Abstract: A multi-layer electrode structure is provided comprised of a plurality of electrode layers composed of a binder and an electrode material and coated on a current-collecting member, each of the electrode layers including a macromolecular substance wherein a first electrode layer in contact with the current-collecting member and the second electrode layer in contact with the first electrode layer are formed of different constituents or have different proportions of the same constituent. A method of forming the multi-layer electrode structures as well as a battery and double-layer capacitor formed from the multi-layer electrode structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: Amide and methide salts, comprising in the case of an amide salt one cyano (—CN) group, and in the case of a methide salt, two cyano groups are described in applications requiring a high degree of ionic dissociation. The salts are especially useful as electrolyte components in electrochemical cells such as batteries, fuel cells, capacitors, supercapacitors, electrochemical sensors and electrolytic cells, by providing a means for ionic conduction and transport.

Abstract: A metal-gas cell storage battery, such as a zinc-air cell battery, has one or more battery cells wherein each battery cell comprises a metallic anode sandwiched between a pair of gas cathodes. Each gas cathode is disposed within a rigid retaining structure. The retaining structures of each gas cathode are attached to one another by an expandable soft pocket capable of holding an electrolyte. The anode is disposed within the soft pocket. The cell is mechanically refueled by expanding the soft pocket to allow easy removal from the cell of the spent anode and easy insertion into the cell of a fresh anode.

Abstract: An electrochemical generator comprising thin films including a positive electrode and its collector, and a sheet of a host metal intended to later on constitute a negative electrode, as well as an electrolyte which is conductive towards alkaline ions and also a source of alkali ions. The sheet of the host metal has voids whose quantity and arrangement are capable of locally absorbing any lateral expansion of the sheet of host metal and thereby substantially preventing all cumulative change in the plane of the sheet of host metal when there is an initial formation of alloy in the sheet between the host metal and an alkali metal which is brought about by the alkaline ions. A method of manufacturing such a generator is also described.

Abstract: A metal-air FCB power producing module of compact construction for supplying electrical power to a host system having a battery storage compartment. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the metal-air FCB power producing module incorporates a module housing of compact construction with a discharging head enclosed within the module housing and a partition into which a metal-fuel card can be slid for discharging. The module housing has a pair of electrical terminals for contacting the power terminals of a host system when the module housing is loaded into the battery storage compartment.

Abstract: An electrode is disclosed that includes a plurality of stacked disks. The electrode is preferably a negative electrode of an alkaline cell and the disks are preferably formed of zinc. By forming the negative electrode of such zinc disks, the discharge capacity of the negative electrode is increased. Consequently, the high-rate service of an alkaline cell having the inventive negative electrode is improved.

Abstract: Active materials for positive electrodes in alkaline storage batteries excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage, and high rate discharge characteristics can be provided by coating the surface of the active material powder with an .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2. Moreover, active materials excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage and high rate discharge characteristics, and besides in high-temperature charging efficiency and/or charge and discharge characteristics can be provided by dissolving in solid state and/or coprecipitated state at least one different metal element selected from Ca, Cr, Y, Ti and Co in the .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2 layer. Furthermore, active materials excellent in capacity density, discharge voltage and high rate discharge characteristics, and besides in charge and discharge characteristics can be provided by coating with a Co oxide the surface of the active material powder coated with the .alpha.-like Al-substituted Ni(OH).sub.2.

Abstract: The hydrophobic composition prepared by dissolving a hydrophobic resin in a perfluorocarbon solvent, can be very thinly and uniformly coated on a plate. Therefore, when a cell is prepared by using the coated plate, internal pressure of the cell can be decreased.

Abstract: Methods of forming battery electrodes are described. In one embodiment, a discrete amount of electrode material having a volume and a first shape is provided. The electrode material is deformably molded into a second shape which is different from the first shape and which defines a desired battery electrode shape. The battery electrode shape has a volume which is substantially the same as the volume of the provided amount of electrode material. In a preferred implementation, a molding cavity is provided and defines at least in part the desired battery electrode shape. The electrode material is placed into the molding cavity and pressed into the electrode shape.

