Lightweight zinc electrode

• US 5,468,570 A
• Filed: 01/26/1995
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Ferrando, William A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/379,380
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 429/217, 429/229-231, 429/235, 429/245, 429/190, 429/192, 252/182.1
• US Class Current: 429/217
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A light weight zinc electrode made of

(1) a mat of nickel metal coated graphite fibers; and

(2) a composite material of zinc active material and a hydrogel dispersed a solid, impervious, inert polymer matrix,

wherein the composite material surrounds the individual nickel metal coated graphite fibers of the sintered mat which support the composite material and provide paths of electrical conductivity throughout the composite material.

Claims

1. A zinc electrode comprising

A. a sintered mat of nickel metal coated graphite fibers;

and

B. a zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material comprising

(1) from about 55 to about 80 weight percent of a zinc active material that is zinc, zinc oxide, zinc hydroxide, or mixtures thereof wherein the weight percentage is based on the equivalent amount of zinc oxide, and with

(2) the remainder of the zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material being a hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material comprising

(a) from about 4 to about 20 weight percent of the hydrogel, and with

(b) the remainder of the hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material being an impervious, inert matrix polymer,

wherein the zinc active material and the hydrogel are each dispersed within the inert polymer matrix;

wherein the zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material surrounds the individual nickel metal coated graphite fibers of the sintered mat and the nickel metal coated graphite fibers provide paths of electrical conductivity throughout the zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material.

2. The zinc electrode of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel comprises from 4 to 16 weight percent of the hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite.

3. The zinc electrode of claim 2 wherein the hydrogel comprises from 6 to 12 weight percent of the hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite.

4. The zinc electrode of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel comprises from 7 to 9 weight percent of the hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite.

5. The zinc electrode of claim 1 wherein the zinc active material comprises from 65 to 80 weight percent of the zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material.

6. The zinc electrode of claim 5 wherein the zinc active material comprises from 70 to 80 weight percent of the zinc active material/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material.

7. The zinc electrode of claim 6 wherein the zinc active material comprises from 74 to 76 weight percent of the zinc active/hydrogel/inert polymer matrix composite material.

8. The zinc electrode of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel is polyethylene oxide, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, hydroxethyl cellulose, gelatin, pectin, cellulose, starch, or mixtures thereof.

9. The zinc electrode of claim 8 wherein the hydrogel is polyethylene oxide, polyacrylic acid, or polyacrylamide, or mixtures thereof.

10. The zinc electrode of claim 9 wherein the hydrogel is polyacrylic acid.

11. The zinc electrode of claim 1 wherein the inert matrix polymer is polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, urethanes, phenol formaldehyde or mixtures thereof.

12. The zinc electrode of claim 11 wherein the inert matrix polymer is polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, or mixtures thereof.

13. The zinc electrode of claim 12 wherein the inert matrix polymer is polyethylene, polypropylene, or mixtures thereof.

14. The zinc electrode of claim 13 wherein the inert matrix polymer is polypropylene.

15. The zinc electrode of claim 13 wherein the inert matrix polymer is polyethylene.