Alkaline Patents (Class 429/206)
  • Publication number: 20080241683
    Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, wherein the negative electrode includes zinc as an active material and further includes a synergistic combination of a solid zinc oxide and a surfactant. More particularly, the invention discloses an alkaline electrochemical cell that is capable of providing improved service when utilized by high drain devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Alex T. Fensore, Jianjun Wu, Katherine E. Ayers
  • Publication number: 20080241682
    Abstract: A silver-containing alkaline electrochemical cell and methods for producing the cell, wherein the cell includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator disposed between the electrodes, and an alkaline electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode is formed as a multi-layer composite including a silver-containing oxide layer and a barrier layer, initially free of silver-containing material, disposed between the silver-containing oxide layer and the separator for substantially reducing migration of silver ions to the separator and negative electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Weiwei Huang, Brandon A. Bartling
  • Publication number: 20080233485
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprises: a positive electrode using a positive electrode active material consisting of metal composite oxide containing lithium having a laminated structure; a negative electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte dissolving an electrolyte in a non-aqueous solvent; wherein the positive electrode active material contains 50 mol % or more of nickel in metal excluding lithium, and cyclic ether is added in the range of 0.1 volume % to 2.0 volume % to the non-aqueous electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daizo JITO, Katsuaki TAKAHASHI, Kazuhiro HASEGAWA, Hiroyuki FUJIMOTO, Ikuro NAKANE
  • Publication number: 20080206637
    Abstract: A flat alkaline primary battery is provided. The annular end portion of the negative electrode can is engaged with the annular end portion of the positive electrode can so that the positive electrode can and the negative electrode can are connected via a gasket to create an enclosed space inside the cans. The enclosed space accommodates a separator, a positive electrode mixture having a positive electrode active material as a main component, and a negative electrode mixture having a negative electrode active material as a main component. Then the enclosed space is filled with an alkaline electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is oxy nickel hydroxide. The negative electrode active material is a zinc or zinc alloy powder. The mass of the oxy nickel hydroxide is 3.3 times or more and 3.8 times or less times greater than the mass of the zinc or the zinc alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventor: Norishige Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7413828
    Abstract: A wafer alkaline cell of a laminar structure is disclosed. The cell has a pair of opposing sides comprising at least the majority of the boundary surface of said cell. The opposing sides define a short cell dimension therebetween. The cell comprises an anode assembly and a cathode assembly bonded together to form a laminate structure. The cell comprises a single frame or two separate frames housing the anode and cathode material. The anode assembly has an anode material therein typically comprising zinc and the cathode assembly has a cathode material therein typically comprising manganese dioxide. The cell is durable and preferably rigid, has elongated leak block paths, and resists electrolyte leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Stuart M. Davis, Jonathan M. Boulton, George Cintra, Leslie Pinnell, Charles E. O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20080193839
    Abstract: A seal molding material for cell electrolytic solution, which comprises an EPDM composition comprising a peroxide-crosslinkable EPDM and an organic peroxide, the seal molding material being for use at the electrode site of a nickel-hydrogen cell, wherein the EPDM composition comprises preferably 100 parts by weight of a peroxide-crosslinkable EPDM, 10 to 150 parts by weight of a filler and 1 to 8 parts by weight of an organic peroxide, and not more than 40 parts by weight of hydrocarbon-based oil can be further contained. The seal material molded from the seal molding material for cell electrolytic solution has a sufficient durability against a potassium hydroxide-based electrolytic solution and a longer life, and is free from any deterioration, when energized at the electrode site of a nickel-hydrogen cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Chiyota Ogata, Hidekazu Kanagae, Hideto Nameki, Hisayuki Nagaoka, Kuniyoshi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7407728
    Abstract: An alkaline cell or battery having at least one positive and one negative electrode which are separated by a separator and which are disposed, along with an alkaline electrolyte, in a housing, the separator being a non-woven fabric, a microporous foil, or a web made of one or a plurality of polymers, which are formed by copolymerization or grafting through reactive extrusion, and which have functional groups in the molecule or form them in the alkaline electrolyte, the functional groups being active as Lewis acids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Wolffried Wenneis, Harald Hoffmann, Birgit Severich, Hartwig Höcker, Helmut Keul
  • Patent number: 7405023
