Abstract: A battery in which an electrolytic solution may be prevented from leakage. Within a battery case in the form of a bottomed tube, a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte are arranged. An opening in the battery case is sealed by a battery lid having a degassing hole, which degassing hole is covered by a sheathing member.

Abstract: A primary alkaline battery includes a housing, a cathode within the housing, an anode within the housing, and a separator electrically separating the anode and the cathode. The battery has a substantial (S/V)2 value.

Abstract: Rechargeable batteries based on the ‘rocking chair’ principle and alkali or alkaline earth insertion compounds are disclosed that employ aqueous electrolytes. Batteries of the invention can have energy densities comparable to conventional aqueous batteries. Embodiments of the invention include aqueous lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having a positive electrode, an alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator, and a negative electrode. The negative electrode comprises zinc powder, zinc oxide, gelling agent, and anolyte. The total zinc oxide is in the amount of 2.5 to 11 percent by weight of the negative electrode, The gelling agent is in an amount of 0.35 to 0.85 percent by weight of the negative electrode. The anolyte comprises potassium hydroxide in the amount of 30 to 37 percent by weight of the anolyte.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline electrolyte Ni-MH sealed secondary storage cell includes a bundle of electrodes placed in a container and made up of a plurality of negative and positive electrodes. The space separating the negative electrode from the positive electrode contains a separator. The separator is permeable to gases and a recombination device is placed between two adjacent negative electrodes and has a wetting angle of at least 45°, an average pore section of at least 103 &mgr;m2, and a thickness from 0.2 mm to 5 mm.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that comprises an anode comprising a zinc alloy active material and elemental sulfur. Also provided is a method of making an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of providing a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, adding elemental sulfur to the anode, and putting the anode and cathode in contact with the electrolyte.

Abstract: A nickel-metal hydride storage cell is composed of a non-sintered positive electrode which is filled with a nickel active material whose particles are coated with cobalt compound layers of divalent or greater and a metal hydride electrode which is filled with a surface-treated hydrogen-absorbing alloy. In the cell, the positive electrode non-reactive capacity rate (represented by the Equation 1) and the negative electrode charge depth (represented by the Equation 2) after the initial charge/discharge are 16% or lower, and 80% or lower, respectively. This construction makes it possible to take larger actual cell capacity by setting the value of the negative electrode charge depth to the degree which causes no rise in the cell internal pressure, thereby expanding the capacity of the cell. positive electrode non-reactive capacity rate %=(positive electrode theoretical capacity−actual cell capacity)/positive electrode theoretical capacity×100  Eq.

Abstract: This invention provides novel chemical compositions, for use as electrode and electrolyte materials and for hydrogen production, methods for making these compositions, and methods of using these compositions in a variety of applications. The new compositions of the present invention comprise: one or more transition metal compounds; aluminum; and either at least one soluble base or at least one soluble electrolyte in contact with the aluminum. The present invention may also comprise one or more elements and/or compounds having high mobility values for electrons, in some applications. This composition is useful as novel electrode/electrolyte components in devices such as batteries, capacitors, fuel cells and similar devices, and also useful in the direct production of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A hydrogen-absorbing alloy which is excellent in stability in an aqueous solution and in mechanical pulverizability is disclosed.

Abstract: In the present invention, a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing at least nickel, cobalt and aluminum, in which the sum a of the respective abundance ratios of cobalt atoms and aluminum atoms in a portion to a depth of 30 Å from its surface and the sum b of the respective abundance ratios of cobalt atoms and aluminum atoms in a bulk region inside thereof satisfy conditions of a/b≧1.30, or a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing at least nickel, cobalt, aluminum and manganese, in which the sum A of the respective abundance ratios of cobalt atoms, aluminum atoms and manganese atoms in a portion to a depth of 30 Å from its surface and the sum B of the respective abundance ratios of cobalt atoms, aluminum atoms and manganese atoms in a bulk region inside thereof satisfy conditions A/B≧1.20 is used for a hydrogen absorbing alloy electrode in an alkali secondary battery.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: An alkaline battery separator comprising a nonwoven fabric containing one or more mixture layers of entangled short fibers and entangled long fibers, wherein a fiber length of the short fibers is from 1 mm to less than 25 mm, a fiber length of the long fibers is 25 mm or more, and a total thickness of all of the mixture layers accounts for not less than one-third of a whole thickness of the nonwoven fabric is disclosed. The alkaline battery separator according to the present invention exhibits an excellent electrolyte-holding capacity, tensile strength, tear strength and bending resistance, and can be used to stably prepare a battery. Electrode flash rarely penetrate the separator, to thereby cause a short circuit between electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-sintered nickel electrode for a secondary cell having an alkaline electrolyte. The electrode has a current collector and a paste comprising a powder active material based on nickel hydroxide, a conductive material containing lithium and cobalt, and a binder. The active material is made up of particles of a hydroxide containing a majority of nickel that is at least partially oxidized into a &bgr; structure oxyhydroxide, said particles being at least partially coated in lithiated oxide of nickel and cobalt.

