Electrolytic solution for battery and battery using the same

Abstract

To provide an electrolyte having high water-holding capacity, and a battery capable of suppressing reduction of moisture in the electrolyte with a simple structure.SOLUTION: The electrolytic solution for a battery contains an electrolyte, at least one selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid Na, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen, and at least one selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and vaseline. The battery is provided with a negative electrode 2, a positive electrode 1 arranged opposite to the negative electrode 2, a separator 3 arranged between the negative electrode 2 and the positive electrode 2, and the electrolyte for the battery arranged between the negative electrode 2 and the positive electrode 1, and the negative electrode 2 contains metal to be a negative electrode active material, and the positive electrode 1 is provided with a porous material containing a conductive material. Further, the positive electrode 1 preferably includes a fibrous activated carbon 11 and a water-repellent adsorption sheet 12 superposed on the separator 3 side of the fibrous activated carbon 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrolyte for use in a battery, particularly an air battery, and a battery using the electrolyte. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, various types of batteries are in practical use, but in recent years, air batteries, which use oxygen as the positive electrode active material, have been attracting attention. Air batteries generally use an alkaline aqueous solution as the electrolyte, which reduces the risk of fire compared to lithium-ion batteries. Furthermore, because various metals can be used as the negative electrode active material, they have the advantage of being inexpensive and stable to manufacture, and because oxygen is used as the positive electrode active material, they are lighter than conventional batteries. Thus, air batteries generate electricity by coming into contact with oxygen in the atmosphere, but can be stored unused for long periods of time by blocking the air.

[0003] However, while there are advantages to this, there are also disadvantages. To maintain battery performance, it is necessary to keep the electrolyte and other components in a normal state. However, since an air battery cannot be sealed to allow oxygen, the positive electrode active material, to enter the battery, there is a risk that water will evaporate from the electrolyte, making it impossible to generate electricity.

[0004] Various proposals have been made to solve these problems. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a metal fuel cell that is characterized by forming a polymer by stacking at least a metal that serves as the negative electrode, a water-absorbing and moisture-retaining member, and a conductive member that serves as the positive electrode, and attaching an anode catalyst to the conductive member, and immersing the water-absorbing and moisture-retaining member in an electrolyte solution. In this metal fuel cell, electricity is generated by immersing the water-absorbing and moisture-retaining member in the electrolyte solution, and electricity generation can be continued by replenishing the electrolyte solution as it is consumed.

[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses an aluminum-air battery characterized by having a cell stack in which an arbitrary number of unit cells are stacked, each unit cell being formed by stacking a water-retaining body between an air electrode and an aluminum electrode and stacked approximately vertically, and a water supply means for supplying an electrolyte solution consisting of strong acidic water or strong alkaline water to the water-retaining body of each unit cell. In this aluminum-air battery, the water absorption means includes a water supply tank for storing the electrolyte solution and a capillary tube for supplying the electrolyte solution from the water supply tank to the water-retaining body. Therefore, power generation can be continued by appropriately replenishing the water supply tank with electrolyte. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-073338 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-139543 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] In the batteries of Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above, the amount of electrolyte inside can be maintained by supplying electrolyte from the outside, thereby extending the duration of power generation. However, the electrolyte needs to be replenished as needed. Furthermore, since a water supply tank or the like is required to store the electrolyte outside the battery, it is difficult to make the battery compact, and its portability is poor, which may limit its applications.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electrolyte solution with high water retention capacity and a battery with a simple structure that suppresses the loss of water in the electrolyte solution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the battery electrolyte of the present invention contains an electrolyte, at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen, and at least one selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and petrolatum. The high water retention properties of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, hydrolyzed collagen, etc. can enhance the water retention properties of the electrolyte itself. Furthermore, the vegetable oil, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, petrolatum, etc. form a protective film on the electrolyte, inhibiting water evaporation from the electrolyte and enhancing the water retention properties of the electrolyte. Furthermore, these components protect the negative electrode and other electrodes of the battery, making them suitable for use in battery electrolytes.

[0010] In one preferred embodiment of the battery electrolyte according to the present invention, the electrolyte contains at least one selected from the group consisting of squalane and hydrolyzed collagen.

[0011] The permeability of these components allows electrolytes containing these components to easily permeate the battery separator, thereby improving battery performance.

[0012] One preferred embodiment of the battery electrolyte according to the present invention contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of squalane and polyglyceryl-10 laurate.

[0013] As described above, the battery electrolyte according to the present invention contains not only electrolytes and water but also components that are insoluble in each other, such as vegetable oil. If an electrolyte in which these components are insoluble is used, the battery performance cannot be fully demonstrated. In contrast, by adding squalane or polyglyceryl-10 laurate to the electrolyte, the various components can be dissolved, resulting in an electrolyte that can fully demonstrate the battery performance.

[0014] The present invention also covers a battery using the above-mentioned battery electrolyte, and in such a battery comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode disposed opposite the negative electrode, a separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and the above-mentioned battery electrolyte disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, the negative electrode contains a metal that serves as a negative electrode active material, and the positive electrode contains a porous material containing a conductive substance.

[0015] In one preferred embodiment of the battery according to the present invention, the positive electrode comprises fibrous activated carbon and a water-repellent adsorbent sheet superposed on the separator side of the fibrous activated carbon.

[0016] In an air battery, air (oxygen) is introduced from outside the battery through the air holes, and the oxygen in the air becomes the positive electrode active material in the positive electrode. Therefore, the positive electrode is designed to be exposed to air. If an electrolyte, particularly water in the electrolyte, is present near the positive electrode, the water is likely to evaporate through the air holes. However, in this configuration, the activated carbon fiber is located on the side exposed to air, and a water-repellent, adsorbent sheet is provided between the activated carbon fiber and the separator. This prevents moisture from the electrolyte near the separator or the cathode from reaching the activated carbon fiber. This prevents water from evaporating from the electrolyte.

[0017] In addition, while conventional air batteries also use activated carbon in the positive electrode, the activated carbon is generally supported on a substrate using a binder or the like. In contrast, in the above-described configuration, the activated carbon itself is fibrous, eliminating the need for a binder or substrate. Therefore, the amount of activated carbon per unit area or unit volume of the positive electrode of the battery in the present invention is greater than that in conventional air batteries. This enhances the effect of the activated carbon, thereby increasing power generation capacity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery (cell) according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a battery in an example. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery in an example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] First, an embodiment of the electrolyte solution according to the present invention will be described. The electrolyte solution in this embodiment is liquid or gel-like, and contains a cleanser in addition to the electrolyte. Known electrolytes such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium hydroxide can be used, and multiple types may be mixed. Furthermore, the cleanser in this embodiment is a general term for so-called makeup removers such as cleansing oil, cleansing cream, cleansing gel, and cleansing foam.

[0020] The inventor of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as the "inventor") believed that in order to maintain the electrolyte in a normal state, it is important to suppress the evaporation (reduction) of water from the electrolyte by increasing the water retention capacity of the electrolyte itself, and came to the conclusion that a preferable way to achieve this would be to mix the electrolyte with a gel-like substance.The inventor then conducted various experiments and found that the use of a cleanser is preferable.It was also found that the oil contained in the cleanser is effective in protecting the negative electrode and electrodes of the battery.

[0021] It has also been found that instead of cleansing, electrolyte solutions made by adding oil to hand cream, cold cream, etc. and mixing electrolytes into them also have high moisture-retaining properties. It has also been found that vegetable oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and camellia oil, as well as petrolatum, are preferred as oils, and that animal oils are not suitable.

[0022] Next, an embodiment of a battery according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery according to the embodiment. As shown in the figure, battery B comprises a positive electrode 1, a negative electrode 2, and a separator 3. Electrodes (not shown) are connected to the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2, and power is extracted through the electrodes. Note that FIG. 1 shows one power generation unit. When a large current or voltage is required, multiple power generation units can be connected according to the purpose. In the following description, this power generation unit may be referred to as cell C.

[0023] The positive electrode 1 functions to capture and diffuse oxygen, which is the positive electrode active material, and cause a reduction reaction of the oxygen. While a conductive porous material is typically used for the positive electrode 1, the positive electrode 1 in this embodiment is configured by stacking a fibrous activated carbon 11 and a water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12. The positive electrode 1 is positioned so that the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 faces the separator 3. In this embodiment, the fibrous activated carbon 11 is obtained by activating a mesh-woven chemical fiber fabric or the like in a high-temperature kiln at a temperature of 1000°C or higher. While activated carbon is also used in typical air batteries, it is fixed to a substrate using a binder or the like, resulting in low overall activated carbon purity. However, the present invention uses the above-described fibrous activated carbon 11, enabling activated carbon with nearly 100% purity. This improves the power generation capacity of the battery.

