The present invention proposes an electrode thin film and a method for manufacturing the electrode thin film. The method includes: determining a height between a first roller and a substrate and a coating speed for the first roller coating a first metal nanowire suspension liquid onto the substrate based on a suspension property of the first metal nanowire suspension liquid; coating, by using the first roller, the first metal nanowire suspension liquid onto the substrate with the coating speed to form a wetting film on the substrate; and controlling a first temperature of the substrate heating the wetting film based on the suspension property of the first metal nanowire suspension liquid to dry the wetting film as the electrode thin film. The first temperature makes a dewetting speed of the wetting film higher than a drying speed of the wetting film.

An article having a continuous network of zinc and a continuous network of void space interpenetrating the zinc network. The zinc network is a fused, monolithic structure. A method of: providing an emulsion having a zinc powder and a liquid phase; drying the emulsion to form a sponge; annealing and/or sintering the sponge to form an annealed and/or sintered sponge; heating the annealed and/or sintered sponge in an oxidizing atmosphere to form an oxidized sponge having zinc oxide on the surface of the oxidized sponge; and electrochemically reducing the zinc oxide to form a zinc metal sponge.

An article having a continuous network of zinc and a continuous network of void space interpenetrating the zinc network. The zinc network is a fused, monolithic structure. A method of: providing an emulsion having a zinc powder and a liquid phase; drying the emulsion to form a sponge; annealing and/or sintering the sponge to form an annealed and/or sintered sponge; heating the annealed and/or sintered sponge in an oxidizing atmosphere to form an oxidized sponge having zinc oxide on the surface of the oxidized sponge; and electrochemically reducing the zinc oxide to form a zinc metal sponge.

Provided is a highly reliable nickel-zinc battery including a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability. The nickel-zinc battery includes a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide and/or nickel oxyhydroxide; a positive-electrode electrolytic solution in which the positive electrode is immersed, the electrolytic solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide; a negative electrode containing zinc and/or zinc oxide; a negative-electrode electrolytic solution in which the negative electrode is immersed, the electrolytic solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide; a hermetic container accommodating the positive electrode, the positive-electrode electrolytic solution, the negative electrode, and the negative-electrode electrolytic solution; and the separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability and disposed in the hermetic container so as to separate a positive-electrode chamber from a negative-electrode chamber. The alkali metal hydroxide concentration of the positive-electrode electrolytic solution differs from that of the negative-electrode electrolytic solution.

Provided is a highly reliable nickel-zinc battery including a separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability. The nickel-zinc battery includes a positive electrode containing nickel hydroxide and/or nickel oxyhydroxide; a positive-electrode electrolytic solution in which the positive electrode is immersed, the electrolytic solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide; a negative electrode containing zinc and/or zinc oxide; a negative-electrode electrolytic solution in which the negative electrode is immersed, the electrolytic solution containing an alkali metal hydroxide; a hermetic container accommodating the positive electrode, the positive-electrode electrolytic solution, the negative electrode, and the negative-electrode electrolytic solution; and the separator exhibiting hydroxide ion conductivity and water impermeability and disposed in the hermetic container so as to separate a positive-electrode chamber from a negative-electrode chamber. The alkali metal hydroxide concentration of the positive-electrode electrolytic solution differs from that of the negative-electrode electrolytic solution.

An alkaline dry battery includes a bottomed cylindrical battery case; a positive electrode packed in the battery case and including n hollow cylindrical pellets; a negative electrode disposed in a hollow portion of the pellets; a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an alkaline electrolytic solution. The positive electrode includes manganese dioxide and a conductive agent, n is an integer of 1 or more, and an average density of manganese dioxide of the positive electrode is 2.80 to 3.00 g/cm.sup.3. The density d.sub.c of manganese dioxide in the center portion in the height direction of the positive electrode is 98% or less of an average value d.sub.e of density of manganese dioxide in each of both end portions.

A method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell includes providing an admixture including an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent. The method further includes rolling the admixture to form a sheet and forming a multi-layer stack from the sheet. The method further includes forming an electrode film precursor by performing a plurality of sequential rollings, each including rolling the stack through a first gap. The plurality of sequential rollings includes first and second rollings. In the first rolling, the stack is in a first orientation. In the second rolling, the stack is in a second orientation different from the first orientation. The method further includes forming an electrode film by rolling the electrode film precursor through a second gap less than or equal to the first gap. The method further includes drying the electrode film to remove at least a portion of the solvent.

A method of manufacturing an electrode for an electrochemical cell includes providing an admixture including an electroactive material, a binder, and a solvent. The method further includes rolling the admixture to form a sheet and forming a multi-layer stack from the sheet. The method further includes forming an electrode film precursor by performing a plurality of sequential rollings, each including rolling the stack through a first gap. The plurality of sequential rollings includes first and second rollings. In the first rolling, the stack is in a first orientation. In the second rolling, the stack is in a second orientation different from the first orientation. The method further includes forming an electrode film by rolling the electrode film precursor through a second gap less than or equal to the first gap. The method further includes drying the electrode film to remove at least a portion of the solvent.

The formation of amorphous silicon for use in, for example, lithium-ion batteries is disclosed. The process can include milling a plurality of silicon nanocrystals having an average particle diameter and a percent crystallinity greater than about 60%, in a unit designed to reduce the average particle diameter to the same or a larger size, thereby forming a plurality of amorphous silicon nanoparticles having about the same average particle diameter as the silicon nanocrystals and a percent crystallinity of less than about 50%.

In an embodiment, a secondary ZnMnO.sub.2 battery comprises a battery housing, a MnO.sub.2 cathode, a Zn anode, and an electrolyte solution. The MnO.sub.2 cathode, the Zn anode, and the electrolyte solution are disposed within the battery housing, and the MnO.sub.2 cathode comprises a MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture and a current collector. The MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture is in electrical contact with at least a portion of an outer surface of the current collector, and the MnO.sub.2 cathode has a porosity of from about 5 vol. % to about 90 vol. %, based on the total volume of the MnO.sub.2 cathode mixture of the MnO.sub.2 cathode.