JPH11238516A - Active material support for battery using foamed metal porous body and its manufacture, non-sintered electrode for alkaline storage battery using this active material support and its manufacture, and alkaline storage battery using the non-sintered electrode - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an alkaline storage battery with high capacity, good high rate discharge characteristics by preparing an electrode which generates no chipping or breakages even in spiral winding so as to have a margin in the elongating direction of a belt-shaped metal plate and preventing the coming off of the belt-shaped metal plate from a metal porous body. SOLUTION: An active material support alternately has a melt bonded part 12a to a foamed metal porous body 11 and a non-melt bonded part 12b in a belt-shaped metal plate 12, and the length of the non-melt bonded part 12b is made longer than a distance D between the melt bonded parts 12a. By alternately forming the melt bonded parts 12a and the non-melt bonded parts 12b, the sufficient melt bonding strength can be obtained by adjusting the distance between the melt-bonded parts 12a. When the length of the non-bonded part 12b is made longer than the distance D between the melt bonded parts 12a, the belt-shaped metal plate 12 produces a margin in the extending direction, and the generation of breakages in the belt-shaped metal plate 12 can be prevented even if it is wound spirally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to alkaline storage batteries such as nickel-hydrogen storage batteries, nickel-cadmium storage batteries and nickel-zinc storage batteries, and more particularly to non-sintered electrodes used in these alkaline storage batteries and non-sintered electrodes. The present invention relates to an active material holder used for an electrode.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, electrodes used for alkaline storage batteries such as nickel-cadmium storage batteries, nickel-hydrogen storage batteries, nickel-zinc storage batteries, etc. are formed by sintering nickel powder on a core body such as punching metal. There is known a so-called sintered electrode in which a substrate is impregnated with a solution of a nickel salt, a cadmium salt or the like, and is converted into an active material by an alkali treatment. When the sintered substrate is made to have a high porosity, the mechanical strength of the sintered electrode becomes weak. Therefore, the porosity of the sintered electrode is limited to about 80% in practice. Since a core is required, there is a problem in realizing an electrode having a low energy density and a high energy density. Also, since the pores of the sintered substrate are 10 μm or less, the active material filling step is complicated because the method is limited to the solution impregnation method or the electrodeposition impregnation method that requires repeating the active material filling step many times. In addition, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.

On the other hand, in order to improve these drawbacks, a so-called active material slurry is directly filled in a metal porous body having a three-dimensional network structure such as a sintered metal fiber or a foamed nickel (nickel sponge). Non-sintered electrodes have become mainstream. Such a porous metal body having a three-dimensional network structure has a high porosity of about 95%,
The active material can be filled at a high density. As a result, a high-capacity battery can be obtained, and this type of non-sintered electrode fills the porous material with the active material as it is, eliminating the need for cumbersome treatment of the active material and facilitating production. There is an advantage of becoming.

In this type of non-sintered electrode, since a porous metal body having a three-dimensional network structure does not have a core, the porous metal body is formed by filling an active material. Various proposals have been made for the conductive connection between the electrode and the battery terminal. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-218067, when manufacturing an electrode using a felt-like sintered body of metal fibers (metal fiber sintered body) as an electrode support,
A metal fiber felt and a conductive body composed of a net, a punched metal, a wire, a flat plate, etc. are integrally formed by sintering to improve the mechanical strength of the metal fiber felt, It has been proposed to improve current collection.

However, since the metal fiber sintered body is formed in a long shape by bundling thin metal fibers (for example, a wire having a diameter of 10 μm) in the length direction of the electrode, the active material is added to the metal fiber sintered body. After coating, the positive and negative electrodes are spirally wound through the separator, and the end of the sintered metal fiber breaks through the separator, and the positive and negative electrodes are electrically connected, and an internal short circuit occurs. A problem that occurs.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
In the electrode 80 having the electrode support 1 as the electrode support, after the active material is applied to the foamed nickel 81, the positive electrode
Even when the negative electrode is spirally wound, the nickel foam 81 has almost no end in the nickel skeleton that constitutes it. It is unlikely to occur. However, in order to collect current from the electrode 80, a part of the active material of the electrode 80 is peeled to form a peeling part 82 exposing the nickel foam 81, and the tongue-shaped current collecting tab is formed on the peeling part 82. 8
3 is welded. For this reason, since the current collecting property of the tongue-shaped current collecting tab 83 is not good, there is a problem that a large current discharge causes a voltage drop in the current collecting tab 83.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-139251, the upper end of an electrode using foamed nickel as an electrode support is compressed in the width direction to form a dense layer. There has been proposed a so-called tabless type battery in which a disc-shaped lead piece arranged vertically is welded. In the electrode proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-139251, the current collecting property is improved because the end of the electrode and the disc-shaped lead piece are welded.

