Electrode assembly and method
First Claim
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1. A method for making an electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing an anode comprising an elongated strip of alkali metal;
(b) pressing a porous separator material into the strip of alkali metal;
(c) providing a cathode assembly comprising a metal strip with a reactive cathode material bonded to the metal strip; and
(d) winding the anode and the cathode assembly together in an elongated unidirectional winding by the steps of;
(1) placing a mandrel having opposing flat sides with one of the flat sides contacting one side of the cathode assembly such that the contacting flat side of the mandrel is aligned with an end of the cathode assembly;
(2) placing the anode against the cathode assembly on a side of the cathode assembly opposite to that against the mandrel such that a first end of the anode extends beyond the end of the cathode assembly substantially the same amount as the length of the opposing flat side of the mandrel;
(3) bending the anode over the end of the cathode assembly and over the end of the mandrel such that the first end of the anode is brought against the opposing flat side of the mandrel;
(4) bending both the anode and cathode assembly around the mandrel until the cathode assembly rests against the first end of the anode;
(5) continuing to wind the anode and cathode assembly together around the mandrel in the same direction while maintaining flat sides on the resulting winding until a second end of the anode is brought against the winding until a second end of the anode is brought against the winding; and
(6) removing the mandrel from the completed winding.
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Abstract
An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding. The anode includes an elongated strip of alkali metal which is combined with a separator material by pressing the separator material into the alkali metal under high pressure. The cathode assembly includes a cathode current collector and a cathode material bonded to the current collector at a uniform density of reactive material. The pressing of separator material into the anode can provide improved energy density in the cell.
134 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for making an electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an anode comprising an elongated strip of alkali metal; (b) pressing a porous separator material into the strip of alkali metal; (c) providing a cathode assembly comprising a metal strip with a reactive cathode material bonded to the metal strip; and (d) winding the anode and the cathode assembly together in an elongated unidirectional winding by the steps of; (1) placing a mandrel having opposing flat sides with one of the flat sides contacting one side of the cathode assembly such that the contacting flat side of the mandrel is aligned with an end of the cathode assembly; (2) placing the anode against the cathode assembly on a side of the cathode assembly opposite to that against the mandrel such that a first end of the anode extends beyond the end of the cathode assembly substantially the same amount as the length of the opposing flat side of the mandrel; (3) bending the anode over the end of the cathode assembly and over the end of the mandrel such that the first end of the anode is brought against the opposing flat side of the mandrel; (4) bending both the anode and cathode assembly around the mandrel until the cathode assembly rests against the first end of the anode; (5) continuing to wind the anode and cathode assembly together around the mandrel in the same direction while maintaining flat sides on the resulting winding until a second end of the anode is brought against the winding until a second end of the anode is brought against the winding; and (6) removing the mandrel from the completed winding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5)
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3. A method for making an electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing an anode comprising an elongated strip of alkali metal; (b) pressing a porous separator material into the strip of alkali metal; (c) providing a cathode assembly comprising a metal strip with a reactive cathode material bonded to the metal strip; and (d) winding the anode and the cathode assembly together in an elongated unidirectional winding by the steps of; (1) placing a mandrel having opposing flat sides with one of the flat sides contacting one side of the anode such that the contacting flat side of the mandrel is aligned with an end of the anode; (2) placing the cathode assembly against the anode on a side of the anode opposite to that against the mandrel such that a first end of the cathode assembly extends beyond the end of the anode substantially the same amount as the length of the opposing flat side of the mandrel; (3) bending the cathode assembly over the end of the anode and over the end of the mandrel such that the first end of the cathode assembly is brought against the opposing flat side of the mandrel; (4) bending both the anode and cathode assembly around the mandrel until the anode rests against the first end of the cathode assembly; (5) continuing to wind the anode and cathode assembly together around the mandrel in the same direction while maintaining flat sides on the resulting winding until a second end of the cathode assembly is brought against the winding; and (6) removing the mandrel from the completed winding. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification