Abstract: A nickel electrode having a lightweight porous nickel substrate is subjected to a formation cycle involving heavy overcharging and under-discharging in a KOH electrolyte having a concentration of 26% to 31%, resulting in electrodes displaying high active material utilization.

Abstract: A nickel-cadmium cell is activated by means of a formation cycling process in which electrolyte is partially removed and replenished between cycles and the ultimate electrolyte level is controlled by centrifugation following cycling.

Abstract: An electrode (40) for a Ni/MHx storage cell (47) is prepared by providing a substrate (62) and providing an active material in a finely divided form. A paste (60) of a mixture of the active material, optionally a finely divided carbon powder, and a solution of a polymer in an organic solvent is formed. The paste (60) is coated onto the substrate (62). The paste-coated substrate (62) is immersed into water to wash away the organic solvent and to precipitate the polymer, completing the anode fabrication. This electrode (40) is assembled with another electrode (44) and as a separator (46) between the electrodes (40 and 44) and provided with an electrolyte (50), to form the electrochemical cell (47).

Abstract: An electrode has a substrate and a finely divided active material on the substrate. The active material is ANi.sub.x-y-z Co.sub.y Sn.sub.z, wherein A is a mischmetal or La.sub.1-w M.sub.w, M is Ce, Nd, or Zr, w is from about 0.05 to about 1.0, x is from about 4.5 to about 5.5, y is from 0 to about 3.0, and z is from about 0.05 to about 0.5. An electrochemical storage cell utilizes such an electrode as the anode. The storage cell further has a cathode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell (56) is made by furnishing an anode (52) and a cathode (54), preparing a separator (58), and placing the separator (58) between the anode (52) and the cathode (54). The separator (58) is prepared by furnishing a sheet of a porous separator substrate (40), preparing a solution of a water insoluble polymer in an organic solvent, spraying the solution onto both sides of the separator substrate (40), spraying water onto both sides of the separator substrate (40), and drying the separator substrate (40).

Abstract: A nickel electrode (14) for use in a storage cell (10) includes a porous nickel substrate (50, 52) and a cobalt oxide passivation layer (56) on the nickel substrate (50, 52). A mass of nickel hydroxide/oxide (54) is impregnated within the pores of the substrate (50, 52). The cobalt oxide layer (56) is preferably deposited on the nickel substrate (50, 52) by contacting the substrate (50, 52) with an aqueous solution of cobalt nitrate, removing the excess solution, and heating the substrate in an oxygen-containing environment to form cobalt oxide. The cobalt oxide layer (56) at the surface of the substrate (50, 52) acts as a passivation layer to prevent corrosion of the nickel substrate (50, 52).

Abstract: A battery (10) comprises a cylindrical pressure vessel (30) having domed ends and an internal impermeable membrane (36) extending transversely to a cylindrical axis (38) of the pressure vessel (30). The impermeable membrane (36) divides the pressure vessel (30) into two compartments (32, 34) of equal size, shape, and volume, and hermetically seals the two compartments (32, 34) against mass flow therebetween. In particular, the membrane (36) prevents the migration of electrolyte between the storage elements located in the two compartments (32, 34). The battery (10) further includes a plurality of plate sets (12) for storing electrical energy, each plate set (12) having a nickel positive electrode (14), a hydrogen negative electrode (16), a separator (18) between the positive electrode (14) and the negative electrode (16), a gas screen (26), and an electrolyte.

Abstract: Excess electrolyte fluid from a nickel cadmium battery cell is removed by a method in which the battery cells are overcharged to generate oxygen pressure which acts to force the excess fluid out of the cells. After the required amount of fluid is removed from the battery, the generated oxygen may be replaced to ensure proper operation of the finished battery.

Abstract: The conduction of sulfur toward, and reaction products away from, the electrolyte of a sodium sulfur storage cell is accelerated by providing a bimodal capillary in the cathode. The capillary preferably consists of graphite fibers, otherwise present to conduct electricity through the cathode, arranged in a bimodal distribution. Closely spaced fibers preferentially draw the reaction product of the electrical discharge away from the electrolyte by capillary action. Open spaces between groups of closely spaced fibers permit sulfur to flow toward the electrolyte. The capillary mixing technique permits rapid discharge of the battery cell even under weightless conditions.

Abstract: A nickel-hydrogen electrical storage cell contains a nickel positive electrode, a hydrogen negative electrode, a separator between the electrodes, an electrolyte including rubidium hydroxide and cesium hydroxide, and a pressure vessel to contain these elements. The cell is expected to operate for extended cycle life in deep discharge conditions based upon extrapolations of accelerated life testing results. The electrolyte may be essentially entirely rubidium hydroxide or cesium hydroxide, a mixture of the two, or a mixture with another component.

Abstract: A nickel-hydrogen bipolar battery comprises a plurality of unit cells organized in assemblies wherein the assemblies are stacked and positioned within a hydrogen space. Each unit cell includes a porous hydrogen electrode loaded on its lower surface with a platinum catalyst layer. Adjacent the platinum loaded lower surface of the porous hydrogen electrode lies a separator. A nickel electrode lies against the separator opposite the surface adjacent to the platinum loaded surface. One or more openings through the nickel electrode and separator cooperate to permit oxygen gas, generated at the nickel electrode, to reach to the hydrogen electrode of the same unit cell. Recombination of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas occurs at the hydrogen electrode platinum catalyst layer. The assembly provides serial connection of the unit cells through conductive end plates for axial current flow through the assembly stack.

Abstract: An inorganic-organic composite and method for making same wherein chopped zirconium oxide fibers are bonded together with a polymer. This composite is chemically stable and wettable in aqueous alkaline solutions, exhibits physical, chemical and thermal characteristics ideally suitable for use as separators in alkaline storage batteries, especially nickel-hydrogen and nickel-cadmium batteries.

Abstract: Chemically stable polymers in aqueous alkaline solutions are dissolved in a strongly polar solvent, thoroughly dispersed from this solvent into and throughout the interstices of porous inorganic fabrics and subsequently separated from said solvent by precipitation to provide a homogeneous reinforcement of the structural properties of said fabrics.

Abstract: Reflective mode dynamic scattering displays are disclosed which operate under dc excitation for extremely long hours with excellent contrast. These displays are the results of a combination of a high reflectivity cathode, obtained by the use of silver mirror electrodes, with a redox doped ester liquid crystal in an otherwise conventional liquid crystal cell arrangement.