Mobile Energy Company.

Development of
Dry Cell Replaceable Ni-MH Batteries
Akio Furukawa
Manager
Ni Battery System Section No.2
Technical service department
Alkaline Technology Business Unit
Mobile Energy Company
Components Business Group
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

History of AA size Dry Cell Replaceable

Ni-MH Batteries

Mobile Energy Company.

The capacity of AA size Ni-MH batteries

has been increased remarkably.
2300mAh
Improvement of the active material is necessary
to increase the capacity furthermore.
2100mAh
Further increase of capacity requires
a breakthrough technology
1850mAh
1700mAh

10% UP

1600mAh

1450mAh

14% UP

1300mAh

9% UP

6% UP
10% UP
11% UP
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Purpose

Mobile Energy Company.

Development of a new alloy with higher capacity and

better corrosion resistance than the current alloy (AB5
type) as the key active material of the negative electrode.

Development of higher capacity Ni-MH battery with the

new alloy.

Method
Optimization of the composition of the new alloy (Superlattice alloy) to improve corrosion resistance.

Mobile Energy Company.

The charge and discharge cycle characteristics

Capacity (% vs. initial)

110

AB5 alloy
(Mm-Ni-Co-Mn-Al)

100
90
80

0.70.32.8Co0.5

70
60

Cycle condition:
1It=1000mA
Charge:1It , V(10mV)
Discharge:1It , E.V=1.0V
Room temperature

50
40
0

100

200

0.70.33.3

300

Cycle Number

400

500

600

Mobile Energy Company.

Comparison between the current AB5 type alloy

and the super-lattice alloy
110
100
0.830.173.10.2

0.9

Capacity (% vs. initial)

-MH electrode potential (V vs. HgO/Hg)

1.0

0.8
AB5 alloy
(Mm-Ni-Co-Mn-Al)
0.7
Test condition
Charge:150mA/g x2hr50min
Discharge:150mA/g, E.V.= 0.7V

+10%

100

200

300

Discharge capacity(mAh/g)

90

80
AB5 alloy
(Mm-Ni-Co-Mn-Al)

70

+30%

60
Cycle condition:
1It=1700mA
Charge:1It , V(10mV)
Discharge:1It , E.V.=1.0V
Room temperature

50

0.6
0

Mm0.83Mg0.17Ni3.1Al0.2

400

40

200

400

600

Cycle Number

800

1000

Mobile Energy Company.

Cell Voltage (V)

The cell capacity increase by using super-lattice alloy

1.8
1.7
1.6
1.5
Ni-MH 2500
1.4
using superlattice alloy
1.3
1.2
1.1 Test Condition:
Ni-MH 2300
1 Charge: 250mA x 16hr at=25
using AB5 alloy
Discharge: 500mA, E.V.=1.0V
0.9
0.8
0

500

1000

1500

2000

Discharge capacity (mAh)

2500

The cycle life of HR-3U(Typ.2500mAh)

is the longest in the class.

Accelerated cycle test

The capacity of HR-3U is the highest !!

Sanyo HR-3U
(Typ. 2500mAh)

Brand C : AA
(Printed 2300mAh)

Brand A : AA
(Printed 2400mAh)
Brand B : AA
(Printed 2500mAh)

Mobile Energy Company.

Mobile Energy Company.

HR-3U(Typ.2500mAh) showed the best

recovery against Over-discharge !
1.7
1.6
1.5

Cell Voltage (V)

1.4

Storage Condition :
Ambient Temp. : 40C
Storage Term : 1Month
Cell is connected with Resistor.
(2ohm)

1.3
1.2

Cycle Condition :
Charge : 2500mA (-V=10mV)
Rest : 1h
Discharge : 2500mA (E.V.=1.0V)
Rest : 1h
Ambient Temp. : 20C
n=2

1.1

1Cycle
2Cycles
3Cycles
4Cycles
5Cycles
Before Test

1.0
0.9
0.8

Capacity loss is very small

0.7
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Charge & Discharge Time (min)

70

80

90

Mobile Energy Company.

An Example
Recovery from over-discharge of Others AA;
Big capacity loss!
1.7
1.6
1.5

Storage Condition :
Ambient Temp. : 40C
Storage Term : 1Month
Cell is connected with Resistor.
(2ohm)

1Cycle
2Cycles

Cell Voltage (V)

1.4

3Cycles
4Cycles

1.3

5Cycles

1.2

Before Test

1.1
1.0

Very big capacity loss

0.9

Cycle Condition :
Charge : 2300mA (-dV=10mV)
Rest : 1h
Discharge : 2300mA (E.V.=0.8V)
Rest : 1h
Ambient Temp. : 20C
n=2

0.8
0.7
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Charge & Discharge Time (min)

70

80

90

Mobile Energy Company.

HR-3U(Typ.2500mAh) has the best

charge-retention (The slowest Self-discharge)
Sanyo HR-3U
(Typ. 2500mAh)

Brand C : AA
(Printed 2300mAh)

At 40 deg.C

Brand A : AA
(Printed 2400mAh)
Brand B : AA
(Printed 2300mAh)

AA size Dry Cell Replaceable Ni-MH Battery

with Super-lattice hydrogen absorbing alloy

Mobile Energy Company.

The Super-lattice hydrogen absorbing alloy (a breakthrough technology

in Ni-MH battery history since 1990) contributed the highest capacity
and best performance in AA size Dry Cell Replaceable Ni-MH Batteries.
Ni-MH 2300
(AB5 alloy)
High temp.
Charge
(40)

Cell capacity

150
120
90
60
30
0

Recovery from
Over-discharge
(60,14days)

Ni-MH 2500
(Superlattice alloy)
High-rate discharge(3It)

Low temp. discharge (0)

Self-discharge
(40,14days)

AA : Typ. 2500mAh, AAA : Typ. 900mAh

The highest capacity in the world
with balanced performance.

History of AA size Dry Cell Replaceable

Ni-MH Batteries

Mobile Energy Company.

2500mAh
2300mAh

2100mAh
9% UP

1850mAh
1700mAh

10% UP

1600mAh

1450mAh

14% UP

1300mAh

9% UP

6% UP
10% UP
11% UP
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Conclusion

Mobile Energy Company.

A new Super-lattice hydrogen absorbing alloy with higher

capacity and better corrosion resistance than the current alloy (AB5
type) as the key active material of negative electrode of Ni-MH
battery was successfully developed.
The high capacity (2500mAh*) of AA size Dry Cell Replaceable NiMH Battery was developed with the Super-lattice hydrogen
absorbing alloy and has been shipped since July 2004.
2500mAh* is still the highest capacity (among mass-produced AA
size Ni-MH batteries ) in the world at this moment (Feb. 20, 2005).
(*:The capacity is defined by IEC 61951-2)