Provided is a layered double hydroxide (LDH) separator capable of more effectively restraining short circuit caused by zinc dendrites. The LDH separator for secondary zinc batteries includes a porous substrate made of a polymer material; and a LDH plugging pores in the porous substrate. The LDH separator has a dendrite buffer layer therein, the dendrite buffer layer being at least one selected from the group consisting of: (i) a pore-rich internal porous layer in the porous substrate, the internal porous layer being free from the LDH or deficient in the LDH; (ii) a releasable interfacial layer, which is provided by two adjacent layers constituting part of the LDH separator being in releasable contact with each other; and (iii) an internal gap layer being free from the LDH and the porous substrate, which is provided by two adjacent layers constituting part of the LDH separator being formed apart from each other.

A paste electrode comprising a current collector support, which is coated on at least one of its faces with a coating composed of a composition comprising an active material comprising an alloy of zinc with one or more chemical elements, and one or more binders. This electrode may be used as an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising alkaline electrolyte. The coating contains at most 0.5% by mass of mercury or mercury compound. The electrode in spite of this presents effective resistance to corrosion by the electrolyte.

A paste electrode comprising a current collector support, which is coated on at least one of its faces with a coating composed of a composition comprising an active material comprising an alloy of zinc with one or more chemical elements, and one or more binders. This electrode may be used as an anode of an electrochemical cell comprising alkaline electrolyte. The coating contains at most 0.5% by mass of mercury or mercury compound. The electrode in spite of this presents effective resistance to corrosion by the electrolyte.

The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).

A method of making an electrode by providing a mixture of first particles of silver or silver oxide and second particles of an inorganic porogen, molding the mixture, cohering the mixture to form a green body, demolding the green body, heating the green body to form a monolith, to convert any silver oxide to silver, and to fuse the first particles together, and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the second particles.

A method of making an electrode by providing a mixture of first particles of silver or silver oxide and second particles of an inorganic porogen, molding the mixture, cohering the mixture to form a green body, demolding the green body, heating the green body to form a monolith, to convert any silver oxide to silver, and to fuse the first particles together, and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the second particles.

The present invention provides a novel method for charging silver-zinc rechargeable batteries and an apparatus for practicing the charging method. The recharging apparatus includes recharging management circuitry; and one or more of a silver-zinc cell, a host device or a charging base that includes the recharging management circuitry. The recharging management circuitry provides means for regulating recharging of the silver-zinc cell, diagnostics for evaluating battery function, and safety measures that prevent damage to the apparatus caused by charging batteries composed of materials that are not suited for the charging method (e.g., non-silver-zinc batteries).

The present invention provides a separator for use in an alkaline electrochemical cell comprising a polymer material and an inert filler comprising zirconium oxide. Examples of polymer materials useful in this invention include ABS polymer material, halogenated alkylene polymer material, and PE polymer material.

The present invention provides a separator for use in an alkaline electrochemical cell comprising a polymer material and an inert filler comprising zirconium oxide. Examples of polymer materials useful in this invention include ABS polymer material, halogenated alkylene polymer material, and PE polymer material.

A method of making an electrode by providing a mixture of first particles of silver or silver oxide and second particles of an inorganic porogen, molding the mixture, cohering the mixture to form a green body, demolding the green body, heating the green body to form a monolith, to convert any silver oxide to silver, and to fuse the first particles together, and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the second particles.