts and a closed circuit current of 9 mA. Maximum power is 20 mW (3.6 V and 5.5 mA).

Example 2:

A 10 cm long glass tube of 15 mm internal diameter is filled in a way identical to that described in Example 1. However, in this case the partitions are hollow rubber pistons, which make them compressible. Therefore, no steel spring is necessary and the expansion of the liquid on exposure to sunlight is compensated for by the compression of the pistons. Prolonged exposure to the sun does not cause any leakage problems.

Example 3:

A 12 cm long glass tube of 15 mm internal diameter is filled in a way identical to that described in Example 1. The pistons in this case are 3 mm thick round polyvinylchloride discs. A small groove is provided around the periphery of the disc on which an 0-ring is accommodated. Because these partitions are not compressible, a small spring is necessary, as in Example 1, but because they are appreciably thinner than the partitions used in Example 1, the overall length of the cell is shorter.

Photochemical performance of the cells in Examples 2 and 3 are substantially identical to that of the one in Example 1. No leakage of electrolyte occurs between the compartments, so that the total voltage of the cell is equal to the sum of the individual voltages of the electrodes used.

Example 4:

A 12 cm long glass envelope of rectangular cross-section of 1.5 x 1.0 cm is filled as described in Example 3. The partitions in this case are rectangular polyvinylchloride discs of 3 mm thickness, provided with a sealing material in order to fit and slide within the envelope. Under AMl irradiation, the resulting cell yields an open circuit voltage of 5.9 V and a short circuit current of 7.7 mA. Maximum power is 18 mW. No leakage problems occur.

Example 5:

A glass tube of 12 cm length and 15 mm cross-section is filled as described in Example 3. The partitions are made out of titanium metal in this case. At its edge a groove also made out of titanium holds the O-ring. The photoelectrode is attached by spotwelding to this disc and the remaining Ti surface is well coated with tar.' At the other side the titanium is coated with Co-sulphide, which is a catalytic material for the counterelectrode, thereby obviating the necessity for a separate counterelectrode. In spite of the different geometrical arrangement, the performance of this cell is substantially identical to that of Example 4.

Example 6:

A cell is constructed as in Example 1. The photoelectrodes in this embodiment are 4 mm GaAs monocrystals embedded in epoxy resin and the counterelectrodes are made of carbon. The electrolyte is a solution of 0.8 M Se, 0.1 M Se⁼ and 1 M KOH. In AM1 solar radiation, this cell gives an open circuit voltage of 6 volts and a short circuit current of 0.72 mA, which corresponds to 18 mA/cm².

Example 7:

Cells are constructed as shown in Figure 2 having a circular cross-section as described in Example 1 and a rectangular cross-section as described in Example 4. These cells are provided with reflectors made of commercially available mirror finished aluminum sheet metal having dimensions of 20 x 12 cm² and curved to form a bow of 5 cm depth. With this simple array most current output is almost tripled to 19 mA under maximum power conditions. Also, under these.conditions, substantially no leakage problems occur.