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-139251 describes
In the electrode proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-260, the dense layer formed by compressing the end of the electrode in the width direction is inferior in flexibility. A part of the layer was broken to generate burrs, and the burrs penetrated the separator to cause an internal short circuit. Also, if a flexible part and a non-flexible part are mixed in the whole electrode, it is difficult to wind the positive and negative electrodes with a uniform pressure. A problem that would not be.

Further, Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-61230 proposes a battery in which a band-shaped metal plate is welded to the upper end of an electrode using foamed nickel as an electrode support. In the electrode proposed in JP-B-61-61230, a strip-shaped metal plate is welded to the upper end of the electrode, so that the electrode end can be welded to the current collector. As a result, current collecting performance is improved.

[0010]

When an electrode is manufactured using this kind of metal porous body, a long metal porous body is wound into a roll, and the metal porous body wound into this roll is used. It is more excellent in mass productivity to continuously supply the body to an active material filling device, a rolling device, a cutting device, and the like. In this case, if a certain amount of tension is not applied in the longitudinal direction of the porous metal body, the long porous metal body will meander, so that a certain amount of tension is applied to the long porous metal body in the longitudinal direction. Used for

However, when a strip-shaped metal plate is welded in the longitudinal direction of the electrode as proposed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-61230, the welded portion has greater rigidity than the non-welded portion, and the elongation is increased. Since it becomes smaller, distortion occurs in the width direction of the porous metal body, and the entire body is wavy. Further, when rolling the porous metal body, a larger elongation acts on the porous metal body, so that a larger waving occurs. Therefore, the packing density of the active material becomes uneven,
Inconveniences such as a decrease in precision at the time of cutting to obtain a predetermined electrode plate shape occurred.

On the other hand, if a strip-shaped metal plate is welded in the width direction of a long porous metal body, no wavy occurs because the widthwise distortion does not occur in the porous metal body. Since the elongation characteristic of the portion is discontinuous, the force against bending is weak, and if the continuous process is not straight, a problem such as breaking at the boundary of the welded portion occurs.
Also, when a large elongation force such as rolling is applied,
Since the elongation characteristics are discontinuous, there is also a problem that the fracture occurs at the boundary between the welded portions.

[0013] Further, in the case where the thus formed active material holding body is filled with the active material slurry and an electrode serving as a counter electrode is spirally wound through a separator to form an electrode body,
Since the strip-shaped metal plate welded to the porous metal body has a small elongation, the welded portion is likely to be detached or broken, and it is difficult to manufacture a battery having stable characteristics. In addition, since the elongation in the short side direction is non-uniform, misalignment is likely to occur at the time of winding, and the rate of occurrence of short circuits between adjacent counter electrodes increases, resulting in a problem that productivity is poor.

Therefore, in Japanese Patent No. 2679055, a high-density portion is provided at a constant interval in the length direction of a strip-shaped metal fiber sintered body, and a nickel-plated corrugated steel plate is welded to the high-density portion to elongate. Have been proposed. However, this patent no.
In the electrode proposed in the publication, a metal plate processed in a corrugated shape, that is, a corrugated shape, is used, so that a welding area with a metal fiber sintered substrate is reduced. For this reason, the welding strength between the metal fiber sintered body and the corrugated steel sheet is insufficient, and there is no problem in the strength until the electrode is manufactured. I had a problem of getting out of my body.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an allowance in the elongation direction of a strip-shaped metal plate and a sufficient welding strength. As a result, an electrode that does not break even when it is wound in a spiral shape and does not cause the strip-shaped metal plate to come off from the porous metal body is obtained, and an alkaline storage battery with high capacity and excellent high-rate discharge characteristics is obtained. Is to do so.

