US3853623A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Additive for an alkaline battery employing divalent silver oxide positive active material
Assignee: Spectrum Brands Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-01
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Granted: 1974-12-10
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Expires: 1993-08-01
Abstract
Abstract An alkaline battery having a divalent silver oxide (AgO) positive active material (cathode) in which gold ions are incorporated into the alkaline electrolyte on the positive side of the battery separator or barrier or added to the positive active material. The gold additive improves the stability of the divalent silver oxide (AgO) active material in the aqueous alkaline electrolyte without adversely affecting the electrochemical reactions during the discharge of the battery. The additive is present in the battery in amounts ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the divalent silver oxide positive active material. It is preferred that the divalent silver oxide active material contain at least 50% by weight of divalent silver oxide (AgO) with the balance of the active material comprising monovalent silver oxide (Ag2O) and metallic silver. The gold additive may be combined with other additives and has been found to be particularly effective in some batteries when combined with mercury and incorporated into either the positive active material or the electrolyte on the positive side of the separator.
Inventors
- 👤 S Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 08:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/36; H01M4/48; H01M4/54; H01M6/00; H01M6/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
AN ALKALINE BATTERY HAVING A NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE, A DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE POSITIVE ELECTRODE HAVING A DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE (AGO) CONTENT OF AT LEAST 50% BY WEIGHT, AND A SEMI-PERMEABLE BARRIER SEPARATOR BETWEEN SAID NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE ELECTRODES, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING SAID ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE CONTAINING GOLD IONS IN THE AMOUNT RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.1 TO ABOUT 10% BY WEIGHT OF SILVER IN THE POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL, SAID GOLD IONS BEING PRESENT IN THE ELECTROLYTE ONLY ON THE POSITIVE ELECTRODE SIDE OF SAID BARRIER SEPARATOR, WHEREBY THE STABILITY OF THE DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE MATERIAL IN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE IS IMPROVED SO AS TO YEILD LESS THAN ABOUT 65 MICROLITERS OF GAS PER GRAM PER HOUR WHEN MEASURED AT 165*F IN A BATTERY HAVING AN ELECTROLYTE OF 18% BY WEIGHT OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
AN ALKALINE BATTERY HAVING A NEGATIVE ELECTRODE, AN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE, A DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE POSITIVE ELECTRODE HAVING A DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE (AGO) CONTENT OF AT LEAST 50% BY WEIGHT, AND A SEMI-PERMEABLE BARRIER SEPARATOR BETWEEN SAID NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE ELECTRODES, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING SAID ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE CONTAINING GOLD IONS IN THE AMOUNT RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.1 TO ABOUT 10% BY WEIGHT OF SILVER IN THE POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL, SAID GOLD IONS BEING PRESENT IN THE ELECTROLYTE ONLY ON THE POSITIVE ELECTRODE SIDE OF SAID BARRIER SEPARATOR, WHEREBY THE STABILITY OF THE DIVALENT SILVER OXIDE MATERIAL IN ALKALINE ELECTROLYTE IS IMPROVED SO AS TO YEILD LESS THAN ABOUT 65 MICROLITERS OF GAS PER GRAM PER HOUR WHEN MEASURED AT 165*F IN A BATTERY HAVING AN ELECTROLYTE OF 18% BY WEIGHT OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
A battery in accordance with claim 1 in which the divalent silver oxide active material also contains a gold compound therein, with the total amount of the gold in both the electrolyte and the active material ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive active material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
A battery in accordance with claim 1 in which the electrolyte also contains mercury ions on the positive electrode side of the barrier separator, with the total amount of the gold and mercury in the electrolyte on the positive side of the barrier ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive active material and said gold ions comprise at least about 50% by weight of the total mercury and gold content.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A battery in accordance with claim 2 in which the electrolyte also contains mercury ions on the positive electrode side of the barrier separator, with the total amount of the gold and mercury on the positive side of the barrier ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive active material and said gold comprises at least 50% by weight of the total mercury and gold content.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A battery in accordance with claim 4 in which the divalent silver oxide active material also contains a mercury compound.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
An alkaline battery having a negative electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, a divalent silver oxide positive electrode having a divalent silver oxide (AgO) content of at least 50% by weight, and a semi-permeable barrier separator between said negative and positive electrodes, the improvement comprising incorporating a gold compound in the divalent silver oxide active material after the formation of the divalent silver oxide, with the gold being present in the amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive electrode active material, whereby the stability of the divalent silver oxide material in alkaline electrolyte is improved so as to yield less than about 65 microliters of gas per gram per hour when measured at 165*F. in a battery having an electrolyte of 18% by weight of sodium hydroxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
133 words
An alkaline battery having a negative electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, a divalent silver oxide positive electrode having a divalent silver oxide (AgO) content of at least 50% by weight, and a semi-permeable barrier separator between said negative and positive electrodes, the improvement comprising incorporating a gold compound in the divalent silver oxide active material after the formation of the divalent silver oxide, with the gold being present in the amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive electrode active material, whereby the stability of the divalent silver oxide material in alkaline electrolyte is improved so as to yield less than about 65 microliters of gas per gram per hour when measured at 165*F. in a battery having an electrolyte of 18% by weight of sodium hydroxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A battery in accordance with claim 6 in which the divalent silver oxide active material also contains a mercury compound, with the total amount of the gold and mercury ranging from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight of silver in the positive active material and the gold comprises at least about 50% by weight of the total gold and mercury content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
154 words
An alkaline battery specifically desIgned as a power source for an electric watch which comprises a zinc negative electrode, a sodium hydroxide electrolyte, a divalent silver oxide positive electrode having a divalent silver oxide (AgO) content of at least 90% by weight, a semi-permeable barrier separator between said negative and positive electrodes and an absorbent separator material in contact with the zinc negative electrode, said sodium hydroxide electrolyte containing gold ions only on the positive electrode side of said barrier separator, with said gold ions being present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of silver in the divalent silver oxide active material, whereby the stability of the divalent silver oxide material in sodium hydroxide solution is improved so as to yield less than 25 microliters of gas per gram per hour when measured at 165*F in a battery having an electrolyte of 18% by weight of sodium hydroxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
154 words
An alkaline battery specifically desIgned as a power source for an electric watch which comprises a zinc negative electrode, a sodium hydroxide electrolyte, a divalent silver oxide positive electrode having a divalent silver oxide (AgO) content of at least 90% by weight, a semi-permeable barrier separator between said negative and positive electrodes and an absorbent separator material in contact with the zinc negative electrode, said sodium hydroxide electrolyte containing gold ions only on the positive electrode side of said barrier separator, with said gold ions being present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 to about 2% by weight of silver in the divalent silver oxide active material, whereby the stability of the divalent silver oxide material in sodium hydroxide solution is improved so as to yield less than 25 microliters of gas per gram per hour when measured at 165*F in a battery having an electrolyte of 18% by weight of sodium hydroxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A battery in accordance with claim 8 in which the sodium hydroxide electrolyte concentration is about 18% by weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A battery in accordance with claim 8 in which the barrier separator comprises a laminate of cellophane between polyethylene grafted with polyvinyl chloride.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |