Patent · US Expired

Alkaline cell with improved cathode

US6841302B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
10References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 17, 2001
Grant dateJan 11, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 8, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01M2004/028
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An alkaline cell having an anode comprising zinc, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, a cathode mixture comprising cathode active material comprising copper oxide or copper hydroxide. Graphitic carbon, preferably expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers are added to the cathode mixture thereby resulting in a sharp drop in cathode resistivity. The cathode active material preferably comprises between about 80 and 92 percent by weight of the cathode. The sharp drop in cathode resistivity resulting from the addition of expanded graphite or graphitic carbon nanofibers makes the cell suitable for use as a primary alkaline cell having good capacity. The graphitic carbon, preferably graphitic nanofibers comprise preferably between about 4 and 10 percent by weight of the cathode. The carbon nanofibers have an average diameter desirably less than 500 nanometers, preferably between about 50 and 300 nanometers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.