Manganese dioxide cathode for a rechargeable alkaline cell, and cell containing the same

The rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell having a container, internal components comprising an anode, a separator, a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte, and a closure member;

• wherein said closure member is placed over said anode, separator, cathode, and electrolyte, within said container, so as to seal said internal components within said container;
• wherein said cathode contains from about 4% to about 8% by weight thereof of said alkaline electrolyte, and optionally from about 5% to about 15% by weight thereof of graphite, and optionally from about 0.1% to about 10.0% by weight thereof of conductive carbon;
• wherein said cathode further contains from about 0.1% to about 5.0% by weight thereof of conductive fibres chosen from the group consisting of carbon fibres, graphite fibres, carbon fibres plated with nickel, carbon fibres plated with silver, graphite fibres plated with nickel, graphite fibres plated with silver, copper fibres plated with nickel, and copper fibres plated with silver;
• and
• wherein said cathode optionally further contains from about 1.0% to about 5.0% by weight thereof of a metal-based additive chosen from the group consisting of zinc, zinc, oxide, and zinc stearate.

A rechargeable alkaline electrochemical cell having a container, internal components comprising an anode, a separator, a manganese dioxide cathode, an alkaline electrolyte, and a closure member;

• wherein said closure member is placed over said anode, separator, cathode, and electrolyte, within said container, so as to seal with internal components within said container;
• wherein said cathode contains from about 4% to about 8% by weight thereof of said alkaline electrolyte, and optionally from about 5% to about 15% by weight thereof of graphite, and optionally from about 0.1% to about 10.0% by weight thereof of conductive carbon;
• wherein said cathode further contains from about 1.0% to about 5.0% by weight thereof of a metal-based additive chosen from the group consisting of zinc, zinc oxide, and zinc stearate;
• and
• wherein said cathode optionally further contains from about 0.1% to about 5.0% by weight thereof of conductive fibres chosen from the group consisting of carbon fibres, graphite fibres, carbon fibres plated with nickel, carbon fibres plated with silver, graphite fibres plated with nickel, graphite fibres plated with silver, copper fibres plated with nickel, and copper fibres plated with silver.