An alkaline electrochemical cell includes a cathode; a gelled anode having an anode active material and an electrolyte; and a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode; wherein the separator includes a non-conductive, porous material having a mean pore size of about 1 micron to about 5 microns, a maximum pore size of about 19 microns, and an air permeability of about 0.5 cc/cm.sup.2/s to about 3.8 cc/cm.sup.2/s at 125 Pa.

Disclosed are methods of making porous zinc electrodes. Taken together, the steps are: forming a mixture of water, a soluble compound that increases the viscosity of the mixture, an insoluble porogen, and metallic zinc powder; placing the mixture in a mold to form a sponge; optionally drying the sponge; placing the sponge in a metal mesh positioned to allow air flow through substantially all the openings in the mesh; heating the sponge in an inert atmosphere at a peak temperature of 200 to 420° C. to fuse the zinc particles to each other to form a sintered sponge; and heating the sintered sponge in an oxygen-containing atmosphere at a peak temperature of 420 to 700° C. to form ZnO on the surfaces of the sintered sponge. The heating steps burn out the porogen.

The disclosure concerns an electrolyte, an electrolyte ink, a battery or other electrochemical cell including the same, and methods of making the electrolyte and electrochemical cell. The electrolyte includes an ionic liquid comprising a hydrophilic or hydrophobic anion, a multi-valent metal cation suitable for use in a battery cell, a polymer binder, and optional additives (e.g., a solid filler). The electrolyte ink includes components of the electrolyte and a solvent. The solvent and the polymer binder (or, when present, the solid filler) have a hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity or polarity similar to or matching that of the ionic liquid's anion, or form hydrogen bonds with the ionic liquid's anion. The electrolyte includes a solid inorganic filler that provides mechanical support form hydrogen bonds with the anion and/or a counterpart anion of the multi-valent metal cation, and links with a material in an adjacent layer of the electrochemical cell.

A rechargeable alkaline battery including an anode; a cathode; and an electrolyte is described. At least one of the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte includes a solid, ionically conducting polymer material. Methods for the manufacture of same are also described.

Provided is a secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an alkaline electrolytic solution, a separator structure exhibiting water impermeability and separating the positive electrode from the negative electrode, and a container accommodating at least the negative electrode and the alkaline electrolytic solution. The separator structure includes a porous substrate-supported ceramic separator, and a reinforcement having a lattice structure having openings and reinforcing the periphery and/or at least one surface of the porous substrate-supported ceramic separator. The porous substrate-supported ceramic separator includes a ceramic separator composed of an inorganic solid electrolyte having hydroxide ion conductivity in the form of a membrane or layer densified enough to have water impermeability, and a porous substrate disposed on at least one surface of the separator. The battery includes a porous substrate-supported ceramic separator with hydroxide ion conductivity having a high strength meeting an increase in the area of the separator.

Provided is a secondary battery including a hydroxide-ion-conductive ceramic separator. The secondary battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; an alkaline electrolytic solution; a ceramic separator that is composed of a hydroxide-ion-conductive inorganic solid electrolyte and separates the positive electrode from the negative electrode; a porous substrate disposed on at least one surface of the ceramic separator; and a container accommodating at least the negative electrode and the alkaline electrolytic solution, wherein the inorganic solid electrolyte is in the form of a membrane or layer densified enough to have water impermeability, and the porous substrate has a thickness of 100 to 1,800 μm. According to the secondary battery of the present invention, the thickness and resistance of the ceramic separator are decreased without concern for reduced strength, and a reduction in energy density and an increase in internal resistance are effectively prevented.

There is provided a secondary zinc battery including: (a) at least one unit cell including; a positive electrode; a negative-electrode structure including a negative-electrode active material layer containing at least one selected from the group consisting of elemental zinc, zinc oxide, zinc alloys, and zinc compounds; a LDH separator including a porous substrate composed of a polymeric material and layered double hydroxide (LDH); and an electrolytic solution; and (b) a pressuring unit compacting the unit cell to bring the negative-electrode structure in close contact with the LDH separator. Pores of the porous substrate are filled with the LDH such that the LDH separator is hydroxide-ion-conductive and gas-impermeable. The LDH separator separates the positive electrode from the negative-electrode active material layer.

This invention relates to the formation of standby structural composite electrical energy storage devices, and a method of producing same. The device may be a standby battery or supercapacitor with first and second electrodes which are separated by a separator structure, wherein the device contains an electrolyte retained in a reservoir. The use of at least one valve allows the addition, removal of electrolyte fluids, and venting of any outgassing by products.

The present invention relates to a metal-air electrochemical cell with a high energy efficiency mode.

Provided is a fluoride ion secondary battery having a capacity larger than that of a conventional one. The fluoride ion secondary battery has a negative electrode including zirconium fluoride as a negative electrode active material. The zirconium fluoride may be in the form of particles with an average particle size of 100 nm or less, and the negative electrode may have a zirconium fluoride content of less than 50 % by mass. The negative electrode active material may further include metallic zirconium, which may be in the form of particles with an average particle size of 75 μm or less. The negative electrode may have a metallic zirconium content of 8% by mass or less.