Cellulosic separator applications: new and improved separators for alkaline rechargeable cells

摘要

A study has been established at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (NAVSURFWARCENDIV) and Rutgers University to obtain material analysis data on cellulosic separator properties such as tensile strength and swelling of alkaline-soaked film samples, degree of polymerization and crystallinity, cationic and anionic diffusion and penetration rates in alkaline media, and X-ray diffraction for crystallinity. These data are then related to cycle- and wet-life information from model electrochemical cells as a function of separator composition on an alkaline chemistry rechargeable cell set. The first examples used in this program are silver-zinc rechargeable cells of 28 Ah capacity, identical in every respect except for the separator composition, which are being tested in statistically significant numbers under identical temperature and relative humidity conditions, with 45% KOH as the eletrolyte.