US4637967A
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US
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Electrodes made with disordered active material and methods of making the same
Assignee: Ovonic Battery Co Inc
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Filing: 1985-08-29
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Granted: 1987-01-20
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Expires: 2005-08-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides an electrode which uses a disordered active material preferably formed by rapid solidification. The active material does not need a binder to be used as an electrode, and thus, is considered self-supporting. The material also is substantially non-porous or impermeable to an electrolyte and when used as an electrode exhibits an increase in cell capacity with improved resistance to corrosion. An electrode of the present invention provides greatly improved cycle life and energy density without a significant decrease in cell capacity. Methods of making the electrode by rapidly solidifying a disordered material are also included. A method of assembling an electrochemical cell using a self-supporting electrode includes the step of producing a disordered active material and aligning the material in a predetermined position in a cell casing.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Keem
- 👤 Richard C. Bergeron
- 👤 Russell C. Custer
- 👤 R. William McCallum
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/24; H01M10/00; H01M10/04; H01M10/0413; H01M10/045; H01M10/34; H01M10/345; H01M4/242; H01M4/26; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/383; H01M6/00; H01M6/04; H01M6/06; H01M6/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S420/00; Y10S420/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A hydrogen storage electrode for an alkaline hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one solid, metallic, amorphous electrochemically active body, capable of being self-supporting and formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a continuous amorphous structure throughout, said body having a composition comprising at least three elements, said three elements comprising titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, chromium, cobalt, hafnium, indium, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, niobium, palladium, tin, zirconium and rare earth metals, each of said elements preset in an effective amount so that said electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging hydrogen and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A hydrogen storage electrode for an alkaline hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one solid, metallic, amorphous electrochemically active body, capable of being self-supporting and formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a continuous amorphous structure throughout, said body having a composition comprising at least three elements, said three elements comprising titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, chromium, cobalt, hafnium, indium, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, niobium, palladium, tin, zirconium and rare earth metals, each of said elements preset in an effective amount so that said electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging hydrogen and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the composition of said active body comprises titanium, nickel, and aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 2 wherein the composition of said active body further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, chromium, vanadium, cobalt, copper, iron, zirconium and hafnium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the composition of said active body comprises, on an atomic basis, from about 40% to about 60% titanium, from about 15% to about 55% nickel and from about a trace to about 15% aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the total porosity of said active body is less than about 5% by volume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the composition of said body comprises, on an atomic basis, of from about 40% to about 75% titanium, from about 15% to about 55% nickel and from a trace amount to about 15% aluminum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 6 wherein the composition of said body further comprises at least one additional element selected from the group consisting of niobium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, zirconium, vanadium and hafnium, present in an amount of up to about 11% on an atomic basis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 7 wherein said additional element is present in an amount of from about 3% to about 5% on an atomic basis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the composition of said body comprises, on an atomic basis, of from about 44% to about 60% titanium, from about 35% to about 40% nickel and from about 3% to about 5% aluminum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 9 wherein the composition of said body further comprises from about 5% to about 11% niobium on an atomic basis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 10 wherein the composition of said body further comprises about 5% vanadium on an atomic basis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein the composition of said body comprises titanium, nickel, niobium and zirconium.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 12 wherein the composition of said body further comprises vanadium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 12 wherein the composition of said body comprises, on an atomic basis, from about 5% to about 55% titanium, from about 30% to about 60% nickel, from about 10% to about 20% niobium and from about 3% to about 10% zirconium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 14 wherein the composition of said body further comprises about 5% vanadium by weight.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 11 wherein said body is rechargeable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein said active body consists essentially of titanium, nickel, niobium and zirconium.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein said active body consists essentially of titanium, nickel, niobium, zirconium and vanadium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 1 wherein said at least one additional element is selected from the group consisting of hafnium, indium, lead, molybdenum and tin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
135 words
