Halogen electrode

Claim 2

An electrode for interacting with electrochemically active halogens in an electrochemical cell, said electrode comprising a conductive matrix and a polymer, said polymer having functional groups selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium salts, sulfonium salts, phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, said polymer being polymerized in the presence of said conductive matrix to become bonded thereto, said polymer remaining a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge, said polymer having displaceable room for the electrochemically active halogen, said polymer reversibly complexing with the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer not reacting irreversibly with the electro-chemically active halogen, and said polymer being formed from a monomer with a molecular weight in the range of 100-350 amu.

Claim 3

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said salts have counter ions selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 4

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said functionalities comprise quaternary ammonium halides.

Claim 5

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said functionalities comprise phosphonium halides.

Claim 6

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said functionalities comprise sulfonium halides.

Claim 7

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities comprises a polymethacrylate.

Claim 8

The electrode of claim 6 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities is the product of reaction of 2 ethyleneoxymethacryl-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium bromide in the presence of ethylene-dimethacrylate and a free radical initiator.

Claim 9

The electrode of claim 7 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile).

Claim 10

The electrode of claim 1 wherein said conductive matrix is formed from a carbon selected from the group consisting of graphite felt, graphitic carbon black, carbon black, activated charcoal, acetylene black, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 11

A cell of the type including a casing, an Me electrode, where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of cadmium and zinc, a counter electrode spaced apart from said Me electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte, wherein said counter electrode comprises a conducting matrix and a polymer, said polymer having functional groups selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium and phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, said polymer being polymerized in the presence of said conductive matrix to become bonded thereto, said polymer remaining a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge, said polymer having displaceable room for the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer reversibly complexing with the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer not reacting irreversibly with the electro-chemically active halogen, and said polymer being formed from a monomer with a molecular weight in the range of 100-350 amu.

Claim 12

A cell of the type including a casing, an Me electrode, where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of cadmium and zinc, a counter electrode spaced apart from said Me electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte, wherein said counter electrode comprises a conducting matrix and a polymer, said polymer having functional groups selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium and phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, said polymer being polymerized in the presence of said conductive matrix to become bonded thereto, said polymer remaining a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge, said polymer having displaceable room for the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer reversibly complexing with the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer not reacting irreversibly with the electro-chemically active halogen, and said polymer being formed from a monomer with a molecular weight in the range of 100-350 amu.

Claim 13

The cell of claim 10 wherein said cell is a secondary cell.

Claim 14

The cell of claim 10 wherein said salts have counter ions selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 15

The cell of claim 10 wherein said functionalities comprise quaternary ammonium halides.

Claim 16

The cell of claim 10 wherein said functionalities comprise phosphonium halides.

Claim 17

The cell of claim 10 wherein said functionalities comprise sulfonium halides.

Claim 18

The cell of claim 10 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities comprises a polymethacrylate.

Claim 19

The cell of claim 16 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities is the product of reaction of 2 ethyleneoxymethacryl-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium bromide in the presence of ethylene-dimethacrylate and a free radical initiator.

Claim 20

The cell of claim 17 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile).

Claim 21

The cell of claim 10 wherein said conducting matrix comprises carbon.

Claim 22

The cell of claim 10 wherein said conductive matrix is formed from a carbon selected from the group consisting of graphite felt, graphitic carbon black, carbon black, activated charcoal, acetylene black, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 23

The cell of claim 10 wherein said electrolyte contains cations selected from the group consisting of Cd + + and Zn + + and anions selected from the group consisting of Br - , Cl - , and I - .

Claim 24

The cell of claim 21 wherein said electrolyte includes an additive selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, an acetate buffer, tribromoacetic acid, cadmium sulfate, quaternary ammonium halides, sulfonium halides, phosphonium halides, lead halides, poly-ethyleneoxy surfactants, dextrin, a glycol, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 25

A battery of the type including a casing, an Me electrode, where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of cadmium and zinc, a plurality of counter electrodes spaced apart from said Me electrode, a bipolar electrode interposed between each adjacent pair of said counter electrodes, and an aqueous electrolyte, wherein said counter electrodes comprise a conducting matrix and a polymer, said polymer having functional groups chosen from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium, and phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, said polymer being polymerized in the presence of said conductive matrix to become bonded thereto, said polymer remaining a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge, said polymer having displaceable room for the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer reversibly complexing with the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer not reacting irreversibly with the electro-chemically active halogen, and said polymer being formed from a monomer with a molecular weight in the range of 100-350 amu.

Claim 26

A battery of the type including a casing, an Me electrode, where Me is a metal selected from the group consisting of cadmium and zinc, a plurality of counter electrodes spaced apart from said Me electrode, a bipolar electrode interposed between each adjacent pair of said counter electrodes, and an aqueous electrolyte, wherein said counter electrodes comprise a conducting matrix and a polymer, said polymer having functional groups chosen from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, sulfonium, and phosphonium salts, and mixtures thereof, said polymer being polymerized in the presence of said conductive matrix to become bonded thereto, said polymer remaining a separate phase from the electrolyte throughout charge and discharge, said polymer having displaceable room for the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer reversibly complexing with the electro-chemically active halogen, said polymer not reacting irreversibly with the electro-chemically active halogen, and said polymer being formed from a monomer with a molecular weight in the range of 100-350 amu.

Claim 27

The battery of claim 23 wherein said cell is a secondary cell.

Claim 28

The battery of claim 23 wherein said salts have counter ions selected from the group consisting of chloride, bromide, iodide, fluoride, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 29

The battery of claim 23 wherein said functionalities comprise quaternary ammonium halides.

Claim 30

The battery of claim 23 wherein said functionalities comprise phosphonium halides.

Claim 31

The battery of claim 23 wherein said functionalities comprise sulfonium halides.

Claim 32

The battery of claim 23 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities comprises a polymethacrylate.

Claim 33

The battery of claim 29 wherein said polymer containing said functionalities is the product of reaction of 2 ethyleneoxymethacryl-N,N,N-trimethyl ammonium bromide in the presence of ethylene-dimethacrylate and a free radical initiator.

Claim 34

The battery of claim 30 wherein said free radical initiator is 2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionitrile).

Claim 35

The battery of claim 23 wherein said conducting matrix comprises carbon.

Claim 36

The battery of claim 23 wherein said conductive matrix is formed from a carbon selected from the group consisting of graphite felt, graphite carbon black, carbon black, activated charcoal, acetylene black, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 37

The battery of claim 23 wherein said electrolyte contains cations selected from the group consisting of Cd + + and Zn + + and anions selected from the group consisting of Br - , Cl - , and I - .

Claim 38

The battery of claim 34 wherein said electrolyte includes an additive selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfate, an acetate buffer, tribromoacetic acid, cadmium sulfate, quaternary ammonium halides, sulfonium halides, phosphonium halides, lead halides, poly-ethyleneoxy surfactants, dextrin, a glycol, and mixtures thereof.