Process for drying fused salts

The fused electrolytes which are used in high-temperature galvanic cells and consist primarily of Li salts can be dried and freed of hydrolysis products by adding metals such as Be, Ca, Mg, Th and Y. These metals react with H2O to form oxides which are chemically more stable than any active material present in the cell, including the electrolyte salts (Li, LiAl, LiF, LiCl, LiBr). With these substances, H2O present as an impurity will otherwise form oxides, hydroxides and hydrides, some of which increase the electron conductivity of the fused salt during charging as a result of the oxidising effect and consequently promote the undesirable self-discharge of the cell.