Tin-zinc secondary battery

• US 7,550,231 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JES Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: John E. Stauffer
• Inventors: Stauffer, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yuan; Dah-Wei D
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEST, ZACHARY P
• Application Number:
  US11/834,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 429/229, 429/224, 429/218.1, 429/206, 429/209
• US Class Current: 429/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/24 Alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/26 Selection of materials as electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0014 Alkaline electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/24 Electrodes for alkaline accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/48 of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A rechargeable battery is provided with a positive electrode of tin, a negative electrode of zinc and an alkaline electrolyte. Upon charging, some tin is converted to stannic oxide, and zinc oxide is reduced to zinc. When the battery is discharged, stannic oxide is reduced to stannous oxide and zinc is oxidized to zinc oxide.

Claims

1. A storage battery comprising:

(a) a positive electrode comprised, essentially of tin, wherein during discharge, stannic oxide is reduced to stannous oxide and during charging stannous oxide is oxidized to stannic oxide;

(b) a negative electrode of zinc; and

(c) an alkaline electrolyte.

2. The storage battery of claim 1 in which the alkaline electrolyte is an aqueous solution of a hydroxide of an alkali metal.

3. The storage battery of claim 1 in which the alkaline electrolyte is an aqueous solution of tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide.

4. The storage battery of claim 1 in which the alkaline electrolyte contains a buffering agent selected from the group:

carbonates, borates, silicates and phosphates.