초록

An alkaline battery includes a cathode including a nickel oxyhydroxide and an anode including zinc or zinc alloy particles.

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What is claimed is: 1. An alkaline battery comprising: a cathode comprising an active cathode material including a nickel oxyhydroxide; an anode comprising zinc or zinc alloy particles, wherein between 35 and 75 wt % of the particles are of-200 mesh size or smaller; a separator between the anode a

What is claimed is: 1. An alkaline battery comprising: a cathode comprising an active cathode material including a nickel oxyhydroxide; an anode comprising zinc or zinc alloy particles, wherein between 35 and 75 wt % of the particles are of-200 mesh size or smaller; a separator between the anode and the cathode; and an alkaline electrolyte contacting the anode and the cathode. 2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises zinc alloy particles including at least one metal selected from indium, bismuth, tin, or aluminum. 3. The battery of claim 1, wherein the nickel oxyhydroxide is a beta-nickel oxyhydroxide, a cobalt oxyhydroxide-coated beta nickel oxyhydroxide, a gamma-nickel oxyhydroxide, or a cobalt oxyhydroxide-coated gamma-nickel oxyhydroxide. 4. The battery of claim 1, wherein the nickel oxyhydroxide includes particles having outer surfaces that approximate spheres, spheroids or ellipsoids. 5. The battery of claim 4, wherein the nickel oxyhydroxide particles have an average particle size ranging from 10 to 25 microns. 6. The battery of claim 4, wherein the nickel oxyhydroxide particles have an average particle size ranging from 15 to 20 microns. 7. The battery of claim 1, wherein the cathode includes a mixture of nickel oxyhydroxide and gamma-manganese dioxide. 8. The battery of claim 1, wherein the cathode includes carbon particles. 9. The battery of claim 8, wherein the cathode includes between 3 wt % and 12 wt % carbon particles. 10. The battery of claim 8, wherein the cathode includes between 6 wt % and 10 wt % carbon particles. 11. The battery of claim 8, wherein the carbon particles include expanded graphite, natural graphite, or a blend thereof. 12. The battery of claim 8, wherein the carbon particles include natural graphite particles having a particle size ranging between 2 and 50 microns. 13. The battery of claim 8, wherein the carbon particles include expanded graphite particles having a particle size ranging between 0.5 and 30 microns. 14. The battery of claim 8, wherein the carbon particles include from 10 to 90% by weight natural graphite. 15. The battery of claim 8, wherein the carbon particles include from 10 to 90% by weight expanded graphite. 16. The battery of claim 1, wherein at least 45 wt % of the particles are of-325 mesh size or smaller. 17. The battery of claim 1, wherein the particles are generally acicular, having a length along a major axis at least two times a length along a minor axis. 18. The battery of claim 1, wherein the particles are generally flakes, each flake generally having a thickness of no more than 20 percent of the maximum linear dimension of the particle. 19. An alkaline battery comprising: a cathode comprising graphite and an active cathode material including a nickel oxyhydroxide; an anode comprising a multi-modal distribution of zinc or zinc alloy particles and wherein between 35 and 75 wt % of said zinc or zinc alloy particles are of-200 mesh size or smaller; a separator between the anode and the cathode; and an alkaline electrolyte contacting the anode and the cathode. 20. The battery of claim 19, wherein the cathode includes between 3 wt % and 12 wt % of graphite. 21. The battery of claim 19, wherein the cathode includes between 6 wt % and 10 wt % of graphite. 22. The battery of claim 20, wherein the graphite includes from 10 to 90% by weight natural graphite. 23. The battery of claim 20, wherein the graphite includes from 10 to 90% by weight expanded graphite. 24. The battery of claim 19, wherein at least 45 wt % of the particles are of-325 mesh size or smaller. 25. The battery of claim 19, wherein the particles are generally acicular, having a length along a major axis at least two times a length along a minor axis. 26. The battery of claim 19, wherein the particles are generally flakes, each flake generally having a thickness of no more than 20 percent of the maximum linear dimension of the particle. 27. A method of improving discharge performance after high temperature storage of an alkaline battery comprising: providing a positive electrode including an active cathode material including nickel oxyhydroxide; providing a zinc electrode including comprising zinc or zinc alloy particles, between 35 and 75 wt % of the zinc or zinc alloy particles are of-200 mesh size or smaller; and forming a battery including the positive electrode and a zinc electrode. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cathode includes between 3 wt % and 12 wt % of graphite. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the graphite includes from 10 to 90% by weight natural graphite.