| abstract |
A battery assembled in the form of a lightweight structural panel and including isolated battery cells. Each of the cells includes a honeycomb structure (44) wherein each film-like layer in the honeycomb structure is an electrode stack. Each of the electrode stacks (20) includes an elongated cathode, an elongated separator, and an elongated anode. The separator is wetted with an electrolyte solution to facilitate the electrochemical reaction. The electrochemical reaction may be that of an NiMH2 battery, and NiH battery, an Li + battery, an NiCd battery, a Lead-acid battery, or any other suitable electrochemical reaction. Alternatively, the battery cell could be composed of a foam-like cathode, foam-like separator, and a foam-like anode. With either embodiment, the invention achieves the storage of electrochemical energy in a structure with a multitude of voids (45) defined therein so that the structure is relatively stiff, yet light-weight. |