For this reason, the active material holder of the present invention is provided with alternately welded portions of the porous metal body and non-welded portions on the strip-shaped metal plate, and sets the length of the non-welded portions to the length between the welded portions. It is longer than it is. If the band-shaped metal plate is provided with the welded portion of the foamed metal porous body and the non-welded portion alternately, the length of the welded portion can be freely adjusted, so that
It is possible to have sufficient welding strength. As a result, it is possible to prevent the strip-shaped metal plate from being broken even if it is spirally wound. Further, if the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions, the strip-shaped metal plate has a margin in the elongation direction. Does not come off the porous metal body.

Then, in order to continuously manufacture this kind of electrode, a long porous metal foam body wound in a roll shape is used. When making the length of the welding part longer than the length between the welding parts,
When the length of the non-welded portion is L and the length between the welded portions is D, if the length (L) of the non-welded portion is too short with respect to the length (D) between the welded portions, the elongation will occur. Leeway. Conversely, if the length (L) of the non-welded portion is too long with respect to the length (D) between the welded portions, the strip-shaped metal plate becomes slack, and the slack becomes convex. For this reason, in the active material filling step and the stretching step, the convex portions hinder, the active material is non-uniformly filled, and the production efficiency is reduced.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when a strip-shaped metal plate is provided in the long direction of the long porous metal foam,
It is preferable to define the relationship such that 1.030 <(L / D) <1.100. Further, when a strip-shaped metal plate is provided in the width direction of the long porous metal foam, 1.005
It is preferable to define the relationship such that <(L / D) <1.020.

Further, the method for manufacturing an active material holding member of the present invention is characterized in that the band-shaped metal plate is formed into the foamed metal body so that the welded portion of the foamed metal body and the non-welded portion are alternately formed on the band-shaped metal plate. The band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body are formed such that a space is formed between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body so that the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions while being welded. And welding.

As described above, when the band-shaped metal plate is welded to the foamed metal body so that the welded portion of the foamed metal body and the non-welded portion are alternately formed on the band-shaped metal plate, the length of the welded portion can be freely set. This makes it possible to provide a sufficient welding strength, and to prevent the strip-shaped metal plate from being broken even if it is spirally wound. Further, the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body are formed such that a space is formed between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body so that the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions. When welding, the strip-shaped metal plate has a margin in the elongation direction, so even if this active material holding body is spirally wound,
The strip-shaped metal plate does not come off from the porous metal body.

When an active material slurry is filled in an active material holder having such a band-shaped metal plate to form a non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery, the band-shaped metal plate has a sufficient welding strength. Therefore, even if this electrode is spirally wound, the strip-shaped metal plate does not break and the strip-shaped metal plate does not come off from the porous metal body, so that the current collecting resistance is reduced and the current collecting property is improved. Therefore, an alkaline storage battery having high capacity and excellent high-rate discharge characteristics can be obtained.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the following, an active material holder for a battery according to the present invention and a non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery using the active material holder are applied to a nickel electrode used in a nickel-hydrogen storage battery. An embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a top view showing an active material holder formed by welding a band-shaped metal plate to a long porous metal body made of foamed nickel, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the band-shaped metal plate is welded to the porous metal body. FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the active material slurry is filled in the active material holding body and then cut into a predetermined electrode plate shape, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the electrode of FIG. FIG. 5 is a cutaway perspective view showing a state in which the wound electrode body is housed in a metal outer can, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positive electrode current collector plate.

1. Preparation of Active Material Holder a. Preparation of Active Material Holder with Strip-shaped Metal Plate in Elongate Direction A long porous metal foam, for example, having a basis weight of about 600 g /
As shown in FIG. 1 (a), a nickel foam (nickel sponge) 11 having a porosity of 95% and a thickness of about 2 mm in m ² is provided with three strip-shaped metal plates, Is a strip-shaped nickel plate 1 having a thickness of 3 mm and a thickness of 0.15 mm.
2, 12, 12 are welded to form the active material holding member 10a. Here, the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is added to the nickel foam 11.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, a welding electrode (not shown) is pressed against the welding portion 12a of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 so that the welding portion 12a and the non-welding portion 12b are alternately formed as shown in FIG. Welding.

