Zinc anode alkaline electrochemical cells containing bismuth

Abstract

A negative electrode active material for a zinc anode alkaline electrochemical cell includes (i) particles, comprising bismuth, and (ii) powder, comprising zinc. The particles have an average particle size of at most 135 nm.

1 . A negative electrode active material for a zinc anode alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (i) particles, comprising bismuth, and   (ii) powder, comprising zinc,   wherein the particles have an average particle size of at most 135 nm.   
     
     
         2 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise bismuth oxide, bismuth hydroxide, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise tetragonal phase bismuth oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the powder comprises a zinc alloy. 
     
     
         5 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have an average particle size of at most 105 nm. 
     
     
         6 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have an average particle size of at most 50 nm, 
     
     
         7 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have a specific surface area of at least 5 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         8 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have a specific surface area of at least 7 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         9 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles have a specific surface area of at least 15 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         10 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise 0.001 to 10% by weight of the negative electrode active material. 
     
     
         11 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the particles are capable of plating in an alkaline electrolyte environment at least 2000 ppm bismuth on a zinc substrate. 
     
     
         14 . The negative electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the powder comprises a zinc alloy,   the particles have an average particle size of at most 105 nm,   the particles have a specific surface area of at least 7 m 2 /g, and   the particles comprise 0.01 to 0.1% by weight of the negative electrode active material.   
     
     
         15 . A negative electrode active material for a zinc anode alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (i) particles, comprising bismuth, and   (ii) powder, comprising zinc,   wherein the particles have a specific surface area of at least 5 m 2 /g.   
     
     
         16 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . An anode gel for an alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (a) the negative electrode active material of  claim 1 ,   (b) an electrolyte, and   (c) a gelling agent.   
     
     
         29 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . An anode gel for an alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (a) the negative electrode active material of  claim 14 ,   (b) an electrolyte, and   (c) a gelling agent.   
     
     
         33 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . An anode gel for an alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (a) the negative electrode active material of  claim 15 ,   (b) an electrolyte, and   (c) a gelling agent.   
     
     
         37 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . An alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (1) a positive current collector,   (2) a cathode containing a cathode active material, in electrical contact with the positive current collector,   (3) a negative current collector,   (4) the anode gel of  claim 28 , in electrical contact with the negative current collector, and   (5) a separator, between the cathode active material and the anode gel.   
     
     
         41 . An alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (1) a positive current collector,   (2) a cathode containing a cathode active material, in electrical contact with the positive current collector,   (3) a negative current collector,   (4) the anode gel of  claim 32 , in electrical contact with the negative current collector, and   (5) a separator, between the cathode active material and the anode gel.   
     
     
         42 . An alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (1) a positive current collector,   (2) a cathode containing a cathode active material, in electrical contact with the positive current collector,   (3) a negative current collector,   (4) the anode gel of  claim 36 , in electrical contact with the negative current collector, and   (5) a separator, between the cathode active material and the anode gel.   
     
     
         43 . A negative electrode active material for a zinc anode alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (i) particles, comprising bismuth, and   (ii) powder, comprising zinc,   wherein the particles are capable of plating in an alkaline electrolyte environment at least 2000 ppm bismuth on a zinc substrate.   
     
     
         44 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . An anode gel for an alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (a) the negative electrode active material of  claim 43 ,   (b) an electrolyte, and   (c) a gelling agent.   
     
     
         51 . An alkaline electrochemical cell, comprising:
 (1) a positive current collector,   (2) a cathode containing a cathode active material, in electrical contact with the positive current collector,   (3) a negative current collector,   (4) the anode gel of  claim 50 , in electrical contact with the negative current collector, and   (5) a separator, between the cathode active material and the anode gel.