Melt impregnation of mixed metal oxide

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An electrochemical cell including a single phase mixed metal oxide synthesized as an electrode active material, such as a cathode active material, according to the present invention preferably comprises an anode of a metal selected from Group IA of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
This group of metals is collectively referred to as the alkali metals and comprises lithium, sodium, potassium, etc.
, and their alloys and intermetallic compounds including, for example, Li--Si, Li--Al, Li--B and Li--Si--B alloys and intermetallic compounds.
The preferred anode comprises lithium.
An alternate anode comprises a lithium alloy, such as a lithium-aluminum alloy.
However, the greater the amount of aluminum present by weight in the alloy, the lower the energy density of the cell.
The form of the anode may vary, but preferably the anode is a thin metal sheet or foil of the anode metal, pressed or rolled on a metallic anode current collector, i.
e.
, preferably comprising nickel, to form an anode component.
In the exemplary cell of the present invention, the anode component has an extended tab or lead of the same material as the anode current collector, i.
e.
, preferably nickel, integrally formed therewith such as by welding and contacted by a weld to a cell case of conductive metal in a case-negative electrical configuration.
Alternatively, the anode may be formed in some other geometry, such as a bobbin shape, cylinder or pellet to allow an alternate low surface cell design.
The electrochemical reaction at the cathode involves conversion of ions which migrate from the anode to the cathode into atomic or molecular forms.
The cathode material of the present invention comprises at least one single phase cathode active material formed from readily decomposable reactant constituent compounds consisting of metals from Groups IB, IIB, IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB, VIIB, as well as from Group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements.
The decomposable reactant constituents are first mixed together in a substantially homogeneous mixture