Molten salt electrolyte battery cell with overcharge tolerance

• US 4,851,306 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ARCH Development Corporation (University of Chicago)
• Original Assignee: ARCH Development Corporation (University of Chicago)
• Inventors: Kaun, Thomas D., Nelson, Paul A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US07/219,740
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 429/112, 429/218, 429/221, 429/223, 252/182.1, 29/623.1
• US Class Current: 429/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/399 Cells with molten salts
• 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 2300/0048 Molten electrolytes used at high temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/364 as mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/40 Alloys based on alkali metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/434 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making

Abstract

A molten salt electrolyte battery having an increased overcharge tolerance employs a negative electrode with two lithium alloy phases of different electrochemical potential, one of which allows self-discharge rates which permits battery cell equalization.

Claims

1. A lithium alloy battery having a plurality of cells, each with a positive electrode formed of FeS or FeS₂, and a negative electrode formed of two lithium alloy phases, one of aluminium and the other of aluminium and iron, with 2 mol % to 50 mol % of the iron in said alloy being substituted with either nickel or cobalt to define the position of the overcharge region in the electro chemical characteristic, a plurality of electrolyte matrices separating said positive and negative electrodes formed of porous magnesium oxide, said electrolyte matrices holding an electrolyte formed of a mixture of potassium bromide, lithium bromide, and lithium chloride.

2. The battery according to claim 1 in which said electrolyte comprises a eutectic mixture which is liquid under 400°

C.

3. The battery according to claim 1, in which said two lithium alloy phases are separated by at least 150 mv. of lithium activity;

one of said alloys of minus 270 to 150 and the other of 0 to minus 150 mv. relative to α

Al+β

LiAl alloy.

4. The battery according to claim 1, having a lithium activity plateau which begins at 75% to 98% of the theoretical maximum capacity of the battery, the position of said plateau being adjustable by adjusting the proportion of iron which is substituted with nickel or cobalt, to provide an adjustment of the charge rate and an adjustment of trickle charge tolerance to enable battery cell equalization.

5. A method of producing a lithium alloy battery having, improved resistance to destructive overcharging comprising the steps of providing a plurality of serially connected cells, each with a positive electrode formed of FeS or FeS₂, and a negative electrode formed of two lithium alloy phases, one of aluminum and the other of aluminum and iron, and substituting with either nickel or cobalt, a proportion of 2 mol % to 50 mol % of the iron in said alloy, to define the electro-chemical level of an overcharge zone at which self-discharge current is approximately equal to trickle charging current.

6. The method according to claim 5, including the step of employing magnesium oxide as an electrolyte matrix.

7. The method according to claim 6, including the step of using an electrolyte formed as a mixture of potassium bromide, lithium bromide and lithium chloride having at least 62 mol % lithium cations.

8. The method according to claim 6, including the step of using an electrolyte formed as a mixture of lithium fluoride, lithium bromide, and lithium chloride.

9. The method according to claim 7, including the step of using an electrolyte which is liquid under 400°

C.

10. The method according to claim 5, including the step of selecting said two lithium alloy phases to have a difference of at least 150 millivolts in electrochemical activity, one of said alloys of minus 270 to 150 and the other of 0 to minus 150 mv, relative to α

Al+β

LiAl alloy.

11. A method of producing a lithium alloy battery having improved resistance to destructive overcharging, comprising the steps of providing at least one cell with a positive electrode formed of transition metal sulfides and a negative electrode formed of two lithium alloy phases, said two phases being selected with a difference of at least 150 millivolts in electrical activity in the minus 300 millivolts to 0 millivolts relative to α

Al+β

LiAl reference, and electrolyte having at least 62 mol % lithium cations.