Abstract: Rechargeable cells employing mercury- and lead-free zinc-bismuth alloys as negative active materials are provided. Such cells demonstrate low after-cycle gassing, improved cumulative discharge capacities and initial discharge performances comparable to that of rechargeable cells that employ leaded zinc powders as negative anode materials.

Abstract: A monoblock battery case and a monobock battery. The monoblock battery case comprises a first and a second container each having partitions that divide the containers into cell compartments. The first container is attached to and co-operates with the second container to form one or more coolant channels disposed between the first and second containers.

Abstract: A battery includes a housing, a first electrode, and a non-cylindrical second electrode within the first electrode.

Abstract: An alkaline battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator, an alkaline electrolyte, and a hydrogen recombination catalyst. The hydrogen recombination catalyst includes a hydrogen oxidizing material, such as CuO, and an activating material. The activating material includes a first activating component and a second activating component. The components of the activating material can be Pd, Pt, Ru metals or salts thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery excellent in high-rate charge and discharge characteristics, and a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode suitable for the battery and a method for producing the same. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy is preferably produced by wet grinding in water a hydrogen-absorbing alloy comprising at least one rare earth element, nickel and at least one transition metal element, treating the resulting alloy powders in an aqueous alkali solution, and then consecutively treating the powders in an acidic aqueous solution. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy powders have a structure of a nickel-condensed layer being exposed and have many pores.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery excellent in both charge properties and discharge properties. A novel alkaline storage battery is provided comprising an active positive electrode material containing nickel hydroxide as a main component and an alkaline electrolyte containing at least Li and Na, characterized in that the positive electrode contains Y and/or Y compound and the alkaline electrolyte has an Li content of from not lower than 0.1 to less than 1.0 N and an Na content of from 0.3 to 1.5 N.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery having stable charging/discharging characteristics over a wide temperature range is provided. A nickel sintered base member is filled with a predetermined amount of nickel hydroxide according to a chemical impregnating method to produce a nickel positive electrode 1. At least one compound selected from a Ca compound, an Sr compound, an Sc compound, a Y compound, and a lanthanoid compound is added to the nickel positive electrode 1. An alkaline electrolytic solution for this storage battery contains at least one of KOH, NaOH, RbOH, and COOR as an electrolyte, and has an alkaline concentration of 10 mol/l or higher.

Abstract: A nickel metal hydride storage battery having an excellent charging efficiency at high temperatures is provided by using a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide particles and at least one rare earth compound obtainable by treating a rare earth oxide with an aqueous alkaline solution and an oxidizing agent.

Abstract: An alkaline secondary battery comprising an electrolyte such as aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, at least one cathode electrode, at least one anode electrode having an anode active material layer, and a separator such as non-woven fabric between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, in which the anode active material layer containing an anode active material such as a hydridable alloy or a cadmium alloy, and an anode binder which includes a nonionic polymer produced by emulsion polymerization of a nonionic monomer in the presence of a nonionic surfactant, and in which the electrolyte essentially surrounds the cathode electrode and the anode electrode.

