Low‐Zinc‐Solubility Electrolytes for Use in Zinc/Nickel Oxide Cells

Novel electrolytes, prepared by substituting and for a portion of the traditionally used in cells, were investigated in order to determine their effect on the rate of Zn active material redistribution (shape change) and cell cycle‐life performance. The solubilities of Zn species in these electrolytes are 20–25% of the Zn solubility in strongly alkaline [∼30 weight percent (w/o)] electrolytes. The rate of Zn electrode shape change was significantly less than that in cells with , , or electrolytes. Vented cells constructed with electrolytes showed capacity‐loss rates as low as 0.07%/cycle, which may be compared to values of 0.4–0.5%/cycle in cells with ∼30 w/o electrolyte. A sealed cell constructed with the novel electrolyte showed a capacity‐loss rate of 0.09%/cycle, and exhibited no dendritic shorts after 575 cycles at 100% depth of discharge.