Galvanic primary element

Abstract

A galvanic primary element of the system Li/H.sub.2 O.sub.2 comprises a gas diffusion electrode which separates the lithium electrode from the cathode space which is filled with aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution. In the working layer which is flanked by capillary active cover layers of the gas diffusion electrode, automatically drawn-in H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is decomposed into H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and O.sub.2 catalytically until the gas pressure is in equilibrium with capillary forces and thereby interrupts the access of additional H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solution to the working layer. Short circuiting of the cell or connection of a load causes a reduction of the gas pressure due to electrochemical reaction of the O.sub.2 with the lithium so that fresh reactant solution can flow in. A reaction regime matching the current draw becomes possible because of the property of polyurethane to gel in aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub.2 by virtue of the fact that the H.sub.2 O.sub.2 is slowly pressed out of the gel as out of a sponge by means of a ram toward the gas diffusion electrode.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.