Eveready Battery Company, Inc.

Energizer Brands, LLC

Jingdong Guo

Jonathan W Hedman

Thomas J O'Hara, Iii

Marc P Kelemen

Wayne B Bennett

Robert Brian Dopp

The invention is a process for making an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode including a catalyst made by a solution precipitation process via an oxidation-reduction reaction between water-soluble oxidizing and reducing agents, at least one of which includes manganese. The reaction is carried out at less than 65&#xb0; C., preferably with little or no heating. The oxidizing agent does not have a cation that is reduced in the reaction, and the reducing agent does not have an anion that is reduced in the reaction.

Method of making an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode including manganese dioxide

The invention is an electrochemical cell with a catalytic electrode and an aqueous alkaline electrolyte within a cell housing having one or more ports for the passage of a gas to or from the catalytic electrode and a process for making the cell. The catalytic electrode includes a catalytic layer, containing a catalytic material, and a porous current collector, at least partially embedded in the catalytic layer. The current collector includes a substrate with an electrically conductive metal layer, in contact with the catalytic material on the side of the current collector facing the ports, and a coating including electrically conductive particles, in contact with the catalytic layer on the side facing the separator.

Current collector for catalytic electrode

An anode casing having a bright tin or bright tin alloy surface layer at least on an inside surface of the casing, preferably on the entire surface of the anode casing, and to an electrochemical cell containing the anode casing. Methods for preparing anode casings and electrochemical cells containing the anode casings are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the anode casings are plated at high current density utilizing a variable contact rack plating process, wherein portions of a clamp assembly of the device variably or alternately contact different portions of the anode casing so the entire surface of the anode casing is plated. The bright tin-plated surface is a high hydrogen-overvoltage metal that reduces gassing in cells using the casings.

Tin-plated anode casings for alkaline cells

The invention is an electrochemical cell with a zinc-containing negative electrode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte and a cup-shaped metal negative electrode casing in contact with the negative electrode. The negative electrode casing is formed from a substrate that is substantially free of copper and at least those portions of the surface of the negative electrode casing in the seal area and the current collector area are coated with a layer of an alloy comprising copper, tin and zinc. The alloy layer reduces hydrogen gassing within the cell and is particularly useful in cells with no added mercury. Embodiments of the invention include cells with prismatic, cylindrical and button shaped containers and cells with positive electrode active materials including manganese dioxide, silver oxide and oxygen.

Alkaline cell anode casing

An improved button air cell is provided that contains zero mercury, is free of indium on the sealing surface of the anode cup and has an active material comprising zinc alloyed with lead. Also provided is a method of forming a button electrochemical cell free of mercury and having no indium on the inner surface of the anode cup.

Zero mercury air cell

An improved air cell, and the method of forming the air cell, is provided. The cell has a uniformly laminated hydrophobic membrane using a high laminating force. The air cell has increased performance in high humidity or low humidity conditions.

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Westlake, OH, United States of America

Jingdong Guo