Abstract: In a pasted hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode of this invention, an active material layer made from a mixture of a hydrogen-absorbing alloy powder, a composite particle powder including carbon particles and a rare earth compound for partially coating surfaces of the carbon particles, and a binder is formed on a current collector. When this pasted hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode is used in an alkaline storage battery, the alkaline storage battery can attain small increase of the internal pressure during charge, large discharge capacity in high rate discharge and good charge-discharge cycle performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nickel positive electrode for alkaline storage batteries with superb utilization of nickel hydroxide in an atmosphere from room temperature to high temperature. The positive electrode comprises a nickel hydroxide particle or a nickel hydroxide particle with one or more elements other than Ni incorporated therein, a coating layer which comprises a compound of cobalt having a mean valence over 2 and which coats the nickel hydroxide particle, and a compound of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Ag, Cd, Y, Yb, Ce, Sm, Gd and Er.

Abstract: A belt-shaped spongelike organic high polymer sheet is subjected to stretching forces in the longitudinal and lateral directions so as to transform the approximately spindle-shaped organic high polymer units which compose the organic high polymer sheet. After this, a metal is put into voids inside the organic high polymer sheet. Then, the organic high polymer is eliminated by baking it, and the metal is sintered. As a result, a spongelike metal substrate is completed whose carbon content is 0.5% by weight or less and whose metallic lattices have a longer length/shorter length ratio of 1.7 or below. The spongelike metal substrate is filled with electrode active material to form an electrode, which is combined with a counter electrode and a separator, and coiled in the direction of the longer lengths of the lattices to form a coiled electrode assembly. The electrode assembly is used to manufacture an alkali storage cell.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a production method of an active material for an alkaline secondary battery comprising: a step of mixing particles comprising particles mainly containing nickel hydroxide and particles of a metal cobalt or a cobalt compound in a mixer with a sealed structure comprising a heating means in the presence of oxygen and an alkaline aqueous solution while heating. An active material produced by the method allows a high utilization. And a battery assembled with a positive electrode using the active material has an excellent high ratio discharge characteristic, and hardly causes the capacity decline even at the time of recharging after leaving in the over discharge state for a long time.

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: A sealed alkaline-zinc storage battery includes a battery can, a hollow positive electrode disposed within the battery can in electrical contact therewith and containing a positive active material including nickle hydroxide, a negative electrode disposed inwardly of the positive electrode and containing a negative active material including zinc, a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, a negative current collector inserted into the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte filled in the battery can and impregnated into the positive electrode, negative electrode and separator. The positive electrode, negative electrode, separator, negative current collector and electrolyte together account for at least 75% of an internal volume of the battery can. The alkaline electrolyte is in the 30 to 45 mass % concentration range and has a total water content in the range of 0.5 to 0.9 g for each theoretical capacity of the negative electrode expressed as 1 Ah (ampere-hour).

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector. The battery comprises a collector assembly and can defining a sealed internal volume within the can and available for containing electrochemically active materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a high capacity positive active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising a nickel based multi-metals oxide, wherein the charge characteristic at high temperature is improved. This oxide has a large number of micropores in at least a surface layer. An average composition of the surface layer is different from that of the interior in that at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Zn, Sr, Ba, Y, Cd, Co, Cr, Bi and lanthanoids, in addition to Ni, is contained in the surface layer, or in that the at least one element is contained at a concentration higher than that of the interior.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing an active material of a positive electrode used for an alkaline secondary battery which is difficult to be oxidized, and high in its reactivity with an alkaline electrolyte to form a cobalt electric conductive matrix improved in electric conductivity. The method of producing thereof is characterized in that nickel hydroxide powder is dispersed in an aqueous solution of a strongly acidic cobalt salt and the dispersed solution thereof is, while being stirred, added gradually with an aqueous alkali solution to made to react one with another to precipitate a cobalt hydroxide while maintaining the reaction solution in the region of acidity to neutrality, and a solid part in which the cobalt hydroxide is mixed in the nickel hydroxide is separated from the reaction solution which is in the region of acidity to neutrality after the completion of the reaction, and is then washed with water.

Abstract: Metallic zinc melted to a purity of 99.995% or higher was treated with selected elements that were dissolved in amounts within specified ranges and the resulting melts were atomized to prepare zinc alloy powders of 35-200 mesh; the powders were gelled with a gelling agent (sodium polyacrylate) and an electrolyte; bismuth compounds having specified powder characteristics (either an average particle size of no more than 10 &mgr;m or a specific surface area of at least 1 m2/g or both characteristics) were added in specified amounts to the gels, thereby producing gels of anode.

