Anodic zinc electrode for use in an alkaline based electrochemical cell

• US 20030113630A1
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rechargeable Battery Corporation
• Original Assignee: Rechargeable Battery Corporation
• Inventors: Kainthla, Ramesh C., Manko, David J.
• Application Number:
  US10/006,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20030113630A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/54 of silver
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/62 Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/622 being polymers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An anodic zinc electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising: a current collector; and an active material composition applied to the current collector, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state.

Claims

1. An anodic zinc electrode for use in an alkaline based electrochemical cell, comprising:

a current collector; and

an active material composition applied to the current collector, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state.

2. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a zincate solubility modifier selected from the group consisting of Be(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Ra(OH)₂, and mixtures thereof.

3. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen gas suppressant selected from the group consisting of PbO, CdO, Bi₂O₃, In₂O₃, and mixtures thereof.

4. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 1, further comprising a binding agent selected from the group consisting of CMC, PTFE, PVA, and mixtures thereof.

5. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1.5-2:

1.

6. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 5, further comprising a zincate solubility modifier selected from the group consisting of Be(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Ra(OH)₂, and mixtures thereof.

7. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 5, further comprising a hydrogen gas suppressant selected from the group consisting of PbO, CdO, Bi₂O₃, In₂O₃, and mixtures thereof.

8. The anodic zinc electrode according to claim 5, further comprising a binding agent selected from the group consisting of CMC, PTFE, PVA, and mixtures thereof.

9. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a cathodic electrode;

a separator/absorber;

an alkaline electrolyte; and

an anodic zinc electrode comprising;

a current collector; and

an active material composition applied to the current collector, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state.

10. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a zincate solubility modifier selected from the group consisting of Be(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Ra(OH)₂, and mixtures thereof.

11. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a hydrogen gas suppressant selected from the group consisting of PbO, CdO, Bi₂O₃, In₂O₃, and mixtures thereof.

12. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a binding agent selected from the group consisting of CMC, PTFE, PVA, and mixtures thereof.

13. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises manganese dioxide.

14. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises nickel-hydroxide and/or nickel-oxide.

15. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises silver and/or silver-oxide.

16. The electrochemical cell according to claim 9, wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1.5-2:

1.

17. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a zincate solubility modifier selected from the group consisting of Be(OH)₂, Mg(OH)₂, Ca(OH)₂, Sr(OH)₂, Ba(OH)₂, Ra(OH)₂, and mixtures thereof.

18. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a hydrogen gas suppressant selected from the group consisting of PbO, CdO, Bi₂O₃, In₂O₃, and mixtures thereof.

19. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the anodic zinc electrode further comprises a binding agent selected from the group consisting of CMC, PTFE, PVA, and mixtures thereof.

20. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises manganese dioxide.

21. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises nickel-hydroxide and/or nickel-oxide.

22. The electrochemical cell according to claim 16, wherein the cathodic electrode comprises silver and/or silver-oxide.

24. A method for manufacturing an anodic zinc electrode for use in an alkaline based electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:

providing a current collector;

providing an active material composition, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state; and

associating the active material composition with the current collector.

25. A method for manufacturing an anodic zinc electrode for use in an alkaline based electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:

providing a current collector;

providing an active material composition, wherein the active material composition includes Zn and ZnO, and wherein the weight ratio of the Zn to ZnO ranges from approximately 1.5-2 to approximately 1 which enables the anodic zinc electrode to be associated with an electrochemical cell assembled in a charged or discharged state; and

associating the active material composition with the current collector.