A negative electrode for an alkaline battery cell which includes zinc-based particles, wherein less than 20% of the zinc-based particles, by weight relative to the total zinc in the electrode, have a particle size of greater than about 150 micrometers, is provided. An alkaline electrochemical cell that includes the negative electrode and a method for reducing the gassing of the electrochemical cell is also provided.

A negative electrode for an alkaline battery cell which includes zinc-based particles, wherein less than 20% of the zinc-based particles, by weight relative to the total zinc in the electrode, have a particle size of greater than about 150 micrometers, is provided. An alkaline electrochemical cell that includes the negative electrode and a method for reducing the gassing of the electrochemical cell is also provided.

An alkaline battery has a positive electrode mixture containing manganese dioxide and a conductive material filling a tubular positive electrode can that is closed at one end. A negative electrode mixture containing a zinc powder filling on an inner peripheral side of a separator is disposed on an inside of the positive electrode mixture. The negative electrode mixture contains zinc particles with a granularity of 75 μm or less at 25 to 40 mass %. The positive electrode mixture has a plurality of tubular pellets stacked inside the positive electrode can coaxially with the positive electrode can. A sum s of lengths of gaps between the pellets is set at 1 to 14% with respect to a sum d of lengths of the pellets. Thus, a sufficient amount of the electrolyte is held in the gaps and between the pellets in the positive electrode.

An alkaline battery has a positive electrode mixture containing manganese dioxide and a conductive material filling a tubular positive electrode can that is closed at one end. A negative electrode mixture containing a zinc powder filling on an inner peripheral side of a separator is disposed on an inside of the positive electrode mixture. The negative electrode mixture contains zinc particles with a granularity of 75 μm or less at 25 to 40 mass %. The positive electrode mixture has a plurality of tubular pellets stacked inside the positive electrode can coaxially with the positive electrode can. A sum s of lengths of gaps between the pellets is set at 1 to 14% with respect to a sum d of lengths of the pellets. Thus, a sufficient amount of the electrolyte is held in the gaps and between the pellets in the positive electrode.

Low-cost electrochemical energy storage devices having electrochemical cells containing zinc electrodes in aqueous electrolytes, which exhibit superior cycle performance, preferably comprise the following elements: (a) a cathode formed of manganese dioxide particles, preferably doped with at least one of magnesium, strontium, barium, calcium, and lanthanum, wherein the manganese dioxide particles preferably form at least one of (1) a delta manganese dioxide structure and (2) a todokorite manganese dioxide structure; (b) an anode formed of particles comprising zinc, wherein the particles are preferably treated with at least one of bismuth, indium, gallium, antimony, and tin; (c) a mixed ion electrolyte solution with a pH greater than or equal to three and less than or equal to seven, wherein the solution preferably comprises at least one monovalent salt and at least one divalent salt; and (d) a mesh as cathode current collector comprising at least one of titanium, stainless steel, tantalum, and niobium, wherein the mesh is preferably coated by an electrically conductive and yet oxidation resistant material comprising but not limited to carbon.

Separators for zinc metal batteries, zinc metal batteries, and methods of fabricating a separator for use in a zinc metal battery are provided. The separator includes a hydrophilic membrane having a first side for facing a negative electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery and a second side for facing a positive electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery. The hydrophilic membrane includes a plurality of pores traversing the hydrophilic membrane from the first side to the second side enabling flow of zinc cations between the negative electrode and the positive electrode through the separator. Each of the pores may have a pore size ranging from about 0.1 to 1.3 μm.

Separators for zinc metal batteries, zinc metal batteries, and methods of fabricating a separator for use in a zinc metal battery are provided. The separator includes a hydrophilic membrane having a first side for facing a negative electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery and a second side for facing a positive electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery. The hydrophilic membrane includes a plurality of pores traversing the hydrophilic membrane from the first side to the second side enabling flow of zinc cations between the negative electrode and the positive electrode through the separator. Each of the pores may have a pore size ranging from about 0.1 to 1.3 μm.

The present disclosure provides a liquid detection sensor which has the general purpose usability and can prevent the deterioration of a metal-air battery being an electric power source even when being installed for a long term, and in which the metal-air battery being an electric power source can exhibit an excellent electric power generation performance. The liquid detection sensor has the metal-air battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution-forming component positioned between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the electrolytic solution-forming component is enclosed in the inside of a resin-made bag; and a resin of the resin-made bag has dissolvability or dispersibility in a liquid being an object to be detected.

A secondary battery is provided including an electrode wound body housed in a battery can, with the electrode wound body having a structure including a band-shaped positive electrode and a band-shaped negative electrode laminated and wound with a separator interposed therebetween, where the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer on both sides of a band-shaped positive electrode foil, the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material layer on both sides of a band-shaped negative electrode foil, the electrode wound body includes a positive electrode tab at a central part of the positive electrode, includes a negative electrode tab on a winding end side of the negative electrode, and includes a foil tab in a flat plate shape on a winding start side of either one or both of the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, and a negative electrode in which deposition and dissolution reactions of lithium metal occur. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode layer. The negative electrode layer contains, as a negative electrode active material, an alloy of the lithium metal and dissimilar metal. An element percentage of lithium element in the alloy is 40.00 atomic % or more and 99.97 atomic % or less when the lithium secondary battery is fully charged.