Abstract: The performance of alkaline cells comprising a zinc anode and manganese dioxide cathode can be improved, especially in high power application, by the addition of electrically conductive powders such as tin, copper, silver, magnesium, indium or bismuth to the anode mixture. The conductive powders are in physical mixture with the zinc particles. A preferred electrically conductive powder is tin powder. The alkaline cell to which the conductive powders are added preferably contain no added mercury and preferably are also essentially free of lead.

Abstract: An improved battery having an anode, a cathode that includes a chemically reducible material into which is incorporated an amount of electrically conductive carbon microfibers sufficient to enhance the electrical conductivity of said chemically reducible material, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A novel air cathode and the metal air cells made therewith are provided. With a conductive air diffusion layer of carbon black and polymeric materials, the current collecting substrate is disposed on one side of the air diffusion layer while the active layer is on the other side of the air diffusion layer. The current collecting substrate is in good contact with both the air diffusion layer and the cathode can of the cell, and it has absolutely no direct contact with the active layer. The performance of cells made therewith are significantly improved in high drain discharge situations and the internal impedance of the cells is reduced.

Abstract: A metal foam support, plus an electrode comprising same, as well as methods of making both, are disclosed, in which there is provided for both the support and the electrode a metal foam member with at least one stacked edge. The stacked edge has a plurality of layers to which a metal connection tab member can be secured. Such an electrode can serve as a negative electrode for a secondary battery.

Abstract: An alkaline dry cell includes an anode inside a cathode. The anode includes a metal anode current collector inside an gel anode, which has zinc alloy powder as an active material. The cathode includes a cathode depolarizing mixture, which has electrolytic manganese dioxide as an active material, in a closed-end metal cathode can. Small amounts of the active materials can be used economically. A theoretical capacity ratio (NE/PE) between the anode and the cathode is in a range of 1.0 to 1.20. A contact area ratio (PA/NA) between an anode-opposed area of the cathode depolarizing mixture and a contact area of the anode current collector against the gel anode is in a range of 1.82 to 8.24. A short charge-up time makes the alkaline dry cell suitable to power the flash of a camera.

Abstract: An anode for use in an electrochemical cell comprises a plate of non-particulate, mercury-free zinc metal and a coating of indium metal on at least a portion of the zinc plate surface. The anode is particularly useful in a rechargeable metal-air cell. The elimination of mercury enhances the safety of the cell and the indium coating reduces gassing at the anode and corrosion of the anode. Desirably, the electrolyte in the metal air cell also includes indium hydroxide. Also, a method for making the anode using a hot-plate joining process.

Abstract: An electrode is disclosed that includes at least one ribbon of electrochemically active material. By forming a negative electrode of zinc ribbons, the high-rate discharge capacity of the negative electrode is significantly increased. Consequently, the high-rate service of an electrochemical cell having the inventive electrode structure is improved.

Abstract: An alkaline cell is disclosed having a cathode comprising manganese dioxide wherein the cathode is a semisolid during discharge of the cell. The cell has an anode comprising zinc and an electrolyte comprising potassium hydroxide. The semisolid cathode comprising manganese dioxide may be in the form of a putty or paste. The semisolid cathode reduces cathode polarization effects and results in increased manganese dioxide utilization (Amp-hr/g), particularly at high current drain, between about 0.5 and 2 Amp. The porosity of the cathode is between about 45% and 70%, and the volume ratio of electrolyte solution in the cathode to the solids in the cathode is at a value between about 0.7 and 2.3.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a barium compound additive in the anode according to one embodiment, and in both the anode and the cathode according to another embodiment. The anode of the present invention comprises an active anode material such as zinc, and an anode additive comprising a barium compound, such as barium sulfate in the amount of up to 8% by weight of active anode materials. According to another embodiment, the cathode of the electrochemical cell comprises an active cathode material, such as manganese dioxide, and also has an additive comprising a barium compound, such as barium sulfate. The anode and cathode of the present invention are particularly adapted for use in an electrochemical cell having an alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: A cylindrical alkaline storage battery including a spiraled electrode body composed of a pair of opposed electrodes spirally rolled up through a separator and coupled within a cylindrical casing, at least one of the electrodes being in the form of a non-sintered type electrode composed of an active material retention substrate of three dimensionally meshed structure impregnated with paste of an active material, and a current collector formed with a disc portion for connection to one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode and a lead portion for connection to a terminal, wherein the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is formed without impregnation of the paste of the active material, and wherein a perforated sheet metal welded to the one end portion of the non-sintered type electrode is welded at its side edge to the disc portion of the current collector.