    Abstract: The present invention provides an alkaline dry battery which has excellent heavy load and intermediate load discharge characteristics, and in which reduction in light load discharge characteristic is suppressed. In the alkaline dry battery comprising: a negative electrode; an alkaline electrolyte; and a positive electrode comprising manganese dioxide and a graphite powder, the positive electrode is added with an additive selected from the group consisting of Ti(OH)4 and Ti(OH)2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuji Adachi, Takayuki Umebayashi, Yasuhiko Shoji
  • Publication number: 20080160403
    Abstract: There is provided an alkaline battery produced by sealing in an outer package body: a positive mixture containing at least one selected from manganese dioxide and a nickel oxide, a conducting agent, and an alkaline electrolytic solution (A) containing potassium hydroxide; a separator; and a negative mixture containing zinc alloy powder, a gelling agent, and an alkaline electrolytic solution (B) containing potassium hydroxide where a concentration of potassium hydroxide of the alkaline electrolytic solution (A) is 45 wt % or more, and a concentration of potassium hydroxide of the alkaline electrolytic solution (B) is 35 wt % or less. Because of this, an alkaline battery can be provided, which has desirable load characteristics, prevents the generation of gas, prevents a decrease in a storage property due to the reaction with an electrolytic solution, and has heat generation behavior suppressed at a time of occurrence of a short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Noriyuki ITO, Minajuro Ushijima, Shinichi Iwamoto, Tetsuo Izu
  • Publication number: 20080160402
    Abstract: There is provided an alkaline battery produced by sealing in an outer package body: a positive mixture containing at least one selected from manganese dioxide and a nickel oxide, a conducting agent, and an alkaline electrolytic solution (A) containing potassium hydroxide; a separator; and a negative mixture containing zinc alloy powder, a gelling agent, and an alkaline electrolytic solution (B) containing potassium hydroxide where a concentration of potassium hydroxide of the alkaline electrolytic solution (A) is 45 wt % or more, and a concentration of potassium hydroxide of the alkaline electrolytic solution (B) is 35 wt % or less. Because of this, an alkaline battery can be provided, which has desirable load characteristics, prevents the generation of gas, prevents a decrease in a storage property due to the reaction with an electrolytic solution, and has heat generation behavior suppressed at a time of occurrence of a short-circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Noriyuki ITO, Minajuro Ushijima, Shinichi Iwamoto, Tetsuo Izu
  • Publication number: 20080145756
    Abstract: In an alkaline storage battery in which at least one selected from the group consisting of the separator surface, the positive electrode plate, and the negative electrode plate contains a metal compound, and at least one of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate contains a leachable metal, the metal compound allows the leachable metal leached out into the alkaline electrolyte to be deposited on the separator surface, the surface or inside of the positive electrode plate, or the surface or inside of the negative electrode plate. This enables obtaining a long-life alkaline storage battery in which self discharge can be excellently curbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Akihiro TANIGUICHI
  • Publication number: 20080138704
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material for an electrolytic solution having improved ionic conductivity and, showing excellent in low temperature property, being stable with time, and being electrochemically stable at a high potential, and an ionic material-containing composition exhibiting excellent fundamental performance such as electrochemical stability, and preferably used in a variety of utilities. Another object of the present invention is to provide utilities thereof. The material for an electrolytic solution is the material containing an ionic compound, and the material comprises a cyano group-containing anion represented by the formula (1); and 1 to 99% by mass of a solvent in 100% by mass of the material for an electrolytic solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichiro Mizuta, Keiko Takebe
  • Publication number: 20080131772
    Abstract: An electrolyte comprising a salt, which will not electrochemically passivate and at least two additives. A cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte comprising a salt, which will not electrochemically passivate and at least two additives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Krishnakumar Jambunathan, Gennady Dantsin, William Jack Casteel, Sergei Vladimirovich Ivanov, Zhong Shi
  • Publication number: 20080096108
    Abstract: An alkaline battery of this invention includes: a positive electrode including at least one selected from the group consisting of a manganese dioxide powder and a nickel oxyhydroxide powder; a gelled negative electrode including a zinc alloy powder, a gelling agent, and an alkaline electrolyte; and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the gelled negative electrode. The gelling agent comprises a polymer that is obtained by polymerizing a polymerizable monomer including at least an acrylic monomer, and part of the acrylic monomer remains in the gelling agent without being polymerized. The acrylic monomer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, an acrylate, and a methacrylate. The weight ratio of the remaining acrylic monomer to the total weight of the polymer and the remaining acrylic monomer is 5000 ppm or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Shinichi SUMIYAMA, Yuji MOTOTANI, Mitsuji ADACHI
