JP6938403B2 - Metal-air battery and how to use it - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a metal-air battery and how to use it.

In a metal-air battery, oxygen in the atmosphere is used as a positive electrode active material at the air electrode, which is the positive electrode, and the redox reaction of the oxygen is performed. On the other hand, a metal redox reaction is carried out at the metal electrode which is the negative electrode. The energy density of metal-air batteries is high, and it is expected to play a role as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster. Power generation is started by supplying the electrolytic solution to the metal-air battery.

Conventionally, various metal-air battery structures have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

According to Patent Document 1, an electrolytic solution is injected into a cell in which a metal electrode and an air electrode are incorporated in a housing to generate electricity.

According to Patent Document 2, a container containing an electrolytic solution is prepared separately from the cell in which the metal electrode and the air electrode are incorporated in the housing, and the electrolytic solution flows into the cell by putting the cell in the container. It is made to generate electricity.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-131063 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-71986

By the way, in the past, a metal-air battery was packed at the time of sale, but when a packing material was used, there was a problem that unpacking at the time of use was troublesome. Further, it is required to have excellent long-term storage property in order to suppress deterioration due to oxidation and the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a metal-air battery having a simple structure and excellent long-term storage property, and a method of using the metal-air battery.

The metal-air battery of the present invention includes a metal-air battery main body and a storage body for accommodating the metal-air battery main body, and the storage body includes a case capable of storing the metal-air battery main body and a case capable of accommodating the metal-air battery main body. It is configured to have a lid body that is separate from the case that closes the opening of the case, and the case and the lid body are configured to have a barrier material .
Further, the metal-air battery of the present invention is configured to include a metal-air battery main body and a storage body for storing the metal-air battery main body, and the storage body is a bag body for storing the metal-air battery main body. The bag body is configured to have a barrier material, and the metal-air battery body housed in the bag body is housed in a case, and the metal-air battery body is removed. The electrolytic solution can be stored in the case, and the metal-air battery main body is inserted into the case containing the electrolytic solution to start power generation.

In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the whole, the outer surface, or the inner surface of the storage body is formed of the barrier material.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the upper surface of the metal-air battery body is provided with a grip portion for attaching / detaching to / from the case.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the case and the lid closing the opening of the case are adhered, fused or crimped.

The present invention is the method of using the metal-air battery described above, wherein the metal-air battery main body is pulled out from the case, an electrolytic solution is supplied into the case, and the metal air in the case. It is characterized by having a step of inserting a battery body.

According to the metal-air battery of the present invention, it has a simple structure and is excellent in long-term storage. Therefore, the metal-air battery can be easily taken out at the time of use, and deterioration due to oxidation or the like can be prevented for a long period of time at the time of storage. Further, since the storage body for storing the metal-air battery body has a barrier property, it is not necessary to newly wrap the metal-air battery with an outer layer film. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the case and the like constituting the metal-air battery is increased, and the designability can be improved.

Further, according to the method of using the metal-air battery of the present invention, the electrolytic solution is supplied into the case from which the metal-air battery body is removed, and the metal-air battery body is inserted into the case to easily and quickly generate electricity. Can be made to. Therefore, the convenience as an emergency battery can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

It is a perspective view of the metal-air battery of 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the metal-air battery in which the case and the lid shown in FIG. 1 are partially cut off so that a part of the metal-air battery main body housed in the case can be seen. It is a perspective view of the metal-air battery main body of this embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the metal-air battery of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which took out the metal-air battery main body of 1st Embodiment from a case, and supplied the electrolytic solution into a case. It is sectional drawing which shows the state which inserted the metal-air battery main body of this embodiment into the case which has an electrolytic solution. It is sectional drawing of the metal-air battery of 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, abbreviated as “embodiment”) will be described in detail. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be variously modified and implemented within the scope of the gist thereof.

