Thermal runaway inhibitors

• US 6,746,794 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Techdrive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: H-TECH, INC.
• Inventors: Mandal, Braja K., Filler, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANEY, CAROL DIANE
• Application Number:
  US09/879,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 252/62.2, 429/188, 429/324, 429/326, 429/62
• US Class Current: 429/62
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 21/12 containing phosphorus
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0567 characterised by the additives
• 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 6/42 Grouping of primary cells into batteries H01M6/40 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

The present invention provides for a battery having an anode, a cathode, and a flame-retarding electrolyte with a conductivity greater than about 10⁻³ S/cm at ambient temperature and which includes a compound that chemically interferes with flame propagation.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

an electrolyte having conductivity greater than about 10<sup>−

3</sup> S/cm at ambient temperature and which includes a compound that chemically interferes with flame propagation;

wherein the compound that chemically interferes with flame propagation comprises a compound having the general structure;

wherein X is oxygen;

wherein R₁ is a C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl moiety that is terminally substituted with zero to three halogen atoms;

wherein R₂ is a C₁ to C₁₂ alkyl moiety that is terminally substituted with zero to three halogen atoms;

wherein Z is an oxy derivative of an aryl moiety;

wherein m is an integer from 1 to 4; and

wherein the compound that chemically interferes with flame propagation is selected from the group consisting of;

diethyl(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl)phosphate and benzene-1,4-bis-diethylphosphate.

2. A method of producing a battery according to claim 1, wherein the compound that chemically interferes with flame propagation is produced by a process comprising the steps of:

providing a first starting material comprising 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol;

mixing the starting material with a sufficient amount of an organic solvent in which the starting material is essentially soluble to form a solution;

mixing the solution with a base to form a first reaction mixture;

adjusting the temperature of the first reaction mixture to produce a first chemical reaction;

adding a second starting material comprising a dialkylhalophosphate to the first reaction mixture to form a second reaction mixture;

adjusting the temperature of the second reaction mixture to produce a second chemical reaction;

removing the organic solvent to produce a thermal runaway inhibitor

wherein the thermal runaway inhibitor is diethyl(2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenyl)phosphate.