Abstract: A cadmium negative electrode capable of enhancing a utilization rate of metallic cadmium contained therein as an active material in charged state. In the cadmium negative electrode, a mixture paste of a main active material in form of cadmium oxide or cadmium hydroxide and metallic cadmium powder containing yttrium component is deposited on a metallic active material retention substrate.

Abstract: A maintenance-free open industrial storage battery includes an electrode assembly comprising at least one positive electrode, one negative electrode, one separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, an alkaline electrolyte covering the top end of the assembly before electrical cycling and a valve the relative operating pressure of which is less than 1 bar. The total capacity of the negative electrodes is greater than the total capacity of the positive electrodes. The separator is permeable to oxygen and the storage battery contains an oxygen recombination device such that after at least one cycle of charging and discharging the storage battery operates without loss of electrolyte at a charging current at least equal to Ic/10 where Ic is the current discharging the capacity of the storage battery in one hour.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery comprising at least one positive electrode and a negative zinc electrode in contact with an electrolyte via at least one electrolyte-impregnated separator is disclosed. The electrodes are clamped against two respective bipolar screens supported by a sealing frame. The positive electrode is in contact with a first electrolyte having a predetermined volume and composition via at least one first separator, the negative electrode is in contact with a second electrolyte having a predetermined volume and composition different from those of the first electrolytes via at least one second separator, and the first and second electrolytes are separated by a membrane forming a zincate and optionally aluminate filter, particularly an anionically conductive membrane defining first and second compartments.

Abstract: An active composition for an electrode of an electrochemical cell. The active composition comprises an electrode material, and a nonfibrillating polymeric binder. The polymeric binder may comprise a fluoradditive. Also disclosed in an electrode and an electrochemical cell comprising the active composition.

Abstract: A nickel electrode for an alkaline storage cell manufactured by the steps of precipitating cobalt hydroxide on the surface of a first nickel active material essentially composed of nickel hydroxide, subjecting the first nickel active material to heat treatment under the presence of an alkaline solution and oxygen to that the cobalt hydroxide precipitated on the first nickel active material is disordered to its crystal structure and is formed in a higher order cobalt compound containing alkaline cation, and mixing the first nickel active material subjected to the alkali heat treatment with a second nickel hydroxide active material essentially composed of nickel hydroxide without forming any conductive substance of lower in dissolubility to the alkaline solution.

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium electrode and a sulfur counter electrode that demonstrate improved cycling efficiencies are described. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The lithium electrode includes a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the lithium electrode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide. In another embodiment, the coating is formed after the lithium electrode is contacted with the electrolyte. In a more particular embodiment, the coating is formed by a reaction between the lithium metal of the lithium electrode and a chemical species present in the electrolyte.

Abstract: A process is described whereby commercial manganese dioxide, for example, electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), is treated with ozone before it is utilized as cathode active material in an alkaline cell. The pretreatment of the manganese dioxide is accomplished by contacting manganese dioxide with ozone gas. Alternatively, the manganese dioxide may be treated with ozone while the cathode comprising said manganese dioxide is already in the cell casing. The treatment of the manganese dioxide improves the cell's open circuit voltage (OCV) and results in an increase in service life of the cell, particularly under high power application.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline storage battery comprising a positive electrode containing a nickel hydroxide active material and a compound oxide in a range of 2 wt % to 30 wt % to the amount of the nickel hydroxide. The compound oxide contains at least one transition metal element and at least one rare earth element or alkaline earth metal element. The compound oxide has conductivity of 10.sup.-2 S/cm or higher at 25.degree. C. and stability in an alkaline electrolyte. Consequently, the alkaline storage battery shows excellent characteristics in a long-term preservation at a high temperature, capacity restoration, and charge/discharge cycle life.