Abstract: A rectangular alkaline storage battery includes an electrode plate which can be easily prepared and has a high packing density of active material and volumetric energy density. A connected negative electrode plate with hydrogen-absorbing alloy negative electrode plates is bent into a U-shaped form at a central portion (connecting portion). A composite positive electrode plate is then sandwiched by the hydrogen-absorbing alloy negative electrode plates with a separator made of an unwoven polypropylene fabric provided interposed therebetween to prepare an electrode plate unit. Two such electrode plate units are then laminated to form a group of electrode plates.

Abstract: The cathode of a primary alkaline battery is composed of electrode grade manganese dioxide containing Zr.

Abstract: An improved button air cell is provided that contains zero mercury, is free of indium on the sealing surface of the anode cup and has an active material comprising zinc alloyed with lead. Also provided is a method of forming a button electrochemical cell free of mercury and having no indium on the inner surface of the anode cup.

Abstract: An alkaline storage battery including a group of spiral electrodes composed of positive and negative electrode plates spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween and contained in a metallic cell casing used as an external terminal, wherein the group of spiral electrodes is formed at its central portion with a space defined by a winding core during the winding process of the electrode plates and is provided with a first current-collector welded to an upper end of one of the electrode plates and a second current-collector welded to a lower end of the other electrode plate, wherein the second current-collector is welded to an internal surface of the bottom of the cell casing without being welded to an end portion of the other plate located at the outermost periphery of the group of spiral electrodes, and wherein the other electrode plate at the outermost periphery of the group of spiral electrodes is pressed into contact with an internal peripheral wall of the cell casing.

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 cell having an anode comprising zinc, an alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator, and a cathode comprising silver copper oxide selected from the compounds AgCuO2 Ag2Cu2O3 or any mixture thereof. The cathode preferably also includes a graphitic carbon to improve electrical conductivity. The graphitic carbon can comprise natural or synthetic graphites including expanded graphites and graphitic carbon fibers. The carbon nanofibers desirably have a mean average diameter less than 500 nanometers.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc, an alkaline electrolyte solution, a separator, and a cathode comprising silver copper oxide AgCuO2, or Ag2Cu2O3, desirably in admixture with MnO2. The cathode preferably also includes a graphitic carbon to improve electrical conductivity. The graphtic carbon can comprise natural or synthetic graphites including expanded graphites and graphitic carbon fibers. The carbon nanofibers desirably have a mean average diameter less than 500 nanometers.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell is disclosed having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises electrolytic manganese dioxide having a pH-voltage of at least about 0.860 volt. The electrolytic manganese dioxide also preferably has less than about 250 ppm and more preferably less than about 150 ppm of potassium impurities by weight. Electrolytic manganese dioxide having these properties exhibits significant synergistic and unexpected improvements in high-rate service, which translates to improved high-rate service life of the electrochemical cell containing the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide in its positive electrode.

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/v 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/v solution), have superior performance in intermittent discharge tests.

Abstract: The present invention features methods for preparing stabilized &agr;-AlH3 and &agr;′-AlH3, compositions containing these alane polymorphs, e.g., energetic compositions such as rocket propellants, and methods for using the novel polymorphs as chemical reducing agents, polymerization catalysts, and as a hydrogen source in fuel cells and batteries. The method produces stabilized alane by treating &agr;-AlH3 with an acidic solution that optionally contains a stabilizing agent such as an electron donor, an electron acceptor, or a compound which coordinates the Al3+ ion.

Abstract: An active composition for an electrode of an electrochemical device. The active composition comprises an active electrode material, a carbon material, and a binder where the binder comprises an elastomeric polymer. Preferably, the active electrode material is nickel hydroxide, the carbon material is graphite and the elastomeric polymer is styrene-butadiene.

