Powergenix Systems, Inc.

Zincfive Power, Inc.

Deepan Chakkaravarthi Bose

Jeffrey Owen Phillips

Samaresh Mohanta

Cecilia Maske

James J Wu

Bryan L McKinney

Cecelia Maske

The conductivity of a zinc negative electrode is enhanced through use of surfactant-coated carbon fibers. Carbon fibers, along with other active materials such as bismuth oxide, zinc etc., form an electronically conductive matrix in zinc negative electrodes. Zinc negative electrodes as described herein are particularly useful in nickel zinc secondary batteries.

Carbon fiber zinc negative electrode

Active material for a negative electrode of a rechargeable zinc alkaline electrochemical cell is made with zinc metal particles coated with tin and/or lead. The zinc particles may be coated by adding lead and tin salts to a slurry containing zinc particles, a thickening agent and water. The remaining zinc electrode constituents such as zinc oxide (ZnO), bismuth oxide (BiO), a dispersing agent, and a binding agent such as Teflon are then added. The resulting slurry/paste has a stable viscosity and is easy to work with during manufacture of the zinc electrode. Further, the zinc electrode is much less prone to gassing when cobalt is present in the electrolyte. Cells manufactured from electrodes produced in accordance with this invention exhibit much less hydrogen gassing, by as much as 60-80%, than conventional cells. The cycle life and shelf life of the cells is also enhanced, as the zinc conductive matrix remains intact and shelf discharge is reduced.

Pasted zinc electrode for rechargeable nickel-zinc batteries

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San Diego, CA, United States of America

Deepan Chakkaravarthi Bose