[0024] The water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 is made by processing an adsorbent material such as activated carbon into a sheet shape using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin as a binder. As described above, the positive electrode 1 is arranged so that the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 faces the separator 3, making it difficult for water in the electrolyte solution arranged on the separator 3 side to move toward the fibrous activated carbon 11 side. This makes it possible to suppress evaporation of water from the electrolyte solution. In particular, when the two surfaces of the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 have different water-repellent properties, it is preferable to arrange the surface with the stronger water-repellent property on the separator 3 side. As the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12, for example, ADSHEED (registered trademark) from Futamura Chemical Co., Ltd. can be used.

[0025] The negative electrode 2 contains a metal as a negative electrode active material, and an oxidation reaction of this metal occurs. Various metals can be used, including aluminum, zinc, magnesium, iron, and lithium. In this embodiment, the negative electrode 2 is formed in a thin plate shape.

[0026] The separator 3 is disposed between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2, and prevents an internal short circuit between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2, while allowing ions to move between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the separator 3 also has water retention properties. As a result of various experiments, the inventors have found that oil blotting paper is suitable as such a separator 3.

[0027] Generally, oil blotting papers are made from cellulose fibers (fibrous material) just like Japanese paper, but are produced by applying pressure to the Japanese paper. This pressure loosens and disperses the cellulose fibers in the Japanese paper. In particular, oil blotting papers that are pressed with a hammer or similar device tens of thousands of times, rather than with a roller, have finer fibers that are dispersed uniformly, resulting in the formation of numerous, uniformly distributed microvoids. Therefore, such oil blotting papers have very high water retention capacity and are suitable as separators 3.

[0028] Through experiments, the inventors discovered that the water retention capacity of the separator 3 is enhanced when approximately eight sheets of oil blotting paper with a thickness of 0.1 to 0.2 μm are stacked. This is thought to be due to the fact that stacking multiple sheets of oil blotting paper increases the amount of voids (space between cellulose fibers) throughout the separator 3. While it is possible to use a single sheet of oil blotting paper with a thickness similar to that of the eight-ply separator described above, it has been found that stacking thinner sheets of oil blotting paper results in higher water retention. This is thought to be because thicker oil blotting papers are pressed less frequently than thinner sheets, resulting in insufficient fineness (smaller voids) and dispersion of the fibers. Furthermore, while approximately eight sheets of oil blotting paper are preferred, this can be adjusted to approximately 2 to 16 sheets depending on the application.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable that the oil blotting paper used as the separator 3 contains hyaluronic acid, ceramide, lipidure, etc. By containing these, the water retention ability of the separator 3 can be further improved.

[0030] When preparing the battery B, the electrolyte is impregnated into the separator 3 if it is in liquid form, or is held in place by applying a thin layer between the separator 3 and the cathode 3 if it is in gel form. Of course, the electrolyte may be held in place by other methods.

[0031] The results of an experiment conducted to verify the effectiveness of the electrolyte solution with added cleansing agent are shown below. First, to confirm the high water-retaining capacity of the cleansing agent, a drying experiment was conducted on an electrolyte solution in which a small amount of cleansing agent was added to 25cc of 15% sodium chloride solution, and an electrolyte solution containing only 25cc of 15% sodium chloride solution. Specifically, four 20mm x 10mm oil blotting papers were stacked as separators for Battery B, and the two types of electrolytes mentioned above were used as electrolytes, and the duration of power generation for each was measured. The results showed that the duration of power generation when only sodium chloride solution was used as the electrolyte was approximately 4 hours, while the duration of power generation when the electrolyte solution containing the added cleansing agent was approximately 49 hours.

[0032] Furthermore, when the two types of electrolytes mentioned above were left outdoors in the shade, the liquid in the electrolyte containing only sodium chloride had completely evaporated in about six days, whereas the electrolyte containing the sodium chloride aqueous solution to which cleansing agent had been added still had about 30% of the liquid remaining after six days, and even after 20 days it was merely gel-like and had not dried out.

[0033] In this way, the electrolyte solution to which the cleansing agent is added has increased water retention capacity, and can extend the duration of power generation.

