Abstract: An anode for a metal-air battery has an electrode and a metal foil interconnected with the electrode. A barrier layer surrounds the metal foil and includes a polymer blend that substantially reduces the passage of moisture therethrough while permitting the passage of ions therethrough. A method of making the barrier layer is also presented.

Abstract: Reacting MnO2, a lithium compound and a bismuth compound produces a lithium battery cathode material for lithium electrochemical systems. The same results can also be achieved by reacting MnO2, lithium, or a compound containing lithium and bismuth, or a compound containing bismuth. Manganese based mixed metal oxides with lithium and bismuth were initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. A stable mixed metal oxide was fabricated through a solid-state reaction between manganese dioxide, a lithium compound and bismuth or a bismuth compound.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manganese bismuth mixed metal oxide cathode material through a solid-state reaction between manganese dioxide, and either bismuth or a bismuth compound in a compound having the general formula MnOy(Bi2O3)x, which affords charge transfer catalytic behavior that allows the cathode to be fully reversible at suppressed charge potentials and increased discharge potentials. The MnOy(Bi2O3)x cathode material may be incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte. The present invention provides a compound with the general formula MnOy(Bi2O3)x, where subscript x is between 0.05 and 0.25, subscript y is about 2 and the overcharge protection is not needed as the subscript z approaches 0.0. In the preferred embodiment, a cathode material where subscript x is between 0.05 and 0.135 with the formula MnO2(Bi2O3)0.12 provides the much-needed full reversibility, high voltage stability and reduced charge transfer impedance.

Abstract: The present invention provides a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material formed by advantageously alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. By alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium in a LixKyMn2O4 compound, the cathode materials of the present invention afford overcharge protection that allows the cathode to be fully reversible. Manganese dioxide doped with potassium was initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. The LixKyMn2O4 material is incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material formed by advantageously alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. By alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium in a LixKyMn2O4 compound, the cathode materials of the present invention afford overcharge protection that allows the cathode to be fully reversible. Manganese dioxide doped with potassium was initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. The LixKyMn2O4 material is incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte.

Abstract: This invention provides a number of phosphorous and arsenic reducing agents to eliminate gas formation and polymerization of Li/MnO2 and other lithium cells caused by the formation of dialcohol. The phosphorous reducing agents when added to the Li/MnO2 and other lithium battery electrolytes cause the phosphorous compound and alcohol to react and produce ether and orthophosphorous acid, which prevents gas formation and the polymerization of Li/MnO2 cells caused by the formation of dialcohol. The preferred reducing agent is phosphoric acid tri-ester. The arsenic reducing agents when added to the Li/MnO2 and other lithium battery electrolytes cause the arsenic compound and alcohol to react and produce ether and orthoarsenic acid, which also prevents gas formation and the polymerization of Li/MnO2 cells caused by the formation of dialcohol.

Abstract: An air breathing power source is mounted in a water impervious housing with a hydrophobic membrane across an opening in its top surface. The housing is secured by flexible straps over a users shoulders so that it is normally carried across the users back, but floats up with the air breathing top surface above the water when the user enters water up to and above shoulder level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a unique method for safely and effectively moving the passive layer from the anode of a battery, so that the battery will function safely and properly. Batteries that are stored for long periods of time develop passive layers over their anodes. The present invention removes this passive layer by applying a series of controlled electric pulses to the anode. When a controlled electric charge discharges at the anode, it removes a portion of the passive layer at the discharge region of the anode. Each pulse is separated from a subsequent pulse by a resting time period. This resting period allows the anode to recover, so that the subsequent pulse will discharge at another location. These pulses are applied to the anode until the entire passive layer is safely removed, thus allowing the battery to function properly.

Abstract: An improved state-of-charge indicator for a battery wherein the counter cuit of the battery state-of-charge indicator includes a means for both resetting and fine-tuning the counter circuit. The current flowing from the monitored battery is passed through a sensing resistor. The voltage across the resistor is amplified and integrated over time and the result of the integration is stored in a capacitor discharged by a switch whenever a threshold voltage is achieved. The cycle is repeated each time coulomb of capacity is removed from the battery. The counter circuit counts the charge/discharge cycles of the capacitor resulting in a count representative of the amount of energy dissipated and therefore indirectly of the amount of energy remaining in the battery system. In this improvement, both a resetting means and a fine-tuning means are included for the counter circuit when the battery is being recharged.

Abstract: A magnesium/manganese dioxide electrochemical cell that has been stored fowing partial usage is improved by increasing the cathode moisture content at the time of making the cell to reduce the self discharge and increase the operating capacity after the cell has been stored following partial usage.