<Metal-air battery>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the metal-air battery 1 includes a metal-air battery main body 2, a case 3, and a lid 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the metal-air battery main body 2 includes, for example, a plurality of metal-air battery cells 22. The internal structure of the metal-air battery cell 22 will be described later. In FIG. 3, the number of the metal-air battery cells 22 is three, but the number of the metal-air battery cells 22 is not limited, and may be one, two, or four. It may be one or more.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ceiling portion 8 is attached to the upper surface of each metal-air battery cell 22. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a large number of air holes 8a are provided in the ceiling portion 8 so that air can be supplied to the air chamber of each metal-air battery cell 22.

Further, an external connection terminal for supplying the battery output to the outside can be installed on the ceiling portion 8. The external connection terminal is a connector, a USB terminal, or the like, and is not particularly limited. The external connection terminal is preferably provided on the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, since the entire metal-air battery body 2 is housed in the case 3, by providing an external connection terminal on the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8, a mobile device or the like can be easily connected to the external connection terminal. It becomes possible to connect.

As shown in FIG. 3, a grip portion 9 is provided on the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8. The metal-air battery body 2 can be easily removed from the case 3 or the metal-air battery body 2 can be easily inserted into the case 3 by inserting a finger into the grip portion 9. The grip portion 9 may be configured not only in a form in which a finger hole is provided in the ceiling portion 8 as shown in FIG. 3, but also in a configuration in which a handle is provided on the upper surface of the ceiling portion 8, for example. Further, it is preferable that the grip portion 9 is provided near the center of the ceiling portion 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, each metal-air battery cell 22 is provided with an air chamber 10 and a liquid chamber 11. The air chamber 10 is surrounded by, for example, except for the upper part. The ceiling portion 8 shown in FIG. 3 is arranged on the upper surface side of the air chamber 10, so that air can enter the air chamber 10 through the air hole 8a of the ceiling portion 8. In FIG. 4, the ceiling portion 8 is not shown. On the other hand, the liquid chamber 11 is surrounded by the periphery except for the water supply port 13. As shown in FIG. 4, the water supply port 13 is provided in the lower part of the liquid chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the air chamber 10 and the liquid chamber 11 are separated from each other, and the electrolytic solution injected into the liquid chamber 11 does not leak into the air chamber 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, each metal-air battery cell 22 includes an air electrode 6 and a metal electrode 7 as electrodes. The air pole 6 and the metal pole 7 are each supported by a housing constituting the metal-air battery cell 22. As shown in FIG. 4, the air pole 6 and the metal pole 7 are arranged to face each other in the liquid chamber 11. One surface of the air electrode 6 is exposed to the liquid chamber 11, and the other surface of the air electrode 6 is exposed to the air chamber 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the metal pole 7 is arranged at a position separated from the air pole 6 in the liquid chamber 11 by a predetermined distance. The upper part of the metal pole 7 is fixed, but the lower part is a free end (non-fixed).

The case 3 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is a container having an open upper surface having a size capable of accommodating the metal-air battery main body 2. The case 3 is slightly larger than the vertical width and the horizontal width of the metal-air battery main body 2. That is, there is a slight gap between the case 3 and the metal-air battery main body 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a space 15 is provided between the upper surface of the metal-air battery main body 2 housed in the case 3 and the lid body 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the accessory 16 of the metal-air battery 1 can be placed in this space 15. For example, the accessory 16 is salt, an instruction manual, or the like in a bag, and the accessory 16 can be stored in the small case shown in FIG. The user can make an electrolytic solution by dissolving salt in water.

As shown in FIG. 4, the case 3 includes a case main body 3a and a barrier layer 3b provided on the inner surface of the case main body 3a. The material of the case body 3a does not matter, but for example, it is preferable that the case body 3a is made of a resin material or a paper material in terms of cost. Further, the barrier layer 3b preferably has excellent gas barrier properties. Gas barrier properties are evaluated, for example, by oxygen permeability. The oxygen permeability is preferably 70 cc · 20 μm / m ² · day · atm or less. The oxygen permeability is measured according to JIS K 7126-1 or JIS K 7126-2. The material of the barrier layer 3b is not limited, but for example, the barrier layer 3b is a vapor-deposited layer of Al or a barrier resin such as EVOH. By forming the barrier layer 3b of the barrier material on the case body 3a in this way, the case 3 having a high barrier property can be formed. A barrier resin such as EVOH can be used to impart transparency.

