Electrode structures and electrodes therefrom for use in electrolytic cells or batteries

Claim 1

A rechargeable zinc-halogen electric cell comprising: (a) a casing; (b) storage means external to said casing for storing molecular halogen; (c) at least one halogen electrode structure located within said casing comprising an apertured substrate consisting essentially of an anodizable metal selected from the group consisting of Groups IV(A) and V(A) of the Periodic Table according to Mendeleef and having an inherent oxide layer thereon, said substrate having permanently associated therewith at least one coherent permeable stratum of a mixture of substantially porous carbon and a polymeric binder, said electrode structure having been produced by pressing said mixture of porous carbon and binder at a pressure of at least 2 tons psi onto said substrate to provide a flexible halogen electrode structure, said halogen electrode structure being adapted to provide a space therein in communication with said external storage means for molecular halogen into and through which space molecular halogen can move; (d) at least one metal bearing anode structure located within said casing including a zinc-containing material supported on an electrically conducting substrate; and (e) positive and negative electric conductors leading from said electrode structures to terminals accessible to the outside of said casing; said casing being adapted to hold a body of liquid and flowable zinc halide electrolyte in contact with each of said electrode structures.