Charge storage device
A charge storage device ( 1 ) includes a sealed prismatic housing ( 2 ). Two opposed folded rectangular aluminium electrodes ( 3, 4 ) are disposed within housing ( 2 ) and connected to respective metal terminals ( 5, 6 ) for allowing external electrical connection to the electrodes. A porous, electronically insulating separator material, e.g. Solupor™, sheet separator ( 7 ) is disposed intermediate electrodes ( 3, 4 ) for maintaining those electrodes in a fixed spaced apart configuration. An electrolyte (not shown) is also disposed intermediate the electrodes. Collecting means in the form of a scavenging agent is grafted to separator ( 7 ) for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from the housing.
1. A charge storage device including:
a housing;
at least two opposed electrodes disposed within the housing;
a separator disposed intermediate the electrodes;
an electrolyte disposed intermediate the electrodes; and
a scavenging agent grafted to at least one electrode for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from within the housing.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the electrodes each include at least one coating and the scavenging agent is one component of at least one of the coatings.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the at least one coating includes an activated carbon and the scavenging agent is incorporated into the at least one coating prior to application of the electrodes.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the at least one coating includes a binder and the scavenging agent is contained within the binder.
5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the scavenging agent is activated to sequester the one or more contaminants.
6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the scavenging agent is included within the binder prior to that activation.
7. A device according to claim 5 wherein the scavenging agent is activated prior to inclusion of the scavenging agent within the binder.
8. A device according to claim 5 wherein the scavenging agent is activated either prior to or during the assembly of the charge storage device.
9. A device according to claim 5 wherein the scavenging agent is activated by exposure to predetermined wavelengths and intensities of electromagnetic radiation.
10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters oxygen from the housing.
11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters water from the electrolyte.
12. A device according to claim 1 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters bromine or chlorine from the housing.
13. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sequestering results in the contaminants being isolated from the charge storage operation of the device.
14. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sequestering results in a chemical change of the contaminants.
15. A charge storage device including:
a housing;
at least two opposed electrodes disposed within the housing;
a separator disposed intermediate the electrodes;
an electrolyte disposed intermediate the electrodes; and
a scavenging agent grafted to the separator for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from within the housing.
16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the scavenging agent is activated to sequester the one or more contaminants.
17. A device according to claim 16 wherein the scavenging agent is activated prior to being grafted to the separator.
18. A device according to claim 16 wherein the scavenign agent is activated either prior to or during the assembly of the charge storage device.
19. A device according to claim 16 wherein the scavenging agent is activated by exposure to predetermined wavelengths and intensities of electromagnetic radiation.
20. A device according to claim 15 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters oxygen from the housing.
21. A device according to claim 15 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters water from the electrolyte.
22. A device according to claim 15 wherein the scavenging agent sequesters bromine or chlorine from the housing.
23. A device according to claim 15 wherein the sequestering results in the contaminants being isolated from the charge storage operation of the device.
24. A device according to claim 15 wherein the sequestering results in a chemical change of the contaminants.
25. A method for constructing a charge storage device having a housing and at least two opposed electrodes disposed within the housing, the method including the step of grafting a scavenging agent to at least one electrode for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from the housing.
26. A charge storage device including:
a housing;
at least two opposed electrodes disposed within the housing;
a separator disposed intermediate the electrodes;
an electrolyte disposed intermediate the electrodes; and
a scavenging agent grafted within the housing for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from within the housing.
27. A method for constructing a charge storage device having:
a housing;
at least two opposed electrodes disposed within the housing; and
a separator disposed intermediate the electrodes;
the method including the step of grafting a scavenging agent to the separator for sequestering one or more predetermined contaminants from within the housing.