In FIG. 4, the barrier layer 3b is formed on the inner surface of the case body 3a, but at least one of the entire case body 3a, the outer surface of the case body 3b, or the inner surface may be formed of a barrier material. Further, the barrier material can be provided on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the case body 3a.

A mark 17 is provided on the inner wall surface of the case 3. The mark 17 is a display body (for example, a water level line) indicating a guideline for the amount of water supplied when the electrolytic solution is supplied into the case 3. That is, if too much electrolytic solution is added, the electrolytic solution may enter the air chamber 10 through the ceiling portion 8, so it is preferable to add a mark 17 as a guideline for the amount of water supplied.

Power generation can be started by taking out the metal-air battery main body 2 from the case 3, putting an electrolytic solution in the case 3, and inserting the metal-air battery main body 2 into the case 3.

Further, the lid body 4 is a sheet material 4a, and it is preferable that the cover body 4 has a barrier layer 4b on the inner surface of the sheet material 4a. Like the case 3, the lid 4 is also excellent in gas barrier property and water vapor barrier property, and ^{preferably has an oxygen permeability of 70 cc, 20 μm / m 2} , day, atm or less. Like the barrier layer 3b of the case 3, the barrier layer 4b is preferably a vapor-deposited layer of Al or a barrier resin such as EVOH. It suffices that at least one of the sheet material 4a itself constituting the lid 4 and the outer surface or the inner surface of the sheet material 4a is formed of a barrier material. Further, the barrier material can be provided on both the outer surface and the inner surface of the sheet material 4a.

The lid 4 is sealed on the collar 3c of the case 3. The case 3 and the lid 4 are preferably bonded, fused or crimped. The lid 4 can be peeled off from the case 3 by the force of the user. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the internal space surrounded by the case 3 and the lid 4 is a closed space. The metal-air battery body 2 is housed in the enclosed space. For example, the metal-air battery body 2 is housed in the case 3, the accessory 16 is placed on the upper surface of the metal-air battery body 2, and the lid 4 is sealed while evacuating. As a result, the entire surface of the metal-air battery body 2 is surrounded by the barrier layers 3b and 4b, and the metal-air battery body 2 can be appropriately protected from oxidation, water vapor, and the like. As described above, it has a simple structure and can be stored for a long period of time. Further, by depositing Al on a resin material or a paper material, or by using a case 3 or a lid 4 provided with a barrier resin such as EVOH, the unit price of the material can be reduced and the cost is excellent. Further, by using a barrier resin such as EVOH as a barrier layer in the resin case or the resin film itself, or in the resin case or the resin film, a highly barrier transparent resin can be obtained. Further, when using the battery, the lid 4 may be peeled off and the metal-air battery body 2 may be taken out from the case 3, so that there is no problem such as time and effort for unpacking as in the conventional case.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the case 3 and the lid 4 are used as barrier materials, the case 3 and the case 3 constituting the metal-air battery 1 are not restricted, for example, by wrapping the metal-air battery 1 with an outer layer film. The degree of freedom in designing the lid 4 can be improved. Therefore, for example, the design of the case 3 can be enhanced.

<How to use the metal-air battery>
Next, a method of using the metal-air electric battery of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, the lid 4 is peeled off from the case 3, and the metal-air battery body 2 is taken out from the case 3. Since the lid 4 and the case 3 are adhered, fused or crimped, the lid 4 can be easily peeled off from the case 3 by the force of the user, and the metal-air body 2 can be smoothly removed from the case 3. Can be taken out. At this time, the metal-air battery main body 2 can be lifted upward from the inside of the case 3 by inserting a finger into the knob portion 9 shown in FIG. After the metal-air battery main body 2 is taken out from the case 3, the electrolytic solution 5 is supplied into the case 3 as shown in FIG. In the electrolytic solution 5, the salt solution as the accessory 16 is put in the case 3 and dissolved in water to generate a salt solution as the electrolytic solution. At this time, it is preferable that the inner wall surface of the case 3 is provided with a water level line as a mark 17 so that the amount of water supplied can be known. This allows the user to fill the water level line. Then, a salt solution can be produced by mixing the salt with water.