A hydrogen storage electrode for an alkaline hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one solid, amorphous active body, capable of being self-supporting and formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a continuous amorphous structure throughout, said body consisting essentially of at least three elements, said elements being titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zirconium, aluminum, tin, indium, lead, rare earth metals, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, vanadium, niobium, magnesium, molybdenum, palladium, boron, and hafnium, each of said elements present in an effective amount so that said hydrogen storage electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
135 words
A hydrogen storage electrode for an alkaline hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one solid, amorphous active body, capable of being self-supporting and formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a continuous amorphous structure throughout, said body consisting essentially of at least three elements, said elements being titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of zirconium, aluminum, tin, indium, lead, rare earth metals, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, vanadium, niobium, magnesium, molybdenum, palladium, boron, and hafnium, each of said elements present in an effective amount so that said hydrogen storage electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 20 wherein the total porosity of said active body is less than about 5% by volume.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 20 wherein the composition of said body consists essentially of, on an atomic basis, of from about 40% to about 75% titanium, from about 15% to about 55% nickel and from a trace amount to about 15% aluminum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
49 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 20 wherein the composition of said body consists essentially of, on atomic basis, of from about 5% to about 55% titanium, from about 30% to about 60% nickel, from about 10% to about 20% niobium and from about 3% to about 10% zirconium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The hydrogen storage electrode of claim 20 wherein said body is rechargeable.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
191 words
A hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising: (a) at least one hydrogen storage electrode for a hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one self-supporting solid, metallic, amorphous electrochemically active body formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a conitnuous amorphous structure throughout, said body having a composition comprising at least three elements, said elements being titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, chromium, cobalt, hafnium, indium, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, niobium, palladium, tin, zirconium and rare earth metals, each of said elements present in an effective amount so that said electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging hydrogen and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles; (b) at least one counter electrode means for allowing the release of the energy stored in said hydrogen storage electrode, said counter electrode means positioned in said cell and spaced in operative relation with said electrode means; and (c) casing means having said hydrogen storage electrode and said counter electrode means positoned therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
191 words
A hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising: (a) at least one hydrogen storage electrode for a hydrogen storage electrochemical cell comprising at least one self-supporting solid, metallic, amorphous electrochemically active body formed by rapid solidification from a melt thereby having a non-particulate, dimensionally anisotropic shape characterized by a conitnuous amorphous structure throughout, said body having a composition comprising at least three elements, said elements being titanium, nickel and at least one element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, chromium, cobalt, hafnium, indium, lead, magnesium, molybdenum, niobium, palladium, tin, zirconium and rare earth metals, each of said elements present in an effective amount so that said electrode is capable of being electrochemically charged with hydrogen to store energy and capable of electrochemically discharging hydrogen and releasing energy, while maintaining its structural integrity during electrochemical charge and discharge cycles; (b) at least one counter electrode means for allowing the release of the energy stored in said hydrogen storage electrode, said counter electrode means positioned in said cell and spaced in operative relation with said electrode means; and (c) casing means having said hydrogen storage electrode and said counter electrode means positoned therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein the composition of said active body comprises titanium, nickel and aluminum.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 26 wherein the composition of said active body further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of niobium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, zirconium and hafnium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein the composition of said body comprises, on an atomic basis, of from about 5% to about 55% titanium, from about 30% to about 60% nickel, from about 10% to about 20% niobium and from about 3% to about 10% zirconium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein said hydrogen storage electrode and said counter electrode means are spirally wound about an axis in a jelly-roll configuration.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
35 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein said hydrogen storage electrode comprises said active body present as a substantially flat sheet and said counter electrode means comprises at least one substantially flat sheet.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein said active body has a composition comprising, on an atomic basis, of from about 40% to about 75% titanium, from about 15% to about 55% nickel and from a trace amount to about 15% aluminum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 25 wherein said active body has a composition comprising, on an atomic basis, of from about 44% to about 60% titanium, from about 35% to about 40% nickel and from about 3% to about 5% aluminum.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
28 words
The hydrogen storage electrochemical cell of claim 32 wherein the composition of said active body further comprises from about 5% to about 11% niobium on an atomic basis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3669745A
Cited
US4431561A
Cited
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