  • Publication number: 20080090147
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery is provided with a positive electrode of tin, a negative electrode of zinc and an alkaline electrolyte. Upon charging, some tin is converted to stannic oxide, and zinc oxide is reduced to zinc. When the battery is discharged, stannic oxide is reduced to stannous oxide and zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventor: John E. Stauffer
  • Patent number: 7358008
    Abstract: An electrochemical device comprising an electrolyte and at least one electrode plate, the electrochemical device having a metal part constituting the electrode plate or being connected to the electrode plate; the electrolyte comprising a solute and a solvent dissolving the solute; the metal part having an insulating oxide layer for preventing the electrolyte from creeping on at least part of the surface of the metal part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nanno, Yukihiro Okada, Yoichi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7351499
    Abstract: The cathode of an alkaline battery can include an electrically conductive additive to increase the cathode efficiency. The additive can include a barium salt and an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can be coated on a surface of the barium salt. The electrically conductive material can be an electrically conductive metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Nikolay K. Iltchev, Ou Mao, Cahit Eylem, George Cintra, Leslie J. Pinnell
  • Patent number: 7344801
    Abstract: An electrochemical device such as a battery and a fuel cell having two electrolytes between the anode and the cathode. The electrochemical device is preferably arranged with an alkaline electrolyte in contact with the anode and an acidic electrolyte in contact with the cathode. The electrolytes are separated by a bipolar membrane that preferably also provides ionic conductivity between the two electrolytes and also generates a supply of protons and hydroxide anions. The electrochemical device achieves fifty percent higher operating voltage and power compared to fuel cells with a single electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Shao-An Cheng, Kwong-Yu Chan
  • Publication number: 20080063938
    Abstract: An alkaline battery includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material, and an alkaline electrolyte including potassium hydroxide. The positive electrode active material includes a manganese dioxide powder, and the negative electrode active material includes a zinc powder. In a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the manganese dioxide powder using CuK? radiation, the diffraction peak attributed to the (110) plane is in the range of 20.5° to 21.7°, and the ratio of the peak intensity of the (130) plane to the peak intensity of the (021) plane: I(130)/I(021) is 0.1 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Jun Nunome, Yuji Mototani
  • Patent number: 7341803
    Abstract: An alkaline battery cell with improved high rate and high power discharge capacity is provided, without sacrificing capacity at low rate and low power, by adding at least a second anode or cathode, reducing the effective maximum electrode thicknesses, and increasing the active material density in one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Weiwei Huang, Philip J. Slezak
  • Publication number: 20080038640
    Abstract: A primary alkaline cell has a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide and an anode including zinc or zinc alloy particles. Performance of the nickel oxyhydroxide alkaline cell is improved by adding an ionically conductive clay to the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Philip D. Trainer, James A. Rozelle
  • Publication number: 20080038634
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that includes a container, a cathode and anode disposed in the container, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode. The cell further includes an extender either included in or separate from the cathode. An agent is further provided that interacts with soluble ionic species generated in the cathode to prevent the migration of the species to the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Bushong, Paul Cheeseman, Gregory J. Davidson, Zihong Jin, Erik Mortensen, Ernest Ndzebet, Karthik Ramaswami, Viet H. Vu
  • Patent number: 7326496
    Abstract: In an alkaline dry battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte, the positive electrode includes manganese dioxide and graphite powder and contains Ti(SO4)2 as an additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Umebayashi, Mitsuji Adachi
  • Patent number: 7314681
    Abstract: An alkaline battery cell with increased discharge capacity is provided. Both the internal volume and the electrode interfacial surface area are increased, without unnecessarily increasing the overall cell volume, by increasing the height but not the diameter of the electrodes, thereby avoiding an unnecessary increase in the total cell volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Fred Randell, Richard A. Langan
  • Patent number: 7314687
