Isostatic compression method for producing solid state electrochemical cells

• US 4,477,545 A
• Filed: 06/29/1983
• Issued: 10/16/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eveready Battery Company Incorporated (Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Akridge, James R., Vourlis, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US06/509,133
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 429/191, 429/213, 429/218, 429/192, 429/193, 29/623.1
• US Class Current: 429/323
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/08 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/188 Processes of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A method for manufacturing solid state electrochemical cells comprising isostatically compressing a cell subassembly comprising a malleable metal anode at a pressure of between about 10,000 and 100,000 psi.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing solid state electrochemical cells comprising isostatically compressing at least one cell preassembly which preassembly comprises a malleable metal anode selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, copper, silver, lead, and alloys and mixtures thereof at a pressure of between about 10,000 and about 100,000 pounds per square inch.

2. A method for producing solid state electrochemical cells comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a cell preassembly comprising a malleable metal anode selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, aluminum, copper, silver, lead, and alloys and mixtures thereof;

(b) isostatically compressing the cell preassembly at a pressure of between about 10,000 and about 100,000 pounds per square inch; and

(c) finishing the isostatically compressed cell by sealing said cell into a cell container.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the cell preassembly of step (a) is encased in a plastic medium prior to its isostatic compression in step (b).

4. The method of claim 2 wherein isopropyl alcohol is employed as the pressurizing medium in step (b).

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the cell preassembly is comprised of a lithium anode, a TiS₂ cathode and 2.5 LiI.Li₄ P₂ S₇ electrolyte.

6. The methods of claim 5 wherein the cell preassembly is heated to between about 90°

C. and about 100°

C. in step (b).

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the cell preassembly comprises an electrolyte of the formula SiS₂.xLi₂ S.yLiI where x is from 0.8 to 1.5 and y is from 0 to about 2.

8. An electrochemical cell produced in accordance with the method of claim 2.