Method of assembling components of an electrochemical generator using thin films of lithium

• US 4,897,917 A
• Filed: 07/13/1988
• Issued: 02/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Cook Composites and Polymers), Hydro-Quebec (Province of Québec)
• Original Assignee: Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Cook Composites and Polymers), Hydro-Quebec (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Gauthier, Michel, Belanger, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/218,243
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 29/623.3, 29/623.5, 429/192, 72/46
• US Class Current: 29/623.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/13 Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 Alloys based on lithium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/602 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/46 Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their combination with electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes
• 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 29/49112 including laminating of indefinite length material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating

Abstract

In order to assemble the components of an electrochemical generator using lithium, which are in the form of thin films and comprise a lithium- or lithium alloy-based negative electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte with conduction using the lithium ion, an intermediate assembly is used which consists of a thin film of lithium supported by a film of inert plastic with controlled adhesion to the lithium, as a precursor of the negative electrode. This intermediate assembly can be produced, inter alia, by rolling a sheet of lithium between two films of inert plastic.

Claims

1. A method for assembling the components of an electrochemical generator, wherein said components are in the form of thin films and comprise, as a first component, a lithium- or lithium alloy-based negative electrode and, as a second component, at least one thin film of a solid polymer electrolyte capable of conducting lithium ions, said method comprising:

(i) using a negative electrode precursor which consists of an intermediate assembly formed from a thin film of lithium or lithium alloy supported by an inert plastic film having controlled adhesion to the lithium such that the bond of the lithium-based film to said inert plastic film is sufficient to permit the handling of said intermediate assembly but is less than the bond of the lithium film to the solid polymer electrolyte of the component containing said electrolyte; and

(ii) applying the free metal surface of said intermediate assembly against said solid polymer electrolyte of the component containing said electrolyte by working these at a temperature and under a pressure sufficient to cause the lithium of said intermediate assembly to adhere to said solid polymer electrolyte.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising (iii)separating totally or partially said plastic film from the lithium by peeling.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising (i) obtaining said intermediate assembly by rolling the lithium between two films of inert plastic material, one of which is very easily peelable and the other is said film having said controlled adhesion to the lithium, wherein said controlled adhesion is intermediate between the adhesion of the very easily peelable film to the lithium and the adhesion of the lithium to said solid polymer electrolyte;

and (ii) applying the surface of said intermediate assembly bearing the very easily peelable film against said solid polymer electrolyte after said very easily peelable film has been removed by peeling.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising obtaining said intermediate assembly by depositing the thin film of lithium on the plastic film with controlled adhesion to the lithium by using a simple or assisted evaporating technique.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising obtaining said intermediate assembly by depositing the thin film of lithium on the plastic film with controlled adhesion to the lithium by using a technique for depositing the lithium in a melted state.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the film of inert plastic material with controlled adhesion to the lithium is a polypropylene or polyethylene film, in which the surface in contact with the lithium film has been treated with the crown effect in order to provide it with the desired adhesion to the lithium.

7. The method of claim 1, comprising carrying out the application of the intermediate assembly onto said solid polymer electrolyte at a temperature below 60°

C.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second component containing said solid polymer electrolyte film consists of a thin film of said electrolyte.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second component containing said solid polymer electrolyte film consists of a half-battery compound of a thin film positive electrode, one surface of which is covered with a film of polymer electrolyte, with the resulting assembly comprising a complete battery made up of a negative electrode and a lithium/solid polymer electrode/positive electrode.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising peeling, at least partially, the inert plastic film with controlled adhesion after producing the assembly, to provide for the collection of current or for the deposit of a metal collector.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the thin film of lithium of the intermediate assembly has a thickness of between 1 and 50 microns.