Calcium hexaboride anodes for electrochemical cells
View Patent ↗An electrochemical cell includes an anode containing calcium hexaboride, where the electrochemical device is an alkaline cell or an air cathode cell.
1. An electrochemical cell comprising:
an electrolyte; and
an anode comprising calcium hexaboride in a polymer matrix;
wherein, the electrochemical cell is an alkaline cell or an air cathode cell.
2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is an alkaline cell.
3. The electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a cathode comprising a metal, MnO 2 , CrO 3 , KMnO 4 , a peroxide, a metal chlorate, metal bromate, or metal iodate.
4. The electrochemical cell of claim 2 , wherein the alkaline cell electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, or a polymer.
5. The electrochemical cell of claim 2 , where the cell further comprises a detergent, a chelator, a phosphate, a phosphonate, a quaternary ammonium salt, or a polymer.
6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is an air cathode cell.
7. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein the electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
8. The electrochemical cell of claim 5 , wherein the cell further comprises a gelling agent, a stabilization agent, or a scavenging agent.
9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the calcium boride comprises a coating.
10. The electrochemical cell of claim 9 , wherein the coating is a metal oxide, a carbon coating, or a polymer coating.
11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the coating comprises a carbon coating selected from the group consisting of diamond-like carbon and amorphous carbon.
12. The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the coating comprises a metal oxide coating selected from the group consisting of ZrO 2 , TiO 2 , SrO, La 2 O 3 , and ZnO.
13. A battery comprising the electrochemical cell of claim 1 .
14. A device comprising the electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the device is a hearing aid, a calculator, an infusion pump, or a pager.
15. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyvinyldifluoride.
16. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , further comprising:
a cathode; and
an insulator disposed between the anode and the cathode.
17. A battery comprising:
an anode subassembly;
a cathode subassembly; and
an insulator disposed therebetween;
wherein:
the anode subassembly comprises calcium hexaboride in a polymer matrix; and
the cathode subassembly comprises a hole to permit air to enter the battery.
18. The battery of claim 17 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyvinyldifluoride.
19. A method of using the battery of claim 17 , the battery further comprising a seal over the hole, the method comprising removing the seal and placing the battery in an electrical device configured to receive the battery.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the device is a hearing aid, a calculator, an infusion pump, or a pager.
21. A method of manufacture comprising:
connecting a anode subassembly to a cathode subassembly with an insulator disposed therebetween;
the anode subassembly comprising calcium hexaboride in a polymer matrix; and
the cathode subassembly comprises a hole to permit air to enter the battery.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the polymer matrix comprises polyvinyldifluoride.