Negative-limited lithium-ion battery

• US 8,383,269 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Scott, Erik R., Jain, Gaurav, Eberman, Kevin W., Schmidt, Craig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): WEINER, LAURA S
• Application Number:
  US13/086,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20110281148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• Field of Search: 429/231.5, 429/332, 429/330, 429/94, 429/249, 429/247, 429/129, 429/96, 429/163, 429/231.1, 429/231.3
• US Class Current: 429/231.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• 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 2010/4292 Aspects relating to capacity ratio of electrodes/electrolyte or anode/cathode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/131 Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• 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

A rechargeable lithium-ion battery includes a positive electrode having a first capacity and a negative electrode having a second capacity that is less than the first capacity such that the battery has a negative-limited design. The negative electrode includes a lithium titanate active material. A liquid electrolyte that includes a lithium salt dissolved in at least one non-aqueous solvent a porous polymeric separator are located between the positive electrode and negative electrode. The separator is configured to allow lithium ions to flow through the separator.

Claims

1. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery comprising:

a housing comprising titanium or a titanium alloy;

a positive electrode having a first capacity and comprising an active material selected from the group consisting of LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNiO₂, LiCoPO₄, LiCoPO₄F, and LiFeMn<sub>2−

x</sub>O₄ (where O<

×

<

0.5);

a negative electrode having a second capacity that is less than the first capacity such that the battery has a negative-limited design, the negative electrode comprising a Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ active material;

a liquid electrolyte comprising a lithium salt dissolved in at least one non-aqueous solvent; and

a porous polymeric separator located between the positive electrode and negative electrode, wherein the separator is configured to allow lithium ions to flow through the separator;

wherein the negative electrode has a capacity fade rate that is lower than that of the positive electrode.

2. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has a total irreversible capacity loss after formation of between approximately 12 and 20 percent.

3. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has a zero volt crossing potential that is above the level where the active material of the positive electrode degrades.

4. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the liquid electrolyte does not include additives intended to prevent degradation due to oxidation of the positive electrode.

5. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ active material is configured to cycle lithium at a potential of greater than 0.2 volts versus a lithium reference electrode.

6. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the second capacity is less than approximately ninety percent of the first capacity.

7. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte consists essentially of ethylene carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate, and a salt of LiPF₆.

8. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 7, wherein the electrolyte does not include additives that are intended to prevent degradation due to oxidation of the positive electrode.

9. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte does not include a molten salt.

10. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has an intended operating range of between 2.8 volts and 1.8 volts.

11. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound electrodes.

12. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery comprising:

a positive electrode comprising an active material selected from the group consisting LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNiO₂, LiCoPO₄, LiCoPO₄F, and LiFeMn<sub>2−

x</sub>O₄ (where O<

×

<

0.5);

a negative electrode comprising a Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ active material that cycles lithium at a potential of greater than 0.2 volts versus a lithium reference electrode;

a liquid electrolyte comprising ethylene carbonate and free of molten salt;

a porous polymeric separator; and

wherein the positive electrode, negative electrode, liquid electrolyte, and porous polymeric separator are within a case formed of a materials selected from the group consisting of titanium and a titanium alloy;

wherein the positive electrode has a first capacity and the negative electrode has a second capacity, the second capacity being less than the first capacity such that the battery is negative-limited, whereby the battery exhibits improved resistance to capacity fade after repeated cycling as compared to batteries having balanced electrode capacities; and

wherein the negative electrode has a capacity fade rate that is lower than that of the positive electrode.

13. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 12, wherein the battery has a total irreversible capacity loss after formation of between approximately 12 and 20 percent.

14. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 12, wherein the battery has a zero volt crossing potential that is above the level where the active material of the positive electrode degrades.

15. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 12, wherein the liquid electrolyte further comprises ethylmethyl carbonate and a salt of LiPF₆.

16. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 15, wherein the liquid electrolyte does not include biphenyl.

17. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 12, wherein the second capacity is less than approximately ninety percent of the first capacity.

18. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 12, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are provided as wound electrodes.

19. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery comprising:

a housing comprising titanium or a titanium alloy;

a positive electrode comprising an active material selected from the group consisting LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNiO₂, LiCoPO₄, LiCoPO₄F, and LiFeMn<sub>2−

x</sub>O₄ (where O<

×

<

0.5);

a negative electrode comprising a Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ active material;

a liquid electrolyte that is free of molten salt; and

a porous polymeric separator;

wherein the rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a negative-limited cell balance such that the positive electrode has greater capacity than the negative electrode and wherein the capacity fade rate of the negative electrode is less than that of the positive electrode; and

wherein the negative electrode has a capacity fade rate that is lower than that of the positive electrode.

20. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 19, wherein the rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a total irreversible capacity loss after formation of between approximately 12 and 20 percent.

21. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 19, wherein the rechargeable lithium-ion battery has a zero volt crossing potential that is above the level where the active material of the positive electrode degrades.

22. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 19, wherein the liquid electrolyte consists essentially of ethylene carbonate, ethylmethyl carbonate, and a salt of LiPF₆.

23. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 19, wherein the rechargeable lithium-ion battery has an intended operating range of between 2.8 volts and 1.8volts.

24. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery of claim 19, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are provided as wound electrodes.