Abstract: A battery having a zinc or zinc alloy anode, a metal oxide or hydroxide cathode and an alkaline electrolyte comprising a solution of a salt formed by the reaction of boric acid, phosphoric acid or arsenic acid with an alkali or earth alkali hydroxide present in a sufficient amount to produce a stoichiometric excess of hydroxide to acid in the range of 2.5 to 11.0 equivalents per liter, and of a soluble alkali or earth or earth alkali fluoride in an amount corresponding to a concentration range of 0.01 to 1.0 equivalents per liter of total solution.

Abstract: An ionizing solvent comprising sulfur dioxide and methyl chloroformate, ethyl chloroformate or sulfolane is added as a co-solvent in an electrolyte having a Lewis Acid salt of an active metal oxide of an electrochemical cell to increase cell performance and to prevent freezing.

Abstract: A battery having a zinc or zinc alloy anode, a metal oxide or hydroxide cathode and an alkaline electrolyte comprising a solution of a salt formed by the reaction of one or more acids selected from the group consisting of boric acid, phosphoric acid and arsenic acid with an alkali or earth alkali hydroxide present in a sufficient amount to produce a stoichiometric excess of hydroxide to acid in the range of 0.02 to 3.0 equivalents per liter.

Abstract: A galvanic cell wherein the active cathode material is a simple or complex copper sulfide constituent of copper ore, copper concentrate, a matte or other intermediate material in the ore beneficiation or metal winning or refining process.

Abstract: A battery comprising an anode having an anode-active metal selected from the group consisting of Group Ia metals, Group Ib metals, Group IIa metals, Group IIb metals, Group IIIa metals and mixtures thereof. The cathode has a cathode-active material consisting essentially of a chalco-spinel of the formula M.sub.a N.sub.b Z.sub.x wherein M is a divalent ion selected from the group of metals consisting of copper, zinc, cadmium, iron, cobalt, nickel, manganese, molybedenum, vanadium and chromium, N is a trivalent ion selected from the group of metals consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel and metals of Group IVb, Vb, and VIIb of the periodic system, Z is an element selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium, a is a numerical value between 0.90 and 1.10, b is a numerical value between 1.80 and 2.20 and x is a numerical value between 3.80 and 4.20.

Abstract: A galvanic cell is disclosed comprising a porous cathode and an anode including a metal less noble than zinc selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, magnesium, calcium and aluminum. The cell also includes an electrolyte for electrolytic conduction between the cathode and anode which electrolyte comprises a solvent including thionyl chloride. A first solute consisting essentially of a salt of the selected anode metal is dissolved in the solvent in a concentration of between 0.5 and 3.0 moles per liter. A second solute selected from the group of compounds consisting of phosphoryl chloride, sulfolane, sulfur dioxide and mixtures thereof is also dissolved in the solvent in a concentration of between 0.5 and 6.0 moles per liter.