Electrochemical cell anode and high discharge rate electrochemical cell employing same

An anode for use in a metal air electrochemical cell, said anode comprising:

• from about 55% to about 73% by weight of zinc powder particles of a zinc powder, at least about 90% of said zinc powder particles having a size between about 100.mu. and about 500.mu., a portion of said zinc powder particles being coated with a coating comprising a surfactant and a gelling agent, and a remainder of said zinc powder particles being substantially uncoated:
• from about 27% to about 45% by weight of aqueous potassium hydroxide;
• from about 0.02% to about 0.5% by weight of a reaction rate enabling metal compound selected from a group consisting of indium chloride, indium bromide, indium hydroxide, indium oxide, indium sulfide, indium sulfate, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, GeO.sub.2, and SnO;
• and
• from about 2% to about 12% by weight mercury, based upon a weight of said zinc powder.

An electrochemical cell comprising:

• an air cathode;
• and
• an anode comprising:
• from about 55% to about 73% by weight or zinc powder particles of a zinc powder, at least about 90% of said zinc-powder particles having a size between about 100.mu. and about 500.mu., a portion of said zinc powder particles being coated with a coating comprising a surfactant and a gelling agent, and a remainder of said zinc powder particles are substantially uncoated;
• from about 27% to about 45% by weight of aqueous potassium hydroxide;
• from about 0.02% to about 0.5% of a reaction rate enabling metal compound being selected from a group consisting of indium chloride, indium bromide, indium hydroxide, indium oxide, indium sulfide, indium sulfate, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, GeO.sub.2, and SnO;
• and
• from about 1.0% to about 4% by weight of mercury, based upon a weight of said zinc powder.

A metal air electrochemical cell having outer walls defining a contained volume, said metal air electrochemical cell comprising:

• an air cathode including a cathode can, and a cathode assembly, said cathode assembly comprising a reaction surface exposed to a cathodic oxygen, said cathode can having a bottom, said bottom of said cathode can comprising at least one air port for said cathodic oxygen to be transferred therethrough to said reaction surface;
• an anode comprising an anode material and a container therefor, said anode material comprising:
• from about 55% to about 73% by weight of zinc powder particles of a zinc powder at least about 90% of said zinc powder particles having a size between about 100.mu. and about 500.mu., a portion of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being coated with a coating comprising a surfactant and a gelling agent, a remainder of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being substantially uncoated;
• from about 27% to about 45% by weight of an aqueous potassium hydroxide;
• from about 0.02% to about 0.5% of a reaction rate enabling metal compound selected from a group consisting of indium chloride, indium bromide, indium hydroxide, indium oxide, indium sulfide, indium sulfate, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, GeO.sub.2, and SnO;
• and
• from about 2% to about 3.5% by weight of mercury, based upon a weight of said zinc powder.

A metal air electrochemical cell having outer walls defining a contained volume, said metal air electrochemical cell comprising:

• an air cathode including a cathode can and a cathode assembly, said cathode assembly comprising a reaction surface exposed to a cathodic oxygen, said cathode can having a bottom, said bottom of said cathode can comprising at least one air port for said cathodic oxygen to traverse therethrough to said reaction surface;
• an anode comprising an anode material and a container therefor, said anode material comprising:
• from about 55% to about 73% by weight of zinc powder particles of a zinc powder, at least about 90% of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder having a size between about 100.mu. and about 500.mu., a portion of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being coated with a coating comprising a surfactant and a gelling agent, and a remainder of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being substantially uncoated;
• from about 27% to about 45% by weight of an aqueous potassium hydroxide comprising about 2% of a ZnO, based upon a weight of said aqueous potassium hydroxide;
• from about 0.02% to about 0.5% by weight of indium hydroxide;
• and
• from about 2% to about 3.5% by weight of a mercury, based upon a weight of said zinc powder;
• wherein said metal air electrochemical cell has a capacity to deliver a watt density of at least 210 milliwatts per square inch of an area of said reaction surfacer under a load of 51 ohms at continuous discharge for at least about five hours.

A metal air electrochemical cell having outer walls defining a contained volume comprising:

• an air cathode including a cathode can and a cathode assemnbly, said cathode assembly comprising a reaction surface exposed to a cathodic oxygen, said cathode can having a bottom, said bottom of said cathode can comprising at least one air port for said cathodic oxygen to traverse therethrough to said reaction surface;
• an anode comprising an anode material and a container therefor, said anode material comprising:
• about 67% by weight of zinc powder particles of a zinc powder, at least about 90% of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder having a size between about 100.mu. and about 500.mu., a portion of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being coated with a coating comprising from about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of a surfactant, based upon a weight of said zinc powder, from about 0.1% to about 0.4% by weight of a gelling agent, based upon said weight of said zinc powder, and a remainder of said zinc powder particles of said zinc powder being substantially uncoated;
• about 33% by weight of an aqueous potassium hydroxide;
• from about 0.02% to about 0.5% of an indium hydroxide;
• and
• from about 2% to about 3.5% by weight of a mercury, based upon said weight of said zinc powder;
• wherein said metal air electrochemical cell has a capacity to deliver a watt density of at least 210 milliwatts per square inch of an area of said reaction surface under a load of 51 ohms at continuous discharge for at least about five hours.