Commercial cylindrical alkaline Manganese Dioxide-Zinc cells are made in the bobbin design. The cross-section of a typical cylindrical alkaline cell is shown: (1) cathode; (6) metal can; (1) , Zn gel serves as the anode reagent (3) which is made by suspending Zn particles in gelling agents. Since Zn amalgams are no longer allowed for environmental reasons, inorganic and organic inhibitors are added in the gel to increase the hydrogen evolution overpotential and minimize Zn corrosion and passivation. Studies on the Zn anode will be reported separately. The current collector for the Zn anode is a plated brass nail (4). A non-woven separator (2) is placed between the cathode and anode. A vent mechanism (5), which is designed to burst at a pre-set pressure, is provided as a safety measure in the event of significant internal pressure build-up, and is engineered in the top assembly (7,8). The cell is then crimp- sealed:

Our researchers are focused on not only understanding the fundamental physical chemistry for the active electrode material and electrochemical process e.g. proton diffusion inside the lattice of MnO2, Zn surface passivation during high rate discharge, but also investigating the engineering aspects of the cell making and design.