Next, the metal-air battery body 2 once taken out from the open upper portion 3c of the case 3 is inserted into the case 3 again.

As shown in FIG. 6, the electrolytic solution 5 is guided into each liquid chamber 11 from the water supply port 13 of each metal-air battery cell 22. The electrolytic solution 5 is simultaneously injected into each liquid chamber 11 via the water supply port 13. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the electrolytic solution 5 does not flow into the air chamber 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, since the electrolytic solution 5 is supplied to a constant water level, the electrolytic solution 5 in each liquid chamber 11 is also filled to a constant water level.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the electrolytic solution 5 is supplied to the liquid chamber 11, for example, when the metal pole 7 is magnesium, the oxidation reaction shown in (1) below occurs in the vicinity of the metal pole 7. Further, at the air electrode 6, the reduction reaction shown in (2) below occurs. As a whole magnesium-air battery, the reaction shown in (3) below occurs and power generation is started.
(1) 2Mg → 2Mg ²⁺ + 4e ⁻
_{(2) O 2 + 2H 2} O + 4e - → 4OH -
(3) 2Mg + O ₂ + 2H ₂ O → 2Mg (OH) ₂

Further, although not shown, it is preferable that a hole for discharging the generated gas such as hydrogen generated by the battery reaction from the liquid chamber 11 to the outside is provided around the metal electrode 7.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the metal pole 7 is preferably arranged so as to face the water supply port 13 provided at the bottom of each metal-air battery cell 22. The product generated during the redox reaction between the metal pole 7 and the air pole 6 is easily released to the case 3 side through the water supply port 13. As a result, it is possible to suppress damage to the electrodes and deterioration of electrical characteristics due to the accumulation of the product in each metal-air battery cell 22.

Further, even when the water supply port 13 is provided other than the bottom of each metal-air battery cell 22, for example, the water supply port 13 is arranged below the side portion of the metal-air battery cell 22, and the metal pole 7 is provided on the water supply port 13. May be arranged to face each other. The "lower side of the side portion" is the lower half of the height dimension of the side portion, preferably the lower portion of 1/2 or less of the height dimension, and more preferably the lower portion of 1/3 or less of the height dimension. It is a side part. This also allows the release effect of the product to be obtained.

Further, in the present embodiment, the lower portion of the metal pole 7 is a free end. As a result, the metal pole 7 can be appropriately arranged so as to face the water supply port 13. Further, by setting the lower part of the metal pole 7 as a free end, the lower part of the metal pole 7 can be swung. Therefore, when a product is deposited between the air pole 6 and the metal pole 7, the metal pole 7 can be flexed, the pressing force due to the product can be relaxed, and the metal pole 7 and the metal pole 6 can be bent. Damage can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 6, by inserting the metal-air battery main body 2 into the case 3 containing the electrolytic solution 5, for example, the above reaction occurs and power generation is started. If you want to stop the power generation, you can take out the metal-air battery body 2 from the case 3.

As described above, according to the method of using the metal-air battery 1 of the present embodiment, the electrolytic solution 5 is supplied into the case 3 from which the metal-air battery body 2 is removed, and the metal-air battery body 2 is inserted into the case 3. By doing so, it is possible to generate electricity easily and quickly. Therefore, the convenience as an emergency battery can be improved as compared with the conventional case.

When disposing of the metal-air battery body 2, the metal-air battery body 2 is taken out from the case 3 and the electrolytic solution 5 in the case 3 is removed, and then the metal-air battery body 2 is put in the case 3. dispose. Alternatively, the case 3 and the metal-air battery body 2 are separated and disposed of. Since the electrolytic solution 5 in the case 3 is removed as described above, even if the metal-air battery main body 2 is put in the case 3, no power is generated, and it can be disposed of without hydrogen generation or leakage of the electrolytic solution. It is possible.