    Abstract: A gelatinizer for alkaline batteries, which comprises crosslinked polymer particles comprising, as one or more main constituting monomer units, (meth) acrylic acid and/or an alkali metal salt thereof having an average particle size of 0.1 to 2,000 ?m, and a super fine particle form metal oxide having an average particle size of 0.1 to 100 nm; and an alkaline battery using the gelatinizer. The impact resistance of the battery, the discharge characteristic thereof, the lifespan thereof, and others are very good. The present invention can make the time for producing alkaline batteries short, and is useful for producing batteries containing none of materials harmful to the human body, such as benzene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Sumiya, Takeaki Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20070292762
    Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell is provided which efficiently utilizes active materials within the cell to achieve enhanced cost efficiency. The electrochemical cell includes a container defining a sealed volume and an anode and cathode disposed in the sealed volume of the container. The cathode includes manganese dioxide and the anode includes zinc. A ratio of zinc weight to anode volume is less than 1.8. An alkaline electrolyte is disposed in the container in contact with the anode and cathode, and water is disposed within the container. A weight ratio of water to manganese dioxide is greater than 0.28, and a weight ratio of water to zinc is greater than 0.65.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Robert P. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7300721
    Abstract: The invention relates to secondary alkaline electrochemical generators with a zinc anode in an electrolyte, the active mass of said anode comprising at least one conductive ceramic. According to the invention, the electrolyte of the generator is made up of a highly-concentrated alkaline solution and/or the active mass of the zinc anode contains an additive comprising at least one alkaline titanate having general formula (M2O)n(Ti)2)mxH2O, wherein M denotes Li, Na, K, Rb or Cs, n being between 0.5 and 2, m being between 1 and 10 and x being between 0 and 10, or alkaline earth having general formula (MO)n(TiO2)mxH2O, wherein M denotes Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba, n being between 1 and 5, m being between 1 and 10 and x being between 0 and 10. The invention also relates to the zinc anode of the generators used in the invention and the production method thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: S.C.P.S. Societe de Conseil et de Prospective Scientifique S.A.
    Inventors: Bernard Bugnet, Denis Doniat, Robert Rouget
  • Patent number: 7273680
    Abstract: A primary alkaline battery includes a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide and an anode including zinc or zinc alloy particles. Performance of the nickel oxyhydroxide alkaline cell is improved by adding zinc fines to the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Durkot, Dean MacNeil, Paul A. Christian, Francis Wang, George Cintra, James R. Costanzo
  • Patent number: 7238446
    Abstract: An active composition for an electrode of an electrochemical cell. The active composition comprises an active electrode material and a conductive polymer. The electrochemical cell is preferably a battery cell or a fuel cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ovonic Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanford R. Ovshinsky, Boyko Aladjov, Bora Tekkanat, Srinivasan Venkatesan, Subhash K. Dhar
  • Patent number: 7232628
    Abstract: Alkaline electrochemical cells with substantially increased performance characteristics have a porous anode, with a porosity equal to or greater than 69%, and a porous cathode, comprising manganese dioxide and having a porosity equal to or greater than 26%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher F. Randell
  • Patent number: 7226693
    Abstract: A method for producing a cadmium negative electrode for alkaline batteries according to the present invention comprises a step of obtaining a cadmium active-substance impregnated electrode plate by impregnating said electrode substrate with a cadmium active substance; and a step of adding polyethylene glycol for forming a polyethylene glycol coating on the surface of said cadmium negative electrode or on the surface of said active substance by coating or impregnating said active-substance impregnated electrode with polyethylene glycol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sanyo Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Tomihara, Masahiro Hosoda
  • Patent number: 7189475
    Abstract: The present invention provides a secondary battery which is less expensive, whose safety is extremely high, which is of large capacity as well as good cyclic characteristic, and which uses an aqueous solution for the electrolytic solution. A lithium secondary battery according to the present invention is constituted by including a positive electrode, formed by binding a positive-electrode raw-material mixture including a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode, formed by binding a negative-electrode raw-material mixture including a negative electrode active material, and an electrolytic solution, comprising an aqueous solution in which a lithium salt is dissolved, said positive electrode active material including at least one of a layered structure lithium-manganese composite oxide whose basic composition is LiMnO2 and an olivine structure lithium-iron composite phosphorus oxide whose basic composition is LiFePO4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Sasaki, Yoshio Ukyo, Hideyuki Nakano, Masao Kohzaki
  • Patent number: 7179310
