Cathode materials for primary batteries

1. A composition of matter corresponding to the formula Mn 1−x Zr x O y in which x is about 0.0037 to 0.0144, and y ranges from about 1.90 to 2.00, in which the manganese, zirconium and oxygen are intermingled atomically.

2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein x is about 0.0046 to 0.0096.

3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein x is about 0.0056 to 0.0087.

4. The composition of claim 1 , where the composition of matter is prepared by electrodeposition of a solution containing manganese and zirconium.

5. A composition of matter comprising zirconium, manganese and oxygen, having a Zr/Mn mole ratio in the range of 0.0037 to 0.0145, and wherein the average manganese oxidation state is in the range of +3.80 to +4.00.

6. The composition of claim 5 , where the composition of matter is prepared by electrodeposition of a solution containing manganese and zirconium.

7. Electrode grade zirconium manganese oxide having a predominantly fibrous morphology.

8. The electrode grade zirconium manganese oxide of claim 7 wherein the fibrous morphology includes fibers having diameters on the order of 10–100 nanometers and lengths on the order of 1 to 100 micrometers.

9. The electrode grade zirconium manganese oxide of claim 7 having a surface area of 50 to 100 m 2 /g when measured by a BET method using nitrogen adsorption.

10. The electrode grade zirconium manganese oxide of claim 7 wherein the fibrous morphology is composed of single crystals having a ramsdellite, pyrolusite or a MnO 2 -epsilon crystal structure.

11. An electrode for an alkaline battery, comprising zirconium manganese oxide and a conductive material, wherein the electrode exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 970 C/g or more when measured at a constant current discharge of 10 mA/g.

12. The electrode of claim 11 , wherein said electrode comprises at least 45% by weight of the zirconium manganese oxide.

13. The electrode of claim 11 wherein the zirconium manganese oxide corresponds to the formula Mn 1−x Zr x O y in which x is about 0.0037 to 0.0144, and y ranges from about 1.90 to 2.00.

14. The electrode of claim 12 , exhibiting an initial discharge capacity of 980 C/g or more.

15. The electrode of claim 12 , exhibiting an initial discharge capacity of 1000 C/g or more.

16. The electrode of claim 11 , wherein said conductive material is carbon.

17. The electrode of claim 16 , wherein said conductive material is graphite.

18. The electrode of claim 11 , farther comprising electrolytic manganese dioxide.

19. The electrode of claim 18 , wherein said zirconium manganese dioxide comprises at least one weight percent of the electrode on dry basis.

20. The electrode of claim 18 , wherein said zirconium manganese dioxide comprises at least ten weight percent of the electrode on dry basis.

21. The electrode of claim 11 , wherein the combined weight of the conductive material and the zirconium manganese oxide comprise at least ninety weight percent of the electrode on a dry basis.

22. A battery in which at least one electrode in the battery is the electrode of claim 11 .

23. The battery of claim 22 , wherein the cathode of the battery is formed from the electrode of claim 11 .

24. The battery of claim 22 , wherein the anode of the battery comprises zinc.

25. The battery of claim 22 , wherein the electrolyte of the battery comprises potassium hydroxide.

26. The battery of claim 22 , wherein the combined weight of the conductive material and the zirconium manganese oxide comprise at least ninety weight percent of the electrode on a dry basis.

27. A method of making electrode grade zirconium manganese oxide in a bath containing an anode and cathode electrode, comprising the steps of:

adding a solution of soluble manganese and zirconium in the bath; and

plating zirconium manganese oxide onto the anode.

28. The method of claim 27 , wherein said soluble manganese is manganese sulfate, and said zirconium is zirconium sulfate.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein in the plating step a deposition current density of between 20 and 100 A-m 2 is used.

30. The method of claim 27 , comprising the further step of heating the solution to a temperature between 90 to 100 degrees Celsius.