LITHIUM-ION BATTERY

• US 20110133699A1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• 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 9,077,022 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• 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 10/0568 characterised by the solutes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0569 characterised by the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4235 Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte H01M10/4242 takes precedence
• 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 4/485 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 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/623 fluorinated 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a battery case. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector, a first material of the form Li_1−xMO₂, where M is a metal, and a second material including carbon. The negative electrode includes a negative current collector, a third material including a lithium titanate material, and a fourth material including carbon. The battery case includes titanium and at least partially surrounds the positive and negative electrodes.

Claims

1. A lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode comprising;

a positive current collector;

a first material of the form Li<sub>1−

x</sub>MO₂, where M is a metal; and

a second material comprising carbon; and

a negative electrode comprising;

a negative current collector;

a third material comprising a lithium titanate material; and

a fourth material comprising carbon; and

a battery case comprising titanium, and at least partially surrounding the positive and negative electrodes.

2. The lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the battery is configured for a charging and discharging capacity of the positive electrode that is below a corrosion potential of the negative current collector.

3. The lithium-ion battery of claim 2, wherein the battery is configured for a charging and discharging capacity of the positive electrode that is above a decomposition potential of the first material.

4. The lithium-ion battery of claim 3, wherein the positive and negative current collectors comprise a thin foil comprising aluminum.

5. The lithium-ion battery of claim 4, wherein the first material comprises lithium cobalt oxide.

6. The lithium-ion battery of claim 5, wherein the fourth material comprises carbon black.

7. The lithium-ion battery of claim 6, further comprising:

an electrolyte comprising lithium hexafluorophosphate and ethylene carbonate.

8. The lithium-ion battery of claim 7, wherein the positive and negative electrodes further comprise a binder comprising polyvinylidene fluoride.

9. A lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode comprising;

a positive current collector;

a primary active material; and

a secondary active material;

a negative electrode comprising;

a negative current collector; and

an active material provided on the negative current collector;

wherein the secondary active material does not include lithium, and

wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode have a zero voltage crossing potential below the corrosion potential of the negative current collector and above the decomposition potential of the primary active material.

10. The lithium-ion battery of claim 9, wherein the primary active material is selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiCo_1/3Mn_1/3Ni_1/3O₂, LiCo_0.2Mn_0.4Ni_0.4O₂, LiCo_0.8Mn_0.1Ni_0.1O₂, LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂, LiNi₍₁₋

x−

y)Co_yAl_xO₂, where x is between approximately 0.05 and 0.3 and y is between approximately 0.1 and 0.3, and combinations thereof.

11. The lithium-ion battery of claim 10, wherein the active material provided on the negative current collector comprises a carbonaceous material.

12. The lithium-ion battery of claim 10, wherein the active material provided on the negative current collector comprises a lithium titanate material.

13. The lithium-ion battery of claim 12, further comprising a conductive additive coupled to the negative electrode.

14. The lithium-ion battery of claim 13, wherein the conductive additive comprises carbon.

15. A method of preventing over-discharge of a battery used while treating a medical condition of a patient comprising:

providing a medical device;

providing a battery in electrical contact with the medical device, the battery comprising;

a positive electrode comprising a first active material;

a negative electrode comprising a second active material; and

an auxiliary electrode comprising a third active material, the auxiliary electrode configured for repeated, selective electrical connection to at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and

electrically connecting the auxiliary electrode to at least one of the negative electrode or the positive electrode when a predetermined condition is met;

the first active material, the second active material, and the third active material being configured to allow doping and undoping of lithium ions; and

the third active material exhibiting charging and discharging capacity below a corrosion potential of the current collector of the negative electrode and above a decomposition potential of the first active material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises the potential of the negative electrode exceeding the potential of the auxiliary electrode by a predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined condition comprises a difference between the voltage of the negative electrode and the positive electrode falling below a predetermined value.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of electrically connecting the auxiliary electrode to at least one of the negative electrode or the positive electrode further comprises connecting the auxiliary electrode to at least one of the negative electrode or the positive electrode using at least one of a diode or a switch.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising electrically disconnecting the auxiliary electrode from the negative electrode or the positive electrode when a second predetermined condition is met.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of implanting at least a portion of the medical device in the patient, and charging the battery without removing the implanted portion of the medical device from the patient.