Additives for improving battery performance via cation adsorption

Abstract

Electrochemical cells are provided, wherein a metal ion is adsorbed to a manganese dioxide- or carbon-containing electrode due to the addition of a metal additive to the cell's electrolyte and/or cathode. Methods for preparing such cells are also provided. In particular embodiments, the electrochemical cells are alkaline electrochemical cells, and the electrode contains manganese dioxide.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a) a container; and   b) an electrode assembly disposed within the container and comprising a cathode, an anode, a separator located between the cathode and the anode, and an electrolyte solution; and   wherein i) the cathode comprises a metal ion adsorbed on its surface, and/or ii) the electrolyte solution and/or cathode comprises a metal additive, said metal additive comprising a metal ion.   
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is an alkaline electrochemical cell, and the electrolyte solution is an alkaline electrolyte solution. 
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises manganese dioxide. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal ions, transition metal ions, lanthanide metal ions, and boron group metal ions. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Sn, Co, Bi, V, Ru, Zr, Ga, Be, Ca, Sr, Pb, Ag, Ba, Ce, Al, Ni, Mg, and Cu ions. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 3 , wherein the metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Sn, Co, Bi, V, Ru, Zr, Ga, Ba, Ce, Al, Ni, Mg, and Cu ions. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal additive is a metal salt additive. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 7 , wherein the metal salt additive is a sulfate salt, a carbonate salt, a chlorate salt, a hydroxide salt, a cyanide salt, a cyanate salt, a thiocyanate salt, a nitrate salt, a phosphate salt, a sulfate salt, or a dichromate salt. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 7 , wherein the metal salt additive is a sulfate salt. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 7 , wherein the metal salt additive is a barium salt, a cerium salt, an aluminum salt, a nickel salt, a magnesium salt, or a copper salt. 
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 7 , wherein the metal salt additive is selected from the group consisting of SnO 2 , CoO, Bi 2 O 3 , MgO, V 2 O 5 , RuO 2 , ZrO 2 , Ba(OH) 2 , Ga 2 O 3 , BaSO 4 , Ce(SO 4 ) 2 , Ce 2 (SO 4 ) 3 , Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 , NiSO 4 , MgSO 4 , and CuSO 4 . 
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal additive is a metal oxide. 
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 12 , wherein the metal oxide is a tin oxide, a cobalt oxide, a bismuth oxide, a vanadium oxide, a ruthenium oxide, a zirconium oxide, a gallium oxide, a barium oxide, a cerium oxide, an aluminum oxide, a nickel oxide, a magnesium oxide, or a copper oxide. 
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 12 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of SnO 2 , CoO, Bi 2 O 3 , MgO, V 2 O 5 , RuO 2 , ZrO 2 , Ba(OH) 2 , Ga 2 O 3 , BaO, CeO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , NiO, Ni 2 O 3 , MgO, Cu 2 O, or CuO. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of SnO 2 , CoO, and Bi 2 O 3 . 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline electrolyte solution is saturated with the metal ion. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the alkaline electrolyte solution is saturated with the metal additive. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the metal additive in the electrolyte solution has a concentration of 0.0001-1 M. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises zinc. 
     
     
         20 . A method of producing the electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , comprising the step of
 i) mixing a metal additive comprising said metal ion with the electrolyte or electrolyte solution.