Abstract: A high capacity long cycle life positive electrode which includes an electronically conductive substrate for conducting electricity through the electrode and an electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material in electrical contact with the electronically conductive substrate, the electrochemically active nickel hydroxide material is composed of at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials each having differing compositions. The positioning of the at least two different solid solution nickel hydroxide materials and their relative compositions alter the local redox potential or porosity to force discharge of the electrode in a stepwise fashion from the nickel hydroxide material remote from said conductive network or substrate, through any intermediate nickel hydroxide materials, to the nickel hydroxide material adjacent the conductive network or substrate.

Abstract: A coin-shaped lithium battery is disclosed. The coin-shaped lithium battery comprises a battery can containing therein an anode pellet composed of lithium or lithium alloy and a cathode pellet which are arranged to face each other with a separator provided between the pellets. At least one of the anode pellet and the cathode pellet has its central part swollen to form a curved surface. The battery can is elastically deformed to be aligned with the curved surface. In the coin-shaped lithium battery, total height of the anode pellet and the cathode pellet in outer rim part is smaller than total height in central part by 4 to 12%.

Abstract: An alkali metal electrochemical cell having the cathode comprising at least two distinct active mixtures having differing formulations of a discharge promoter component mixed with electrode active material, is described. The active mixture contacting the current collector has a greater percentage of the discharge promoter component than the remainder of the cathode, and a preferred electrode active material is fluorinated carbon.

Abstract: A coin-shaped lithium battery is disclosed. The coin-shaped lithium battery comprises a battery can containing therein an anode pellet composed of lithium or lithium alloy and a cathode pellet which are arranged to face each other with a separator provided between the pellets. At least one of the anode pellet and the cathode pellet has its central part swollen to form a curved surface. The battery can is elastically deformed to be aligned with the curved surface. In the coin-shaped lithium battery, total height of the anode pellet and the cathode pellet in outer rim part is smaller than total height in central part by 4 to 12%.

Abstract: A rectangular battery is disclosed. The rectangular battery includes a plurality of cathode plates and anode plates alternately superposed via a separator to face each other. The cathode plates and the anode plates are consecutively packed with the separator, the packed cathode plates or anode plates being folded at a separator fusing portion between the cathode plates or anode plates.

Abstract: The present invention consists in a rechargeable cell having an anode made from materials in which lithium can be inserted, a cathode and an electrolyte constituted by a solution of a lithium salt in a non-aqueous solvent. The material of said cathode includes at least one substance which is a yellow-green single-phase oxide of lithium and manganese with an orthorhombic crystal structure with the following lattice parameters: a=0.459.+-.0.004 nm, b=0.577.+-.0.004 nm and c=0.281.+-.0.003 nm and containing lithium ions in a molar ratio Li/Mn such that 0.85.ltoreq.Li/Mn.ltoreq.1.10. After a first charge said substance is discharged in two stages of which the higher is at a mean voltage greater than 3.5 volts relative to the lithium.

Abstract: At least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode constituting an electrode assembly comprises at least two divided electrode portions not connected through electron conduction. The divided electrode portions each have an electrode lead extending outward from a battery container, which has at least two external terminals of the same polarity which is provided by the lead. The external terminals of the same polarity are connected to each other via a resistor having a PTC effect. The battery is assured of improved safety even when large-sized.

