abstract |
A metal hydride battery comprising at least one negative electrode, at least one positive electrode, a casing having said electrodes positioned therein and an electrolyte composition, where the electrolyte composition comprises an ionic compound selected from the group consisting of protic acids, protic ammonium compounds, protic oxonium compounds, aprotic ammonium compounds, aprotic oxonium compounds, aprotic phosphonium compounds and alkali or alkali earth metal salts; or where the electrolyte composition comprises an ionic compound selected from the group consisting of alkali or alkali earth metal hydroxides and alkali or alkali earth metal alkoxides and an organic solvent; or where the electrolyte composition comprises an alkali metal hydroxide, water and one or more further components selected from the group consisting of organic solvents, further ionic compounds and additives; or where the electrolyte composition comprises an ionic compound selected from the group consisting of carboxylate compounds and carboxylic acids. Ionic compounds include ionic liquids and salts. Metal hydride batteries comprising certain electrolyte compositions have a nominal open-circuit voltage of from about 1.5 V to about 5.0 V. |