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Abstract

An improved electrode useful in electrochemical cells utilizes as the electrochemically active material zinc, zinc oxide, cadmium, cadmium oxide or a mixture of two or more of these materials. This electrochemically active material is preferably in the form of a shape-retaining body and is in direct contact with a novel current collector resistant to corrosion in strong alkaline electrolytes. The current collector is an alloy having at least about 40% of bismuth and at least about 25% of lead, by weight of the alloy. In one preferred embodiment the alloy consists entirely or essentially of bismuth and lead. In another embodiment, the alloy also includes at least one of the metals cadmium and tin. A useful collector can be formed by casting an alloy having about 50% bismuth, 27% lead, 13% tin and 10% cadmium, by weight of the alloy. When the alloy consists essentially of bismuth and lead, for example, 50-60% bismuth by weight of the alloy, the alloy can be rolled into a thin sheet which can be subsequently slit, perforated or the like and used as the current collector. The improved electrode exhibits improved resistance to cell capacity degradation upon successive cycling of the cell. The electrode is simple, inexpensive, effective and durable.

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First Claim