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AssigneeMoltech Power Systems, Inc.
InventorDeepika B. Singh
Estimating the term…
A formation procedure for a NiMH electrochemical cell is disclosed that significantly shortens the time required to fully form such a cell. The formation procedure includes a first step during which the cell is charged at a constant voltage of preferably 1.0 volt for approximately three hours. A second charging step is performed by applying either a constant charge current at a predetermined rate of C/3 for five hours or applying a constant voltage of 1.45 to 1.5 volts for five to nine hours. A third step may optionally be used whereby the cell is charged at a constant current of C/10 for about two hours. NiMH cells subjected to this formation procedure have a much greater percentage of the starting cobalt material in the positive electrode converted to CoOOH thereby improving the conductive matrix formed about the Ni(OH)2/NiOOH particles, which constitute the active material of the positive electrode. The disclosed inventive formation procedures result in higher utilization, higher cell capacities following long-term storage, or storage at high temperatures as well as improved capacity recovery following deep discharge.
A method of forming a cobalt-containing NiMH electrochemical cell comprising the steps of:
A method of forming a cobalt-containing NiMH electrochemical cell comprising the sequentially performed steps of:
A method of forming a cobalt-containing NiMH electrochemical cell, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.