Metallic zinc-based current collector
AssigneePowerGenix Systems, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Phillips, Samaresh Mohanta, Zhen Gang Fan, Ru Jun Ma, Feng Feng, Lou Uzel, Chi Yau, Jason Zhao, Zeiad M. Muntasser
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Abstract
A nickel zinc battery cell includes a metallic zinc-based current collection substrate as a part of the negative electrode. The metallic zinc-based current collector may be made of or be coated with a zinc metal or zinc alloy material and may be a foil, perforated, or expanded material. Battery cells incorporating the zinc-based current collector exhibit good cycle lifetime and initial charge performance.
Claims23
A nickel zinc battery cell comprising:
- (a) a negative electrode layer comprising a metallic zinc-based current collection substrate adhering to a zinc oxide based electrochemically active layer, wherein the zinc-based current collection substrate comprises at least a portion comprising at least 95 atomic % zinc that serves as a reservoir of zinc for the zinc oxide based electrochemically active layer during cell operation;
- (b) a positive electrode layer comprising nickel;
- (c) a separator layer to separate the positive and negative electrode layers;
- and
- (d) an electrolyte;
- wherein the nickel zinc battery cell is a rechargeable cell, and wherein, if the metallic zinc-based current collection substrate is a zinc coated structure with a non-zinc core metal, then the zinc coating is between 25% and 50% of the entire thickness of the zinc-based current collection substrate, and the zinc coating comprises at least 95 atomic % zinc and serves as a reservoir of zinc for the zinc oxide based electrochemically active layer during cell operation.
A rechargeable negative electrode in a nickel-zinc battery cell, the negative electrode comprising:
- (a) a metallic zinc-based current collection substrate comprising 95-100 atomic % zinc;
- and
- (b) a negative zinc oxide based electrochemically active layer adhering to the current collection substrate, wherein the current collection substrate serves as a reservoir of zinc for the zinc oxide based electrochemically active layer during cell operation,
- wherein the current collection substrate is a metal zinc plate or a metal zinc mesh.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.