Abstract: The invention concerns an alkaline Ni-Zn battery comprising both anolyte (E) partially or totally in the form of a viscous phase such as a gel, and catholyte (D) optionally in the form of a viscous phase, a microporous separator (A) between the anolyte and the catholyte, the anolyte and the catholyte having different compositions and volume, and an assembly of bipolar elements. The microporous separator is enclosed between impregnated macroporous separators (F) of the anolyte and the catholyte respectively. The total volume of the anolyte and of the catholyte is contained in the porosity of the macroporous separators and in the porosity of the electrodes. The microporous separator is for example based on cellulose or polypropylene. The inventive Ni-Zn battery has good charging/discharging cycles and low plate resistance.

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 CsOH as an electrolyte, and has an alkaline concentration of 10 mol/l or higher.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, a cathode mixture comprising cathode active material comprising copper oxide or copper hydroxide. Graphitic carbon, preferably expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers are added to the cathode mixture thereby resulting in a sharp drop in cathode resistivity. Addition of sulfur to cathode mixtures comprising copper hydroxide active material improves performance. The sharp drop in cathode resistivity resulting from the addition of expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers makes the cell suitable for use as a primary alkaline cell having good capacity. The graphitic carbon, preferably comprises preferably between about 3 and 10 percent by weight of the cathode. The carbon nanofibers have an average diameter desirably less than 500 nanometers, preferably between about 50 and 300 nanometers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolyte composition for a lead storage battery, which can maintain the performance of a storage battery at low temperature by enhancing the performance and life of a storage battery. It can also be fully charged in a short period of time due to a greater current efficiency. The present invention can extend the life of a storage battery due to its effect of removing white-colored lead sulfate without corrosion at the electrode plates, and may lead to recycling of waste storage batteries ruined by white-colored lead sulfate.

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.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a cathode comprising manganese dioxide and conductive graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers having an increased BET surface area of between about 10 and 60 m2/g, desirably between about 10 and 50 m2/g, preferably between about 30 and 50 m2/g by heat treatment between 800 and 1200° C. with potassium hydroxide. The treated graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers can comprise between about 1 and 100 percent by weight of the total graphite material in the cathode, typically between about 5 and 50 percent by weight of the total graphite. The total graphite in the cathode desirably comprises between about 4 and 10 percent by weight of the cathode. The graphite can be the mixtures of the graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers with flaky crystalline graphites including expanded graphites. The graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers have a mean average diameter typically between about 1 and 10 micron.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. In this method, a lithium salt is reflux-reacted with a metal salt in a basic solution. The positive active material has a spherical or sperical-like form, diameter of 10 nm to 10 &mgr;m, and a surface area of 0.1 to 5 m2/g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell for the production of electric energy by reaction between hydrogen peroxide or oxygen, and aluminium or lithium or a mixture thereof, and hydroxyl ions in water, where the cathodes are cylindrical and based on radially oriented carbon fibres attached to a stem of metal. The novel feature of the invention is that by utilizing such cathodes in a cell with circulating electrolyte, it is possible to keep the concentration of oxidant in the electrolyte low and thus obtain high utilization of the reactants.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydrogen absorbing alloy containing as a principal phase at least one phase selected from the group consisting of a second phase having a rhombohedral crystal structure and a first phase having a crystal structure of a hexagonal system excluding a phase having a CaCu5 type structure, wherein a content of a phase having a crystal structure of AB2 type is not higher than 10% by volume including 0% by volume and the hydrogen absorbing alloy has a composition represented by general formula (1) given below:

Abstract: A battery separator for use in zinc alkaline batteries having improved mechanical strength and higher resistance to oxidation comprising cellulose that has been crosslinked with a hydrocarbon group containing between four and sixteen carbon atoms.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrochemical cells having a metal current collector, particularly zinc/MnO2 primary alkaline cells wherein the cathode metal current collector is the cell's steel casing. The present invention is directed to a coating on the current collector, such as the inside surface of the steel casing of an alkaline cell, to improve the cell's performance, particularly when it is used for high power applications. In accordance with the invention the current collector or inside surface of the steel casing for the cell, is preferably preplated with nickel, then plated with a layer of cobalt or cobalt alloy, and subsequently coated with a layer of carbon over the cobalt layer. The carbon may be applied from a carbon/solvent coating mixture which is dried to evaporate the solvent carrier. The service life of the cell is improved, particularly during high power applications.

