Abstract: A flameless portable heater comprising a reducing agent, a promoter and a binding agent formed into a flexible substrate having a desired shape. The reaction is oxygen-based; an alkaline electrolyte. A method of making an oxygen-based flameless portable heater apparatus.

Abstract: A particulate composite fuel of metal preferably of aluminum for a portable heater. The fuel reacts with oxygen in the air, producing heat. The composite fuel may also be flaked aluminum or iron nanopowder. A portable heater having a fuel mass, at least one thermal conductive member, and at least one insulating member. The heater transfers the heat of the oxidation of the metal particulate fuel to a desired mass to be heated, typically a food item. The multilayered heater also acts as a buffer absorbing released heat and releasing the heat to the desired mass at a rate slower than the absorbing.

Abstract: A particulate composite fuel of metal preferably of aluminum for a portable heater. The fuel reacts with oxygen in the air, producing heat. The composite fuel may also be flaked aluminum or iron nanopowder. A portable heater having a fuel mass, at least one thermal conductive member, and at least one insulating member. The heater transfers the heat of the oxidation of the metal particulate fuel to a desired mass to be heated, typically a food item. The multilayered heater also acts as a buffer absorbing released heat and releasing the heat to the desired mass at a rate slower than the absorbing.

Abstract: A particulate composite fuel of metal preferably of aluminum for a portable heater. The fuel reacts with oxygen in the air, producing heat. The composite fuel may also be flaked aluminum or iron nanopowder. A portable heater having a fuel mass, at least one thermal conductive member, and at least one insulating member. The heater transfers the heat of the oxidation of the metal particulate fuel to a desired mass to be heated, typically a food item. The multilayered heater also acts as a buffer absorbing released heat and releasing the heat to the desired mass at a rate slower than the absorbing.

Abstract: A battery cell, such as a cylindrical alkaline cell, is disclosed having significantly improved capacity utilization at high discharge rates while maintaining much of the energy content and other feature advantages of typical cylindrical alkaline cells, by implementing a novel cell construction that produces increased surface area between the anode and cathode. One particular characterization of the cell construction of the present invention comprises an electrochemical battery cell comprising a cell housing defining an interior space having an interior surface, a first terminal and a second terminal. The cell further comprises an inner electrode encapsulated by a separator and disposed within the interior space of the housing. The inner electrode has a thin cross section in a folded configuration and is formed such that an outer extent of the inner electrode is generally conforming to a contour defined by the interior surface of the cell housing.

Abstract: A heavy metal-free rechargeable Zinc electrode for use in storage cells having alkaline electrolyte has been developed. The electrode includes a current collector and an active mass based on metallic zinc and zinc oxide powders, calcium hydroxide, indium hydroxide, indium sulfate, bismuth-oxide and a binder. The electrodes have been successfully used in Ni—Zn and Ag—Zn cells. The electrodes lead to environmentally benign alkaline cells. The electrodes have additional advantages over the prior art electrodes in terms of initial capacity and cyclability.

Abstract: A heavy metal-free rechargeable Zinc electrode for use in storage cells having alkaline electrolyte has been developed. The electrode includes a current collector and an active mass based on metallic zinc and zinc oxide powders, calcium hydroxide, indium hydroxide, indium sulfate, bismuth-oxide and a binder. The electrodes have been successfully used in Ni—Zn and Ag—Zn cells. The electrodes lead to environmentally benign alkaline cells. The electrodes have additional advantages over the prior art electrodes in terms of initial capacity and cyclability.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a formation procedure for alkaline nickel-zinc cells, the procedure comprising the steps of assembling an alkaline nickel-zinc cell, charging the cell at a charging current rate until a first condition is achieved, wherein at the first condition the cell has a first cell voltage, maintaining the cell at the first cell voltage while applying a maintenance current to the cell until a second condition is achieved, and discharging the cell at a discharging current rate until a third condition is achieved, wherein the steps of charging, maintaining and discharging are repeated at least one time, and, thereafter the cell is finally charged at a final charging rate until the final condition is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a formation procedure for alkaline nickel-zinc cells, the procedure comprising the steps of assembling an alkaline nickel-zinc cell, charging the cell at a charging current rate until a first condition is achieved, wherein at the first condition the cell has a first cell voltage, maintaining the cell at the first cell voltage while applying a maintenance current to the cell until a second condition is achieved, and discharging the cell at a discharging current rate until a third condition is achieved, wherein the steps of charging, maintaining and discharging are repeated at least one time, and, thereafter the cell is finally charged at a final charging rate until the final condition is achieved.

Abstract: An anodic zinc electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising: a current collector; and an active material composition applied to the current collector, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery cell includes an anode with a major portion of active material, a cathode including MnO.sub.2 doped with bismuth, and a separator between the cathode and anode which substantially prevents bismuth from migrating from the cathode to the anode. The rechargeable battery cell has a high cycle life and does not contain toxic compounds found in conventional rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: A method of making a rechargeable battery electrode material containing manganese oxide is provided. The method includes preparing an aqueous solution of manganese nitrate and dissolving bismuth nitrate into the solution. The mixture is heated to evaporate the water contained in the mixture and is further heated to facilitate decomposition of the nitrates in the mixture to form a compound containing manganese oxide and bismuth oxide. The compound is maintained at a temperature of between about 200 to 300 degrees Celsius for an additional 12 hours. Thereafter, the compound is cooled and ground to a desired particle size for use as a rechargeable battery electrode material. The compound may alto be mixed with commercially prepared electrolytic or chemical manganese dioxide to obtain a highly rechargeable battery electrode material. A related battery cell is also disclosed.