Zinc Alloy Negative Electrode Structure for Short-Circuit Heat Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alkaline dry batteries face challenges in suppressing temperature increases during external short circuits due to high current flow, posing safety risks.
Innovation Solution
The battery incorporates a negative electrode composed of a zinc alloy powder containing first, second, and third zinc alloy particles with specific hole and void configurations, and a predetermined ratio of these particles to manage the reaction dynamics during short circuits, thereby controlling temperature rise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high capacity zinc particles are used to enable large current flow, then battery capacity increases, but temperature increase during external short circuit worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The zinc alloy particles are segmented into three distinct types with different internal structures (first type with specific holes, second type with specific closed voids, third type without either). This segmentation allows each particle type to contribute differently to the electrochemical reaction, balancing capacity and heat generation during external short circuit conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions within the particle population have different qualities - particles with specific holes provide different reaction characteristics compared to particles with closed voids or no internal structures. This local quality differentiation enables optimized performance across different operating conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration effectively suppresses temperature increases during external short circuits by balancing initial current flow and subsequent reaction dynamics, enhancing safety.
Implementation Method 1
The negative electrode contains a zinc alloy powder... in the event of an external short circuit, it is possible to suppress a temperature increase
Data Source
AI summary
An alkaline dry battery including a negative electrode containing a zinc alloy powder. The zinc alloy powder contains first, second, and third zinc alloy particles. The first zinc alloy particles include a specific hole, the second zinc alloy particles do not include the hole but include a specific closed void, and the third zinc alloy particles do not include the hole and the void. The hole has a ratio D/W between a straight-line distance D from an opening to a bottom surface and a width W of the opening is 1.0 or more, and the straight-line distance D is 2 μm or more. The void has a minor axis length of 2 μm or more. A ratio Na/Nb between the number Na of the first zinc alloy particles and the number Nb of the second zinc alloy particles in the zinc alloy powder is 10/90 to 90/10.