Maxell Launches Entire Silver Oxide Battery Portfolio

Maxell Corporation of America announced the introduction of a silver-oxide cell that reduces the mercury and lead in the cathode material to zero, while maintaining a battery life comparable to conventional silver-oxide cells with the new zero-mercury, zero-lead added type.

Starting July 1, 2011, Connecticut, Louisiana, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont will prohibit the shipment of standard silver-oxide batteries. Silver-oxide cells are the primary long-life cells used in wristwatches, and use silver-oxide for the cathode electrode, zinc for the anode electrode and an alkaline solution for the electrolyte. In conventional silver-oxide cells, small amounts of mercury and lead are used as an anti-corrosive. An anti-corrosive improves long-term reliability, while reducing the gas generation that follows the corrosion of the zinc in the anode and as a result of the local cell between the zinc and the surface area of the collector which contacts the zinc.

Maxell has been able to achieve zero-mercury, zero-lead using an original new cathode anti-corrosion technology, along with a corrosion-resistant zinc alloy.