Electrochemical cell with clovoborate salt in electrolyte and method of operation and composition of matter

• US 4,020,240 A
• Filed: 09/03/1975
• Issued: 04/26/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Duracell Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: P R Mallory & Company Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Inventors: Schlaikjer, Carl R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US05/610,518
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 136/155, 136/6 LN, 136/, 252/62.2, 429/50, 429/196, 429/199, 429/200
• US Class Current: 429/50
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 35/06 Boron halogen compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 35/10 Compounds containing boron and oxygen C01B35/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 6/00 Hydrides of metals including fully or partially hydrided metals, alloys or intermetallic compounds use of some thereof for reversible sorption of hydrogen C01B3/0005, C01B3/508; Compounds containing at least one metal-hydrogen bond, e.g. (GeH3)2S, SiH GeH; Monoborane or diborane; Addition complexes thereof higher hydrides of boron, substituted hydrides of boron C01B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0563 Liquid materials, e.g. for Li-SOCl2 cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/14 Cells with non-aqueous electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrolyte salt containing a clovoborate anion structure when employed in an electrochemical cell comprising an active metal anode and an electrolyte solvent/cathode depolarizer has the characteristics of high potential and current capabilities at low temperatures and resists anode passivation during long time storage even at elevated temperatures.

Claims

1. A composition of matter including a compound having a metal cation and a clovoborate anion as an electrolyte salt and a material selected from the group consisting of fluid oxyhalides, fluid non-metallic oxides, fluid non-metallic halides and mixtures thereof.

2. The composition of matter of claim 1, wherein said metal is selected from the metals of the group Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba or combinations thereof.

3. The composition of matter of claim 1, wherein said metal is lithium.

4. The composition of matter of claim 1, wherein the clovoborate anion has a formula (B_m X_n)^-k wherein m, n, and k are integers with m ranging from 6-20, n ranging from 6-18 and k ranging from 1-4, B is boron, and X is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OH and combination thereof.

5. The composition of matter of claim 1, wherein said clovoborate anion is B₁₀ Cl₁₀⁼.

6. The composition of matter of claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group of SO₂, SO₃, VOCl₃, CrO₂ Cl₂, SO₂ Cl₂, NO₂ Cl, NOCl, NO₂, SeOCl₂, POCl₃, SOCl₂, S₂ Cl₂, S₂ Br₂.

7. The composition of matter of claim 6, wherein said oxyhalide is SOCl₂.

8. A composition of matter including Li₂ B₁₀ Cl₁₀ and SOCl₂.

9. An electrochemical cell including a metal anode, a cathode, and as electrolyte salt a salt including a metal cation and a clovoborate anion.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said metal anode is comprised of metals selected from the group Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba or combinations thereof.

11. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said metal is Li.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said cathode comprises a cathode depolarizer.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12, wherein said cathode depolarizer comprises a material selected from a fluid, oxyhalide or a fluid non-metallic oxide or a fluid non-metallic halide and mixtures thereof.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 13, wherein said fluid oxyhalide or fluid non-metallic oxide or fluid non-metallic halide are selected from SO₂, SO₃, VOCl₃, CrO₂ Cl₂, SO₂ Cl₂, NO₂ CL, NOCl, NO₂, SeOCl₂, POCl₃, SOCl₂, S₂ Cl₂, and S₂ Br₂.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein said cathode depolarizer is SOCl₂.

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein the cation of a metal is a cation of a metal selected from the group Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba along or combinations thereof.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein said metal is Li.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein the clovoborate anion has a formula (B_m X_n)^-k wherein m, n and k are integers with m ranging from 6-20, n ranging from 6-18 and k ranging from 1-4, B is boron, and x is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OH and combinations thereof.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein X is a halogen (F, Cl, Br, I) or mixtures thereof.

20. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein the clovoborate anion is B₁₀ Cl₁₀⁼.

21. The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said electrolyte salt is Li₂ B₁₀ Cl₁₀.

22. The electrochemical cell of claim 21, wherein said cathode is SOCl₂ and said cathode and said electrolyte salt are present in a ratio such that the conductivity of the resulting electrolyte solution at 20°

C is in the range of 4 ×

10^-9 ohm^-1 cm^-1 to 1.0 ×

10^-1 ohm^-1 cm^-1.

23. A method for transporting ions between an anode and a cathode comprising the steps of dissolving in a fluid an electrolyte salt having a metal cation and clovoborate anion, and electrically conductively connecting said anode and cathode.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said metal as Li.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the clovoborate anion has a formula (B_m X_n)^-k wherein m, n and k are integers, B is boron, and X is selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, OH and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said clovoborate anion is B₁₀ Cl₁₀⁼.