Thin-film batteries with polymer and LiPON electrolyte layers and method
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- providing an anode component comprising a first sheet that includes an anode material and a first LiPON layer covering the anode material and having randomly spaced defects;
providing a cathode component comprising a second sheet that includes a cathode material that includes lithium and a second LiPON layer covering the cathode material and having randomly spaced defects; and
sandwiching a polymer electrolyte material between the LiPON layer covering the anode material of the first sheet and the LiPON layer covering the cathode material of the second sheet, wherein the polymer electrolyte material includes a gel and at least partially fills and fixes the randomly spaced defects in the first and second LiPON layers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for making thin-film batteries having composite multi-layered electrolytes with soft electrolyte between hard electrolyte covering the negative and/or positive electrode, and the resulting batteries. In some embodiments, foil-core cathode sheets each having a cathode material (e.g., LiCoO2) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, and foil-core anode sheets having an anode material (e.g., lithium metal) covered by a hard electrolyte on both sides, are laminated using a soft (e.g., polymer gel) electrolyte sandwiched between alternating cathode and anode sheets. A hard glass-like electrolyte layer obtains a smooth hard positive-electrode lithium-metal layer upon charging, but when very thin, have randomly spaced pinholes/defects. When the hard layers are formed on both the positive and negative electrodes, one electrode'"'"'s dendrite-short-causing defects on are not aligned with the other electrode'"'"'s defects. The soft electrolyte layer both conducts ions across the gap between hard electrolyte layers and fills pinholes.
276 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
- providing an anode component comprising a first sheet that includes an anode material and a first LiPON layer covering the anode material and having randomly spaced defects;
providing a cathode component comprising a second sheet that includes a cathode material that includes lithium and a second LiPON layer covering the cathode material and having randomly spaced defects; and
sandwiching a polymer electrolyte material between the LiPON layer covering the anode material of the first sheet and the LiPON layer covering the cathode material of the second sheet, wherein the polymer electrolyte material includes a gel and at least partially fills and fixes the randomly spaced defects in the first and second LiPON layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
- providing an anode component comprising a first sheet that includes an anode material and a first LiPON layer covering the anode material and having randomly spaced defects;
Specification