Rechargeable ZnMn flat plate electrode cell

• US 8,968,915 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2009
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Encell Technology, Inc
• Original Assignee: Encell Technology, Inc
• Inventors: Ogg, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): Cano, Milton I
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, JIMMY
• Application Number:
  US13/120,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20110183188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 429129-141, 429/161, 429/162, 429/224, 429229-231, 429152-155, 429/218.1, 187/290, 296/231
• US Class Current: 429/162
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/281 Large cells or batteries with stacks of plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0402 Methods of deposition of the material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/244 Zinc electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/42 Alloys based on zinc
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/50 of manganese
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/502 for non-aqueous cells H01M4/505 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/808 Foamed, spongy materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/02 Details of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating

Abstract

Provided is a flat plate electrode cell, comprises positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates. The positive electrode plates each comprise manganese and compressed metal foam. The negative electrode plates each comprise zinc and compressed metal foam. Both the positive and negative electrodes can have alignment tabs, wherein the flat plate electrode cell can further comprise electrical terminals formed from the aligned tabs. The rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure, formed from compressed metal foam, provides both low resistance and high rate performance to the electrodes and the cell. Examples of improvements over round bobbin and flat plate cells are current density, memory effect, shelf life, charge retention, and voltage level of discharge curve. In particular, the rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure provides longer cycle life with reduced capacity fade as compared with known round bobbin and flat plate cells.

Claims

1. A flat plate electrode cell comprising:

positive electrode plates each comprising;

manganese and carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) contained throughout a compressed metal foam, with the metal foam having a compression sizing between about 42 and 45% of the original thickness; and

negative electrode plates each comprising;

zinc and carboxylmethyl cellulose (CMC) contained throughout a compressed metal foam, with the metal foam having a compression sizing between about 42 and 45% of the original thickness.

2. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 1, wherein:

the positive electrode plates have aligned tabs; and

the negative electrode plates have aligned tabs; and

the flat plate electrode cell further comprises;

a positive terminal formed from the aligned tabs of the positive electrode plates; and

a negative terminal formed from the aligned tabs of the negative electrode plates.

3. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 1, wherein the negative electrode plate comprises an anode paste.

4. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 3, wherein the anode paste comprises 75-98 weight % zinc active material.

5. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 4, wherein the zinc active material comprises lead-free zinc or zinc alloy.

6. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode plate comprises a cathode paste.

7. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 6, wherein the cathode paste comprises from about 70 to 90 weight % electrolytic manganese dioxide.

8. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 6, wherein the cathode paste comprises from about 2 to 15 weight % of graphite and/or carbon black.

9. The flat plate electrode cell of claim 1, wherein the CMC is present in the form of 2% CMC gel.