Duracell Inc.

Camx Power LLC

The Gillette Company

Tiax LLC

Jack Treger

Guang Wei

Bryan Christopher Lagos

John B Fenn

H Frank Gibbard

Joseph E Sunstrom

Sean A Sargeant

John Licata

Kacy Tully

Provided are membranes useful for electrochemical or fuel cells. A membrane may be formed of or include a sulfonated polymer whereby the sulfonated polymer is covalently or ionically associated with a multi-nitrogen containing heterocyclic molecule. The resulting membranes possess excellent ion conductivity and selectivity.

Bipolar ionomer membrane

A low voltage electrochemical cell is provided that includes a metallic anode including an anode metal, a metallic cathode including a cathode metal, the metallic cathode further including a surface layer including an alloy of the anode metal and the cathode metal, an electrolyte disposed between the metallic anode and the metallic cathode, and a separator within the electrolyte or embedded with electrolyte. The electrochemical cell further includes a voltage stabilization electron current between said anode and said cathode, where the voltage stabilization electron current has an amperage capable of maintaining an open load circuit voltage of the electrochemical cell that varies by less than 10 percent over 10 hours or greater, optionally a month or greater, optionally over the cell lifetime, or a non-equilibrium anode metal/cathode metal ratio in the surface layer for 10 hours or greater, optionally a month or greater, optionally over the cell lifetime.

Voltage stabilization of low voltage metal-metal cells

Provided are processes of preventing or eliminating caking of particulate materials during milling operations. Processes include the addition of an anti-caking additive such as a rosin, abietic acid, fatty acid, or derivative of any of the foregoing to a mill prior to or along with a particulate chemical, and milling the combination. The addition of the anti-caking additive prevents or reduces the amount of caking observed thereby increasing yields and maintaining or enhancing the resulting properties of the milled product.

Dry milling additive and process

A method includes combining fumed silicon oxide with a metal to form silicon having an average particle size of less than approximately 100 nm. The silicon can be incorporated into an anode of a lithium ion cell.

Nano-sized silicon

An electrochemical separator is formed insitu on an electrode surface within an electrochemical cell, preferably an alkaline cell cathode surface. The alkaline cell comprises a zinc anode, a and potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The cathode may comprise a cathode comprising manganese dioxide. The separator may be formed by coating an electrode surface preferably with a low molecular weight copolymer of polyvinyalcohol and polyvinylacetate. The film can be coagulated to form a permeable separator uniformly conforming to and covering the electrode surface irrespective of the shape and contour of the electrode. A separate protector disk can be inserted onto the top surface of the cathode to protect the cathode from shorting in the event that imperfections in the separator surface develop. The protector disk can have a protruding lip which surrounds and protects the inside corner edge of the cathode.

Alkaline cell with cathode surface protector

A method of making a cathode includes decomposing a mixture comprising a metal naphthenate, e.g., cobalt naphthenate, and incorporating the decomposed mixture into the cathode. The cathode can be used, for example, in a metal-air battery and a fuel cell.

Method of making a cathode or battery from a metal napthenate

A light transparent moisture barrier useful for preventing moisture from destroying the effectiveness of a moisture sensitive cell condition tester on an electrochemical cell, comprises a plurality of very thin layers of amorphous silicon nitride and a hydrophobic fluorocarbon polymer on a flexible, polymeric substrate. The layers are formed on the substrate by a deposition process such as sputtering. The thickness of any individual layer is less than one micron.

Moisture barrier composite film of silicon nitride and fluorocarbon

A light transparent moisture barrier useful for preventing moisture from destroying the effectiveness of a moisture sensitive cell condition tester on an electrochemical cell comprises a plurality of very thin; alternating layers of an inorganic material and an organic material on a flexible, polymeric substrate. The layers are not laminated, but are formed on the substrate by a deposition or coating process and the thickness of any layer is less than 5 microns. The organic material is a hydrophobic polymer and the inorganic material is a metal oxide, nitride, a glass or silicon,

Light transparent multilayer moisture barrier for electrochemical

A light transparent moisture barrier useful for preventing moisture from destroying the effectiveness of a moisture sensitive cell condition tester on an electrochemical cell comprises a plurality of very thin, alternating layers of an inorganic material and an organic material on a flexible, polymeric substrate. The layers are not laminated, but are formed on the substrate by a deposition or coating process and the thickness of any layer is less than 5 microns. The organic material is a hydrophobic polymer and the inorganic material is a metal oxide, nitride, a glass or silicon.

Light transparent multilayer moisture barrier for electrochemical cell

A system for bonding a condition indicator to an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The system employs an electrically conductive adhesive which bonds the indicator to a terminal of the cell. The terminal contact surface for the adhesive is desirably of tin. The adhesive contains metallic flakes and is preferably a thermally activated polyesterpolyurethane adhesive or a thermosetting adhesive containing acrylate monomers.

Battery tester adhesive system

The combination of a main electrochemical cell (or battery cell) and a battery tester connected to the cell is disclosed. The battery tester is moisture sensitive, typically of the electrochemical type having a film-like construction comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte layer therebetween. The tester may be applied against the cell's outer surface. A moisture vapor barrier film is applied over the tester and adhesively secured to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film is flexible, optically clear or at least translucent, and has a very low moisture vapor transmission rate. The moisture vapor barrier is preferably composed of mica film, but may desirably also be a film of polyparaxylylene or glass coated polymer. A hydrophobic hot melt, solvent-based or reactive thermosetting adhesive may be employed to bond the moisture vapor barrier film to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film prevents ambient moisture from passing to the tester and interfering with its operation.

Moisture barrier for battery with electrochemical tester

This invention relates to a heat sensitive polymer film and to a method for making the same. The film becomes substantially impermeable to air or ion flow above a predetermined temperature and is useful as a separator in electrochemical cells. The film comprises a microporous layer coated on at least one side with a layer of heat-fusible polymer particles.

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Quincy, MA, United States of America

Jack Treger