CN1470087A - Battery - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of making a metal-air battery (50) having an air access opening and an air plenum (250). The method includes determining a thickness of the air plenum (250) derived according to Fick's Law, and forming the battery having the air plenum with the determined thickness. The right thickness of the air plenum is necessary for a good airflow to a cathode of the battery.

Description

Battery

The present invention relates to metal-air battery.

Battery generally is used as electric energy.A battery contains the negative electrode of so-called anode and the positive electrode of so-called negative electrode.Anode contains the oxidized active material of energy; Negative electrode contains or consumes the active material that can be reduced.Active material of positive electrode can reduce active material of cathode.In order to prevent the direct reaction of anode material and cathode material, between anode and negative electrode, make to be electrically insulated from each other by spacer.

When battery is used as a electric energy in the equipment, make and the electrically contacting of anode and negative electrode, allow electron stream through this equipment and allow to take place separately oxidation and reduction reaction so that electrical power to be provided.Electrolyte (for example potassium hydroxide) contacts with anode, and the ion flow that negative electrode contains is crossed interelectrode spacer to keep the charge balance of entire cell at interdischarge interval.

In metal-air electrochemical cell, be reduced at negative electrode oxygen, and oxidized at anode metal.Oxygen is to supply with negative electrode by the one or more holes in the battery container (cell can) from the atmospheric air of outside batteries.For extending battery life, wish that in use negative electrode is exposed in the air stream, and when not using with the isolation of air stream.

The present invention relates to a kind of metal-air battery, it has the air stream that ventilation space (air plenum) provides to the negative electrode of battery.In some cases, being exposed to lack of air can not provide optimized battery performance, because the quantity not sufficient of the oxygen that can contact with negative electrode.Yet, too be exposed to air and can cause in the battery material to be degenerated too early.For example, carbon dioxide can react with potassium hydroxide electrolyte, forms potash.This can cause the battery performance variation and reduce battery life.

In one aspect, characteristics of the present invention are a kind of methods of making metal-air battery, and this battery has air ports and ventilation space.This method comprises the thickness of determining according to the ventilation space of Fick (Fei Ke) law derivation and the battery that constitutes the ventilation space with determined thickness.This method can provide a kind of metal-air battery, and the size that it has (for example thickness) can strengthen the performance of battery.

Embodiment can comprise one or more following characteristics.Determine that thickness comprises an one-dimensional stable system applies Fick law.Determine that thickness comprises the following formula of interative computation: $P=\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="total\; L"\; filenames="A0181765800221.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">total</figure-callout>}}L}{2\mathrm{bDwnF}}\&lsqb;{\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)}^2-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)\&rsqb;+(P_0-P_I)\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)+P_I$ Until reaching desirable thickness, P is a pressure here, and R is a universal gas constant, and T is a temperature, I _TotalBe that L is the length of ventilation space by the magnitude of current of appointment area, b is the thickness of ventilation space, and D is a diffusion coefficient, and w is the spacing of opening to opening, and n is the electron number that relates to when oxygen reduction, and F is a Faraday constant, and x is a CONTROL VOLUME thickness, P _IBe atmospheric pressure, P ₀It is minimum pressure.P ₀It can be a value of between about 0 and 0.21 atmospheric pressure, selecting.

This method can comprise further that drafting is as the P of the function of x and/or draw P as the function of x/L.

On the other hand, characteristics of the present invention are batteries, and it comprises that one has the housing of air ports and the negative electrode in housing, and its middle shell and negative electrode are determined a ventilation space with thickness of determining according to the Fick law.The thickness of this ventilation space can pass through the following formula of iteration $P=\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="total\; L"\; filenames="A0181765800221.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">total</figure-callout>}}L}{2\mathrm{bDwnF}}\&lsqb;{\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)}^2-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)\&rsqb;+(P_0-P_I)\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)+P_I$ Obtain, described above such.

Negative electrode can comprise manganese dioxide, and anode can comprise zinc.This housing can have square-section, for example square sectional.

Battery case provides simple and functional system, is used to manage air and flows to into metal-air battery.Battery case can be made different shape adapting to different equipment, and this battery case can be with the low cost manufacturing.The operation of this battery case is simple.In certain embodiments, the operation of battery case is transparent to the user.

Prismatic battery can be rectangular shape usually.For example, prismatic battery can be more flat, has two parallel square surface, makes them be suitable for being used in the cell phone.More put it briefly, prismatic battery can be shaped to a polyhedron, and two polygon surface is positioned at two parallel planes, and other surfaces (if any) then is parallelogram.For example, if polygon surface is a rectangle, then battery is formed as rectangular prism.If polygon surface is circular, then battery is formed as the circle prism.Prismatic battery can be superimposed effectively and easily, for example in cell phone and in battery case.

From description and accompanying drawing and accessory rights requirement, can see other characteristics of the present invention, purpose and advantage clearly.

Fig. 1 is the perspective view of a battery case embodiment;

Fig. 2 is the top view of a battery case embodiment;

Fig. 3 is the sectional view of a battery case embodiment;

Fig. 4 A-B is the top view that is in the breech lock of elongation and punctured position respectively;

Fig. 5 A-C is respectively that slip lid opening and the misalignment of battery opening, part are aimed at and to punctual schematic diagram;

Fig. 6 is the embodiment schematic diagram that has the battery case of accessory power supply;

Fig. 7 is the facade sectional view of a battery embodiment;

Fig. 8 is the part schematic diagram of a battery case embodiment;

Fig. 9 is the perspective view of a battery case embodiment; And

Figure 10 is the perspective schematic view of a battery case embodiment.

With reference to figure 1-3, a rectangular prism battery case 20 comprises 30, one slip lids of a shell 40 and three batteries 50 that are positioned at shell 30 inside.Shell 30 is rectangles, has sidewall 35 to extend along rectangle perimeter.Determine groove 60 along the width of sidewall 35 and the partial sidewall 35 of length direction extension, be used to accept slip lid 40.As mentioned below, shell 30 has also been determined three groups of notch (not shown)s in groove 60, is used to accept the projection of being determined by slip lid 40 100.Every group of notch forms in predetermined position, for example corresponding to the different operating mode of phone.

Slip lid 40 is rectangles, is configured to slip into groove 60, thereby matches with shell 30, forms battery case 20.Slip lid 40 has determined that also a plurality of slip lid openings 70 are to allow air to flow into battery case 20.With reference to figure 2 and Fig. 4 A-B, slip lid 40 has determined that also a plurality of bolt lock mechanisms 90 are formed at the side of slip lid 40.Each bolt lock mechanism 90 comprises a projection 100 and a cavity (void) 105 of being determined by slip lid 40.When slip lid 40 slides in groove 60, projection 100 can from slip lid 40 stretch out and with the notch engagement that shell 30 is determined, make slip lid 40 remain on different predetermined positions, these positions are corresponding to the different operating mode (Fig. 4 A) of equipment.When slip lid slides into projection 100 and notch when not meshing, for example make slip lid 40 from a kind of mode of operation when another kind of mode of operation moves, projection 100 is towards slip lid 40 distortion and enter cavity 95, to allow slip lid 40 mobile (Fig. 4 B) groove 60 in.

Battery 50 is prismatic metal-air cells, and shell 30 is configured to pack into.Similar with the slip lid opening 70 on the slip lid 40, battery 50 has determined that also a plurality of battery openings 80 are used for air and enter battery 50.Usually, slip lid opening 70 and battery opening 80 form pattern respectively on slip lid 40 and battery 50, so that best and battery 50 performances homogeneous to be provided.

In operating process, mesh until breech lock 90 and one group of notch by mobile slip lid 40 in groove 60 and to manage the air mass flow that enters battery 80.Depend on breech lock 90 with which group notch meshes, slip lid opening 70 and battery opening 80 are that complete misalignment (zero lap), part are aimed at (some is overlapping) or aimed at (all overlapping) fully.