At the time of resistance welding, as shown in FIG. 2A, the pressing force of the welding electrode is reduced to perform resistance welding so that the nickel foam 11 of the welding portion 12a is not compressed. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing force of the welding electrode is slightly increased to perform resistance welding so that the nickel foam 11 of the welding portion 12a is compressed to some extent, or as shown in FIG. And the resistance is welded by compressing so that the thickness of the nickel foam 11 of the welded portion 12a becomes about half.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2D, first,
A cylindrical metal rod 13 is inserted between the nickel strip 12 and the nickel strip 12 forming the non-welded portion 12 b to form a space between the nickel strip 12 and the nickel foam 11. Thereafter, the welding electrode is pressed against the welded portion 12a of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 and welded by resistance welding, whereby the welded portion 12a and the non-welded portion 12b are alternately formed.

Here, when the length between the welded portions 12a (between A and B in FIG. 2A) is D mm and the length of the non-welded portion 12b is L mm, L / D is as shown in Table 1 below. The active material holders 10a to 10n were manufactured in such a manner as to have the relationship shown in FIG. The length of the welded portion 12a is preferably 2 mm or more in consideration of the welding strength. After the active material slurry 14 is filled in a later-described active material filling step, the active material holding member 10a is provided with a nickel foam between the central portion of each strip-shaped nickel plate 12 and each of the strip-shaped nickel plates 12, 12. 11 is cut along a cutting line XX to form a strip-shaped electrode plate, and then cut in a predetermined width direction.
A nickel positive electrode 10 as shown in FIG. 3 is manufactured.

[0027]

[Table 1]

B. Preparation of Active Material Holder with Band-shaped Metal Plate in Width Direction A long porous metal foam body, for example, having a basis weight of about 600 g /
The porosity was 95% m ^2, and the nickel foam was about 2mm thick (the nickel sponge) 11, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), a number of strip-shaped metal plate in the width direction, for example, the width 1 .. And a 0.15 mm-thick strip-shaped nickel plate 12, 12, 12,...
To form Here, when the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is welded to the nickel foam 11, as shown in FIG.
The welding electrode (not shown) is welded to the welding portion 12a of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 so that the welding electrode 2a and the non-welding portion 12b are formed alternately.
And welded by resistance welding.

At the time of resistance welding, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the pressing force of the welding electrode is reduced to perform resistance welding so that the nickel foam 11 of the welded portion 12a is not compressed. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressing force of the welding electrode is slightly increased to perform resistance welding so that the nickel foam 11 of the welding portion 12a is compressed to some extent, or as shown in FIG. And the resistance is welded by compressing so that the thickness of the nickel foam 11 of the welded portion 12a becomes about half.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2D, first,
A column-shaped metal rod is inserted between the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 forming the non-welded portion 12b and the nickel foam 11 to form a space between the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 and the nickel foam 11. Thereafter, the welding electrode is pressed against the welded portion 12a of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 and welded by resistance welding, whereby the welded portion 12a and the non-welded portion 12b are alternately formed.

Here, when the length between the welded portions 12a (between A and B in FIG. 2A) is D mm and the length of the non-welded portion 12b is L mm, L / D is as shown in Table 2 below. Thus, ow active material holders 10b were prepared in such a manner as to have the relationship shown in FIG. The length of the welded portion 12a is preferably 2 mm or more in consideration of the welding strength. In the active material holding member 10b, after an active material slurry is filled in an active material filling step described later, the end of each strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is cut along a cutting line YY to form a strip-shaped electrode plate. Then, it is cut in a predetermined width direction to produce a nickel positive electrode 10 as shown in FIG.

[0032]

[Table 2]

2. Preparation of Nickel Positive Electrode Mixture of 90 parts by weight of nickel hydroxide powder containing 2.5% by weight of zinc and 1% by weight of cobalt, 10 parts by weight of cobalt hydroxide powder, and 3 parts by weight of zinc oxide powder as coprecipitating components 0.2% by weight of hydroxypropylcellulose in powder
An active material slurry is prepared by adding and kneading 50 parts by weight of an aqueous solution.