Abstract: A cylindrical alkaline storage battery including a group of spiral electrodes composed of positive and negative electrode plates spirally wound with a separator interposed therebetween. A winding end of the positive electrode plate is positioned in a maximum diameter portion of the group of spiral electrodes. The separator is reinforced by an additional separator of the same kind of material adhered thereto at an outside of the winding end of the positive electrode plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline storage battery comprising: a positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte layer interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The electrolyte layer comprises a water absorbent polymer and an aqueous alkaline solution. The water absorbent polymer is obtained by saponification of a copolymer comprising 100 parts by weight of monomer (A) and 0.01 to 10 parts by weight of monomer (B). The monomer (A) has at least one group capable of being converted to a carboxyl group by saponification and has one polymerizable double bond, and the monomer (B) has two or more polymerizable double bonds.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, a cathode mixture comprising cathode active material comprising copper oxide or copper hydroxide. Graphitic carbon, preferably expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers are added to the cathode mixture thereby resulting in a sharp drop in cathode resistivity. The cathode active material preferably comprises between about 80 and 92 percent by weight of the cathode. The sharp drop in cathode resistivity resulting from the addition of expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers makes the cell suitable for use as a primary alkaline cell having good capacity. The graphitic carbon, preferably graphitic nanofibers comprise preferably between about 4 and 10 percent by weight of the cathode. The carbon nanofibers have an average diameter desirably less than 500 nanometers, preferably between about 50 and 300 nanometers.

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.

Abstract: A metal-alkaline battery having a reduced corrosion rate and enhanced electrochemical properties comprises an anode that includes derivatives of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The PEG derivatives have one or more hydrophilic moieties attached to the ends of the PEG chain. The hydrophilic moieties may be a carboxyl group or a carboxymethyl group. A preferred PEG derivative is polyethylene glycol, bi-carboxy methyl ether (PEG BCME).

Abstract: Batteries including a lithium anode stabilized with a metal-lithium alloy and battery cells comprising such anodes are provided. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having an anode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The anode includes a lithium core and an aluminum-lithium alloy layer over the lithium core. In another embodiment, a surface coating, which is effective to increase cycle life and storageability of the electrochemical cell, is formed on the anode. In a more particular embodiment, the anode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide where the surface coating is composed of Al2S3.

Abstract: A hydrogen storage battery with improved cycle life and a method for making the same. The battery has a negative electrode with an electrochemically active negative material and a negative electrode capacity and a positive electrode electrochemically coupled with the negative electrode, the positive electrode having a positive electrode capacity and an electrochemically active positive material with a precharge.

Abstract: An electrochemical energy storage device with at least two electrodes and an electrolyte, a carrier material for the electrolyte being disposed between the electrodes, and the carrier material including a porous material in whose inner pore structure a perfluoropolyether and/or fluorinated substance is present.

Abstract: An alkaline battery has a cathode including a hydrogen absorbing material and an anode including zinc free of lead, mercury, or cadmium.

Abstract: Provided is a active material for positive electrode for an alkaline secondary cell, which advantageously exhibits improved overdischarge characteristics, improved utilization of the active material and an improved effect of suppressing the rise in cell internal pressure, a method for producing the same, and an alkaline secondary cell using the above active material for positive electrode, especially a nickel-hydrogen secondary cell. The above active material comprises nickel hydroxide particles each having a surface to which a cobalt oxide sticks, wherein the cobalt oxide contains 20 to 40% by mole of cobalt(II) oxide, wherein the nickel hydroxide particles form an eutectic together with Co and Zn or/and Y, and the Co content of the eutectic is 2% by mass or less, and the nickel hydroxide particles have a value of a half width of the peak ascribed to the (101) crystal face diffraction of 0.8°/2&thgr;(Cu—K&agr;) or more as measured by powder X-ray diffractometry.

