Lockheed Missiles & Space Company, Inc.

Other

The Continental Group, Inc.

Ernest L Littauer

William R Momyer

Keh Chi Tsai

Keh-Chi Tsai

Robert J Gerenser

Roger Paul Hollandsworth

An improved air cathode structure for use in primary batteries and the like. The cathode structure includes a matrix active layer, a current collector grid on one face of the matrix active layer, and a porous, nonelectrically conductive separator on the opposite face of the matrix active layer, the collector grid and separator being permanently bonded to the matrix active layer. The separator has a preselected porosity providing low IR losses and high resistance to air flow through the matrix active layer to maintain high bubble pressure during operation of the battery. In the illustrated embodiment, the separator was formed of porous polypropylene. A thin hydrophobic film is provided, in the preferred embodiment, on the current collecting metal grid.

Air cathode structure manufacture

An improved porous cathode structure for use in a battery having a reactive metal electrode and flowed electrolyte. The cathode is preferably formed of an electrically conducting porous material with categorically active surface at an interface with the electrolyte. Alternatively, the cathode may be of an electrochemically reducible porous material and defines an active surface. Structure is provided for delivering electrochemically reducible cathode reactant material continuously through the cathode to the cathode active surface during operation of the battery. The reactant material is delivered in an amount required to be reduced at the active surface to maintain high energy discharge rate with minimum amount of reactant material being utilized. The reactant material, in the illustrated embodiment, is provided from a storage supply and delivered to the porous cathode as needed during operation of the battery. In one form, the cathode is provided with distribution passages for conducting the reactant material therethrough. In another form, the reactant material is introduced through one or more edge portions of the cathode porous body for flow through the pores to the active surface.

Reactive metal battery having continuous supply of cathode reactant

This relates to reactive metal cells wherein there is a cathode and a consumable anode. It is necessary to separate the cathode from the anode so that an electrolyte may constantly flow over the face of the anode opposing the cathode. It has been found that this separator may also beneficially function as a current collector. The combined current collector and separator includes a peripheral supporting frame of which a portion may function as a bus-bar. A plurality of bars or ribs extend in parallel relation across the opening defined by the supporting frame and are electrically connected to the bus-bar portion. It is preferred that each bar or rib have a pointed or line edge which will engage and slightly bite into the associated anode to maintain the bar or rib in electrical contact with the anode. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.

Combined current collector and electrode separator

An electrochemical cell is shown wherein anode 1 of a reactive metal having an insulating film 2 thereon is separated from cathode 6 by a non-conductive flow screen 4. A porous, expandable element 5 is positioned between screen 4 and cathode 6 to maintain essentially uniform dimensions of the electrolyte flow channel defined by screen 4 as the anode is consumed during cell operation. Preferably, when a multiplicity of cells are electrically connected together, a plurality of separator elements 8 between the respective anodes and cathodes are utilized to ensure that each cell in the multi-cell configuration is subject to essentially identical compression forces in assembly and during discharge.

Electrochemical cell

In an electrochemical cell, a cathode having an essentially continuous layer of ruthenium on its surface which improves the performance of the cathode during the electrochemical reduction of chlorine, oxygen or peroxyl ions in an aqueous salt electrolyte.

Electrochemically stable cathode

In a reactive metal-water electrochemical cell, an alkaline electrolyte containing soluble inorganic ions which are reduced preferentially to water at the cathode. More particularly, the additives substantially reduce or eliminate reduction of water and evolution of hydrogen at the cathode resulting in significant improvement in current efficiency, gravimetric energy density and cell potential at a given current. Additionally, suppression of hydrogen evolution makes possible a sealed system with venting of gases from the cell no longer necessary. The inorganic ions of the invention are nitrite, hypochlorite, chlorate, bromate, dinitrogen trioxide and sulfite ions which are formed when soluble salts of nitrite, sulfite, hypochlorate, bromate, chlorate, soluble gases such as dinitrogen trioxide and sulfur dioxide and other soluble inorganic compounds are dissolved in the alkaline electrolyte.

Cell comprising an alkali metal and aqueous electrolyte

In a reactive metal-water electrochemical cell, an alkaline electrolyte containing organic additives which reduce the parasitic direct corrosion reaction between the reactive metal and the water of the electrolyte. More particularly, the additives substantially reduce the activity of the water by forming inter-molecular hydrogen bonding between the organic additive and water. Illustratively, such organic additives include alcohols, nitrogen containing compounds such as amides, amines and hydrazine, and ketones, ethers and esters. Optionally, molarity of the electrolyte is controlled independent of water additions by chemically removing the reactive metal ions formed during discharge of the cell. This is accomplished by the controlled additions of precipitating agents to the electrolyte to form insoluble salts.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos Hills, CA, United States of America

Ernest L Littauer