The thus prepared active material slurry 1
4 is continuously filled in the active material holder 10a or 10b produced as described above. Note that the active material slurry 14 is filled so that the active material filling density after rolling becomes about 2.9 g / cc-void. Then, after drying each active material holding member 10a or 10b continuously filled with the active material slurry 14, rolling it to a thickness of about 0.70 mm, the cutting line X in the active material holding member 10a is cut.
-X, and cut along the cutting line Y in the active material holding member 10b.
After cutting at −Y, a predetermined dimension (for example, H (height) = 3)
4.5 mm, W (width) = 213 mm)
The nickel positive electrode plates 10 of A to W shown in FIG.

Here, in the active material holding member 10a,
The one using the active material holding member a is referred to as a nickel positive plate A,
A nickel positive plate B using the active material holder b was used,
The one using the active material holder c was referred to as a nickel positive plate C,
The one using the active material holder d is referred to as a nickel positive plate D,
The one using the active material holder e is referred to as a nickel positive plate E,
A nickel positive plate F using the active material holder f was used.
A nickel positive plate G using the active material holder g was used,
The one using the active material holder h is referred to as a nickel positive plate H,
The one using the active material holder i is referred to as a nickel positive plate I,
The one using the active material holder j is referred to as a nickel positive plate J,
The one using the active material holder k is referred to as a nickel positive plate K,
A nickel positive electrode plate L using the active material holder 1 was used,
A nickel positive electrode plate M using the active material holder m was used,
One using the active material holder n is referred to as a nickel positive electrode plate N.

In the active material holding member 10b, a nickel positive electrode plate O using the active material holding member o, a nickel positive electrode plate P using the active material holding member p, and an active material holding member q Is used as a nickel positive electrode plate Q, an active material holder r is used as a nickel positive electrode plate R, an active material holder s is used as a nickel positive electrode plate S, and an active material holder t is used. The nickel positive plate T using the active material holder u, the nickel positive plate U using the active material holder u, the nickel positive plate V using the active material holder v, and the active material holder w Is a nickel positive electrode plate W.

2. Preparation of Negative Electrode Misch metal (Mm: mixture of rare earth elements), nickel, cobalt, aluminum, and manganese were mixed in a ratio of 1:
The mixture is mixed at a ratio of 3.4: 0.8: 0.2: 0.6, and this mixture is induction-heated in a high-frequency induction furnace in an argon gas atmosphere to form a molten alloy. The molten alloy is poured into a mold by a known method, cooled, and then subjected to a composition formula of Mm _1.0 Ni _3.4 Co _0.8
A hydrogen storage alloy ingot represented by Al _0.2 Mn _0.6 is produced.

After mechanically coarsely pulverizing the hydrogen storage alloy ingot, an average particle size of about 10 was obtained in an inert gas atmosphere.
Mechanically pulverize to 0 μm. A binder such as polyethylene oxide and an appropriate amount of water are added to the hydrogen storage alloy powder thus prepared, and mixed to prepare a hydrogen storage alloy slurry. This slurry is applied to both sides of an active material holder made of punched metal so that the active material density after rolling becomes a predetermined amount (for example, 5 g / cc), dried and rolled, and then has a predetermined size. (For example, width 33.5m
m and a length of 275 mm) to produce a hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode plate 20.

3. Production of Nickel-Hydrogen Battery Next, an example of producing a nickel-hydrogen battery using each of the nickel positive electrode plates produced as described above and the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode plate produced as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be explained.

Each nickel positive electrode plate 1 produced as described above
0 and the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode plate 20 produced as described above are spirally wound through a separator (thickness of about 0.2 mm) 30 made of a nonwoven fabric made of polypropylene. At this time, the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 welded to each nickel positive electrode plate 10 is arranged so as to be outside the spiral, and the spiral is wound so that the outermost periphery of the spiral becomes the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode plate 20.

