Abstract: In order to be able to produce prismatic, unsealed nickel-cadmium batteries without limiting the amount of electrolyte, the invention proposes the manufacture of an electrode system for nicad batteries under at least partial utilization of fibe- structure electrodes, for which purpose positive and negative lamellar electrodes are produced and, with separator material interlayered, stacked in alternating fashion in a defined number to form an electrode assembly. The respective equidirectional electrodes are mutually connected by means of connecting straps; the electrode assembly is pressed and positionally locked between mechanical clamping elements into a unitized, coplanar, undeformable block, under simultaneous compression of the separator material interlayered between the electrodes.

Abstract: The performance of electrochemical energy devices such as batteries, fuel cells, capacitors and sensors is enhanced by the use of electrically conducting ceramic materials in the form of fibers, powder, chips and substrates.

Abstract: Metal powders are spread on a feeding belt or a supporting sheet which is continuously fed; the feeding belt or the supporting sheet on which the metal powders have been spread is passed through a sintering oven; and the metal powders are sintered, with adjacent uncompressed metal powders in contact with each other partly and gaps present therebetween. Consequently, contact portions of the metal powders are integrated with each other and the gaps are formed as fine pores.

Abstract: An electrode structural body comprising a plate-like shaped collector having opposite surfaces and an electrode material layer formed an at least one of said opposite surfaces of said collector, wherein said electrode material layer contains 35% by weight or more of a grained host matrix material of 5 to 60 in average particle size. A rechargeable battery provided with said electrode structural body as an electrode thereof.

Abstract: A process for the removal of galvanic electrolytic residues from galvanically reinforced fiber structure frames, where the fiber structure frame is produced through chemical metallization of a textile substrate based on fleeces or felts made of synthetic fibers and then through galvanic reinforcement of the metallized textile substrate in a galvanic bath containing a galvanic electrolyte. The invention provides that the galvanic electrolytic residues are removed by suction from the fiber structure frame. The fiber structure frame then makes contact at least once under high pressure with the wash liquid in a wash station, and subsequently the wash liquid is removed by suction from the fiber structure frame. In order to remove by suction, the galvanic electrolytic residues or the wash liquid, a belt-shaped porous supporting device is inserted between the suction port and a main area of the fiber structure frame.

Abstract: Microthin sheet technology is disclosed by which superior batteries are constructed which, among other things, accommodate the requirements for high load rapid discharge and recharge, mandated by electric vehicle criteria. The microthin sheet technology has process and article overtones and can be used to form thin electrodes used in batteries of various kinds and types, such as spirally-wound batteries, bipolar batteries, lead acid batteries silver/zinc batteries, and others.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing an electrode for a battery by filling an active material into a three-dimensional porous metal substrate sheet and cutting said sheet to a certain size, comprising the steps of: pressing the portion to be cut and the periphery thereof in the substrate sheet; coating the portion to be cut and the periphery thereof in the substrate sheet with a resin; and/or impregnating the portion to be cut and the periphery thereof in the substrate sheet with a liquid containing a resin component, in addition to the steps of: filling an active material into the substrate sheet; and cutting the substrate sheet at the portion to be cut. This method prevents the occurrence of burrs and cuttings while the sheet is being cut and the coming off of the active material, thereby suppressing internal short circuit of the battery. As a result, a battery hardly suffering from a deterioration in preservation performance and charge-discharge cycle life can be obtained.

Abstract: A nickel electrode for an alkaline storage battery employed as a positive electrode of an alkaline storage battery is formed by filling an active material into pore of a porous sintered substrate wherein said active material is formed by adhering niobic acid to a surface of nickel hydroxide particles.

Abstract: A conductive porous body that has a conductive layer almost free from impurities and that enables a metallic porous body having extremely low resistance to be produced with high productivity and production efficiency, and a metallic porous body and a battery plate both produced by using the conductive porous body. The conductive porous body has a nickel conductive layer formed on the surface of the framework of a plastic porous body having a continuous-pore structure. The conductive layer is formed by the deposition of nickel from an aqueous solution containing nickel compounds with the use of a reducing agent containing titanium compounds. The metallic porous body can be obtained by forming a continuous metal-plated layer on the surface of the framework of the conductive porous body. The metal-plated layer is formed by electroplating with the conductive porous body serving as the cathode. The battery plate consists mainly of the metallic porous body.

