SMALL-SCALE BATTERIES AND ELECTRODES FOR USE THEREOF

• US 20110097623A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Incorporated, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Lai, Wei, Marinis, Thomas F. JR., Larsen, Robert A., Erdonmez, Can K., Chiang, Yet-Ming, Bjune, Caroline K.
• Application Number:
  US12/866,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20110097623A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/163
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0472 Vertically superposed cells with vertically disposed plates
• 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 10/058 Construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/117 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/1245 characterised by the external coating on the casing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/15 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/153 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/16 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/169 by welding, brazing or soldering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/176 for prismatic or rectangular cells H01M50/181 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/186 characterised by the disposition of the sealing members
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/191 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4911 including sealing

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to batteries or other electrochemical devices. In some embodiments, the present invention relates to small-scale batteries or microbatteries. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a battery may have a volume of no more than about 5 mm3, while having an energy density of at least about 400 Wh/l. Other aspect of the invention is directed to techniques of packaging such batteries.

Claims

1. An article, comprising:

a battery comprising an entire anode, an electrolyte, and an entire cathode, the battery having a volume of no more than about 10 mm³, the battery being contained within a sealed container including at least one metallized portion.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a lid, the lid comprising the metallized portion.

3. The article of claim 1, wherein the lid comprises a metallic feedthrough.

5. The article of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a liquid electrolyte.

6. The article of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a polymer electrolyte.

7. The article of claim 1, wherein the battery has a volume of no more than about 5 mm³.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the container is a 5-sided container.

54. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealed container comprises one or more of a polymer, a metal, and a ceramic.

4. An article, comprising:

a battery comprising an entire anode, an electrolyte, and an entire cathode, the battery having a volume of no more than about 10 mm³, the battery being contained within a sealed container including at least one metallic feedthrough.

9. A method, comprising:

positioning a polymer film containing one or more metallized portions containing solder adjacent a container at least partially enveloping a battery, wherein the battery includes an entire anode, an electrolyte, and an entire cathode, and the battery has a volume of no more than about 10 mm³;

heating the one or more metallized portions to at least partially melt the solder; and

forming a seal between the container and the polymer film.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the act of heating comprises heating using high intensity light.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the battery includes an entire anode, an electrolyte, and an entire cathode, and the battery has a volume of no more than about 5 mm³.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the container comprises a metal.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning a mask over the polymer film.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mask comprises glass.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mask contains reflective foil.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the container is a 5-sided container.

34. The method of claim 9, wherein the container comprises copper.

35. The method of claim 9, wherein the container comprises nickel.

36. The method of claim 9, wherein the container comprises gold.

37. The method of claim 9, wherein the container comprises silver.

53. The method of claim 9, wherein the polymer film comprises a metallization layer deposited thereon.

10-11. -11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

16-17. -17. (canceled)

22-33. -33. (canceled)

38-52. -52. (canceled)