Synthetic silver oxide and mercury-free zinc electrodes for silver–zinc reserve batteries

Reserve activated silver oxide–zinc cells were constructed with synthetic silver oxide (Ag2O) electrodes with Pb-treated zinc electrodes produced by a non-electrolytic process. The cells were tested before and after thermally accelerated aging. At discharge rates up to 80 mA cm−2, the discharge was limited by the Ag2O electrode, with a coulombic efficiency between 89–99%. At higher rates, the cells are apparently zinc-limited. Test cells were artificially aged at 90°C for 19 h and discharged at 21°C at 80 mA cm−2. No capacity loss was measured, but a delayed activation rise time was noted (192 ms fresh vs. 567 ms aged). The delay is thought to be caused by zinc passivation due to the outgassing of cell materials.