Abstract: An electrochemical cathode includes a porous metal foam substrate, formed with a network of interconnected pores. An active layer and a hydrophobic microporous gas diffusion layer are both disposed on one or more surfaces of the metal foam substrate. The metal foam substrate serves as the current collector of the cathode. The microporous layer is a plastic material such as a fluoropolymer (i.e., PTFE). The cathode also includes a particulate microstructure reinforced by relatively strong bonding provided by sintering a polymeric binder within the three-dimensional interconnected porosity of the metal foam substrate. The reactive layers are preferably fabricated from the same material as binder. This advantageously enables a single roll pressing operation to simultaneously impregnate the binder into the substrate and form the reactive layers thereon.

Abstract: The carbon fibers present a mean lattice surface spacing (d002) not less than 0.36 nm, preferably 0.38 nm, at a crystallite size such that the mean height (Lc) lies in the range 0.7 nm to 0.3 nm and the mean width (La) lies in the range 2 nm to 6 nm, and it presents total porosity lying in the range 10% to 30%. The electrode is preferably a rayon-precursor carbon cloth and it constitutes the anode (10) of a secondary cell having a cathode (20) which includes lithium enabling lithium ions to be inserted and de-inserted, and an electrolyte (30).

Abstract: An electrode substrate is formed by mechanically processing a nickel foil so as to be made three dimensional through the creation of concave and convex parts, and then, this substrate is filled with active material or the like so that an electrode is manufactured, wherein the above described concave and convex parts are rolling pressed so as to incline in one direction. Furthermore, an electrode for secondary battery is formed by using the above described method.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a positive electrode for an alkaline storage battery that achieves excellent filling characteristics for an active material for the positive electrode and longer lifetime of the battery is provided. The method includes a first process of filling a paste of the active material for the positive electrode in a first porous metal sheet provided with a plurality of oblate pores whose major axes are arranged substantially in one direction, and a second process of pressing the first porous metal sheet that has undergone the first process using a roller press such that the one direction and a direction of a rotation axis of a roller in the roller press substantially are parallel, so as to produce a positive electrode sheet provided with a second porous metal sheet.

Abstract: A uniform mixture of a powdered active material 1, conductive fiber 2, and a binder resin is applied to a polytetrafluoroethylene plate, etc. to a prescribed thickness and dried to form a sheet electrode 8. A pair of electrodes 8 are adhered to a separator 9 to make an electrode laminate 10. A battery is formed of the electrode laminate 10 or a plurality of the electrode laminates 10.

Abstract: A nickel hydroxide positive active material for an alkaline battery contains nickel hydroxide powder having a nickel valence of greater than 2; and a cobalt compound having a cobalt valence of greater than 2, which is formed on the surface of said nickel hydroxide powder. For example, the surface of nickel oxyhydroxide powder is covered by cobalt oxyhydroxide layer. This positive active material is used as a starting material to produce an electrode by retaining it in a three-dimensional porous material.

Abstract: A hydrophilic collector for alkaline secondary batteries is formed of a nonwoven fabric plated with nickel in which the nonwoven fabric is hydrophilized by sulfonation, a gaseous fluorine treatment, or vinyl monomer grafting. A method for making the collector includes a hydrophilizing step of a nonwoven fabric comprising at least one of a polyolefin fiber and a polyamide fiber, and a plating step of applying nickel plating to the hydrophilic nonwoven fabric. Preferably, the nickel plating is electroless plating, and the nonwoven fabric has a plurality of micropores extending from one surface to the other surface thereof. An electroplating film may be deposited on the electroless plated film, if necessary. This collector facilitates assembling a battery which exhibits improved high-rate discharge characteristics due to improved adhesiveness of the plated nickel film to the nonwoven fabric.

Abstract: A workpiece, in which a lead is laid on top of a three-dimensional porous metal body, is placed between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil with a lead portion facing the ultrasonic horn. A support is raised so that the lead portion of the workpiece is pressed between the ultrasonic horn and the anvil. While being rotated around a central shaft with a motor, the ultrasonic horn vibrates at a frequency of 20 kHz in the shaft direction. Thus, the workpiece is advanced continuously, so that the lead is bonded ultrasonically to the three-dimensional porous metal body (i.e., metal-to-metal bonding is established). It is possible to provide a battery electrode that can be produced continuously at a lower running cost, reduce the faulty welding with a current collecting plate, and prevent short-circuits.

