Polymer lithium battery with ionic electrolyte

• US 20030157409A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sui-Yang Huang
• Original Assignee: Sui-Yang Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Sui-Yang
• Application Number:
  US10/368,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20030157409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/306
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0563 Liquid materials, e.g. for Li-SOCl2 cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0569 characterised by the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0094 in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/622 being polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/417 Polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/42 Acrylic resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/423 Polyamide resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/426 Fluorocarbon polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/437 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/44 Fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/451 comprising layers of only organic material and layers containing inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/454 : comprising a non-fibrous layer and a fibrous layer superimposed on one another
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/457 : comprising three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/491 : Porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

There is disclosed a novel rechargeable lithium battery with ionic electrolyte. The embodiments for the new polymer lithium ion batteries in the present invention comprise three major components, each of which is a composite: an anode, a cathode, and a polymer-gel-electrolyte-separator system. The anode consists of a lithium ion host such as graphite as active materials. The cathode is a mixture of lithium compounds, high surface area carbon and sometimes a catalyst. The polymer-gel-electrolyte-separator system comprises inorganic electrolyte as active material, which is immobilized in the polymer matrix. Two chemistries involved in these embodiments of batteries include intercalation of lithium ions and catalyzed electrolysis of lithium compounds.

Claims

1. A secondary alkali metal-ion cell comprising:

a negative electrode element, the negative electrode element being a composite electrode, comprising an active material, a carbon black, a polymeric binder, and a current collector;

a positive electrode element, the positive electrode element being a composite electrode, comprising an active material, a carbon, a polymeric binder, a catalyst, and a current collector; and

a polymer electrolyte-separator-element, the polymer-electrolyte-separator element being a multi-layered system sandwiched between the negative and positive electrodes, comprising a polymeric matrix in which a liquid electrolyte is immobilized, a filler, a separator, and a catalyst.

2. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the active material of the negative electrode element is selected from the group consisting of graphite, carbonaceous materials, petroleum coke, activated carbon, metal alloys, intermetallic compounds, and combinations thereof.

3. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder of the negative electrode element is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, poly(vinylidene-fluoride), and combinations thereof.

4. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the current collector of the negative electrode element is selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, and stainless steel.

5. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the active material of the positive electrode element is selected from the group consisting of lithium intercalation compounds, lithium salts, lithium oxides, and combinations thereof, wherein;

the lithium intercalation compound is selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiNiO₂, LiMn₂O₄ and doped solid solution Li_α

Ni_β

Co_δ

M_γ

O₂ where M is Mn, Al, Ti, Mg and Cr;

the lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of LiCl, Li₂S, LiF, Li₃P, Li₂P₅, Li₃N, Li₂CO₃, Li₂SO₄, LiNO₃, LiAlCl₄ and Li₃PO₄; and

the lithium oxide is selected from the group consisting of Li₂O, Li₂O₂ and LiOH.

6. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the carbon of the positive electrode element is either amorphous or graphitized materials in the form of high surface area powders or fibers.

7. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric binder of the positive electrode element is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, poly(vinylidene-fluoride), and combinations thereof.

8. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the catalyst of the positive electrode element includes transition-metal oxides, such as V₂O₅, CoO₂, MnO₂, SnO₂, CuO, Cr₂O₃, and Fe₂O₃, and metal salts, such as AlCl₃.

9. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein the current collector of the positive electrode element is selected from the group consisting of nickel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

10. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said polymer matrix is a porous layer of polymeric material selected from the group consisting of poly(vinylidene-fluoride), polyurethane, polyethylene-oxide, polyacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylacrylate, polyacrylamide, polyvinylacetate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyfluorosilicone, polyfluoropropylmethylsilicone, polyfluoropropylmethylcyclotetrasiloxane, polydimethylsiloxane, and polyepoxy.

11. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said liquid electrolyte is an inorganic solution, comprising solvent and solvate wherein:

the solvent is selected from the group consisting of SiCl₄, S₂Cl₂, SCl₂, SO₂, VCl₄, SOCl₂, SO₂Cl₂, and combinations thereof; and

the solvate is selected from the group consisting of LiAlCl₄, LiGaCl₄, Li₂B₁₀Cl₁₀, LiPF₆, and combinations thereof.

12. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said filler is high surface area particles, selecting from the group consisting of fumed silica, alumina and titania.

13. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said separator is a microporous membrane made of polymers selecting from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, polymethylpentene, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyolefins.

14. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said separator is a microporous mat or non-woven sheet made of glass fibers or polymeric fibers.

15. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein said catalyst is a chloride selected from the group consisting of BCl₃, AlCl₃, PCl₃, SCl₂, GaCl₃, and combinations thereof.

16. The secondary alkali metal-ion cell according to claim 1, wherein

said negative electrode element is a composite electrode, comprising 90% graphite active material, 10% polytetrafluoroethylene polymeric binder, and a stainless steel mesh current collector;

said positive electrode element is a composite electrode comprising 40% Li₂O and 20% V₂O₅ active material, 32% carbon black, 8%polytetrafluoroethylene polymeric binder, and a stainless steel mesh current collector; and

said polymer electrolyte-separator-element is a multi-layered system sandwiched between the negative and positive electrodes comprising a poly(vinylidene-fluoride) polymeric matrix, in which a LiAlCl₄.SOCl₂ liquid electrolyte is immobilized, and a microporous membrane separator

17. A rechargeable lithium stacked cell, comprising:

a negative electrode element, the negative electrode element being a composite electrode comprising 88% graphite active material, 2% Super S carbon black, 10% ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene polymeric binder, and a Ni mesh current collector;

a positive electrode element, the positive electrode element being a composite electrode comprising 45% LiCl and 10% LiNi_0.8Co_0.17Al_0.03O₂ active material, 37% carbon black, 8% ETFE polymeric binder, and a Ni mesh current collector; and

a polymer electrolyte-separator-element, the polymer electrolyte-separator-element being a multi-layered system sandwiched between the negative and positive electrodes comprising a polydimethylsiloxane polymeric matrix, in which a LiAlCl₄.6SO₂ liquid electrolyte is immobilized, a microporous membrane separator, and 3% AlCl₃ as a catalyst.

18. A method for making a secondary lithium-ion cell comprising the steps of:

positioning a cathode comprising lithium species intercalated in a carbon hosting compound opposite an anode comprising lithium ions intercalated in a carbon hosting compound; and

positioning a polymer-electrolyte-separator between the cathode and the anode wherein the polymer-electrolyte-separator comprises an inorganic liquid electrolyte immobilized in a hosting polymer matrix.