A metal accumulation inhibiting and performance enhancing supplement and a system for delivering the supplement

Abstract

The invention relates to a metal accumulation inhibiting and performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement for use in or in association with rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cells, and a system for delivering the supplement including articles of plastic, articles containing plastic, articles similar to plastic, plastic containers, apparatus, porous electrodes, liquids and electrolytes, in particular, articles, apparatus, electrodes, insolating sheets, liquids and electrolytes associated with rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cells incorporating one or more supplements. An effective amount of the supplement typically exhibits foaming of an electrolyte, providing a visual indicator of activity in attenuating metal deposition on, and thereby reducing metal accumulation on, various surfaces in the rechargeable electrochemical storage cell.

1 . An enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell comprising:
 a container, at least one positive electrode with a positive connector and at least one negative electrode with a negative connector, the electrodes disposed in the container, the container containing an acidic electrolyte;   a quantity of an isolated or synthesized performance enhancing supplement being incorporated with at least one component of the rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell selected from the group consisting of the container, the at least one negative electrode, at least one separator adapted to be disposed between the at least one positive electrode and the at least one negative electrode, the acidic electrolyte, and combinations thereof, forming a treated cell;   wherein application of an electric potential across the positive and negative connectors sufficient to cause an electric current to flow therebetween, effects at least one performance enhancement of the rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell selected from the group consisting of a reduction of metal transfer within the treated cell, a reduction of gas evolution from the treated cell, a reduction in water consumption by the treated cell, an increase in on-charge potential of the treated cell, a reduction in corrosion of the positive electrode of the treated cell, a reduction in self-discharge of the treated cell, and combinations thereof, when compared to performance of an untreated cell.   
     
     
         2 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein when the at least one positive electrode and the at least one negative electrode are subjected to a substantially constant electric current sufficient to provide an electric potential therebetween, a higher electric potential is generated in the treated cell when compared to the untreated cell. 
     
     
         3 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein when the positive electrode and the negative electrode are subjected to an electric potential sufficient to provide an electric current therebetween, the treated cell exhibits less metal accumulation on the negative electrode when compared to the untreated cell. 
     
     
         4 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein when the acidic electrolyte is at a temperature of between 10 and 100 degrees C. and under an atmospheric pressure of between 80 to 105 kPa, for from 1 to 7 days, foaming occurs upon shaking together of the acidic electrolyte taken therefrom, foaming persisting for more than 5 seconds indicating that an effective amount of the supplement is incorporated in the enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell. 
     
     
         5 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the isolated or synthesized performance enhancing supplement is incorporated into the acidic electrolyte. 
     
     
         6 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the isolated or synthesized supplement corresponds to an ingredient of a latex obtained from a  Hevea brasiliensis  tree other than a polyisoprene ingredient. 
     
     
         7 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement has a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) number of from greater than 2. 
     
     
         8 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  further comprising a natural cis-polyisoprene thermoset elastomer obtained from  Hevea brasiliensis  trees. 
     
     
         9 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the container is composed of a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phenolic resins, and combinations thereof, the performance enhancing supplement being incorporated therewith. 
     
     
         10 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 9  wherein the polyolefin comprises an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement is selected from the group consisting of a phospholipid, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, a fatty alcohol alkoxylate, an alkyl glycerol phosphate choline, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement is a phospholipid having choline as a head group with glycerophosphoric acid. 
     
     
         13 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement is a phospholipid having a choline as a head group with glycerophosphoric acid, and having at least one saturated fatty acid and at least one unsaturated fatty acid. 
     
     
         14 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement is a C8-18 fatty alcohol having from six to thirty ethylene oxides. 
     
     
         15 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplements is a C16-18 fatty alcohol having thirty ethylene oxides. 
     
     
         16 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the container is composed of a polymeric material which is primarily plastic. 
     
     
         17 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 1  wherein the performance enhancing supplement is combined with a carrier. 
     
