Rechargeable thin-film electrochemical generator

• US 6,120,930 A
• Filed: 07/25/1997
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company), Avestor (Bolloré SE), Bathium Canada Inc. (Bolloré SE)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company), Hydro-Quebec (Province of Québec)
• Inventors: Domroese, Michael K., Ranger, Michel, Sudano, Anthony, Hoffman, Joseph A., Trice, Jennifer L., Rouillard, Roger, Radewald, Vern E., Lindeman, David D., Turgeon, Thomas A., Noel, Joseph-Robert-Gaetan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nuzzolillo, Maria
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOVE, TRACY MAE
• Application Number:
  US08/900,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 429/162, 429/127, 429/120, 429/153, 429/66, 429/94
• US Class Current: 429/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/647 Prismatic or flat cells, e.g. pouch cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/653 characterised by electrically insulating or thermally conductive materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6553 Terminals or leads
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6554 Rods or plates
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/6556 Solid parts with flow channel passages or pipes for heat exchange closed pipes H01M10/6552
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2006/106 Elliptic wound cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/534 characterised by the material of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/538 Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks
• 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

Abstract

An improved electrochemical generator is disclosed. The electrochemical generator includes a thin-film electrochemical cell which is maintained in a state of compression through use of an internal or an external pressure apparatus. A thermal conductor, which is connected to at least one of the positive or negative contacts of the cell, conducts current into and out of the cell and also conducts thermal energy between the cell and thermally conductive, electrically resistive material disposed on a vessel wall adjacent the conductor. The thermally conductive, electrically resistive material may include an anodized coating or a thin sheet of a plastic, mineral-based material or conductive polymer material. The thermal conductor is fabricated to include a resilient portion which expands and contracts to maintain mechanical contact between the cell and the thermally conductive material in the presence of relative movement between the cell and the wall structure. The electrochemical generator may be disposed in a hermetically sealed housing.

Claims

1. An electrochemical generator, comprising:

a thin-film electrochemical cell maintained in a state of compression, the electrochemical cell subject to volumetric changes during charge and discharge cycling of the electrochemical cell; and

a conductor, defining one of a positive or a negative contact for the electrochemical cell, which conducts current into and out of the electrochemical cell and conducts thermal energy between the electrochemical cell and thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed adjacent the conductor.

2. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein a pressure apparatus external to the electrochemical cell maintains the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

3. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein a pressure apparatus internal to the electrochemical cell maintains the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

4. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises one of a foam element or a metal spring element to maintain the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

5. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, further comprising:

a first plate and a second plate disposed adjacent opposing side surfaces of the electrochemical cell, respectively; and

a spring member engaging one or both of the first and second plates for producing a force so as to maintain the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

6. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises an integral spring.

7. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a spring mechanism having one of a substantially C-shaped, double C-shaped, Z-shaped, V-shaped, O-shaped, L-shaped or finger-shaped cross-section.

16. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the conductor is spot welded to a metalization layer provided along an edge of the electrochemical cell, the current being conducted laterally along the metalization layer.

17. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell and the conductor are disposed in a hermetically sealed enclosure.

18. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed adjacent the conductor comprises an electrically insulating material.

19. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises a flexible lead that attaches to an external connection for conducting current into and out of the electrochemical cell.

20. The electrochemical generator of claim 1, wherein the conductor comprises laterally offset anode or cathode current collecting films of the electrochemical cell.

8. An electrochemical generator, comprising:

an enclosure including a first stationary structure and a second stationary structure;

a thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed on the first stationary structure;

a thin-film electrochemical cell, including a spring conductor defining one of a positive or a negative contact for the electrochemical cell, disposed between the first and second stationary structures, the spring conductor defining a current flux path for conducting current between the electrochemical cell and a contact external to the electrochemical cell, and defining a thermal flux path for conducting thermal energy between the electrochemical cell and the thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed on the first stationary structure; and

a pressure apparatus that maintains the electrochemical cell in a state of compression, the electrochemical cell subject to volumetric changes during charge and discharge cycling of the electrochemical cell.

9. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the spring conductor maintains substantially continuous mechanical engagement with the thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed on the first stationary structure in response to relative displacement between the electrochemical cell and the first stationary structure.

10. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the spring conductor expands and contracts to accommodate variations in a separation distance between the electrochemical cell and the first stationary structure.

11. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the enclosure is a hermetically sealed enclosure.

12. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, further comprising one of an internal pressure apparatus or an external pressure apparatus, with respect to the electrochemical cell, that maintains the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

13. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises one of a foam element or a metal spring element to maintain the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

14. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, further comprising:

a first plate and a second plate disposed adjacent opposing side surfaces of the electrochemical cell, respectively; and

a spring member engaging one or both of the first and second plates for producing a force so as to maintain the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

15. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, further comprising a pressure apparatus external to the electrochemical cell and engaging one of the first and second stationary structures that generates a force exerted on the electrochemical cell so as to maintain the electrochemical cell in the state of compression.

21. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the spring conductor is spot welded to a metalization layer provided along an edge of the electrochemical cell, the current being conducted laterally along the metalization layer.

22. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the thermally conductive and electrically resistive material disposed on the first stationary structure comprises an electrically insulating material.

23. The electrochemical generator of claim 8, wherein the spring conductor comprises laterally offset anode or cathode current collecting films of the electrochemical cell.