| abstract |
The thermal treatment of transition metal oxide electrodes such as silver vanadium oxide cathode plates, contacted to titanium current collectors for the purpose of reducing polarization resistance in an alkali metal electrochemical cell, is described. The electrodes are exposed to an elevated temperature of at least about 225° C. for about 8 hours prior to cell fabrication. The present heat treatment regime is particularly useful in cathodes intended for fabrication into a cell powering an implantable medical device with improved polarization resistance as well as reduced heat dissipation. |