When the active material holding member 11 having a three-dimensional network structure is spirally wound, a force in the direction of contraction acts on the inside of the spiral of the active material holding member 11, and the force acts on the outside. Acts in the direction of extension. Therefore, if the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is arranged on the inner peripheral side of the spiral electrode body and the active material holder 11 is arranged on the outer peripheral side, the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is slackened, and the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is loosened. There is a possibility that the welded portion 12a between the nickel plate 12 and the active material holding member 11 may be detached, or a short circuit may occur due to contact with the hydrogen storage alloy negative electrode plate 20 (the other electrode). On the other hand, when the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the spiral electrode body and the active material holder 11 is arranged on the inner peripheral side, the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is compared with the active material holder 11. Since it is difficult to elongate, the welded portion 12a between the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 and the active material holding member 11 comes off, or the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is broken. However, as in the present invention, the welded portions 12a and the non-welded portions 12b are alternately arranged,
If the shape of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is made uneven, there is a margin for elongation structurally, so that breakage of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 can be prevented.

On the other hand, the positive electrode current collector plate 40 is made of nickel metal. As shown in FIG. 4, the positive electrode current collector plate 40 has a substantially disc-shaped current collector 41 and a lead-out section 42 and has a substantially disc-shaped shape. Current collector 4
1 has a large number of openings 43 and a slit 44 extending on the center line of the current collecting portion 41, that is, a partition 44 for partitioning and arranging a pair of welding electrodes at the time of welding. An electrolyte injection hole 45 is provided at the center of the substantially disk-shaped current collector 41. Further, the negative electrode current collector plate 50 is formed by forming nickel metal into a disk shape.

Then, the end 21 of the negative electrode plate 20 of the spirally wound electrode body and the negative electrode current collector 50 formed as described above are resistance-welded to the end of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 of the nickel positive electrode plate 10. The current collecting part 41 of the positive electrode current collecting plate 40 is resistance-welded. In this resistance welding, first, the current collector 41
A pair of welding electrodes (not shown) are arranged so as to face each other via a slit 44 provided in the, and a welding current is applied between the pair of welding electrodes to perform resistance welding.

Next, an SC-sized cylindrical metal outer can 60 having a bottom is prepared, and the spirally wound electrode body to which the current collector plates 40 and 50 are welded as described above is inserted into the metal outer can 60. One of the welding electrodes is inserted from the electrolyte injection hole 45 of the electric plate 40 so as to be in contact with the negative electrode current collector plate 50 and the metal outer can 6.
0, the other welding electrode is in contact with the bottom of
And the bottom of the metal outer can 60 is spot-welded.

On the other hand, a sealing body 70 comprising a positive electrode cap 71 and a lid 72 is prepared, and a lead-out section 42 of the positive electrode current collector 40 is provided.
Is brought into contact with the bottom of the lid 72, and the bottom of the lid 72 and the lead-out portion 42 are welded and connected. Thereafter, the metal outer can 60
5.3 g of an electrolyte solution (8N aqueous potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution containing lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH)) was injected into each of them.
0 to the opening 6 of the outer can 60 via the sealing gasket 62.
1, and the opening 61 is swaged toward the sealing body 70 to seal the opening. As a result, the nominal capacity is 3000m
A cylindrical nickel-hydrogen storage battery of AH is manufactured.

4. Observations and test results a. Observation Results of Rolled Nickel Positive Electrode For each of the rolled nickel positive plates 10 of A to W prepared as described above, the stripped nickel plate 12 was observed for detachment, breakage, waving, and the like. The results are as shown in Table 4. Table 3 shows a case where the active material holding member 10a in which the strip-shaped metal plate 12 is welded in the long direction of the long nickel foam 11 is used, and Table 4 shows the width of the long nickel foam 11 in the width direction. The case where the active material holding member 10b to which the band-shaped metal plate 12 is welded is used is shown.

B. Short-circuit test Using the nickel positive electrode plate 10 in which the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 was not detached or broken according to the above-described observation results,
When the spiral electrode body was configured as described above and a test was performed to determine whether or not a short circuit occurred in the spiral electrode body, the results shown in Tables 3 and 4 below were obtained. The short-circuit test was performed using 20 spiral electrode bodies.

