Battery structures and related methods

• US 8,709,647 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A123 Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: A123 Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Gozdz, Antoni S., Holman, Richard K., Loxley, Andrew L., Wilkins, Ronnie
• Primary Examiner(s): DOVE, TRACY MAE
• Application Number:
  US13/299,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 429/122, 429/189, 429/231.95, 429/249, 429/221
• US Class Current: 429/189
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 11/06 with one of the electrodes allowing ions to be reversibly doped thereinto, e.g. lithium ion capacitors [LIC]
• 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 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/386 Silicon or alloys based on silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/387 Tin or alloys based on tin
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 Alloys based on lithium
• 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 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

An electrochemical device includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector, a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector and a crosslinked solid polymer in contact with the first and second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a network of electrically connected particles comprising an electroactive material, and the particles of one electrode exert a repelling force on the other electrode when the first and second electrodes are combined with an uncrosslinked precursor to the solid polymer.

Claims

1. A composition for use in the formation of an electronic device, comprising:

a mixture of a liquid polymer precursor that is crosslinkable to form a solid polymer;

at least one component of a first electrode; and

at least one component of a second electrode, wherein the components of the first and second electrodes are selected to exert a repelling force on each other when combined with the polymer precursor; and

wherein the first electrode has a refractive index n₁, the second electrode has a refractive index n₃, the liquid polymer precursor has a refractive index n₂, and n₁<

n₂<

n₃.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than about 100000 cP.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than about 10000 cP.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition has a viscosity of less than about 1000 cP.

5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor has a viscosity in the range of about 10 to 10000 cP.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor has a viscosity in the range of about 10 to 1000 cP.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor has a viscosity in the range of about 10 to 100 cP.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one component of the first electrode is present at a % wt. solids in the range of about 10 to 80.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one component of the second electrode is present at a % wt. solids in the range of about 10 to 80.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor comprises a crosslinkable poly(oxymethylene), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(propylene oxide), their mixtures, or their copolymers.

11. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor comprises a hydroxy-terminated poly(ethylene glycol).

12. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a crosslinking agent.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein the polymer precursor is crosslinkable with polyisocyanates, polyphenolics, melamine or melamine formaldehyde condensates.

14. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor is vinyl terminated.

15. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer electrolyte precursor is crosslinkable upon application of heat.

16. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polymer precursor is crosslinkable upon application of visible or uv energy, x-ray, e-beam or gamma ray.