Evaluation method of separator for nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and nonaqueous electrolyte battery

• US 8,018,233 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Iwanaga, Masato, Yamashita, Noriko
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Huy Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, LAMARR A
• Application Number:
  US12/145,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 297/00, 297/30, 297/007.3, 429/223, 429/199, 429/164, 429/88, 429/90, 429/126, 429/231.95, 429/123.95, 324/432, 324/444, 324/426, 324/427, 205/335, 320/132, 320/134, 320/162
• US Class Current: 324/426
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4207 for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/50 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance, e.g. for maintaining operating temperature constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53 Means to assemble or disassemble
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention includes: placing opposite an upper jig 21 serving also as a conductive electrode and a lower jig 23 serving also as a conductive electrode in both sides of the separator sample 22; and measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 while applying a pressure to between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 to evaluate the separator. At this time, by fitting a foreign material 28 in any shape between the separator sample 22 and one of the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23, an evaluation of the separator simulating the presence of a foreign material affecting adversely the separator can be performed.

Claims

1. An evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery, the method comprising:

placing a pair of conductive electrodes on opposite sides of the separator; and

measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the pair of conductive electrodes while applying a pressure to the pair of conductive electrodes,

wherein the separator is evaluated by either

(i) applying a constant voltage to the pair of conductive electrodes and increasing the pressure applied to the pair of conductive electrodes to measure the pressure when a dielectric breakdown between the pair of conductive electrodes has been caused, or

(ii) applying a constant pressure to the pair of conductive electrodes and increasing the voltage applied to the pair of conductive electrodes to measure the voltage when a dielectric breakdown between the pair of conductive electrodes has been caused.

2. The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to claim 1, wherein a foreign material with a predetermined shape is fitted between any one of the pair of conductive electrodes and the separator.

3. The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to claim 1, wherein the pair of conductive electrodes have planar surfaces facing each other in parallel.

4. The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to claim 3,

wherein a first one of the pair of conductive electrodes has a surface area larger than an area of the opposite surface of a second one of the pair of electrodes, the other electrode, and

wherein the first one of the pair of conductive electrodes is composed of a planar surface member placed on a supporting base.

5. The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to claim 1, wherein a compression testing machine is used as a means for applying the pressure to the pair of conductive electrodes.