Cadmium-silver oxide cells

Cadmium-Silver Oxide Secondary Cells The scheme of the cell is ... 

FIGURE 33.1 Cutaway view of typical prismatic zinc/silver oxide or cadmium/silver oxide secondary cell. 

Dry cells (batteries) and fuel cells are the main chemical electricity sources. Diy cells consist of two electrodes, made of different metals, placed into a solid electrolyte. The latter facilitates an oxidation process and a flow of electrons between electrodes, directly converting chemical energy into electricity. Various metal combinations in electrodes determine different characteristics of the dry cells. For example, nickel-cadmium cells have low output but can work for several years. On the other hand, silver-zinc cells are more powerful but with a much shorter life span. Therefore, the use of a particular type of dry cell is determined by the spacecraft mission profile. Usually these are the short missions with low electricity consumption. Diy cells are simple and reliable, since they lack moving parts. Their major drawbacks are... 

Subcategory A encompasses the manufacture of all batteries in which cadmium is the reactive anode material. Cadmium anode batteries currently manufactured are based on nickel-cadmium, silver-cadmium, and mercury-cadmium couples (Table 32.1). The manufacture of cadmium anode batteries uses various raw materials, which comprises cadmium or cadmium salts (mainly nitrates and oxides) to produce cell cathodes nickel powder and either nickel or nickel-plated steel screen to make the electrode support structures nylon and polypropylene, for use in manufacturing the cell separators and either sodium or potassium hydroxide, for use as process chemicals and as the cell electrolyte. Cobalt salts may be added to some electrodes. Batteries of this subcategory are predominantly rechargeable and find application in calculators, cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronic devices, in addition to a variety of industrial applications.1-4 A typical example is the nickel-cadmium battery described below. 

The cell design is similar to that of the hydrogen-nickel system. There are problems with silver oxide solubility in the alkaline electrolyte, but charge retention is comparable with that of nickel-cadmium. 

It must be emphasized that the most appropriate charging regime is very dependent on the cell system under consideration. Some are tolerant to a considerable amount of overcharging (e.g. nickel-cadmium batteries), while for others, such as zinc-silver oxide and most lithium secondary cells, overcharging can result in permanent damage to the cell. Sealed battery systems require special care float charging should not be used and trickle charge rates should be strictly limited to the manufacturer s recommended values, since otherwise excessive cell temperatures or thermal runaway can result. 

The separator system and the solubility of the active materials play critical roles in determining the wet and cycle lives of the silver-based cells. The separator must have a low electrolytic resistance for discharges at high rates, yet it must have high resistance to chemical oxidation hy the silver species as well as low permeability to colloidal silver, zinc, cadmium, or iron. 

The weight and size of a silver-zinc battery or cell is less than half that of a lead-aeid or niekel-cadmium type of similar capaeity. The silver oxide-alkaline zinc (AgjO KOH Zn) primary battery is a major contribution to miniature power sourees, and is well suited for hearing-aids, instruments, photoelecti ic exposure devices, eleetronie watehes and as referenee voltage sources. 

The positive plates are siatered silver on a silver grid and the negative plates are fabricated from a mixture of cadmium oxide powder, silver powder, and a binder pressed onto a silver grid. The main separator is four or five layers of cellophane with one or two layers of woven nylon on the positive plate. The electrolyte is aqeous KOH, 50 wt %. In the aerospace appHcations, the plastic cases were encapsulated in epoxy resins. Most usehil cell sizes have ranged from 3 to 15 A-h, but small (0.1 A-h) and large (300 A-h) sizes have been evaluated. Energy densities of sealed batteries are 26-31 W-h/kg. 

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