Systems, devices, and methods for electroplated zinc negative electrodes for zinc metal cells and batteries

Abstract

A method of fabricating and using a zinc negative electrode and systems thereof are described. A zinc electroplated electrode including a layer of zinc metal bonded to a surface of an electrically conductive current collector is fabricated by an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system. The zinc electroplating system includes: a zinc metal anode, a cathode including the current collector for plating zinc thereon, and an electrolyte bath comprising zinc ions. The electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the surface of the current collector to create the electroplated zinc electrode. The electroplated zinc electrode is used as a negative electrode in a zinc metal cell. The zinc metal cell may be a primary cell or a secondary cell.

1 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A zinc metal cell comprising:
 a negative electrode comprising an electroplated zinc metal electrode fabricated according to an electroplating process using a zinc electroplating system, the zinc electroplating system including:
 an anode comprising zinc metal; 
 a cathode comprising a current collector for plating zinc thereon; and 
 an electrolyte bath comprising Zn 2+ cations or [Zn(OH) 4 ] 2− ions; 
 wherein the electroplating process bonds the zinc metal to the collector; and a positive electrode; 
   wherein, during discharge of the zinc metal cell under an electrical load, zinc from the zinc metal layer is stripped from the negative electrode while Zn 2+ cations or zincate ions migrate towards the posiive electrode through an electrolyte.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the negative electrode is ionically connected to the positive electrode by the electrolyte. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the negative electrode in the cell includes
 a zinc metal layer in direct electrical contact with a current collector.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the zinc metal layer includes a first side facing the current collector and a second side facing the electrolyte. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the current collector in the cell comprises an electrically conductive surface. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the current collector comprises foil, wire, sheet, plate, foam, sponge, mesh, rod, bar, can, or lid. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a non-aqueous solution. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solid-state membrane. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the electrolyte comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the positive electrode in the zinc cell is one or more of an air electrode, an intercalation electrode, and a conversion electrode. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the positive electrode in the zinc cell is an inert substrate at which redox molecules dissolved in the electrolyte can reduce or oxidize. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the zinc metal cell is used in a primary non-rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the primary battery is one or more of an alkaline battery, a zinc-carbon battery, a zinc-chloride battery, and a zinc-air battery. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the zinc metal cell is used in a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the rechargeable battery is one or more of a zinc-air battery, a zinc-ion battery, a zinc-halide battery, a nickel-zinc battery, a silver-zinc battery, a rechargeable alkaline manganese dioxide-zinc battery, a zinc-iron battery, and a zinc-cesium battery.