Abstract: A gastight-sealed alkaline nickel/metal hydride storage battery in the form of a button cell having positive and negative electrodes which are arranged in the cell case and separated by a separator. Both electrodes have a support and conductor framework, which consists of a porous metal foam or metal felt, the positive electrode having a metallic region which is free of active material on the side bearing against the cell case.

Abstract: After joining strips of lead plates in a lengthwise direction to a strip of porous metal sheet having a three-dimensional structure, the metal sheet is rolled entirely or in the vicinity of the lead plates. The porous metal sheet is then cut into several electrode substrates, which are coated with active materials and further cut into several electrode plates having a lead plate on one side thereof.

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 general purpose of the invention is to develop a high specific energy nickel electrode for a nickel based battery system. The invention discloses a method of producing a lightweight nickel electrode which can be cycled to deep depths of discharge (i.e., 40% or greater of electrode capacity). These deep depths of discharge can be accomplished by depositing the required amount of nickel hydroxide active material into a lightweight nickel fiber substrate.

Abstract: A sodium-sulfur battery in which sulfur and/or sodium polysulfide are used as cathode active materials, and an electronic conductor, which are arranged in a cathode chamber between a cathode container operating concurrently as a cathode electric collector and a solid electrolyte tube, and a layer, made of a material having a superior corrosion resistance against sulfur and sodium polysulfide, is provided between said solid electrolyte tube and said electronic conductor, wherein the cathode electric collector as the electronic conductor has been improved.

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 electrode grid for use in a lead acid battery comprising a reticulate part made of an organic or inorganic compound and not having a lead coating applied thereto, and an electricity leading part made of lead of a lead alloy and provided on the reticulate part. This structure reduces the weight of the electrode and increases energy density per weight of the lead acid battery.

Abstract: An electrode plate for lead acid accumulator comprises an activated base including lead fiber accounting for 60-90 wt % of said activated base and cadmium containing lead alloy fiber, which are mixed homogeneously and interwoven; a plate grid for collecting current and conducting electricity in combination with said activated base; a lug for electrical connection between electrode plates, said lug is electrically connected with said plate grid and is fixed thereon. Furthermore, a method for producing the electrode plate is provided, the method comprises steps, in which lead and lead alloy fibers cut into short sections are poured into sticky solution in order they are mixed with each other homogeneously in three dimensional direction by stirring.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a lithium battery wherein nickel oxyhydroxide is held in an electro-conductive three-dimensional porous material or a sintered nickel substrate and a lithium battery using it. When the three-dimensional porous material is used, the electric contact of the active material and the current collector is good, also the contact state of nickel oxyhydroxide particles, which are active materials, each other is good, further, the contact resistance among the particles is low, and also the diffusion of the lithium ion, which is the rate-determining step of the reaction, becomes easy among the particles.

Abstract: An improved current collector for electrochemical cells is formed of a conductive porous foam. The foam is preferably a nickel foam as is often used as an electrochemical cell substrate. The high porosity foam's compressibility and resiliency provide an adaptive contact surface which accommodates variations in the shape and position of electrodes and other circuit elements. By using this material as an improved current collector, electrochemical cells are more easily produced with reduced internal resistance. Improved methods of assembly are a result of the nature of the high porosity foam material and its compliance. The foam collector may be used as a pressure connection or welded to the spiral edge of jelly-roll electrode assemblies. To increase effective contact area and also improve resistance to vibration forces, portions of the collector are compressed in a radial space between a jelly-roll assembly and the surrounding container.

Abstract: The invention provides a treatment for edge surfaces and faces of metallized fiber structure framework plates for use in electric accumulators. The edge surfaces and faces, except for the starting portion of the current tapping tab, are mechanically, thermally or chemically freed of projecting metallized fiber ends and fiber bundles in order to avoid short circuits or soft shorts caused by dendrites penetrating the cell separator or by metallized fiber ends. The mechanical, thermal or chemical treatments can take place individually or in combination with one another.

Abstract: The invention provides a treatment for edge surfaces and faces of metallized fiber structure framework plates for use in electric accumulators. The edge surfaces and faces, except for the starting portion of the current tapping tab, are mechanically, thermally or chemically freed of projecting metallized fiber ends and fiber bundles in order to avoid short circuits or soft shorts caused by dendrites penetrating the cell separator or by metallized fiber ends. The mechanical, thermal or chemical treatments can take place individually or in combination with one another.

