Rechargeable galvanic cell and electrolyte therefor-II

• US 3,944,430 A
• Filed: 09/18/1970
• Issued: 03/16/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lee, Tien Shuey
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/073,582
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 136/30, 136/129, 136/107, 136/154, 136/155, 136/163, 136/164, 136/125, 136/127, 204/55 R
• US Class Current: 429/201
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/26 Selection of materials as electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/36 Accumulators not provided for in groups H01M10/05-H01M10/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable galvanic cell having a zinc anode and a zinc-containing electrolyte which comprises an aqueous alkaline or aqueous acidic medium containing dissolved zinc ions and a quaternary ammonium compound for suppressing zinc dendrite formation during the charging cycle.

Claims

1. A rechargeable galvanic cell including a zinc anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution containing soluble zinc and a quaternary ammonium compound in an amount sufficient to suppress formation of dendrites on said zinc anode during charging of the cell, said amount being a concentration of said quaternary ammonium compound in said electrolyte within the range of from about 5 ×

10^-4 molar to about 5 ×

10^-1 molar.

2. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is alkaline.

3. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein the electrolyte is acidic.

4. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from the group consisting of tetraalkylammonium compounds, trialkyl(hydroxyalkyl)ammonium compounds, trialkylarylammonium compounds, and trialkylaralkylammonium compounds.

5. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is a compound of the formula:

##EQU2## wherein each R individually represents a member of the group consisting of alkyl of up to 12 carbon atoms, hydroxyalkyl, aryl, and aralkyl; and

wherein X represents an anion.

6. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 5 wherein the hydroxyalkyl is 2-hydroxyethyl, wherein the aryl is phenyl, and wherein the aralkyl is benzyl.

7. The rechargeable galvanic all of claim 1 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is present in the electrolyte in a concentration of from about 1 ×

10^-3 molar to about 5 ×

10^-3 molar.

8. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 2 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is a tetraethylammonium compound or a trimethylphenylammonium compound.

9. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 3 wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is a tetraalkylammonium compound wherein from one to three of the alkyl groups has from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, the remainder of the alkyl groups having less than 4 carbon atoms.

10. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 9 wherein the alkyl groups having less than 4 carbon atoms are methyl.

11. The rechargeable galvanic cell of claim 1 wherein the active cathode material is oxygen, nickel oxide, silver oxide, lead dioxide, mercuric oxide, or manganese dioxide.

12. A galvanic cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte wherein the electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution containing soluble zinc and a quaternary ammonium compound, said concentration of the quaternary ammonium compound in said electrolyte being within the range of from about 5 ×

10^-4 molar to about 5 ×

10^-1 molar.

13. The galvanic cell of claim 12 wherein the anode is zinc.