| abstract |
Primary and secondary lightweight "AA," "C," "D," and the like metal/air cells comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte are described in which the anode comprises a consumable porous metal and the cathode comprises a hydrophobic member in contact at one surface with an electrocatalyst. The aforesaid components of the cell are retained in a substantially rigid protective shield and spaced therefrom permitting access of air to the cathode over substantially the entire cathode surface area. The structural elements which include the protective shield spacers to space the shield from the cathode comprise lightweight materials such as lightweight metals or a thermosetting or thermoplastic resin or the like. The electrolyte can be a solution or paste of an ion-conductive material or a water-activatable solid, such as "dry" potassium hydroxide adhering to or absorbed in the anode and/or cathode and/or a hydrophilic separator between the anode and cathode. |