Metal hydride alloy with improved low-temperature performance
AssigneeOvonic Battery Company, Inc.
InventorsKwo Young, Benjamin Reichman, Michael A. Fetcenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The performance of an ABx type metal hydride alloy is improved by adding an element to the alloy which element is operative to enhance the surface area morphology of the alloy. The alloy may include surface regions of differing morphologies.
Claims25
A method for improving the low-temperature electrochemical performance of an ABx (1≦x≦5) type metal hydride alloy incorporated into a rechargeable battery cell, said method comprising:
- adding an element selected from the group consisting of:
- Si, Mo, Y, Sn, Sb, and combinations thereof to said alloy which element is operative to increase the surface area of said alloy by a factor of more than 2 and/or the catalytic ability of said alloy by more than 20%.
A rechargeable electrochemical cell having a nickel cathode, a separator, electrolyte, and an anode, said anode comprising an ABx (1 <x<5) type metal hydride alloy material, said cell characterized by improved low temperature electrochemical performance, the improvement comprising:
- the addition of an element to said alloy, said element (i) operative to increase the surface area and/or catalytic ability of said alloy and (ii) selected from the group consisting of:
- Si, Mo, Y, Sn, Sb, and combinations thereof and wherein said element increases the surface area of said alloy by a factor of more than 2 and/or the catalytic activity of said alloy by more than 20% (as compared to the surface area and/or catalytic activity of said alloy without the addition of said element).
A method for making a composite ABx (1≦x≦5) type metal hydride material, said material comprising a first, matrix portion and a plurality of second, channel portions disposed in spaced apart relationship in said matrix portion, said channel portions having a concentration of catalytic channels defined therein, said channels having a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 25-150 angstroms, and a length which is greater than the cross-sectional dimension of said channels, said channels having catalytic sites defined thereupon, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a first, ABx matrix material;
- providing a second, ABx metal hydride material, said second material including an additive element selected from the group consisting of Si, Mo, Y, Sn, Sb, and combinations thereof, said element being operative to increase the electrochemically active surface area of said second material by a factor of more than 2 and/or the catalytic ability of said second material by more than 20%;
- activating said second material;
- and
- dispersing said second material in said first material so as to provide said composite material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.