Secondary electrolytic cell and electrolytic process
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrolytic cell comprising:
- an anode having an interface, a cathode and an electrolyte;
a surface layer applied to the interface of the anode, wherein the surface layer is constructed from a material which is in an initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium with the anodethe surface layer havingmeans for enabling transfer of ions from the anode to the electrolyte and back into contact with the anode, and, means for providing electronic conductivity in the surface layer upon formation of dendritic growth on the interface, to, in turn, substantially suppress the dendritic growth, so as to result in a substantially uniform distribution of metal ions back onto the anode during electrodeposition,the surface layer returning to its initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium after the substantial suppression of the dendritic growth.
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Abstract
An electrolytic cell and electrolytic process wherein the cell includes a metal anode (such as a lithium anode), a cathode and an electrolyte. A surface layer which is applied to the metal anode enables transfer of ions from the metal anode to the electrolyte and thus allows the ions to pass back into contact with the metal anode. The surface layer is also electronically conductive so that the ions will be uniformally attracted back onto the metal anode during electrodeposition to, in turn, substantially suppress dendrite growth and, in turn, substantially increase the cycle life of the cell.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrolytic cell comprising:
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an anode having an interface, a cathode and an electrolyte; a surface layer applied to the interface of the anode, wherein the surface layer is constructed from a material which is in an initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium with the anode the surface layer having means for enabling transfer of ions from the anode to the electrolyte and back into contact with the anode, and, means for providing electronic conductivity in the surface layer upon formation of dendritic growth on the interface, to, in turn, substantially suppress the dendritic growth, so as to result in a substantially uniform distribution of metal ions back onto the anode during electrodeposition, the surface layer returning to its initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium after the substantial suppression of the dendritic growth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrolytic cell comprising:
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an anode having an interface, a cathode and an electrolyte; and a surface layer applied to the interface of the anode, the surface layer including a copolymer which enables transfer of ions from the anode to the electrolyte and back into operable contact with the anode, and, which becomes electronically conductive upon formation of dendritic growth at the interface. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A rechargeable battery comprising:
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a metal anode having an interface, a cathode and an electrolyte; means for substantially suppressing dendritic growth on the interface of the metal anode during electrodeposition, the means for substantially suppressing dendritic growth including a surface layer applied to the interface of the metal anode, wherein the surface layer is constructed from a material which is in an initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium with the metal anode, the surface layer having means for enabling transfer of ions from the metal anode to the electrolyte and back into operable contact with the metal anode, and, means for providing electronic conductivity in the surface layer upon formation of dendritic growth on the interface to, in turn, substantially suppress the dendritic growth, so as to result in a substantially uniform attraction of metal ions back onto the metal anode during electrodeposition, the surface layer returning to its initial state of substantial chemical equilibrium after the substantial suppression of the dendritic growth. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrolytic process comprising the steps of:
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connecting two electrodes separated and positioned within an electrolyte, at least one of the two electrodes being an anode substantially constructed from an alkali metal and wherein the anode is at least partially coated with a surface layer; producing an electric field from the anode interface into the electrolyte; attracting alkali metal ions from the anode interface and through the surface layer; electrodepositing the alkali metal ions onto the alkali metal anode; conducting electrons in the surface layer upon formation of radical anions at an interface between the surface layer and the alkali metal anode upon formation of dendritic growth; maintaining the conductivity of electrons until the dendritic growth is substantially suppressed; returning the surface layer to a state of substantial chemical equilibrium after dendritic growth has been substantially suppressed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification