Method for passive metal activation and uses thereof

• US 10,644,304 B2
• Filed: 03/31/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Original Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Inventors: Ein-Eli, Yair, Gelman, Danny, Shvartsev, Boris, Kraytsberg, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Jelsma, Jonathan G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kekia, Omar M
• Application Number:
  US15/300,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20170179464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 429200
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/04 Steel or steel alloys
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 2103/10 Aluminium or alloys thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/3605 Fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 35/383 mainly containing noble gases or nitrogen
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 9/23 taking account of the properties of the materials to be welded
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 3/665 from ionic liquids
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/34 Pretreatment of metallic surfaces to be electroplated
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/38 of refractory metals or nickel
• CPC Class Codes: C25D 5/54 Electroplating of non-metallic surfaces C25D7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/054 Accumulators with insertion or intercalation of metals other than lithium, e.g. with magnesium or aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0569 characterised by the solvents
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/08 composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0045 Room temperature molten salts comprising at least one organic ion
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/044 Activating, forming or electrochemical attack of the supporting material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1395 of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/366 as layered products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/463 Aluminium based
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/502 for non-aqueous cells H01M4/505 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/628 : Inhibitors, e.g. gassing inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for activating a surface of metals, such as self-passivated metals, and of metal-oxide dissolution, effected using a fluoroanion-containing composition. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell utilizing an aluminum-containing anode material and a fluoroanion-containing electrolyte, characterized by high efficiency, low corrosion, and optionally mechanical or electrochemical rechargeability. Also disclosed is a process for fusing (welding, soldering etc.) a self-passivated metal at relatively low temperature and ambient atmosphere, and a method for electrodepositing a metal on a self-passivated metal using metal-oxide source.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell device comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, said anode comprises metallic aluminum as anodic fuel, said cathode is an air cathode and said electrolyte being a fluoroanion-containing composition, wherein:

said electrolyte comprises at least one [(HF)_nF]⁻

species, said at least one [(HF)_nF]⁻

species exhibits measurable spectral features in said electrolyte,

a surface of said anode exposed to said electrolyte comprises fluorohydrogenate-metal species (HF-species) such that said surface substantially exhibits said measurable spectral features after being washed with an organic solvent, and

the electrochemical cell device exhibits a discharge current higher than a corrosion current.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said anode is essentially devoid of a passivation layer.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said measurable spectral features are attenuated total reflection infrared peaks having a wavenumber range selected from the group consisting of from 3150 cm⁻

1 to 2840 cm<sup>−

1</sup>, from 1110 cm<sup>−

1</sup> to 800 cm<sup>−

1</sup>, from 2505 cm<sup>−

1</sup> to 2200 cm<sup>−

1</sup>, from 1920 cm<sup>−

1</sup> to 1600 cm<sup>−

1</sup> and/or from 1170 cm<sup>−

1</sup> to 870 cm<sup>−

1</sup>.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said anode comprises at least 99% aluminum.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluoroanion-containing composition comprises a room temperature ionic liquid (a fluoroanion-RTIL).

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said RTIL is EMIm(HF)_2.3F and/or Pyr₁₄(HF)_2.3F.