Development of Silver-Zinc Cells of Improved Cycle Life and Energy Density
Abstract
Substantial increases in the cost effectiveness and range of naval underwater vehicles are possible by virtue of advances made, in this program, to silver-zinc, vehicle propulsion batteries. To improve battery cycle life and energy density, Electro-Permeable Membranes (EPMs) were used (1) as additives and/or as coatings for the negative electrodes and (2) as coatings for conventional separator materials' Also, bismuth oxide was tested as an additive to the negative electrodes and P2291-40/20, a radiation-grafted polyethylene film, as a separator used in conjunction with silver-treated cellophane. EPMs used as negative-electrode additives and also as coatings for Celgard 2500 microporous polypropylene greatly improved cells. Cells with EPMs used as coatings for the negative electrodes failed rapidly because of an error in formulation. Cells with 10 percent bismuth oxide in the negative electrodes exhibited substantially lower capacity than the standard cells and were removed from the test. Cells with radiation-grafted polyethylene separators provided fewer cycles than the standard cells, with 5 percent higher capacity and 6 percent lower utilization of active materials by cycle 60. However, the slightly better capacity of these cells, realized due to the additional space available for active materials, does not compensate for their generally unimpressive performance. Silver-zinc batteries, Bismuth oxide, Electro-Permeable Membranes (EPMS), Polyethylene separators, Electrode additives and coatings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA277311
Entities
People
- Roberto Serenyi
- Stanley D. James