Abstract: An electrochemically stabilized Ca—Ni hydrogen storage alloy material for use as the active negative electrode material of an alkaline electrochemical cell. The alloy material includes at least one modifier element which stabilizes the alloy material from degradation during electrochemical cycling in an alkaline cell, by protecting calcium within the alloy and preventing dissolution of calcium into the alkaline electrolyte. The alloy has the formula (Ca1−x−yMxNi2y)Ni5−zQz, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of misch metal, rare earth metals, zirconium and mixtures of Zr with Ti or V, Q is at least one element selected form the group consisting of Si, Al, Ge, Sn, In, Cu, Zn, Co, and mixtures thereof, x ranges between about 0.02 and 0.2, y ranges between about 0.02 and 0.4, and z ranges from about 0.05 to about 1.00.

Abstract: A novel compound that is useful as a battery additive is represented by the formula Ti1−xMxO2−y where M is an element having an octagonal coordination structure, x is from about 0.01 to about 0.5, and y is from about 0.05 to about 0.25. The novel compounds are highly conductive as compared with conventional titanium dioxide additives, and have an expanded rutile crystal structure. The novel compounds are prepared by mixing titanium dioxide with an oxide of M, heating the mixture to form a doped titanium oxide, and reducing the doped titanium oxide.

Abstract: By using a thin film-formed positive electrode, and negative electrode and a film separator, the capacity density of the electrode plate can be improved and at the same time a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery with a higher capacity can be easily obtained; as a result a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery with a higher capacity density can be provided.

Abstract: A highly conductive polymer based solid gel membrane is disclosed. The membrane is especially well suited for use in such electrochemical devices as, for example, aluminum/air, zinc/air, Zn/MnO2, Ni/Cd and hydrogen fuel cells, as well as in electrochromic devices such as smart windows and flat panel displays. In accordance with the principles of the invention, anion- and cation-conducting membranes are formed. The gel composition of the membrane contains the ionic species within its solution phase such that the species behaves as in a liquid electrolyte, while at the same time, the solid gel composition prevents the solution phase from diffusing into the device. Methods of forming polymer based solid gel membranes of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a cathode comprising manganese dioxide and conductive graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers having an increased BET surface area of between about 10 and 60 m2/g, desirably between about 10 and 50 m2/g, preferably between about 30 and 50 m2/g by heat treatment between 800 and 1200° C. with potassium hydroxide. The treated graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers can comprise between about 1 and 100 percent by weight of the total graphite material in the cathode, typically between about 5 and 50 percent by weight of the total graphite. The total graphite in the cathode desirably comprises between about 4 and 10 percent by weight of the cathode. The graphite can be the mixtures of the graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers with flaky crystalline graphites including expanded graphites. The graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers have a mean average diameter typically between about 1 and 10 micron.

Abstract: An alkaline rechargeable battery, having an electrode plate group including positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates stacked alternately with separators interposed therebetween, arranged in such a manner that a volume of the separators before the initial charge and discharge accounts for 30 to 60% of a volume of the electrode plate group.

Abstract: A nickel zinc alkaline cell has a zinc oxide negative electrode supported on a conductive substrate, an alkaline electrolyte, and a positive electrode having nickel hydroxide paste supported on a conductive substrate. The positive electrode further comprises 0.01% to 1% by weight of a fluoride salt, which is a salt of a metal chosen from the group consisting of: potassium, sodium, lithium, rubidium, caesium, a group II metal, a group III metal, a d-block transition metal, an f-block lanthanide, and mixtures thereof. Typically, the fluoride salt is potassium fluoride.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell having a hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode. The electrochemical cell comprises an alkaline electrolyte comprising an additive material which reduces cell pressure by decreasing hydrogen gas evolution.