Abstract: An Li/LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 secondary cell employing a SWING system (i.e., of the "rocking chair cell" type) includes a positive electrode formed as a metal gauze-reinforced, rolled electrode, and a negative electrode formed by impregnating a nickel foam with a paste of Li-intercalating graphite. Such electrodes are from 3 to 4 times thicker than the thin-film electrodes fabricated with prior, knife-coating techniques and employed in wound cells, and are therefore particularly suitable for constructing prismatic cells. By prerolling the as yet empty nickel foam to specific thicknesses, the capacity per unit area of the negative electrode can be tailored to that of the positive, rolled electrode. By rerolling the impregnated nickel foam, optimal energy density and electrode capacity is achieved, at a porosity of from 50 to 60%.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an electrode for an electrochemical primary cell, the electrode comprising a first electron conducting compound and a second ion conducting compound which consists of a sulfur-containing polymer with a repeating unit which contains a polyether, and which can contain an ionizable salt, characterized in that the backbone of said polymer contains bonds which render it capable of reversible oxidation and reduction. Preferably, said repeating unit is a polyether of the following type, containing two sulfur-containing ternary amine terminal groups: ##STR1## where R is a polyether selected from polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and their statistical, alternating, block and graft polyether copolymers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrochemical cells having a low electrochemical surface, from standard electrodes used in cells having a high electrochemical surface, includes configuring the standard electrodes by folding one or more of the standard electrodes to reduce the overall length, and hence the electrochemical surface area to a fraction of that of the unfolded standard electrode. A cell stack is assembled by placing the folded electrode and a standard electrode, or alternatively a folded cathode and a folded anode, in a face-to-face relationship with a separator therebetween.

Abstract: A gas-tight nickel/hydride battery with a high oxygen consumption rate and a correspondingly low internal pressure has a stacked arrangement of positive and negative electrodes wherein the negative electrodes are divided in two with a coarse supporting framework as a space between the resulting partial electrodes. Gas impermeable microporous separators deflect the oxygen stream emerging from the positive electrodes to faces of the negative partial electrodes. The spacer provides an inner space with walls defining an enlarged area for reducing the deflected oxygen stream. Because the micropores are completely filled with electrolyte due to their capillary activity, the microporous separators also permit the construction of nickel/hydride batteries with cell heights which could not otherwise be achieved in alkaline batteries with nonwoven fabric separators.

Abstract: A water-activated, primary reserve battery for use in an environment, such as the ocean, that provides an environmentally safe battery, especially useful in sonobuoys. The battery includes the use of cuprous iodide as a cathode and magnesium as the anode in an array to provide voltage, amperage, and operational time equivalent to conventional lead chloride batteries. Once the sonobuoy is no longer useful as it deteriorates in the environment, no lead will be presented into the ocean. The structural frame members protect the cuprous iodide which is brittle in a rigid array and provides for proper venting of gas and sludge formation to insure efficient operation of the battery.

Abstract: This invention relates to rechargeable manganese dioxide cells (usually alkaline cells with zinc anodes or cells having non-aqueous electrolyte and lithium anodes), and particularly to the cathodes therefore. In keeping with the present invention, the cathodes are essentially unconstrained--that is, no cage is used in the cell between the cathodes and the anodes. The cathode is restricted from significantly changing its dimensions during discharge of the cell, when it is inclined to swell--as opposed to the tendency of the cathode to contract during a charge cycle. The cathode substantially fills the entire space allotted for it within the cell, with a light accommodation for height-wise or longitudinal expansion or growth of the cathode of bobbin-type cells, or crosswise expansion or growth of button-type cells.

Abstract: A solid cathode liquid organic electrolyte lithium cell for delivering high current pulses comprising a casing, a cathode structure inthe casing comprising a plurality of plates in spaced apart relation, a lithium anond comprising a plurality of anode sections interposed between the cathode plates, a non-aqueous liquid organic electrolyte comprising the combination of a lithum dalt and an organic solvent in the casing operatively contacting the anode and the cathode an electrical connection provided to the anode and an electrical connection provided to the cathode. In accordance with one aspect of the invention the cathode includes as active material Ag.sub.x V.sub.2 O.sub.y where x is in the range from about 0.5 to about 2.0 and y is in the range from about 4.5 to about 6.