Abstract: Disclosed is an alkaline storage battery which exhibit exceptional charge/discharge and cycle life characteristics by improved current collection and active material retention of the electrode substrate. The electrode comprises a substrate composed of a conductive core material and fibrous nickel members unitary sintered on both surfaces of the conductive core material, and a layer of an active material filled into the substrate. The fibrous nickel members of the substrate are bent or curved at least at their tip ends inside the active material layer to retain the active material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to large plastic batteries having thermal switches to protect against overheating of the battery. In particular the present invention provides a rechargeable battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrically conductive collector associated with each electrode, a separator element arranged between the electrodes and a thermal switch layer containing a thermally-sensitive composition effective arranged to allow disruption of electrical conduction when the battery temperature reaches a critical temperature. Further the present invention provides a rechargeable battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrically conductive collector associated with one electrode, a separator element arranged between the electrodes, and at least one thermal switch layer containing a thermally-sensitive composition associated with the other electrode.

Abstract: A band-like punching metal is made to be put on a positive electrode formed from band-like nickel fiber felt having a positive electrode active material carried therein. The positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound through a separator to thereby form an electricity generating element. In this occasion, the upper edge portion of the punching metal is projected from the upper end side of the electricity generating element so that an upper collector plate is welded to the upper edge portion of the punching metal.

Abstract: The porous metallic material of the present invention has an overall porosity of 80 to 99%, and a skeleton in a three dimensional network structure which is entirely composed of a sintered metal powder having a porosity of 10 to 60%. The specific surface area is very high, for example, 300 to 11000 cm.sup.2 /cm.sup.3. The porous metallic material can be reinforced by a reinforcing plate. The porous metallic material is also suitable for an electrode of an alkaline secondary battery and enables achievement of increases in the life and the amount of the active material contained therein. The porous metallic material can be produced by preparing a foamable slurry containing a metal powder, forming the foamable slurry, drying the formed product, preferably after foaming, and finally burning the dry formed product.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for forming nickel hydroxide battery electrodes comprising nickel hydroxide particles which have crystallite sizes falling within the range of about 60 .ANG. to about 160 .ANG..

Abstract: An improved non-aqueous electrolyte cell according to this invention includes a negative electrode which is a composite sintered body of a carbonaceous sintered material retained on an expanded metal mesh collector. The expanded metal mesh has a sheet thickness T, a mesh long width center distance LW, a mesh short width center distance SW, a mesh long width maximum opening, a; and a mesh short width maximum opening, b, all carefully specified to obey predetermined conditions in order to provide improved secondary cells having high energy density. The expanded metal mesh collector has a specified configuration to prevent carbon layer cracking and/or separation of the carbon layer, caused by shrinkage of the carbon layer on sintering or by expansion/shrinkage of the carbon layer during charging and discharging, to secure stable cell characteristics.

Abstract: An electrode excellent in high-rate discharge characteristics is provided by increasing the adhesive strength of the conductive core material to the sintered nickel porous body which form the sintered type substrate. The electrode of the present invention uses a sintered substrate containing a part wherein the diameter of the pores of the sintered nickel porous body becomes successively smaller from the joining interfaces of the conductive core material toward the outside surfaces of the substrate. The region wherein the diameter is greater than in other parts preferably ranges within about 1/5 of the substrate thickness starting from both surfaces of the core material toward the outside surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrical engineering and can find application for making electrodes for chemical sources of electric energy--using fibrous polymer metal-coating bases. The invention has for its object to replace palladium and tin used in operations preceding chemical coating of the polymer fibrous material with a metal, with less critical materials. The object is accomplished by using a cation-exchange material having a cation-exchange capacity of 0.5-6 mg-eq/g, and metal coating is preceded by saturating the polymer material with nickel ions, followed by treating it with an aqueous solution of boron hydride of an alkali metal.

Abstract: Melting and recrystallizing the surfaces of a wrought Pb--Ca--Sn alloy strip from which positive Pb-acid storage battery grids are punched or expanded. The alloy also contains an alloyant such as silver which, upon recrystallization, provides a higher concentration of alloyant-rich grain boundaries on the surface of the grid than the wrought grid for enhancing the conductivity of any oxidation layer formed on the surface of the grid during high temperature cycling of the battery.