With reference to figure 5A, when equipment is in " disconnected (off) " mode, slip lid opening 70 and the 80 complete misalignment of battery opening.Shell 30 and slip lid 40 make battery 80 sealings closely and fully and isolate with environment.The air-flow that enters battery 80 is restricted, increasing the useful life of battery 80, thereby for example by preventing battery 80 self discharges and make battery material avoid too being exposed to the too early reduction that makes the battery material quality in the air to reduce to minimum.With reference to figure 5B, when equipment was in " standby (standby) " mode, slip lid opening 70 was partly aimed at battery opening 80.The air stream that enters battery 80 is balance, thereby has the air of q.s can enter battery 50 to satisfy the power demand of equipment during standby mode.With reference to figure 5C, when equipment was in " logical (on) " or " speech (talk) " mode, slip lid opening 70 and battery opening 80 were aimed at fully.In this mode, enough air enter battery 50 to allow battery 50 at the total current levels operation.

Slip lid 40 can want to use the mode of this equipment manually to move according to the user by the equipment user.For example, slip lid 40 can link to each other with an external switch on the phone, thereby the user can be according to the manual mobile slip lid 40 of the power demand of phone.Slip lid 40 can also be connected in for example cover plate of phone movably.When cover plate is closed, thereby slip lid is moved projection 100 and the pairing breech lock of " break " mode is meshed.When cover plate is opened, thereby slip lid 40 is moved projection 100 and the pairing breech lock of " lead to " mode is meshed.

With reference to figure 6, in another embodiment, battery case 20 comprises an accessory power supply 110, is used for automatic mobile slip lid 40, and this provides seamless and transparent user interface.Have, because battery 50 can produce initial voltage and falls when equipment starts, accessory power supply 110 can be used to reduce battery 50 and be ready to for the voltage delay before using again.Accessory power supply 110, lithium/manganese dioxide battery for example, by motor 112 and connecting rod (link) 114 and equipment interconnection, motor 112 and connecting rod 114 are suitable for the slip lid in the mobile groove 60.Motor is by the signal enabling from equipment, for example according to the mode of operation of phone.The concrete type that depends on the phone that uses battery case 20 that moves of slip lid 40.For example, when the user promoted " logical (on) " button, slip lid 40 can move to " standby " mode from " disconnected (off) " mode.When the calling of an arrival, perhaps when the user pushed figure disc and begins dialing to outcall, slip lid 40 can move to " talk " mode from " standby " mode.When the user promoted " end " button, slip lid 40 can move to " standby " or " breaking " mode from " talk " mode.Like this, move automatically according to the power demand slip lid 40 of phone to battery 50, thus the life-span of prolongation battery 50.

Shell 30 and slip lid 40 can be made by any material that is suitable for using in equipment.For example, shell 30 and slip lid 40 can use various known technologies to make with non-conducting material, for example can be injected into heat-flash molten plastic cement, for example acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) (ABS) of moulding.So, for example injecting mold process, notch and breech lock 90 can integrally form with shell 30 and slip lid 40 respectively.Shell 30 and slip lid 40 also can be made by the light metal that for example has non-conductive coating layer.The concrete size of battery case 20 depends on the application of battery case 20, for example the size of the battery flat of phone.

With reference to figure 7, battery 50 is prism metal-air batterys, has rectangle or square sectional and its size and allows battery 50 to put into battery case 20.Prism-shaped cathode tube 210 is by the current collector that scribbles the activated cathode coating mix, and for example wire-mesh screen constitutes.This mixture comprises adhesive, carbon granule and is used to reduce the catalyst of peroxide, for example compound of manganese.Useful catalysts comprises the oxide of manganese, as Mn ₂O ₃, Mn ₃O ₄And MnO ₂, they can prepare by the nitrate that for example heats manganese or by reduction potassium permanganate.Preferred adhesive comprises the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) particle.After the cathode mixture cures, cathode assembly is heated to remove any residual volatile materials from cathode construction.

In the face of the external energy of the pipe 210 of battery opening 80 coated with PTFE barrier membrane 220.Barrier film 220 helps to keep constant humidity level in battery 50.Barrier film 220 helps also to prevent that electrolyte from spilling battery and preventing CO ₂Battery bleeds.

Spacer 260 is placed in the cathode tube 210.Spacer 260 can be polymer porous, electric insulation, and as polypropylene, it allows electrolyte to contact with negative electrode.

