Erik Mortensen

Cathode Extenders as Capacity Enhancers in Alkaline EMD Cells

This study investigated various means to improve upon the commercial success of the EMD alkaline chemistry by increasing the utilization at the end of discharge of the EMD. This increased utilization improves the overall capacity performance of the cell. Conventional alkaline cells typically contain a single active cathode material, EMD. Cells in this study added a secondary cathodic metal oxide to the cathode compartment in order to provide a simple and low cost means to extend the discharge performance of these cells. By employing a compatible metal oxide cathodic material as a cathode extender material, increased utilization of the MnO2 was obtained when improved cell design and efficacious cell balancing were also employed so that full advantage of the cathode extender were realized.

New Alkaline Electrochemical Cells Using Stabilized CuO-CuS Cathodes

New alkaline electrochemical cells have been made using Zn//CuO-CuS chemistry that exhibits greater service life than traditional Zn//MnO2 chemistry. Zn//CuO-CuS electrochemistry offers performance advantages over Zn//CuO electrochemistry via higher open and closed circuit voltages. The improvement is a result of the higher reduction potential for the CuO-CuS versus that of CuO alone. The rate capability is also higher for CuO-CuS electrochemistry making it more practical for consumer electronics where a wide range of applications is required: . CuO + CuS + 2e + H2O Cu2S + 2OH -0.185V vs. HgO 2CuO + 2e + H2O Cu2O + 2OH -0.278V vs. HgO