Abstract: In an organic electrolyte battery, resistor layers having higher resisting values than those of electric conducting substrates retaining active material of an electrode are formed on the substrate surfaces.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising an anode, a separator, a cathode, and an electrolyte or an electrolyte solution, characterized in that said anode comprises (a) a metal capable of being alloyed with lithium and (b) a metal incapable of being alloyed with lithium, said anode contains lithium when charging is operated, and wherein an anode terminal is extended from a portion formed of said metal (b).

Abstract: After a band-like nickel fiber felt is joined to the surface of a belt-shaped punching metal having a large number of openings and sintered, the positive electrode active material is carried on the nickel fiber felt to fabricate a positive electrode.

Abstract: An electrode plate for a battery is constructed from a porous metal body having at least one low-porosity part selectively arranged therein. A porous resin core is coated with a paste having a metal component, passed through rolls provided with at least one recess to thereby form at least one low-porosity part and sintered. The resultant electrode plate for battery is not only ensured with respect to strength and capable of improving battery performance but also advantageous in that it is available at lowered cost and free from apprehension of supply of raw materials.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to a battery cell structure fabricated from a single fiber containing an electrode or active material of an electrode, a membrane separator, the electrolyte, the active material of a second electrode or a second electrode. Further, the subject invention relates to a cell design fabricated from two single fibers in contact with each other, one containing an electrode, a membrane separator, electrolyte, and the other, a second electrode. The two electrodes here, represent the positive and negative electrodes of a cell. The invention further relates to the process of inserting one fibrous electrode inside a fibrous membrane separator or insulator and to the process of forming one fibrous cell which contains an electrode, porous insulator, the electrolyte, the active material of a second electrode or a second electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nickel electrode of the pasted type for a storage cell having an alkaline electrolyte, the electrode including a current collector and a paste. The electrode is manufactured by coating the collector with the paste which contains:a) an active material in powder form, having a nickel hydroxide base;b) a conductor constituted by a mixture of conductive particles and conductive fibers, the conductive particles having an average dimension D1 not greater than D/20, D being the average diameter of said active material, and the conductive fibers having an average dimension D2 not greater than D, and an average length L2 not less than 25 times the value of D2; andc) at least one polymer binder.

Abstract: An electrode for a battery with small variations in the discharge capacity and excellent reliability is disclosed. It comprises a sheet of porous metal substrate having three-dimensional communicating spaces for containing an active material. The substrate has a layer filled with the active material and occupying most of the thickness of the electrode, and a layer of current collector composed of a metallic foil which is not filled with active material and has reduced porosity.

Abstract: A battery electrode substrate which is constituted of a porous metallic body structure having communicating pores at a porosity of at least 90% and an Fe/Ni multilayer structure wherein the skeletal portion of the porous metallic body is composed mainly of Fe and has an Ni covering layer on the surface thereof while pores communicating with the inside and outside of Fe skeletal portion exist in the Fe skeletal portion and the inside of the pores is covered with Ni. The electrode substrate is produced by applying an iron oxide powder of at most 20 .mu.m in an average particle size on a porous resin core body; heat treating the core to remove an organic resin component while simultaneously sintering Fe to obtain a porous Fe body; and then covering the Fe skeletal portion with Ni by electroplating. In this process, the iron oxide can be used in combination with carbon powder. Further, a nickel porous sintered body can also be produced using nickel oxide in place of iron oxide.

Abstract: An electrode plate for a battery is constructed from a porous metal body having at least one low-porosity part selectively arranged therein. A porous resin core is coated with a paste having a metal component, passed through rolls provided with at least one recess to thereby form at least one low-porosity part and sintered. The resultant electrode plate for battery is not only ensured with respect to strength and capable of improving battery performance but also advantageous in that it is available at lowered cost and free from apprehension of supply of raw materials.

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: Electrode including a paste containing particles of electrochemically active material and a conductive support consisting of a three-dimensional porous material comprising strands delimiting contiguous pores communicating via passages, characterized in that the average width L in .mu.m of said passages is related to the average diameter .O slashed. in .mu.m of said particles by the following equation, in which W and Y are dimensionless coefficients:(W.times..O slashed.)+X.gtoreq.L.gtoreq.(Y.times..O slashed.)+ZwhereinW=0.16Y=1.69X=202.4 .mu.m andZ=80 .mu.