The size of ventilation space 250 is the use of battery pack 10 and/or the function of cathode performance.For example, wish from battery pack 10 flow out negative electrode much electric currents and the battery 50 under low oxygen concentration working condition how, these can both influence the design of ventilation space 250.Usually, after the performance of the use of battery pack 10 and/or negative electrode is determined, on ventilation space 250 is designed to from the first battery opening to negative electrode 210 outer surfaces a bit, the air levelling is faded to disappearance quietly, and this point is to the first battery opening and more equidistant to an opening adjacent with the first battery opening.This design can provide the air stream of homogeneous to realize the battery performance of homogeneous to negative electrode 210.

More particularly, the design of ventilation space is to adopt a kind of approximation method, Fick first law in this method $(J_r=D\frac{\&PartialD;C}{\&PartialD;r})$ Be applied to an one-dimensional stable system.Fig. 8 shows the part of battery pack 10, wherein b is that the height of ventilation space 250 is (for example less than about 1cm, and less than about 0.1cm, as 0.08cm), w is that the hole (is measured to the center, hole with the center, hole to the spacing in hole, for example from about 0.1cm to about the 1cm, for example about 0.2cm), L is the length (for example about 1.5cm) of ventilation space 250.The quality of oxygen transmits and generally can be characterized by in ventilation space 250:

(substance accumulation)=[O ₂Generation+O ₂Inflow]

-[O ₂Outflow+O ₂Consumption] (1)

For metal-air battery, there is not oxygen to produce.

Use Fick first law, equation (1) can be write and do: $J_x\mathrm{bw}-(J_x\mathrm{bw}+\frac{{\&PartialD;J}_x}{\&PartialD;x}\mathrm{bw\&Delta;x})-\left(\frac{\mathrm{\&Delta;x}}{L}\right)\frac{I_{\mathrm{total}}}{\mathrm{nF}}=\mathrm{wb\&Delta;x}\frac{\&PartialD;C}{\&PartialD;t}---\left(2\right)$ Here

J _x=along x direction oxygen diffusion flux;

=pass the variations of flux rate of a CONTROL VOLUME;

The thickness of Δ x=CONTROL VOLUME;

I _Total=specify on the area (300mA/cm for example ²) magnitude of current that extracts;

The electron number that n=relates in oxygen reduction process (4);

F=Faraday constant (96,485 coulombs/equivalent); And

=in CONTROL VOLUME material to the cumulative speed of time.

Use algebra, equation (2) can be rewritten into equation (3), is rewritten as equation (4) then: $-\frac{{\&PartialD;J}_x}{\&PartialD;x}\mathrm{bw\&Delta;x}-\left(\frac{\mathrm{\&Delta;x}}{L}\right)\frac{I_{\mathrm{total}}}{\mathrm{nF}}=\mathrm{wb\&Delta;x}\frac{\&PartialD;C}{\&PartialD;t}---\left(3\right)$ $-\frac{{\&PartialD;J}_x}{\&PartialD;x}-\left(\frac{1}{\mathrm{bwL}}\right)\frac{I_{\mathrm{total}}}{\mathrm{nF}}=\frac{\&PartialD;C}{\&PartialD;t}---\left(4\right)$ Here

=concentration difference between two time points.

As shown in equation (5), the oxygen concentration in ventilation space comprises steady-state component (C _sAnd transient component (C (x)) _t(x, t)).

C(x，t)＝C _t(x，t)+C _s(x) (5)

Yet, for approximation method used herein, only consider steady-state component, so equation (4) becomes: $D\frac{{\&PartialD;}^{2}C}{{\&PartialD;x}^2}-\frac{I_{\mathrm{total}}}{\mathrm{bwLnF}}=0---\left(6\right)$ Here D is a diffusion coefficient.

Use perfect gas law, equation (6) can convert equation (7) to: $\frac{{\&PartialD;}^{2}P}{{\&PartialD;x}^2}-\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{total}}}{\mathrm{DbwLnF}}=0---\left(7\right)$ Here P=pressure; The R=universal gas constant; The T=temperature.