    Abstract: A method of forming an anode comprising zinc for a zinc/air cell. The method involves mixing zinc particles with binders including preferably polyvinylalcohol, surfactant and water to form a wet paste. The wet paste is compacted and molded into the near shape of the cell's anode cavity and then heated to evaporate water. A solid porous zinc mass is formed wherein the zinc particles are held bound within a network with microscopic void spaces between the zinc particles. The solid mass can be inserted into the cell's anode cavity and aqueous alkaline electrolyte, preferably comprising potassium hydroxide, then added. The solid mass absorbs the aqueous electrolyte and expands to fill the anode cavity to form the final fresh anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Zhiping Jiang, George Cintra
  • Patent number: 7169508
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an anode composition for use in an electrochemical cell in which the anode comprises an electrochemically active material, the method comprising the steps of mixing the electrochemically active material with an alkaline electrolyte solution, an organic surfactant, an indium compound, and a gelling agent, such that the indium compound or a portion thereof is added in an alkaline environment. In one embodiment, the surfactant is added after the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Ecosol Solar Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Daniel-Ivad, James R. Book, Elfriede Daniel-Ivad
  • Patent number: 7160647
    Abstract: Batteries are disclosed. In some embodiments, a battery has a cathode that includes CuxMyOzXt, where M is a metal, X includes one or more halides and/or nitrate, x+y is from about 6.8 to about 7.2, and z and t are selected so that the copper in CuxMyOzXt has a formal oxidation state of +2 or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Cahit Eylem, Nikolay Iltchev, Stuart M. Davis, Ou Mao
  • Patent number: 7081235
    Abstract: The cathode of a primary alkaline battery is composed of electrode grade manganese dioxide containing Zr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank H. Feddrix, Robert M. Estanek, Scott W. Donne
  • Patent number: 7070882
    Abstract: An anode for use in a primary metal-air battery having an alkaline or neutral salt electrolyte, the anode comprising: a low molecular weight reactive metal substrate; a low molecular weight reactive metal powder; and at least a two-component electrolyte resistant polymer system; the first component is an ionic conductive linearized hydrogel, the second component is an inert structural polymer matrix, the reactive metal powder is dispersed and the first component is uniformly dispersed within the second component to form a material, and the reactive metal is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, tin, mixtures of aluminum, tin and magnesium and alloys thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William A. Ferrando
  • Patent number: 7056621
    Abstract: An alkaline storage battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an alkaline electrolyte retained in the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator. The alkaline storage battery further includes a first compound for adsorbing ammonia between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode comprises a second compound for increasing oxygen overvoltage at a time of overcharge. Thus, an alkaline storage battery with particularly little self-discharge can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Naoto Sato, Nobuyasu Morishita
  • Patent number: 7049030
    Abstract: Batteries and methods of making batteries are disclosed. In some embodiments, a battery includes a housing, a positive electrode comprising a copper material in the housing, a negative electrode in the housing, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution comprising soluble aluminum in the housing. A method of making a battery can include providing a positive electrode comprising a copper material into a housing, adding a material comprising aluminum to an electrolytic solution, and adding the electrolytic solution into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Cahit Eylem, Ou Mao, Stuart M. Davis
  • Patent number: 7045252
    Abstract: An alkaline battery includes a cathode including lambda-manganese dioxide and gamma-manganese dioxide, an anode including zinc, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an alkaline electrolyte contacting the anode and the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Christian, Zhiping Jiang, Rita Komm
  • Patent number: 7033700
    Abstract: A zinc electrode is provided for use in electrochemical cells having an alkaline electrolyte and high cycle life. The zinc electrode comprises a mixture of zinc oxide together with an inorganic fibre which contains silica and alumina. Preferably, the composition of the inorganic fibre is in the range of 80% to 99% alumina, and 1% to 20% silica. Typically, the zinc electrode will further comprise an inorganic fibre additive in the range of 2% to 15% by weight of the zinc oxide electrode. Also, the zinc electrode will typically further include 2% up to 10% of bismuth oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: PowerGenix Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Phillips
  • Patent number: 7022434
    Abstract: In order to obtain a nickel-metal hydride storage battery having a long cycle life and a low self-discharge rate, in a nickel-metal hydride storage battery comprising: a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode containing a hydrogen storage alloy; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and an electrolyte comprising an aqueous alkaline solution, a water absorbent polymer, a water repellent and an aqueous alkaline solution are added into the separator. This battery can be produced with low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chiaki Iwakura, Naoji Furukawa, Yoichi Izumi, Yoshio Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 7008723
