A battery of the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including graphite and zinc, and a solid electrolyte layer positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A ratio of a mass of zinc to a sum of a mass of graphite and the mass of zinc in the negative electrode is 10 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less. The above ratio may be 20 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less.

A battery of the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode including graphite and zinc, and a solid electrolyte layer positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A ratio of a mass of zinc to a sum of a mass of graphite and the mass of zinc in the negative electrode is 10 mass % or more and 60 mass % or less. The above ratio may be 20 mass % or more and 40 mass % or less.

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention is provided with a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. A negative electrode active material contained in the negative electrode contains a zinc manganese alloy containing Zn, Mn and Fe that is in an amount of 1,000 ppm or less of the total mass of Zn and Mn. With respect to the zinc manganese alloy, the molar ratio of the Zn content to the Mn content is from 3 to 13.

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to the present invention is provided with a negative electrode, a positive electrode and a nonaqueous electrolyte. A negative electrode active material contained in the negative electrode contains a zinc manganese alloy containing Zn, Mn and Fe that is in an amount of 1,000 ppm or less of the total mass of Zn and Mn. With respect to the zinc manganese alloy, the molar ratio of the Zn content to the Mn content is from 3 to 13.

The invention relates to the field of alkaline electrochemical cells and more specifically to that of batteries. More specifically, the invention pertains to a secondary electrochemical cell with a zinc electrode, which is differentiated in that it comprises: a) an electrolyte which is an alkaline aqueous solution whose molarity is between 4 M and 15 M hydroxyl anions, comprising soluble silicates whose concentration expressed as silica (SiO.sub.2) is between 0.15 g/l and 80 g/l; and b) a zinc electrode containing a conductive ceramic at least partly consisting of hafnium nitride and/or carbide and/or magnesium carbide and/or nitride and/or silicide and/or niobium carbide and/or nitride and/or titanium carbide and/or nitride and/or silicide and/or vanadium nitride acid/or of double carbides and/or nitrides of any two metals selected among hafnium, magnesium, niobium, titanium and vanadium.

The invention relates to the field of alkaline electrochemical cells and more specifically to that of batteries. More specifically, the invention pertains to a secondary electrochemical cell with a zinc electrode, which is differentiated in that it comprises: a) an electrolyte which is an alkaline aqueous solution whose molarity is between 4 M and 15 M hydroxyl anions, comprising soluble silicates whose concentration expressed as silica (SiO.sub.2) is between 0.15 g/l and 80 g/l; and b) a zinc electrode containing a conductive ceramic at least partly consisting of hafnium nitride and/or carbide and/or magnesium carbide and/or nitride and/or silicide and/or niobium carbide and/or nitride and/or titanium carbide and/or nitride and/or silicide and/or vanadium nitride acid/or of double carbides and/or nitrides of any two metals selected among hafnium, magnesium, niobium, titanium and vanadium.

A zinc foil has a zinc crystal grain size of 0.2 μm or more and 50 μm or less. The zinc foil preferably includes: a base metal containing zinc; and a metal element other than zinc. The metal element preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of bismuth, indium, magnesium, calcium, gallium, tin, barium, strontium, silver, and manganese. It is also preferable that the content of the metal element is 10 ppm or more and 10000 ppm or less in terms of mass. It is also preferable that the zinc foil has an apparent density of 3 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 7 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The apparent density is based on contour measurement.

A zinc foil has a zinc crystal grain size of 0.2 μm or more and 50 μm or less. The zinc foil preferably includes: a base metal containing zinc; and a metal element other than zinc. The metal element preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of bismuth, indium, magnesium, calcium, gallium, tin, barium, strontium, silver, and manganese. It is also preferable that the content of the metal element is 10 ppm or more and 10000 ppm or less in terms of mass. It is also preferable that the zinc foil has an apparent density of 3 g/cm.sup.3 or more and 7 g/cm.sup.3 or less. The apparent density is based on contour measurement.

The present invention provides a zinc battery anode that includes a first layer of zinc foil. An electroplated zinc seed layer is formed on the first layer of zinc foil, the electroplated zinc seed layer having a thickness in a range of 0.01 to 2 microns. The invention further provides a method for forming a seed layer on a zinc battery anode. In the process, the zinc seed layer is deposited on a zinc foil battery anode by electrochemical deposition from a zinc ion-containing solution at a current density of approximately 20 mA cm.sup.−2 to 100 mA cm.sup.−2 to form a uniform and dense seed layer. Through use of a seed layer on the zinc anode, dendrite formation is prevented and long battery life is demonstrated.

An alkaline dry battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolytic solution contained in the positive electrode, the negative electrode and the separator. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material including zinc, and an additive. The additive includes at least one selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride and maleate salts.