To equation (7) integration twice, produce equation (8): $P=\frac{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="RTItotal"\; filenames="A0181765800221.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">RTItotal</figure-callout>}}{2\mathrm{DbwLnF}}{x}^2+C_{1}x+C_2---\left(8\right)$ Definition

P _x＝0＝P _I， (10)

P _X=L=P ₀(11) P here _I=atmospheric pressure, for example 0.21atm (atmospheric pressure) O ₂P ₀=minimum pressure, as less than about 0.21atm, for example less than 0.15atm, and less than 0.1atm with less than about 0.05atm.

Find the solution C ₁And C ₂, produce: $C_1=\left(\frac{P_0-P_I}{L}\right)-\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{total}}}{2\mathrm{DbwLnF}}L---\left(12\right)$

C ₂＝P _I (13)

Equation (10)-(13) generation time equation (8), produce: $P=\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{<figure-callout\; id="2"\; label="total\; L"\; filenames="A0181765800221.png"\; state="\{\{state\}\}">total</figure-callout>}}L}{2\mathrm{bDwnF}}\&lsqb;{\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)}^2-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)\&rsqb;+(P_0-P_I)\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)+P_I---\left(14\right)$

Equation (14) is used to design ventilation space 250.Usually, for given ventilation space design, the whole variablees in the equation (14) all remain constant, but except ventilation space height (b) and the pressure (P).For some variable that remains constant, for example P ₀, the selection of its value is experimental.Its dependent variable is as the magnitude of current (I of ventilation space length (L) and hope _Total) value can control or limit by the practical application of battery pack 10, for example use the size restrictions of equipment of battery pack 10 and/or the performance of negative electrode therein.

Then, use different ventilation space height (b) that equation 14 is carried out iteration, the pressure (P) that produces flat fading until this equation distributes or section, for example from atmospheric pressure (O when normal temperature and the pressure (STP) for example ₂0.21atm (atmospheric pressure)) tilt to descend as polynomial function to minimum pressure.Selection by the definite minimum pressure of experience is the battery performance that will provide.Preferably, minimum pressure (P ₀) be O ₂About about zero to 0.21atm, for example about 0.1atm.

Be assembled battery 50, be blocked barrier film 220 encirclements and comprise that the cathode tube 210 of spacer 260 is placed in the prismatic housing (can) 230 with battery opening 80.Be the sealing negative electrode, housing 230 can comprise conduction hot-melt object 240, for example polyamide of filling with carbon, graphite or nickel.Cathode collector should contact with the bottom electrical of housing 230.Can electrically contact by providing direct physical to contact and cause between at the bottom of cathode collector and the housing, for example current collector is welded on housing at the bottom of.The another kind of practice is, on a conductive contact can be fixed at the bottom of current collector and the housing.Cathode tube 210 and housing 230 have been determined ventilation space 250 together between the two.

After inserting cathode tube 210, in the internal cavities that constitutes by spacer 260 and cathode tube 210, fill anode gel 270.

Anode gel 270 contains zinc and electrolytical mixture.Zinc and electrolytical mixture can comprise gel, and it can help prevent electrolyte to spill from battery and help the zinc particle suspending within anode.

Zinc material can be a zinc powder, and it is the alloy with lead, indium, aluminium or bismuth.For example, the alloy that this zinc can be and about 400 to 600ppm (for example 500ppm) are plumbous, with the alloy of 400 to 600ppm (for example 500ppm) indium, or with the alloy of about 50 to 90ppm (for example 70ppm) aluminium.Preferably this Zinc material can comprise lead, indium and aluminium, lead and indium or lead and bismuth.The another kind of practice is that this zinc can comprise lead but not have other metallic additionses.This Zinc material can be zinc winding-up or that revolve system.Suitable Zinc material is in for example U.S.S.N 09/156,915 (application on September 18th, 1998); U.S.S.N.08/905,254 (application on August 1st, 1997) and U.S.S.N.09/115 are described in 867 (applications on July 15th, 1998), they each included in as a reference in full.