[0048]

[Table 3]

[0049]

[Table 4]

As is clear from Tables 3 and 4,
If the length (L) of the non-welded portion relative to the length (D) between the welded portions of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12, that is, L / D, like the nickel positive plates A, B, C or Q, R, It can be seen that the strip-shaped nickel plate 12 is easily detached from the nickel foam 11. Also, nickel positive plates J, K, L,
M, N or V, W, the length (L) of the non-welded portion relative to the length (D) between the welded portions of the strip-shaped nickel plate 12,
That is, when the L / D is large, a short circuit is likely to occur when the spiral electrode body is used, and the strip-shaped nickel plate 1
It can be seen that 2 is more easily lifted than the nickel foam 11.

From this, when an active material holder in which a strip-shaped metal plate is welded in the long direction of a long nickel foam is used, nickel positive plates D, E, F, G, and H are used. L
/ D is preferably 1.030 or more and 1.100 or less. When an active material holder in which a strip-shaped metal plate is welded in the width direction of a long nickel foam is used, the L / D is 1. as in nickel positive plates Q, R, S, T, and U. 0
It is preferable to be not less than 05 and not more than 1.020.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an active material holder formed by welding a strip-shaped metal plate to a long porous metal body made of foamed nickel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which a strip-shaped metal plate is welded to a porous metal body.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which an active material slurry is filled in the active material holding body and then cut into a predetermined electrode plate shape.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway perspective view showing a state in which an electrode body formed by spirally winding the electrode of FIG. 3 is housed in a metal outer can.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a positive electrode current collector plate.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a state in which a current collecting tab is welded to a part of an active material-unfilled portion of a conventional active material holder.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: nickel positive electrode, 10a, 10b: active material holder,
11: nickel foam (porous metal foam having a three-dimensional network structure), 12: strip nickel plate, 12a: welded portion, 12b: non-welded portion, 20: negative electrode, 30: separator, 40: disk shape Positive electrode current collector, 41: current collector, 42: lead-out part, 50: disk-shaped negative electrode current collector, 60: cylindrical metal outer can, 61: opening, 70: sealing body, 71: positive electrode cap, 72 ... lid

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] January 27, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 13

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 14

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Tagawa 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Goto 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (54) [Title of the Invention] Active material holder for battery using porous metal foam, method for producing the same, non-sintering for alkaline storage battery using this active material holder Electrode and method for producing the same, alkaline storage battery using the non-sintered electrode and method for producing the same

