Reversible manganese dioxide electrode, method for the production thereof, the use thereof, and rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery containing said electrode

Abstract

The invention relates to a reversible manganese dioxide electrode, comprising an electrically conductive carrier material having a nickel surface, a nickel layer made of spherical nickel particles adhering to each other and having an inner pore structure applied to the carrier material, and a manganese dioxide layer applied to the nickel particles, wherein the manganese dioxide layer is also present in the inner pore structure of the nickel particle.The invention also relates to a method for producing such a manganese dioxide electrode, the use thereof in rechargeable alkaline-manganese batteries, and a rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery containing a manganese dioxide electrode according to the invention.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A reversible manganese dioxide electrode, comprising:
 an electrically conductive carrier material;   a nickel layer formed on the electrically conductive carrier material, the nickel layer comprising spherical nickel particles adhered to one another, the nickel layer having an inner pore structure; and   a manganese dioxide layer formed on the nickel layer and at least partially filling the inner pore structure thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 15 , wherein the nickel layer has a thickness between 10 μm and 1000 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 16 , wherein the thickness of the nickel layer is between 20 μm and 500 μm. 
     
     
         18 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 17 , wherein the thickness of the nickel layer is between 50 μm and 200 μm. 
     
     
         19 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 18 , wherein the thickness of the nickel layer is about 100 μm. 
     
     
         20 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 15 , wherein each of the spherical nickel particles has an average particle size of between 0.1 μm and 25 μm. 
     
     
         21 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 20 , wherein the average particle size is between 1 μm and 10 μm. 
     
     
         22 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 21 , wherein the average particle size is between 2 μm and 6 μm. 
     
     
         23 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 22 , wherein the average particle size is between 3 μm and 4 μm. 
     
     
         24 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrically conductive carrier material is selected from the group consisting of a nickel sheet, a nickel foil, and a nickel-coated carrier material. 
     
     
         25 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrically conductive carrier material comprises a nickel sheet. 
     
     
         26 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 15 , wherein the manganese dioxide layer has a thickness between 1 μm and 50 μm. 
     
     
         27 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 26 , wherein the thickness of the manganese dioxide layer is between 2 μm and 30 μm. 
     
     
         28 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 27 , wherein the thickness of the manganese dioxide layer is between 5 μm and 20 μm. 
     
     
         29 . The reversible manganese dioxide electrode according to  claim 28 , wherein the thickness of the manganese dioxide layer is between 5 μm and 10 μm. 
     
     
         30 . A rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery, comprising:
 a current collector;   a reversible manganese dioxide electrode surrounding the current collector, wherein the reversible manganese dioxide electrode comprises:
 an electrically conductive carrier material; 
 a nickel layer formed on the electrically conductive carrier material, the nickel layer comprising spherical nickel particles adhered to one another, the nickel layer having an inner pore structure; and 
 a manganese dioxide layer formed on the nickel layer and at least partially filling the inner pore structure thereof; 
   a separator layer; and   a negative electrode, wherein the separator layer is sandwiched between the negative electrode and the reversible manganese dioxide electrode.   
     
     
         31 . The rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery according to  claim 30 , wherein the nickel layer has a thickness between 10 μm and 1000 μm. 
     
     
         32 . The rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery according to  claim 30 , wherein each of the spherical nickel particles has an average particle size of between 0.1 μm and 25 μm. 
     
     
         33 . The rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery according to  claim 30 , wherein the electrically conductive carrier material is selected from the group consisting of a nickel sheet, a nickel foil, and a nickel-coated carrier material. 
     
     
         34 . The rechargeable alkaline-manganese battery according to  claim 30 , wherein the manganese dioxide layer has a thickness between 1 μm and 50 μm.