     
         18 . The enhanced performance rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell of  claim 17  wherein the carrier is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phenolic resins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A method for making a supplemented rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell comprising:
 providing a polymeric material   providing a quantity of a performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement;   combining the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement with the polymeric material in an amount sufficient to produce an article which produces foaming when the article is disposed in an acidic electrolyte, the electrolyte being at a temperature between 10 and 100 degrees C., and under an atmospheric pressure of 80-105 kPa, the article being disposed in the electrolyte for from 1 to 7 days, the foaming occurring upon shaking together of the electrolyte with the article disposed therein;   forming the blended polymeric material into the article;   disposing the article in an acidic electrolyte, the electrolyte being at a temperature between 10 and 100 degrees C., and under an atmospheric pressure of 80-105 kPa for from 1 to 7 days; and,   shaking together the electrolyte with the article disposed therein; and,   detecting visual foaming as an indicator that an effective amount of the supplement is incorporated in the article.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 combining the performance enhancing supplement with a carrier, prior to combining the performance enhancing supplement with the polymeric material. 
 
     
     
         21 . An article for use in a rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell, the article comprising:
 a polymeric material formed into the article having a quantity of a metal inhibiting isolated or synthesized supplement incorporated therein, the article adapted to be disposed in an acidic electrolyte, the quantity of the metal inhibiting isolated or synthesized supplement incorporated in the article being an amount sufficient to effect at least one performance enhancement of the rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell selected from the group consisting of a reduction of metal transfer within the treated cell, a reduction of gas evolution from the treated cell, a reduction in water consumption by the treated cell, an increase in on-charge potential of the treated cell, a reduction in corrosion of the positive electrode of the treated cell, a reduction in self-discharge of the treated cell, and combinations thereof, when compared to performance of a rechargeable electrochemical energy storage that does not incorporate the article containing the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement.   
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21  disposed in an acidic electrolyte, the acidic electrolyte containing a positive electrode and a negative electrode, the positive electrode and the negative electrode subjected to a substantially constant electric current sufficient to provide an electric potential therebetween, the article effecting a higher electric potential between the positive electrode and the negative electrode when compared to a rechargeable electrochemical energy storage that does not incorporate the article containing the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the isolated or synthesized supplement corresponds to an ingredient of a latex obtained from a  Hevea brasiliensis  tree other than a polyisoprene ingredient. 
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 23  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement is selected from the group consisting of a phospholipid, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, a fatty alcohol alkoxylate, an alkyl glycerol phosphate choline, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement is a phospholipid having choline as a head group with glycerophosphoric acid. 
     
     
         26 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement is a phospholipid having a choline as a head group with glycerophosphoric acid, and having at least one saturated fatty acid and at least one unsaturated fatty acid. 
     
     
         27 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement is a C8-18 fatty alcohol having from six to thirty ethylene oxides. 
     
     
         28 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplements is a C8-10 fatty alcohol having six ethylene oxides. 
     
     
         29 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplements is a C16-18 fatty alcohol having thirty ethylene oxides. 
     
     
         30 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the article is composed of a polymeric material which is primarily plastic. 
     
     
         31 . The article of  claim 21  wherein the performance enhancing isolated or synthesized supplement is combined with a carrier. 
     
     
         32 . An article for use in a rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell containing an acidic electrolyte, the article made from a polymeric material, the article having a quantity of a metal inhibiting isolated or synthesized supplement incorporated therewith, the article being disposed in the acidic electrolyte, the quantity of the supplement incorporated in the article being an amount sufficient to limit metal accumulation on a negative electrode of the rechargeable electrochemical energy storage cell upon application of an electric potential between a positive electrode and the negative electrode sufficient to provide an electric current therebetween. 
     
     
         33 . The article of  claim 32  wherein an equalizing-strength constant electric current is applied between the electrodes sufficient to generate a potential therebetween, the article effects an increase in potential when compared to an unsupplemented article. 
     
     
         34 . The article of  claim 32  wherein the quantity of the supplement incorporated with the polymeric material is sufficient to reduce metal transfer between the electrodes. 
     
     
         35 . The article of  claim 32  further comprising a natural cis-polyisoprene thermoset elastomer obtained from  Hevea brasiliensis  trees. 
     
     
         36 . The article of  claim 32  wherein the polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phenolic resins, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The article of  claim 32  wherein the supplement is selected from the group consisting of a phospholipid, a fatty alcohol ethoxylate, a fatty alcohol alkoxylate, an alkyl glycerol phosphate choline, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The article of  claim 32  wherein the supplement is a phospholipid having choline as a head group with glycerophosphoric acid. 
     
     
         39 . The article of  claim 32  wherein the supplement is encapsulated by a carrier. 
     
     
         40 . The article of  claim 39  wherein the carrier is a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyolefin, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phenolic resins, and combinations thereof, the selected polymer being compatible with the polymeric material.