Abstract: An alkaline battery has a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide.

Abstract: A battery separator for use in a zinc-based battery containing sulfide ions is employed to minimize copper ion diffusion into the electrodes by placing a regenerated cellulose separator next to the copper-containing layer containing low solubility sulfide salts and precipitating the copper ions.

Abstract: Separator for silver-zinc batteries made of cellulose and containing insoluble fluoride ions which when placed next to the cathode slowly release and retard silver deposition thereon.

Abstract: An alkaline battery has a cathode including a hydrogen absorbing material and an anode including zinc free of lead, mercury, or cadmium.

Abstract: The separator 10a for use in the alkaline storage battery of the invention comprises densely and uniformly formed over the entire separator and entrained from the surface to the back plane of the separator, first fine paths (pores) 15 rendered hydrophilic and second fine paths (pores) 16 rendered non-hydrophilic. In this manner, the gas generated in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 can immediately reach the second fine paths (pores) 16 formed in the vicinity of the first fine paths (pores) 15 and transferred. On the other hand, the ions that attempt passing through the second fine paths (pores) 16 can readily reach the first fine paths (pores) 15 formed in the vicinity of the second fine paths (pores) 16, and hence, the ions can be transferred through the first fine paths (pores) 15.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having an electrode stack arranged in a zigzag configuration. Additional electrodes may be inserted within the folds of the zigzag configuration. Preferably, the electrochemical cell is a prismatic cell.

Abstract: An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising manganese dioxide wherein the cathode is located annularly along the inside surface of the cell housing and has a plurality of indentations on the inside of its surface facing the cell interior. Each indentation has a wall defining a channel with an opening thereto running preferably in the direction of the cell's length. The channel and opening facing the cell interior filled with anode material. The cell can have an anode current collector, typically of metal, with at least a portion of its surface extending into the cathode indentation channel. The anode current collector can have a portion of its surface extending from a point within the anode and into the cathode indentation channel through said opening. The cell can include a cathode current collector comprising a sheet of conductive material such as a sheet of metal or graphite placed within the cathode, particularly within thick regions of the cathode.

Abstract: A battery case for a battery containing swellable cellulose separators including case members having opposed undulating mating surfaces and a rim and groove sized to space the surfaces a predetermined distance apart to form a gripping channel such that the outer portion of a stack of dry separators occupies at least 80% but no more than 98% of said channel. On injecting liquid electrolyte into the case, the separators swell and are securely gripped by said undulations and mating surface.

Abstract: Rechargeable electrochemical cells that employ a highly conductive polymer-based solid gel membrane separator disposed between the anode and charging electrode are disclosed. The separator comprises a support or substrate and a polymeric gel composition having an ionic species contained in a solution phase thereof. In preparing the separator, the ionic species is added to a monomer solution prior to polymerization and remains embedded in the resulting polymer gel after polymerization. The ionic species behaves like a liquid electrolyte, while at the same time, the polymer-based solid gel membrane provides a smooth impenetrable surface that allows the exchange of ions for both discharging and charging of the cell. Advantageously, the separator reduces dendrite penetration and prevents the diffusion of reaction products such as metal oxide to remaining parts of the cell.

Abstract: In order to provide a positive electrode active material capable of producing an alkaline storage battery having a high discharge voltage and an excellent discharge characteristic and also provide a positive electrode and alkaline storage battery containing thereof, a positive electrode active material for an alkaline storage battery comprising a nickel hydroxide powder is used, in which the nickel hydroxide is a solid solution containing magnesium, the magnesium content in the nickel hydroxide is 2 to 7 mol % of all metallic elements contained in the nickel hydroxide, the tap density of the nickel hydroxide is 1.9 g/cm3 or more, the half-width of a peak attributed to (101) face near 2&thgr;=37 to 40° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of the nickel hydroxide by CuK&agr; radiation is 0.7 to 1.2° and the sulfate ion content in the nickel hydroxide is 0.5 wt % or less.