The zinc particle can be spherical or non-spherical.For example, the zinc particle can be needle-like (having asperratio to be at least 2).Zinc material comprise size at 60 orders (mesh) to the most particles between 325 orders.For example, Zinc material can have following particle size distribution:

By weight, 0-3% is on 60 order mesh screens;

40-60% is on 100 order mesh screens;

30-50% is on 200 order mesh screens;

0-3% is on 325 order mesh screens; And

0-0.5% is on dish.

Suitable Zinc material comprises and can obtain from Union Miniere (Overpelt, Belgium), Duracell (U.S.), Noranda (U.S.), Grillo (Germany) or Toho Zinc companies such as (Japan).

Gel is the absorbability polyacrylate.The absorbability polyacrylate has the absorbability envelope (envelope) of every gram gel less than about 30 gram salinities (saline), as United States Patent (USP) 4,541, and the measurement result of describing in No. 871, this patent here is included into as a reference.The gel that anode gel comprises in anode mixture is less than 1% of zinc by dry weight.About 0.2% to 0.8% between, measure preferred value be by weight about 0.33% by weight by preferred being by weight between about 0.3% to 0.6% for preferred gel content.The absorbability polyacrylate can be the Sodium Polyacrylate of being made by suspension polymerisation (suspension polymorization).Suitable Sodium Polyacrylate has mean particle size between about 105 and 180 microns and pH value about 7.5.Suitable gel is described in No. 4,507,438, No. 4,541,871, United States Patent (USP) for example, No. 4,590,227, United States Patent (USP) or United States Patent (USP).

In certain embodiments, anode gel can comprise the non-ionic surface activator.This surfactant can be a nonionic phosphate surfactant, (for example can be from Rohm as the nonionic alkylphosphonate or the nonionic aryl phosphate that apply on zinc surface; RA600 that Haas company obtains or RM510).Anode gel can comprise the surfactant that is coated in the Zinc material surface between about 20 to 100ppm.Surfactant can be as the gasification inhibitor.

Electrolysis mass-energy is the aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide.Electrolysis mass-energy comprises the potassium hydroxide between about 30% and 40%, and preferred value is between 35% and 40%.Electrolyte can also comprise the zinc oxide between about 1% and 2%.

After anode gel 270 had been put into housing 230, the assembly 280 that assembles in advance was placed in the top of housing 230.Top assembly 280 comprise seal 300, current collector 290 and be welded to end cap 305 on the current collector 290.Current collector 290 is made by proper metal, as brass.Sealing 300 can be made by for example nylon.Additional non-conductor hot-melt object 315 (BiWax company) be placed on seal 300 and cathode tube 210 between so that the leakage of electrolyte and anode material reduces to minimum.Then, the outer, top of housing 230 (being flange) forged on the top assembly 280 of swinging to assembling in advance, top assembly 280 is sealed in the top of housing 230.

In storing process, battery 50 can be with the sheet covers battery 50 that can remove, and this sheet covers is lived battery opening 80.For example, this thin slice is an oxygen flow not, but the thin slice of saturating hydrogen, air-flow between limit battery is inside and outside.Before using, the user tears this thin slice from battery, enters inside battery to allow oxygen from air.Battery also can be stored in the metal bag of sealing.The user took out battery from bag before using.

Metal-air battery and manufacture method thereof are at U.S.S.N.09/374,277 (applications on August 13rd, 1999), U.S.S.N.09/374,278 (applications on August 13rd, 1999), U.S.S.N.09/416,739 (applications on October 13rd, 1999), U.S.S.N.09/427,371 (application on October 26th, 1999) and U.S.S.N.09/494, describe in 586 (applications on January 31st, 2000), they here are incorporated herein by reference in full.

Although described some embodiment, other embodiment have also been considered.For example, box 20 can not comprise breech lock 90 and notch.Box 20 also is not limited to rectangle, but can constitute with other shapes, for example round prismatic battery 400, for example button cell shown in Fig. 9 and thin slice battery.So battery 50 can constitute with other shapes, to be suitable for box 20.Battery 50 also can constitute a unit, and three battery sizes together placed side by side are for example arranged.Groove 60 can be shaped to the framework of a clamping slip lid, and this framework is added stake (stake) by heat and is fixed on the shell 30 or is welded on the shell 30, rather than integrates with shell.Have, although above-described equipment is phone, should be appreciated that, box 20 can be used for other electronic equipments, for example walkie-talkie, broadcast receiver, computer and palm personal digital assistant.Because these equipment can not need " standby " mode of operation, correspondingly setting battery box 20 is to provide the suitable aligning of battery opening 80 and slip lid opening 70.Opening 70 and other configurations of 80 are possible.For example, opening 70 and 80 can be a slit, perhaps an opening that extends on slip lid 40 and battery 50 respectively.