Abstract: An electrochromic display device is provided in which a high molecular weight conductive membrane is formed on a conductive, transparent base, and an opposing electrode is arranged thereunder via a liquid electrolyte. The conductive, electrochromic membrane is a polyisothianaphthene, a chemically and physically stable material which gives the device superior electrochromic switching characteristics, including a fast response time and a high contrast color change upon oxidation and reduction. Other applications which rely on the electrochromic properties of the polyisothianaphthene are disclosed as well.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide the active substances in storage batteries, both the lead acid and alkaline types, in quasi-fluid form so that they can be replaced by newly charged substances, for rejuvenating the battery after long use, or for immediate charge of the battery.Said battery has a casing (5); active solid cathodic and anodic substances in the form of surface-convoluted negative (15) and positive globules (16), that are close-packed in negative and positive cell compartments (7) and (8) respectively; electrolyte which fills the space between and inside said globules, circulates freely throughout the battery and, if needed, through an external supplementary storage; dielectric separators between cell compartments, electrically insulating negative and positive globules in each cell; and conductive separators providing series connection of adjacent cells.

Abstract: An extremely high rate flat cell and a method of fabrication thereof with the cell comprising successive stacked anode and cathode layers within a cell container comprised of two members with co-fitting external flanges. Each cathode layer embodies a metallic extension or tab therefrom for external terminal connection. The extensions of all the cathode layers are substantially symmetrically positioned between said co-fitting external flanges with said flanges and metallic extensions all being simultaneously welded together and electrically interconnected during cell sealing. The anode layers are electrically connected together, preferably by pressure contacting layers to each other adjacent to a metallic terminal member for said anode. Such a cell having a lithium anode, a carbon cathode and a thionyl chloride electrolyte solvent/cathode depolarizer (3" diameter.times.0.

Abstract: A replaceable electrode primary battery utilizing hollow zinc anodic electrodes and hollow nickel oxide cathodic electrodes immersed in a potassium hydroxide electrolyte solution. The electrodes are arranged in stacks formed by electrically conducting guides contacting the outer surfaces of the spherical electrodes, the respective guides forming the battery anode and cathode. Fresh electrodes are added to the top of the stack from a supply of electrodes, causing a spent electrode to be ejected from the bottom of the stack. The ejected electrode floats to the surface of the electrolyte solution and is collected in a holding compartment. The spent electrodes may be reused by electroplating the appropriate material on the outer surface of the spherical shell. The battery finds particular utility with electric vehicles where electrodes may be dispensed from conventional filling stations.

Abstract: An extremely high rate flat cell and a method of fabrication thereof with the cell comprising successive stacked anode and cathode layers within a cell container comprised of two members with co-fitting external flanges. Each cathode layer embodies a metallic extension or tab therefrom for external terminal connection. The extensions of all the cathode layers are substantially symmetrically positioned between said co-fitting external flanges with said flanges and metallic extensions all being simultaneously welded together and electrically interconnected during cell sealing. The anode layers are electrically connected together, preferably by pressure contacting layers to each other adjacent to a metallic terminal member for said anode. Such a cell having a lithium anode, a carbon cathode and a thionyl chloride electrolyte solvent/cathode depolarizer (3" diameter.times.0.

Abstract: A primary electrochemical cell having a carbon current collector cathode structure of improved design. The electrochemical cell includes an elongated housing containing an electrolytic solution and a battery stack in contact with the electrolytic solution. The battery stack includes a concentric arrangement of an anode, a porous separator, and a carbon current collector cathode structure. The carbon current collector cathode structure in accordance with the invention includes a vertical stacked array of annular-shaped porous carbon elements having coaxially aligned openings therein. An elongated, hollow, metal current collector tube having a large number of small openings formed therein for its entire length is disposed within and along the openings in the array of carbon elements and in direct physical contact with the carbon elements. The electrolytic solution in the cell is supplied directly to the array of carbon elements and also by way of the openings in the current collector tube.