    Abstract: The invention described herein is directed to a method of manufacturing an anode composition for use in an electrochemical cell, in which the anode comprises an electrochemically active material, the method comprising the steps of mixing the electrochemically active material with an alkaline electrolyte solution, an organic surfactant, an indium compound, and a gelling agent, such that the indium compound or a portion thereof is added in an alkaline environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Ecosol Solar Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Josef Daniel-Ivad, James R. Book, Elfriede Daniel-Ivad
  • Patent number: 6991872
    Abstract: An end cap seal assembly for an electrochemical cell such as an alkaline cell is disclosed. The end cap assembly comprises a convoluted end cap which may also function as a cell terminal and an underlying insulating sealing disk. The insulating sealing disk comprises a central boss and radially extending arm terminating in a downwardly sloped elbow and upwardly sloped peripheral edge. The end cap disk has at least one vent aperture therethrough which faces the ambient environment. The insulating disk has an annular groove in its top or bottom surface, which preferably circumvents the central boss. The base of the groove defines an a rupturable membrane portion of the insulating sealing disk. The rupturable membrane is designed to rupture, preferably when the cell internal gas pressure reaches a level between about 150 and 900 psig (1034×103 and 6206×103 pascal gage) advantageously, between about 150 and 700 psig (1034×103 and 4827×103 pascal gage).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Robert A. Yoppolo, Kevin Duprey, Thomas L. Lindsay, Oleg Podoprigora
  • Patent number: 6991875
    Abstract: An alkaline battery includes a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide and an anode including zinc or zinc alloy particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Christian, George Cintra, Richard E. Durkot
  • Patent number: 6982048
    Abstract: The present invention provides a potassium-doped mixed metal oxide cathode material formed by advantageously alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. By alloying MnO2 with potassium and lithium in a LixKyMn2O4 compound, the cathode materials of the present invention afford overcharge protection that allows the cathode to be fully reversible. Manganese dioxide doped with potassium was initially examined as a cathode material for rechargeable lithium and lithium-ion batteries in order to provide a new mixed metal oxide cathode material as the positive electrode in rechargeable lithium and lithium ion electrochemical cells. The LixKyMn2O4 material is incorporated into an electrochemical cell with either a lithium metal or lithium ion anode and an organic electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Terrill B. Atwater, Alvin J. Salkind
  • Patent number: 6936378
    Abstract: Alkaline electrochemical cells containing no added mercury and having a concentration of potassium hydroxide in the electrolyte, prior to discharge, of between about 34 and 37% (w/w solution) and wherein the amount of electrolyte is such that, after a calculated level of one electron discharge of the manganese dioxide, the calculated concentration of potassium hydroxide is between 49.5 and 51.5% (w/w solution), have superior performance in intermittent discharge tests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Eveready Battery Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Fred Randell
  • Patent number: 6926996
    Abstract: A flat elongated alkaline battery comprising an outer metal housing and a single alkaline cell encased within a hydrogen permeable plastic container which is housed within the interior of the metal housing. The outer housing has at least a major surface which is a flat polygon. Preferably the outer metal housing is a cuboid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Robert S. Ferrin, Derek R. Bobowick
  • Patent number: 6919142
    Abstract: Inclusion of an electronic conducting polymer additive powder in a gelled anode of an alkaline electrochemical cell having an anode active metal material can improve discharge performance of the cell. A preferred conducting polymer powder is polyaniline powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Rovcal, Inc.
    Inventor: Ernest Ndzebet
  • Patent number: 6916577
    Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc, a cathode comprising manganese dioxide and an electrolyte comprising polyvinylbenzyltrimethylammoniumhydroxide. The anode can comprise particulate zinc dispersed within an aqueous gel comprising crosslinked polyvinylbenzyltrimethylammoniumhydroxide polymer. Optionally, aqueous KOH can be added to the gel. The anode and cathode are desirably in the shape of a slab each having a pair of opposing parallel flat faces defining two opposing ends. The zinc particles dispersed in crosslinked polyvinylbenzytrimethylammoniumhydroxide polymer can be concentrated at one end of the anode slab with the opposing end being clear of zinc. The clear end of the anode preferably also comprising polyvinylbenzlytrimethylammoniumhydroxide functions as a separator between anode and cathode. The cathode slab comprises a mixture of particulate manganese dioxide, graphite, and linear polyvinylbenzyltrimethylammoniumhydroxide polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: C. Robert Parent, Jonathan M. Boulton, Radek Fooksa