Alkaline electrochemical cell with improved anode and separator components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023395784-A1
Application number	US-202318452799-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2023
Priority date	Jun 20, 2016
Publication date	Dec 7, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

An alkaline electrochemical cell includes a cathode, an anode which includes an anode active material, and a non-conductive separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the anode active material relative to a total amount of anode active material has a particle size of less than about 75 μm, and wherein the separator includes a unitary, cylindrical configuration having an open end, a side wall, and integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end.

First claim

1 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . A separator for use in an electrochemical cell, said separator comprising:
a non-conductive, porous material formed into a cylinder and having an open end and an integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end; wherein:
the separator has a single layer wound twice and having a dry thickness of about 0.205 mm to about 0.245 mm.

19 . The separator of claim 18 , wherein the porous material is a paper composed of polyvinyl alcohol fiber, rayon fiber, or cellulose, and comprises a surface active agent.

20 . The separator of claim 19 , wherein the separator comprises a single coupon of paper wound twice.

21 . The separator of claim 19 , wherein the surface active agent is an ionic surfactant.

22 . The separator of claim 19 , wherein the surface active agent is a non-ionic surfactant.

23 . The separator of claim 18 , wherein the porous material comprises lyocell or mercerized wood pulp.

24 . The separator of claim 18 , wherein the porous material comprises cellophane.

25 . The separator of claim 18 , wherein the porous material comprises one or more polymeric fibers.

26 . The separator of claim 25 , wherein the polymeric fiber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and blends, mixtures, and copolymers thereof.

27 . The separator of claim 18 , wherein the separator has a dry thickness of about 0.215 mm to about 0.235 mm.

28 . A separator for use in an electrochemical cell, said separator comprising:
a non-conductive, porous material formed into a cylinder and having an open end and an integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end; wherein:
the porous material is made of polymeric fibers; and
the separator has a single layer wound twice and has a dry thickness of about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm.

29 . The separator of claim 28 , wherein the porous material comprises a surface active agent.

30 . The separator of claim 29 , wherein the separator comprises a single coupon of paper wound twice.

31 . The separator of claim 28 , wherein the polymeric fiber comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and blends, mixtures, and copolymers thereof.

32 . The separator of claim 31 , wherein the polymeric fiber comprises rayon or nylon.

33 . A separator for use in an electrochemical cell, said separator comprising:
a non-conductive, porous material formed into a cylinder and having an open end and an integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end; wherein:
the porous material comprises a surface active agent; and
the separator has a single layer wound twice and has a dry thickness of about 0.15 mm to about 0.3 mm.

34 . The separator of claim 33 , wherein the surface active agent is an ionic surfactant.

35 . The separator of claim 33 , wherein the surface active agent is a non-ionic surfactant.

36 . The separator of claim 33 , wherein the separator is made of synthetic material.

37 . The separator of claim 33 , wherein the separator is made of natural material.

Assignees

• Energizer Brands Llc

Inventors

• Armacanqui M Edgar
• Roszkowski Andrew J
• Imhoff Casey
• Crowe Donald Raymond
• Evans Matthew
• Hadley John
• Hennek Matthew
• Turba Tim F
• Zhu Enqing

Classifications

• H01M4/244 Primary

  Zinc electrodes · CPC title

• H01M6/085 Primary

  of the reversed type, i.e. anode in the centre · CPC title

• H01M50/44

  Fibrous material · CPC title

• H01M50/4295

  Natural cotton, cellulose or wood · CPC title

• H01M2004/021

  Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area · CPC title