Union Carbide Corporation

Battery Technologies, Inc.

Karl V Kordesch

Akiya Kozawa

Klaus Tomantschger

Yatendra Sharma

An alkaline manganese cell--which is generally a rechargeable cell, but which may also be a primary cell--is provided, having an anode composition where the anode comprises an admixture of amalgamated zinc particles, zinc oxide and metallic copper. The metallic copper is finely divided and has a large surface area, so that the copper is distributed throughout the anode and forms an electrically conductive, low resistance structure within the anode. The metallic matrix within the anode takes the appearance of a sponge, and provides for conductivity within the anode at all stages of charge and discharge of the cell. Especially in the anode of a secondary cell, the cell will exhibit an overcharge reserve because there is a sufficient amount of zinc oxide in the anode, and it will exhibit an over discharge reserve because of the presence of metallic copper in the anode. Several processes for preparation of the zinc oxide/copper mixture are discussed, including several different chemical and electro-chemical reactions which may be followed. The preparation of the mix is exothermic, and the mixture should be kept in such a manner as to preclude its exposure to oxygen.

Zinc anodes for alkaline galvanic cells, and cells containing them

The disclosure of this application is directed to silver catalyzed manganese dioxide which is useful as a hydrogen gas absorber. The silver catalyzed manganese dioxide of this invention can be formed into a shaped article of desired configuration, inserted into an electrochemical cell such as a battery, which is subsequently sealed, to absorb hydrogen gas evolved within the cell. Absorption of hydrogen gas by the silver catalyzed manganese dioxide prevents excessive build-up of gas pressure within the sealed cell thus minimizing the possibility of rupture and complete failure of the cell.

Silver catalyzed manganese dioxide hydrogen gas absorber

A rechargeable cell having a metal oxide positive electrode and a hydrogen gas negative electrode is manufactured in accordance with the present invention with a predetermined quantity of hydrogen gas by inserting a metallic member, selected from the group consisting of aluminum, zinc and magnesium, within the cell at a location adapted to contact the aqueous alkaline electrolyte and hermetically sealing the cell.

Method of precharging rechargeable metal oxide-hydrogen cells

The air depolarized cell comprises a laminated cathode assembly including an air cathode and an auxiliary cathode in combination with a layer of a thin film nonporous gas permeable membrane which is disposed with one side over the air cathode and with the opposite side having substantially unrestricted access to the atmosphere through a gas diffusion member. The nonporous membrane controls the transfer of oxygen from the ambient atmosphere to the air cathode exclusively by gas solubility with its permeability to oxygen selected to correspond to a predetermined average current density for the cell.

Air depolarized cell

The rechargeable cell comprises a cathode formed from a compressed mixture of manganese dioxide particles, electrically conductive particles and a binder; an anode separated from the cathode and containing amalgamated metallic zinc particles on an electrically conductive carrier in an amount sufficient to provide a limited anode discharge capacity of about one-third of the cathode capacity; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte; and a charge reserve mass comprising an oxide or hydroxide of zinc in an amount sufficient to provide a charge reserve capacity for said cell equal to at least 50 percent of the anode discharge capacity.

Rechargeable alkaline MnO.sub.2 -zinc cell

A cathode contact member is disposed at the interface between the molded tubular cathode shell and the interior side walls of the metallic container in an alkaline round cell, the contact member being at least partially embedded in the tubular cathode shell and making permanent electrical connection with the metallic container.

Cathode contact member for alkaline round cells

Coherent manganese dioxide electrodes comprising particulate manganese dioxide and particulate electrically conductive material substantially uniformly dispersed in a conductive binder wherein said binder comprises colloidal electrically conductive material having a surface area as defined by the B.E.T. method using N.sub.2 absorption at 78.degree.K of less than about 100m.sup.2 /g, and an electrolyte-wettable polymeric binder.

Coherent manganese dioxide electrodes, process for their  production,

A bonded component assembly and method for producing it, comprising an anode, a cathode and a plasticizable screen disposed between and adhesively securing said anode to said cathode in a fixed spaced-apart relationship with a separator, if needed, between and in contact with said anode and said cathode through the openings in the plasticizable screen.

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Lakewood, OH, United States of America

Karl V Kordesch