Lithium-ion battery

• US 20090286151A1
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Howard, William G., Scott, Erik R., Schmidt, Craig L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/163
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4292 Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/131 Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/136 Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• 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 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• 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 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode having an active material and a polymeric separator configured to allow electrolyte and lithium ions to flow between a first side of the separator and an opposite second side of the separator. The battery also includes a liquid electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved in at least one non-aqueous solvent and a negative electrode having a lithium titanate active material. The positive electrode has a first capacity and the negative electrode has a second capacity that is less than the first capacity.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode comprising an active material;

a polymeric separator configured to allow electrolyte and lithium ions to flow between a first side of the separator and an opposite second side of the separator;

a liquid electrolyte comprising a lithium salt dissolved in at least one non-aqueous solvent;

a negative electrode comprising a lithium titanate active material;

wherein the positive electrode has a first capacity and the negative electrode has a second capacity that is less than the first capacity.

2. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the lithium titanate material comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

3. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.85.

4. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.93.

5. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein edges of the negative electrode do not overlap adjacent edges of the positive electrode by a distance.

6. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode each include foil current collectors.

7. The lithium-ion battery of claim 6, wherein the foil current collector of at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode comprises aluminum.

8. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the active material of the positive electrode comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂ and LiMn₂O₄.

9. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the active material of the positive electrode comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiCo_xNi(1-x)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.8, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3.

10. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the active material of the positive electrode comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of Li₂CO_0.4Fe_0.4Mn_3.2O₈, LiCoPO₄F, LiNiPO₄, and LiCO_0.3Mn_1.7O₄.

11. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has a nonhermetic construction.

12. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, further comprising a battery housing that comprises aluminum.

13. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a zero voltage crossing potential above the decomposition potential of the active material of the positive electrode.

14. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the separator comprises a polyolefin material.

15. A lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode having a first capacity and comprising a foil current collector and an active material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiCo_xNi_(1-x)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.8, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3;

an electrolyte; and

a negative electrode having a second capacity that is not greater than the first capacity, the negative electrode comprising a foil current collector and a lithium titanate active material.

16. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the lithium titanate active material comprises Li₄Ti₅O₁₂.

17. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the active material of the positive electrode comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiCo_xNi_(1-x)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.8, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3.

18. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the second capacity is less than the first capacity.

19. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.85.

20. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.93.

21. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein at least one edge of the negative electrode does not extend beyond an adjacent edge of the positive electrode.

22. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, further comprising a porous polymeric separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

23. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte.

24. The lithium-ion battery of claim 23, wherein the electrolyte comprises LiPF₆ and at least non-aqueous solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbone, and diethylene carbonate.

25. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the current collector of the negative electrode comprises aluminum.

26. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the current collector of the negative electrode comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver and titanium.

27. The lithium-ion battery of claim 26, wherein the positive current collector comprises aluminum.

28. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the battery is nonhermetic.

29. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, further comprising a battery case in contact with the negative electrode, the battery case comprising aluminum.

30. The lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the active material of the negative electrode further comprises carbon and a poly(vinylidine fluoride) binder.

31. A lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode having a first capacity and comprising a foil current collector and an active material comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiCo_xNi(1-x)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.8, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3;

a liquid electrolyte;

a negative electrode having a second capacity that is not greater than the first capacity, the negative electrode comprising a foil current collector and a Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ active material; and

a porous polymeric separator provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

32. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.85.

33. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the ratio of the second capacity to the first capacity is 0.93.

34. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein at least one edge of the negative electrode does not extend beyond an adjacent edge of the positive electrode.

35. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the active material of the positive electrode is selected from the group consisting of LiCo_xNi_(1-x)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.8, LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂, LiAl_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and LiTi_xCo_yNi_(1-x-y)O₂ where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3.

36. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the electrolyte comprises LiPF₆ and at least one material selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbone, and diethylene carbonate.

37. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the negative electrode comprises an aluminum current collector.

38. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the battery is nonhermetic.

39. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have zero voltage below a corrosion potential of the aluminum current collector of the negative electrode.

40. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, further comprising a polymeric separator provided intermediate the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

41. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, further comprising a battery housing in contact with the negative electrode, the battery housing comprising aluminum.

42. The lithium-ion battery of claim 31, wherein the separator is configured to allow the electrolyte and lithium ions to flow through the separator.