Zinc dendrite inhibitor

• US 4,479,856 A
• Filed: 08/08/1983
• Issued: 10/30/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: New Energy Development Organization
• Original Assignee: Meidensha Electric Manufacturing Company Limited (Meidensha Corporation)
• Inventors: Ando, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Andrews, R. L.
• Application Number:
  US06/521,373
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 204/55 R, 204/DIG. 2, 429/199, 429/201
• US Class Current: 205/312
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 3/22 of zinc
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/365 Zinc-halogen accumulators

Abstract

A dendrite inhibitor includes a quaternary ammonium salt and at least two metal ions selected from the group consisting of lead, tin and cadmium ions, and the inhibitor is used by adding it to an electrolyte for subjecting zinc to electrolysis through an electrochemical reaction.

Claims

1. A zinc dendrite inhibitor for addition to a zinc halide-containing electrolyte which deposits zinc on a negative electrode through an electrochemical reaction, said inhibitor comprising:

a quaternary ammonium salt and at least two metal ions selected from the group consisting of from about 10^-4 to about 10^-3 mole/l of divalent lead ions, from about 10^-4 to about 10^-3 mole/l of divalent tin ions, and less than about 10^-2 mole/l of divalent cadmium ions.

2. An inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein said quaternary ammonium salt comprises a chemical compound having the general formula R₁ R₂ R₃ R₄ N⁺ X^-, where R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are radicals selected from the group consisting of alkyl and benzyl radicals, wherein at least 2 of R₁, R₂, R₃ and R₄ are alkyl radicals each having a carbon number of at most 12, and where X is a radical selected from the group consisting of halogen, 1/2 SO₄, and morpholine.

3. An inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein said metal ions are presented by donors selected from the group consisting of halides, sulfates, acetates and phosphates.

4. An inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein said quaternary ammonium salt has a concentration ranging from 10^-4 mole/l to the saturated concentration thereof.

5. An inhibitor according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of said lead ions and said tin ions is each 5×

10^-4 mole/l and wherein the concentration of said cadmium ions is in the range of from about 10^-4 to about 10^-3 mole/l.