Hybrid material anode current collector for alkaline batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12537204-B2
Application number	US-202218057639-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2022
Priority date	Nov 21, 2022
Publication date	Jan 27, 2026
Grant date	Jan 27, 2026

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and/or the like are provided. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell may include a container, a ring-shaped cathode disposed within the container, wherein the ring-shaped cathode defines an open interior, an anode disposed within the open interior of the ring-shaped cathode, a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, an electrolyte solution, and a current collector electrically connected with a portion of the container, wherein the current collector is positioned at least partially within the anode. For example, current collectors may include a base including a first material that is fixedly attached to the portion of the container and a zinc component composed of a second material and fixedly attached to the base.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
a container, a ring-shaped cathode disposed within the container, wherein the ring-shaped cathode defines an open interior; an anode disposed within the open interior of the ring-shaped cathode; a separator disposed between the ring-shaped cathode and the anode; an electrolyte solution; and
a current collector electrically connected with a portion of the container, wherein the current collector is positioned at least partially within the anode, and wherein the current collector comprises:
a base comprising a first material and fixedly attached to the portion of the container, wherein the base defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the current collector; and
a zinc component comprising a second material, wherein the zinc component is fixedly attached to the base and is in contact with the anode.

2 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the zinc component comprises one or more pieces of zinc foil that are fixedly attached at one or more points on the base of the current collector.

3 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the zinc component is one of: welded, soldered, friction fit, or crimped to the base.

4 . The electrochemical cell of claim 3 , wherein the zinc component is welded to the base by a welding method selected from a group consisting of: ultrasonic welding, electric welding, and friction welding.

5 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the zinc component is fixedly attached to the base such that at least a surface area of the base is encased within the zinc component.

6 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 , wherein the base is cylindrically shaped, and wherein the surface area of the base that is encased within the zinc component is greater than a surface area of the base that is not encased within the zinc component.

7 . The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein the surface area of the base that is encased within the zinc component forms a cylinder with a diameter larger in diameter than a cylinder formed by the surface area of the base that is not encased within the zinc component.

8 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the zinc component comprises one or more zinc plates that are fixedly attached at one or more locations on the base.

9 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises a brass alloy.

10 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion comprises a first anode material and the second portion comprises a second anode material.

11 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the base ranges from about 20 mm to about 40 mm in length.

12 . The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein a design of the ring-shaped cathode and the anode utilizes a high zinc loading design of about 62% to 72% by weight.

13 . A current collector electrically connected with a portion of a container, wherein the current collector is positioned at least partially within an anode, and wherein the current collector comprises:
a base fixedly attached to the portion of the container, wherein the base defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the current collector; and a zinc component comprising a second material, wherein the zinc component is fixedly attached to the base and defines at least a second portion of the exterior surface of the current collector.

14 . The current collector of claim 13 , wherein the zinc component comprises one or more pieces of zinc foil that are fixedly attached at one or more points on the base.

15 . The current collector of claim 13 , wherein the zinc component is one of: welded, soldered, friction fit, or crimped to the base.

16 . The current collector of claim 13 , wherein the zinc component is welded to the base by a welding method selected from a group consisting of: ultrasonic welding, electric welding, and friction welding.

17 . The current collector of claim 13 , wherein the zinc component is fixedly attached to the base such that at least a surface area of the base is encased within the zinc component.

18 . The current collector of claim 17 , wherein the base is cylindrically shaped, and wherein the surface area of the base that is encased within the zinc component is greater than a surface area of the base that is not encased within the zinc component.

Assignees

• Energizer Brands Llc

Inventors

• Hadley John
• Hennek Matthew
• Breister Dustin

Classifications

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• H01M2004/027

  Negative electrodes · CPC title

• H01M4/78

  Shapes other than plane or cylindrical, e.g. helical · CPC title

• H01M4/76

  Containers for holding the active material, e.g. tubes, capsules · CPC title

• H01M4/75

  Wires, rods or strips · CPC title