Figure 10 shows another embodiment of battery case 20.Shell 30 and slip lid 40 are as indicated above generally.Battery 500 is similar to battery 50 on the whole, but the triangular ridges post shapes is arranged, and for example, the elongate structure of triangular-section is arranged.The housing 510 and the negative electrode 520 that have battery opening (not shown) are shaped to the triangular ridges column jecket to determine ventilation space 530 between them.Anode 270, barrier membrane (not shown) and spacer (not shown) are placed in the housing 510, and be as indicated above generally.In certain embodiments, shell 30 and/or slip lid 40 comprise vee-cut 540 so that battery 500 fix in position.Groove 540 can comprise sealant.

Battery 500 can be on the whole as above-mentioned battery 50.Battery 500 can only form two-layer on housing 510, so only produce a seam.By changing of the relative positions angle, battery 500 can be contained in the box 20 effectively; And battery has bigger surface area.

All open source literatures and the patent mentioned in this application here are included into as a reference on this degree, both as pointing out that particularly and individually each single publication document or patent are included as reference.

Other embodiment in the claims.

Claims (11)

1. a making has the method for the metal-air battery of at least one air ports and ventilation space, and this method comprises:

Determine ventilation space thickness according to the derivation of Fick law; And

Formation has the battery of the ventilation space of the thickness that is determined.

2. the process of claim 1 wherein that determining that thickness comprises is applied to the one-dimensional stable system to the Fick law.

3. the process of claim 1 wherein and determine that thickness comprises: the following formula of iteration $P=\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{total}}L}{2\mathrm{bDwnF}}\&lsqb;{\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)}^2-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)\&rsqb;+(P_0-P_I)\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)+P_I$

Wherein P is a pressure, and R is a universal gas constant, and T is a temperature, I _TotalBe that L is the length of ventilation space by the magnitude of current of appointment area, b is the thickness of ventilation space, and D is a diffusion coefficient, and w is the spacing of opening to opening, and n is the electron number that relates to when oxygen reduction, and F is a Faraday constant, and x is a CONTROL VOLUME thickness, P ₁Be atmospheric pressure, P ₀It is minimum pressure.

4. the method for claim 3, wherein P ₀It is a value of between about 0 and 0.21 atmospheric pressure, selecting.

5. the method for claim 3 further comprises the P of drafting as the function of x.

6. the method for claim 3 further comprises the P of drafting as the function of x/L.

7. battery comprises:

The housing that contains air ports; And

Negative electrode in the housing;

Its middle shell and negative electrode are determined a ventilation space, and the thickness of ventilation space is determined according to the Fick law.

8. the battery of claim 7, wherein the thickness of ventilation space is determined by the following formula of iteration: $P=\frac{{\mathrm{RTI}}_{\mathrm{total}}L}{2\mathrm{bDwnF}}\&lsqb;{\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)}^2-\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)\&rsqb;+(P_0-P_I)\left(\frac{x}{L}\right)+P_I$

Wherein P is a pressure, and R is a universal gas constant, and T is a temperature, I _TotalBe that L is the length of ventilation space by the magnitude of current of appointment area, b is the thickness of ventilation space, and D is a diffusion coefficient, and w is the spacing of opening to opening, and n is the electron number that relates in oxygen reduction, and F is a Faraday constant, and x is a CONTROL VOLUME thickness, P _IBe atmospheric pressure, P ₀It is minimum pressure.

9. the battery of claim 7, wherein negative electrode comprises manganese dioxide.

10. the battery of claim 7 further comprises an anode that comprises zinc.

11. the battery of claim 7, its middle shell has the square-section.

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