The Effect of High Pressure on the Voltage and Current Output of Silver Oxide-Zinc and Mercury Oxide-Zinc Miniature Batteries

摘要

The open circuit voltage (emf) and the voltage under load of alkaline silver-oxide-zinc and mercuric oxide-zinc miniature batteries have been measured at pressures up to 20 kbars. The emf of these batteries varies with pressure in the manner expected based on the thermodynamics of the cell reactions. Pressure affects the voltage of the discharging silver oxide batteries only through its effect on the emf. The voltage of the discharging mercuric oxide battery is lowered with increasing pressure by approximately 5 mV/kbar. This decrease in voltage is due both to an increase in the over-voltage at the HgO electrode and also to the ohmic resistance. These pressure effects are discussed in terms of the postulated diffusion of hydroxyl ions through water channels in the reduced oxide and the influence of these channels on the number of oxide sites at which reduction may occur. (Author)