IP Library Granted Patent US 8,951,666
Granted Patent B2
US 8,951,666 · App. 13/838,023 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery with rare earth-Mg-Ni based hydrogen storage

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,951,666
App. No.
13/838,023
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery contains an electrode group made up of positive and negative electrode put together with a separator intervening therebetween. The positive electrode includes positive-electrode active material particles each having a base particle composed mainly of nickel hydroxide and a conductive layer that covers the surface of the base particle and is made from a Co compound containing Li. The negative electrode includes a rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy containing a rare-earth element, Mg and Ni. The total amount of Li contained in the battery is in a range of from 15 to 50 (mg/Ah) on the condition that the Li is converted into LiOH, and that the total amount of Li is found as a mass per Ah of positive electrode capacity.

Claims (71)

1. A nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery in which an electrode group is sealed in a container together with alkaline electrolyte, and the electrode group is made up of positive and negative electrodes put together with a separator intervening therebetween, wherein

the nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery contains LiOH, and a total amount of LiOH in the nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery is in a range of 15 mg/Ah of positive electrode capacity to 50 mg/Ah of positive electrode capacity;

the negative electrode includes: a rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy containing a rare-earth element, Mg and Ni.

2. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co.

3. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 2 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy has a composition that is expressed by a general formula:

Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z ,

where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively.

4. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode includes:

positive-electrode active material particles; and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

5. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co;

the positive electrode includes positive-electrode active material particles; and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

6. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively;

the positive electrode includes

positive-electrode active material particles; and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

7. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the positive electrode comprises at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds.

8. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and

the positive electrode includes:

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds.

9. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively; and

the positive electrode includes:

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds.

10. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein

the positive electrode includes:

positive-electrode active material particles and

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds, and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

11. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein

the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co;

the positive electrode includes:

positive-electrode active material particles and

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds; and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

12. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively; and

the positive electrode includes:

positive-electrode active material particles and

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds; and

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle.

13. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the alkaline electrolyte contains LiOH.

14. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and the alkaline electrolyte contains LiOH.

15. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively; and

the alkaline electrolyte contains LiOH.

16. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively;

the positive electrode includes positive-electrode active material particles;

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle; and

the alkaline electrolyte contains LiOH.

17. The nickel hydrogen rechargeable battery according to claim 1 , wherein

the rare earth-Mg—Ni-based hydrogen storage alloy is free of Mn and Co, and has a composition expressed by a general formula: Ln 1-x Mg x (Ni 1-y T y ) z , where Ln is at least one element selected from La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ca, Sr, Sc, Y, Yb, Er, Ti, Zr and Hf; T is at least one element selected from V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, Fe, Al, Ga, Zn, Sn, In, Cu, Si, P and B; and subscripts x, y and z represent numerals that satisfy 0<x≦1, 0≦y≦0.5, and 2.5≦z≦4.5, respectively;

the positive electrode includes:

positive-electrode active material particles and

at least one additive selected from a group consisting of Y compounds, Nb compounds, and W compounds;

the positive-electrode active material particles each include:

a base particle comprising nickel hydroxide and

a conductive layer comprising a Co compound containing Li, wherein the conductive layer covers a surface of the base particle; and

the alkaline electrolyte contains LiOH.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 8, 2016
From: FDK CORPORATION
To: FDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 037952/0896 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ADDRESS OF THE RECEIVING PARTY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 034842 FRAME: 0772. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 6, 2015
From: FDK TWICELL CO., LTD.
To: FDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036827/0058 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 29, 2015
From: FDK TWICELL CO., LTD.; FDK CORPORATION
To: FDK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034842/0772 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2013
From: TAKEI, MASAAKI; YAMANE, TETSUYA; IMOTO, YUZO; ITO, TAKESHI; TAKASU, MASARU
To: FDK TWICELL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 031332/0640 →