Another embodiment of the metal-air battery will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the metal-air battery main body 2 is housed in the bag body 31. The bag body 31 is formed entirely of a barrier material, or has a barrier layer formed on the outer surface of the bag body 31, the inner surface of the bag body 31, or both the outer surface and the inner surface. The opening of the bag 31 is closed by gluing, fusing or crimping. The user can easily peel off the closed portion of the bag body 31 and take out the metal-air battery body 2 from the bag body 31.

In the present embodiment, the metal-air battery main body 2 housed in the bag body 31 is housed in the case 30, and the lid body 32 is sealed to the collar portion 30a of the case 30. The case 30 and the lid 32 are adhered, fused or crimped so that the user can easily remove the lid 32 from the case 30.

In this embodiment, the case 30 and the lid 32 do not have to be made of a barrier material. However, if the case 30 and the lid 32 are also made of a barrier material, the barrier property can be enhanced more effectively, and the long-term storage property is excellent.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a space is provided between the bag body 31 and the bottom surface of the case 30 or between the bag body 31 and the lid body 32 to accommodate salt, a USB interface board, and the like. It is also possible to do.

The usage method conforms to the usage method described above. First, the lid 32 is peeled off from the case 30, and the metal-air battery body 2 contained in the bag 31 is taken out. Next, the metal-air battery main body 2 is taken out from the bag body 31. Salt is added to the case 30 and dissolved in water to produce a saline solution. Then, the metal-air battery body 2 is inserted into the case 30 containing the saline solution. As a result, power generation is started.

In the above, the case and the bag body are exemplified as the storage body for storing the metal-air battery main body 2, but the form of the storage body is not limited to these. However, it is preferable to provide a case capable of accommodating the metal-air battery main body 2 and generating a saline solution.

The metal-air battery 1 in the present embodiment can be applied to either a magnesium-air battery or another metal-air battery.

Further, the electrodes of the metal-air battery cells 22 may be connected in series or in parallel, and the wiring method is not particularly limited.

Further, the metal-air battery main body 2 and the case 3 may be a polyhedron such as a rectangular parallelepiped or a cube, or may be a columnar shape or the like.

According to the metal-air battery of the present invention, the metal-air battery main body can be easily taken out from the case, and anyone can easily and quickly generate electricity. Therefore, the metal-air battery of the present invention can be effectively applied as an emergency power source or the like in the event of a disaster or the like.

1: Metal-air battery 2: Metal-air battery body 3, 30: Case 3a: Case body 3b: Barrier layer 4, 32: Lid body 4a: Sheet material 4b: Barrier layer 5: Electrolyte solution 6: Air electrode 7: Metal electrode 8: Ceiling part 8a: Air hole 9: Picking part 10: Air chamber 11: Liquid chamber 13: Water supply port 15: Space 16: Accessories 17: Mark 22: Metal-air battery cell 31: Bag body

Claims (6)

It is configured to have a metal-air battery main body and a storage body for accommodating the metal-air battery main body.
The storage body includes a case capable of storing the metal-air battery main body and a lid body separate from the case that closes the opening of the case, and the case and the lid body are barriers. A metal-air battery characterized by having a sex material. It is configured to have a metal-air battery main body and a storage body for accommodating the metal-air battery main body.
The storage body is a bag body for storing the metal-air battery body, the bag body is configured to have a barrier material, and the metal-air battery body housed in the bag body is a case. It is stored in
The electrolytic solution can be housed in the case from which the metal-air battery body has been removed, and the metal-air battery body is inserted into the case containing the electrolytic solution to start power generation. Metal-air battery. The metal-air battery according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein at least one of the whole, the outer surface, and the inner surface of the housing is formed of the barrier material. The metal-air battery according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein a grip portion for attaching / detaching to / from the case is provided on the upper surface of the metal-air battery main body. The metal-air battery according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the case and a lid closing the opening of the case are bonded, fused or crimped. The method of using the metal-air battery according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The process of pulling out the metal-air battery body from the case,
The step of supplying the electrolytic solution into the case,
The step of inserting the metal-air battery body into the case,
A method of using a metal-air battery, which comprises having a metal-air battery.

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