Abstract: A multi-cell battery structure in which a stacked array of cells are compressively positioned within an encasement means. Each cell comprises a lithium anode member and a depolarizer pellet adapted to abut the inner surface of encasement means. The depolarizer pellets with or without a cathode screen include a central opening through which lithium from the cell anode is extruded during assembly to form a central column of lithium. The multi-cell array is insulated from the encasement means so that only the depolarizer pellet or associated cathode screen is in contact therewith. A terminal pin, insulated from and positioned through the encasement means is embedded into the central column of lithium to provide electrical contact with battery anodes.

Abstract: A method for assembling a primary electrochemical cell. The method in accordance with the invention includes the initial step of arranging a plurality of cell components, each having an opening extending therethrough, relative to an elongated, slotted, expandable metal tube so that the tube is loosely disposed within and along the openings in the cell components and the cell components loosely surround the tube in a stacked array. The cell components employed in this step include a plurality of anode structures each having a plurality of resilient, deflective portions facing in the direction of the terminal member and lying within a flat, common plane. Each of the deflective portions further has a contact edge facing in the direction of the terminal member. An expanding member in the form of a solid metal rod is inserted into and progressively advanced along the expandable tube.

Abstract: A method for assembling a primary electrochemical cell including a carbon cathode structure. The carbon cathode structure is assembled by arranging a selected number of individual annular-shaped porous carbon elements, each having an opening extending therethrough, together with an elongated, hollow, cylindrical metal current collector tube so that the carbon elements are in a stacked array and the tube is loosely disposed within and along the openings in the array of carbon elements. The current collector tube is an expandable member and is initially in a non-expanded state and loosely surrounded by the stacked array of carbon elements. A porous separator and an anode structure are then placed around the aforementioned assembly of the carbon elements and the current collector tube, and the resultant assembly, representing a battery stack, is placed within an elongated housing of an electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A high-rate, low-temperature, primary electrochemical cell. The cell in accordance with the invention includes an elongated cylindrical metal housing within which a vertical array of battery stack components is disposed and exposed to a cathodelectrolyte solution. Each of the battery stack components has an opening therein through which an elongated metal rod located centrally within the housing passes and serves as an electrical terminal for the cell.The components of the battery stack include a plurality of thin, flat, circular, lithium anode discs secured to the metal rod, and a plurality of carbon current collector cathode/insulator structures arranged in the array in alternation with the lithium anode discs.

Abstract: A method for cooling high rate discharge primary batteries comprising absorbing the heat of reaction of the primary battery by a nonaqueous liquid depolarizer, circulating it, cooling it, and returning it to the primary battery, and a primary battery system including one or more primary batteries, a cooling means, and a fluid communication means between the primary battery and the cooling means.

Abstract: An alkaline primary cell comprising a positive electrode having an upper layer, facing the negative electrode, of electrolytic .gamma.-manganese dioxide to which 6-16% of graphite powder having a broad grain-size range has been added as a conducting additive. Disposed beneath this upper layer is at least one further layer containing .gamma.-manganese dioxide, mercuric oxide, or monovalent silver oxide having a higher apparent specific gravity than the upper layer. A separator comprising at least one membrane layer is situated above the positive electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical type cell employing an outer cathode or cathode collector, a separator and an inner disposed anode in the form of at least two discrete bodies, said anode bodies having centrally disposed biasing means for continuously exerting an outward force against said anode bodies so as to provide good physical contact between the anode-separator-cathode or cathode collector interfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylindrical type cell employing an outer active metal anode, a separator and an inner disposed cathode or cathode collector in the form of at least two arcuate bodies, said cathode or cathode collector having outward resilient biasing means for providing continuous physical contact between the anode-separator-cathode or cathode collector interfaces.

Abstract: A process for the production of a zinc powder for electrochemical batteries which require the presence of mercury, in which at least part of the mercury required in the battery is introduced into molten zinc and the molten alloy is homogenized and transformed into powder by pulverization (atomization).