Batteries and methods of making batteries are disclosed. In some embodiments, a battery includes a housing, a positive electrode comprising a copper material in the housing, a negative electrode in the housing, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution comprising soluble aluminum in the housing. A method of making a battery can include providing a positive electrode comprising a copper material into a housing, adding a material comprising aluminum to an electrolytic solution, and adding the electrolytic solution into the housing.
1. A battery, comprising:
a housing;
a positive electrode in the housing, the positive electrode comprising a copper material;
a negative electrode in the housing;
a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and
an aqueous electrolytic solution in the housing, the aqueous electrolytic solution comprising dissolved aluminum material,
wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises equal to or greater than about one weight percent of aluminum.
2. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the copper material comprises copper oxide.
3. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the copper material comprises cupric oxide.
4. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode comprises greater than about 86 weight percent of copper oxide.
5. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode further comprises a binder and a conductive aid.
6. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the negative electrode comprises zinc.
7. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the negative electrode comprises a material comprising an element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, calcium, silicon, boron, titanium, zirconium, hafhium, lanthanum, manganese, iron, cobalt, chromium, tantalum, and niobium.
8. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution is alkaline.
9. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises a material selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.
10. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution is saturated with soluble aluminum.
11. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises equal to or less than about eight percent by weight of aluminum.
12. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a primary battery.
13. The battery of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a secondary battery.
14. A primary alkaline battery, comprising:
a housing;
a positive electrode in the housing, the positive electrode comprising greater than about one weight percent of copper oxide;
a negative electrode in the housing, the negative electrode comprising zinc;
a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and
an aqueous alkaline electrolytic solution in the housing, the aqueous electrolytic solution comprising a hydroxide material and dissolved aluminum material,
wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises equal to or greater than about one weight percent of aluminum.
15. The battery of claim 14 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises between about one and about eight weight percent of aluminum.
16. The battery of claim 14 , wherein the aqueous electrolytic solution comprises a material selected from the group consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide.