Alkaline battery and method for producing the same
The storage characteristics of an alkaline battery are improved by suppressing the production of hydrogen gas during storage. The alkaline battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a conductive member in contact with the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a zinc-containing negative electrode active material and an alkaline electrolyte, and the alkaline electrolyte includes a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution. The negative electrode active material, the alkaline electrolyte, and a contact surface of the conductive member with the negative electrode include the same metal element M, and the metal element M is a metal element other than zinc.
1. An alkaline battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a conductive member,
wherein said negative electrode comprises a zinc-containing negative electrode active material and an alkaline electrolyte,
said alkaline electrolyte comprises a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution,
said conductive member has a surface layer in contact with said negative electrode,
said negative electrode active material, said alkaline electrolyte, and said surface layer all comprise the same metal element M, and M is copper or tin,
said negative electrode active material comprises an alloy containing said metal element M and zinc, and
said surface layer consists of said metal element M.
2. The alkaline battery in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said alkaline electrolyte comprises a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution and a solute dissolved in said potassium hydroxide aqueous solution, and said solute comprises a zinc compound and a compound containing said metal element M.
3. The alkaline battery in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the contact surface of said conductive member with said negative electrode is plated with said metal element M.
4. The alkaline battery in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the content of said metal element M in said alkaline electrolyte is 0.0016 to 0.079% by weight.
5. The alkaline battery in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the content of said metal element M in said negative electrode active material is 0.0015 to 0.06% by weight.
6. The alkaline battery in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said solute further comprises a lithium compound, and the content of said lithium compound in said alkaline electrolyte is 0.01 to 2% by weight.
7. An alkaline dry battery comprising: a positive electrode case; a cylindrical positive electrode contained in said positive electrode case, said positive electrode containing manganese dioxide and having a hollow; a negative electrode filled in said hollow; and a negative electrode current collector inserted in said negative electrode,
wherein said negative electrode comprises a zinc-containing negative electrode active material and an alkaline electrolyte,
said alkaline electrolyte comprises a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution,
said negative electrode current collector has a surface layer in contact with said negative electrode,
said negative electrode active material, said alkaline electrolyte, and said surface layer all comprise the same metal element M, and M is copper or tin,
said negative electrode active material comprises an alloy containing said metal element M and zinc, and
said surface layer consists of said metal element M.
8. An air zinc battery comprising: a negative electrode case; a negative electrode contained in said negative electrode case; and an air electrode opposing said negative electrode,
wherein said negative electrode comprises a zinc-containing negative electrode active material and an alkaline electrolyte,
said alkaline electrolyte comprises a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution,
said negative electrode case has a surface layer in contact with said negative electrode,
said negative electrode active material, said alkaline electrolyte, and said surface layer all comprise the same metal element M, and M is copper or tin,
said negative electrode active material comprises an alloy containing said metal element M and zinc, and
said surface layer consists of said metal element M.
9. A method for producing an alkaline battery comprising the steps of:
preparing an alkaline electrolyte that comprises a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution;
preparing a negative electrode material mixture that comprises a gelling agent and a negative electrode active material, said negative electrode active material comprising an alloy containing zinc and a metal element M, and M is copper or tin;
mixing said alkaline electrolyte with said negative electrode material mixture to obtain a gelled negative electrode; and
bringing a surface layer consisting of said metal element M of a conductive member into contact with said negative electrode,
wherein said step of preparing the alkaline electrolyte comprises a step of mixing a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution with a solute to dissolve said solute, and said solute comprises a zinc compound and a compound containing said metal element M.
10. The method for producing an alkaline battery in accordance with claim 9 , wherein said solute further comprises a lithium compound.