ALKALINE CELL WITH IMPROVED SEPARATOR

摘要

An electrochemical separator is formed in situ on an electrode surface within an electrochemical cell, preferably an alkaline cell cathode surface. The alkaline cell (100) comprises a zinc anode (215), and potassium hydroxide electrolyte. The cathode (212) may comprise manganese dioxide. The separator (290) may be formed by coating an electrode surface, for example a cathode surface (217) with a first material comprising a liquid or semisolid polymeric material or polymerizable material to form a film on a surface (217) of the cathode (212). The film on the cathode (212) may comprise a low molecular weight copolymer of polyvinyalcohol and polyvinylacetate or other polymers or polymerizable monomers or oligomers. The film is then dried or contracted with a second material or polymerized to form an ion permeable separator (290) uniformly conforming to and covering the electrode surface irrespective of the shape and contour of the electrode.