[0034] In addition, four 20mm x 100mm oil blotting papers were stacked and the bottom edge was immersed in the two types of electrolyte solution mentioned above, and the time it took for the electrolyte to spread throughout the oil blotting paper was measured. As a result, it took about 188 seconds for the electrolyte solution containing only sodium chloride aqueous solution, while it took about 126 seconds for the electrolyte solution containing the sodium chloride aqueous solution and cleansing agent. This result shows that the electrolyte solution containing the cleansing agent has a higher permeability into the separator.

[0035] In this embodiment, the cleanser used in the electrolyte contains glycerin, vegetable oils (olive oil, meadowfoam oil), PEG-9 glyceryl laurate, glyceryl stearate, papain, tetrahexyldecanoic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, polyglyceryl-10 laurate, hydroxypropyl hyaluronate, pyrtrimonium, sodium hyaluronate, tea extract, sodium ascorbate, squalane, carrot root extract, Opuntia ficus-indica stem, beeswax, DPG (dipropylene glycol), polyglutamic acid, sodium alginate, PEG-20G triisostearate, PEG-5 glyceryl stearate, hydrolyzed yeast extract, citric acid, potassium phosphate, phosphoric acid, BG (1,3-butylene glycol), polysorbate 60, pentylene glycol, sodium phosphate, PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, and petrolatum.

[0036] Among these components, the following components in particular are considered to have favorable effects on the electrolyte solution and battery according to the present invention. Hydrolyzed collagen: Highly absorbent, increasing permeability into the separator. Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate: Uniformly disperses two insoluble liquids. Hyaluronic Acid Hydroxypropyl: Prevents excessive moisture loss. Sodium hyaluronate: Has moisture retention ability and viscosity, and assists in the extraction of ions from the negative electrode. Tea extract: Prevents oxidation of the entire battery. Sodium ascorbate: Prevents oxidation throughout the battery. Squalane: Increases water permeability to the separator. Dissolves oil-soluble compounds and plant extracts. Carrot Root Extract: Prevents excessive moisture loss. Opuntia ficus-indica stem: Effective in keeping the separator moist. Beeswax: Strong adhesiveness increases the strength of the separator. DPG: Prevents excessive evaporation of moisture. Polyglutamic acid: Highly moisturizing, keeps the separator hydrated. Sodium alginate: Adjusts the clay and keeps the separator stable. PEG-20G triisostearate: acts as an emulsifier. PEG-5 Glyceryl Stearate: Acts as an emulsifier. Hydrolyzed yeast extract: Repairs the separator and prevents water evaporation from the separator. Citric acid: Helps dissolve the negative electrode metal. Potassium phosphate: Improves the water retention capacity of the separator. Phosphoric acid: Helps dissolve the anode metal. BG: Prevents excessive evaporation of moisture and maintains a constant level of moisture. Polysorbate 60: Acts as an emulsifier. Pentylene glycol: Acts as a preservative for the entire battery. Sodium phosphate: Acts as an electrolyte supplement. PEG60-hydrogenated castor oil: acts as an emulsifier. Vaseline: Forms a film on the surface to prevent moisture from evaporating.

[0037] Through various experiments, the inventors have found that adding glycerin, olive oil, hydrolyzed collagen, sodium hyaluronate, and squalane to electrolytes produces particularly strong effects. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that adding petrolatum to these ingredients further enhances the electrolytes' moisture retention. The main effects of each ingredient are as follows:

[0038] Glycerin has high hygroscopicity and water retention properties, so it has a strong ability to absorb moisture (moisture) from the atmosphere and retain water in the electrolyte, which greatly contributes to suppressing the evaporation of water in the electrolyte. In other words, adding glycerin to the electrolyte can increase the water retention of the electrolyte.

[0039] Olive oil has also been shown to be highly effective in suppressing water evaporation from electrolytes. However, the effect of olive oil is thought to be due to the film it forms on the surface of the electrolyte, rather than the olive oil itself retaining water. Other vegetable oils, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and petrolatum have also been shown to have similar effects. In other words, adding olive oil or other vegetable oils, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, or petrolatum to electrolytes can suppress water evaporation from the electrolyte by forming a film.

[0040] It has been confirmed that hydrolyzed collagen and squalane have the effect of increasing the permeation of the electrolyte into the separator 3. The action of these components contained in the electrolyte makes it easier for the electrolyte to permeate the separator 3, even when the separator is sandwiched between the positive electrode 1 and the negative electrode 2 under some pressure. In other words, adding hydrolyzed collagen or squalane to the electrolyte makes it easier for the electrolyte to permeate the separator 3, thereby increasing the power generation capacity of Battery B. Furthermore, adding hydrolyzed collagen to the electrolyte can increase the water retention (moisture retention) of the electrolyte.

[0041] It has been confirmed that squalane and polyglyceryl-10 laurate have the effect of increasing the compatibility of the electrolyte. The electrolyte according to the present invention contains water, oil, and other components, which tend to be difficult to mix with each other. If an electrolyte in which the components are not mixed is used, the battery performance cannot be fully demonstrated. By adding squalane or polyglyceryl-10 laurate to such an electrolyte, the components can be mixed together, allowing the battery performance to be fully demonstrated.

[0042] Sodium hyaluronate can hold many water molecules within its molecule, and its high water retention properties can prevent water from evaporating from the electrolyte solution.

[0043] In this way, the electrolyte solution of the present invention can improve the performance of battery B by containing components that increase water retention and moisture absorption, components that form a protective film on the surface of the electrolyte solution, components that increase the permeability of the electrolyte solution into separator 3, and components that increase the compatibility of each component.

[0044] Therefore, the electrolyte solution according to the present invention preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen, and at least one selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and petrolatum, in order to suppress evaporation of water from the electrolyte solution and increase water retention. Furthermore, the electrolyte solution preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of squalane and hydrolyzed collagen in order to increase permeability into the separator 3. Furthermore, the electrolyte solution preferably contains at least one selected from the group consisting of squalane and polyglyceryl-10 laurate in order to increase compatibility between the components.

[0045] Furthermore, through experiments, the inventors have found that if the amount of vegetable oil exceeds a certain amount, the current flow in Battery B deteriorates. Therefore, if it is desired to enhance the effects of vegetable oil, it is preferable to add beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, petrolatum, etc., which have similar effects, rather than increasing the amount of vegetable oil.

[0046] Next, we will show an experiment on power generation performance. Table 1 shows the voltage and current when the negative electrode 2, separator 3, and electrolyte are the same, and only the configuration of the positive electrode 1 is changed. In this experiment, the fibrous activated carbon 11 was 23 x 41 mm, the water-repellent adsorption sheet 12 was 25 x 45 mm, and the negative electrode 2 was 21 x 34 mm, and aluminum was used for the negative electrode 2.

[0047] Even when only the water-repellent adsorption sheet 12 is used as the positive electrode 1, electricity can be generated due to the action of the activated carbon contained in the water-repellent adsorption sheet 12. On the other hand, when the fibrous activated carbon 11 is used as the positive electrode 1, electricity can of course be generated, but it can be seen that the current value is extremely large compared to when only the water-repellent adsorption sheet 12 is used. On the other hand, as mentioned above, when the water-repellent adsorption sheet 12 and the fibrous activated carbon 11 were used as the positive electrode 1, an even larger current was obtained. Furthermore, by stacking multiple sheets of the fibrous activated carbon 11, a larger current can be obtained. This is thought to be due to the increase in the total amount of activated carbon and the absence of substances such as binders that inhibit the flow of electrons. [Table 1]

[0048] The inventors also conducted power generation experiments by varying the amount of sodium chloride contained in the electrolyte. As a result, it was found that the performance of Battery B differed depending on the ratio of cleanser to sodium chloride. When an electrolyte containing 0.05% by weight of sodium chloride (salt) added to cleansing cream was used, it was found that power generation continued for a long time, although not very high. Even without the positive electrode 1, negative electrode 2, and separator 3 in the container, one LED bulb could be lit for over 1,200 hours, and this is still continuing. Such Battery B is suitable for devices that require long-term power consumption, such as remote controls.

[0049] Furthermore, when a 5% aqueous solution of sodium chloride (salt water) was added to the cleansing cream at a ratio of 50% by weight as the electrolyte, the power generation time was shortened but a large amount of power was obtained.Furthermore, it was found that when the proportion of the aqueous solution of sodium chloride was increased to 100% by weight, even greater power was obtained.

[0050] Through these experiments, the inventors have made the following findings: The ratio of the sodium chloride aqueous solution to the cleansing cream is preferably 0 to 500% by weight, more preferably 50 to 150% by weight. The concentration of the sodium chloride aqueous solution is preferably 3 to 50%, more preferably about 17%. Furthermore, the concentration of the cleansing cream does not have much effect on the generated voltage, but the current increases as the concentration decreases. Furthermore, the power generation time increases as the concentration increases. Based on these findings, these values ​​can be set appropriately depending on the intended use of battery B.

[0051] In this way, the electrolyte solution and battery according to the present invention can maintain the state (moisture) of the electrolyte solution for a long time due to the high water retention of the electrolyte solution itself, the high water retention of the battery separator, and the water repellency of the positive electrode (water-repellent, adsorbent sheet), enabling long-term power generation. Furthermore, because it can use materials that are readily available, it can be produced inexpensively.

[0052] 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the battery. Battery B in this embodiment includes a container 5. As shown in FIG. 2, container 5 is provided with a positive electrode 51, a negative electrode 52, and a plurality of air intakes 53. In this embodiment, the number of air intakes 53 is three, and the diameter is 4 mm, but these can be changed as appropriate depending on the required specifications of battery B.

[0053] As shown in Fig. 3, a partition wall 54 is provided inside the container 5, dividing it into two spaces 5a and 5b. Small-diameter through-holes 54a are formed in the partition wall 54. It is preferable to form more through-holes 54a at the top. Note that only one through-hole 54a at the bottom is shown in the figure.

[0054] A water-absorbing material 55 is disposed in the space 5a so as to be in substantial contact with the wall surface of the partition wall 54, particularly with the through-holes 54a. For example, a porous material such as a sponge or a water-absorbing polymer can be used as the water-absorbing material 55. The water-absorbing material 55 is impregnated with approximately 3% of an aqueous solution of cleansing cream (electrolyte). It is also preferable to cover the water-absorbing material 55 with absorbent paper, cloth, or the like (not shown).

[0055] Meanwhile, a battery cell C is provided in the space 5b. Although one cell C is provided in FIG. 3, as mentioned above, the number of cells C can be changed as needed depending on the required voltage and current. Cell C is provided with substrates 56 and 57 on the positive electrode 1 side and the negative electrode 2 side, respectively, and is connected to the positive electrode 51 and the negative electrode 52, respectively (connections not shown). Furthermore, substrate 56 is composed of a conductive region 56a that contacts the positive electrode 1 and an insulating region 56b that is located closer to partition wall 54 than the conductive region 56a. Providing insulating region 56b on substrate 56 prevents unwanted conduction when separator 3 contacts substrate 56.

[0056] 3, separator 3 of cell C extends toward partition wall 54 and contacts the opening of through-hole 54a. With this configuration, the cleansing cream aqueous solution (electrolyte) contained in water-absorbing material 55 is supplied to separator 3 through through-hole 54a by capillary action. Therefore, the electrolyte is continuously supplied to separator 3, enabling power generation for a longer period of time.

[0057] [Another embodiment] (1) In the above embodiment, the sizes of the fibrous activated carbon 11, the separator 3, and the negative electrode 2 are different, but these sizes can be changed as appropriate, such as making them all the same size, as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

[0058] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the positive electrode 1 is composed of the fibrous activated carbon 11 and the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12. However, as described above, even when only the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 is used as the positive electrode 1, the battery B can generate electricity. Therefore, only the water-repellent adsorbent sheet 12 can be used as the positive electrode 1. Also, only the fibrous activated carbon 11 can be used as the positive electrode 1. [Industrial Applicability]

[0059] The present invention can be applied to batteries, mainly air batteries, and such air batteries can be used in a variety of devices. In particular, since the battery according to the present invention can be produced using common materials, it can be used not only in normal times but also for charging portable devices during emergencies. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] B:Battery C: Cell 1: Positive electrode 11: Fibrous activated carbon 12: Water-repellent adsorption sheet 2: Negative electrode 3: Separator

Claims

1. Electrolytes, At least one selected from the group consisting of sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and hydrolyzed collagen; A battery electrolyte solution comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, beeswax, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and petrolatum.

2. 2. The battery electrolyte according to claim 1, which contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of squalane and hydrolyzed collagen.

3. 3. The battery electrolyte according to claim 1, which contains at least one member selected from the group consisting of squalane and polyglyceryl-10 laurate.

4. a negative electrode; a positive electrode disposed opposite the negative electrode; a separator disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode; A battery comprising the battery electrolyte according to claim 1 disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, The negative electrode contains a metal that serves as a negative electrode active material, The battery has a positive electrode made of a porous material containing a conductive substance.

5. 5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the positive electrode comprises a fibrous activated carbon and a water-repellent adsorbent sheet superposed on the separator side of the fibrous activated carbon.

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