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. An active material holder for a battery comprising a band-shaped metal plate at a long side end portion of a porous metal foam having a three-dimensional network structure, wherein the band-shaped metal plate is formed of a porous metal foam. An active material holder for a battery, comprising: a welded portion to a body and a non-welded portion alternately provided; and a length of the non-welded portion of the strip-shaped metal plate is longer than a length between the welded portions. 2. In the case where the strip-shaped metal plate is provided in the longitudinal direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. , 1.03
2. The active material holder for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the lengths L and D are defined so as to have a relationship of 0 <(L / D) <1.100. 3. When the band-shaped metal plate is provided in the width direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. 1.005
2. The active material holder for a battery according to claim 1, wherein the lengths L and D are defined so as to have a relationship of <(L / D) <1.020. 3. 4. A method for manufacturing an active material holder for a battery, wherein a band-shaped metal plate is formed by welding a long-side end portion of a porous metal foam having a three-dimensional network structure. The band-shaped metal plate is welded to the foamed metal porous body so that a welded portion of the foamed metal porous body and a non-welded portion are alternately formed on the plate, and the length of the non-welded portion is between the welded portions. The space between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body is formed so as to be longer than the length, and the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body are welded to each other. A method for producing an active material holder for a battery. 5. The band-shaped metal plate by inserting a cylindrical body having a predetermined diameter between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body and welding the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body. The method according to claim 4, wherein a space is formed between the porous metal foam and the porous metal foam. 6. When welding the strip-shaped metal plate in the longitudinal direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. 1.0
6. The active material for a battery according to claim 5, wherein the space is formed by adjusting the diameter of the column so that 30 <(L / D) <1.100 is satisfied. A method for manufacturing a holder. 7. When welding the strip-shaped metal plate in the width direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. If 1.00
6. The active material for a battery according to claim 5, wherein the space is formed by adjusting a diameter of the cylindrical body so that a relationship of 5 <(L / D) <1.020 is satisfied. A method for manufacturing a holder. 8. A non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery comprising an active material slurry on an active material holder having a band-shaped metal plate at a long side end of a porous metal foam having a three-dimensional network structure. The band-shaped metal plate is provided with a welded portion and a non-welded portion alternately with the foamed metal porous body, and the length of the non-welded portion is set to be longer than the length between the welded portions. A non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery, wherein the active material slurry is provided in a substance holder. 9. When the band-shaped metal plate is provided in the longitudinal direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. , 1.03
9. The non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 8, wherein the lengths L and D are defined so as to have a relationship of 0 <(L / D) <1.100. 10. When the strip-shaped metal plate is provided in the width direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. 1.00
9. The non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 8, wherein the lengths L and D are defined so as to have a relationship of 5 <(L / D) <1.020. 11. An alkaline storage battery formed by filling an active material slurry into an active material holder formed by welding a band-shaped metal plate to a long side end of a porous metal foam having a three-dimensional network structure. A method for producing a non-sintered electrode for use, wherein the band-shaped metal plate is formed on the foamed metal porous body so that a welded portion of the foamed metal porous body and a non-welded portion are alternately formed on the band-shaped metal plate. At the time of welding, the band-shaped metal plate is formed such that a space is formed between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body such that the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions. An active material holding member forming step of forming the active material holding member by fusing the active material holding member with the foamed metal porous body; and filling the active material slurry into the active material holding member formed in the active material holding member forming step. Filling the active material slurry A rolling step of rolling the loaded active material holding body to a predetermined thickness; and a cutting step of cutting the active material holding body rolled to a predetermined thickness in the rolling step into a predetermined shape. A method for producing a non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery. 12. The band-shaped metal plate by inserting a cylindrical body having a predetermined diameter between the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body and welding the band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body. The method for producing a non-sintered electrode for an alkaline storage battery according to claim 11, wherein the space is formed between the porous metal foam and the porous metal foam. 13. When the band-shaped metal plate is welded in the longitudinal direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. If you do
13. The active material for a battery according to claim 12, wherein the space is formed by adjusting the diameter of the cylindrical body so that 030 <(L / D) <1.100. A method for manufacturing a holder. 14. When welding the strip-shaped metal plate in the width direction of the long porous metal foam body, the length of the non-welded portion is L, and the length between the welded portions is D. If 1.0
13. The battery active material according to claim 12, wherein the space is formed by adjusting the diameter of the column so that the relationship of 05 <(L / D) <1.020 is satisfied. A method for manufacturing a holder. 15. The non-sintered electrode of one electrode of the electrode body obtained by winding or laminating a non-sintered electrode of one electrode and an electrode of the other electrode via a separator is electrically connected to a current collector of one electrode. An alkaline storage battery using a non-sintered electrode configured to be electrically connected and electrically connected to the other electrode of the other electrode to a current collector of the other electrode and housed in an outer can. The non-sintered electrode includes a band-shaped metal plate having welded portions and non-welded portions alternately at the long-side end of the porous porous metal body having a three-dimensional network structure, An alkaline storage battery using a non-sintered electrode, wherein an active material slurry is provided in an active material holder in which the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions. 16. An electrode body is formed by winding or laminating a non-sintered electrode of one pole and an electrode of the other pole via a separator, and the non-sintered electrode of one pole of the electrode body is formed. A method of manufacturing an alkaline storage battery using a non-sintered electrode formed by welding to the current collector of one electrode and welding the electrode of the other electrode to the current collector of the other electrode to be housed in an outer can. The manufacturing process of the non-sintered electrode of the one electrode includes forming a welded portion and a non-welded portion alternately at the long side end of the foamed metal porous body having a three-dimensional network structure. The band-shaped metal plate and the foamed metal porous body so as to form a space so that the length of the non-welded portion is longer than the length between the welded portions. An active material holding member forming step of forming an active material holding member by welding the foamed metal porous body; A filling step of filling the active material slurry into the active material holder formed by the holding body forming step, and a rolling step of rolling the active material holder filled with the active material slurry so as to have a predetermined thickness. A cutting step of cutting the active material holder rolled to a predetermined thickness in the rolling step into a predetermined shape, the method comprising the steps of: