LITHIUM/AIR BATTERIES WITH LiPON AS SEPARATOR AND PROTECTIVE BARRIER AND METHOD

• US 20070243454A1
• Filed: 04/24/2007
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cymbet Corporation
• Inventors: Klaassen, Jody
• Granted Patent: US 7,344,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/52
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 12/06 with one metallic and one gaseous electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/96 Carbon-based electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/431 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making lithium/air batteries with LiPON as separator and protective barrier, and the resulting cell(s) and/or battery(s). Some embodiments include an apparatus that includes a lithium anode; a polymer-air cathode; and a LiPON separator between the anode and cathode. In some embodiments, the polymer-air cathode includes a carbon-polyfluoroacrylate material. In some embodiments, the anode overlays a copper anode contact.

Claims

1. An lithium/air battery apparatus comprising:

a lithium anode;

a porous solid-state inorganic air cathode that includes codeposited carbon and LiPON; and

a LiPON separator between the anode and cathode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is porous on a submicron scale.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is formed using a vacuum-deposition technique.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is formed using glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is porous on a submicron scale formed using a vacuum-deposition technique of glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is formed in a highly columnar, open structure thin-film by adjusting the deposition conditions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode is formed by deposition under increased pressure.

2. (canceled)

3. A method for making a lithium/air battery, the method comprising:

depositing a LiPON separator on a substrate;

depositing a lithium anode on the substrate through the LiPON separator;

codepositing a porous solid-state inorganic air cathode on the LiPON separator wherein the codepositing of the cathode includes codepositing carbon and LiPON.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the codepositing includes forming the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode as porous on a submicron scale.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein the codepositing includes using a vacuum-deposition technique.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the codepositing includes using glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

13. The method of claim 3, wherein codepositing includes using a vacuum-deposition technique of glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the codepositing includes forming the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode in a highly columnar, open structure thin-film by adjusting the deposition conditions.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming of the cathode in the highly columnar, open structure includes depositing under increased pressure.

16. An apparatus for making a lithium/air battery, the apparatus comprising:

means for depositing a LiPON separator on a substrate;

means for depositing a lithium anode on the substrate through the LiPON separator;

means for codepositing a material that includes carbon and LiPON to form a porous solid-state inorganic air cathode on the LiPON separator.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for codepositing uses a vacuum-deposition technique.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for codepositing uses glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein means for codepositing uses a vacuum-deposition technique of glancing angle deposition (GLAD).

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the means for codepositing includes means for forming the porous solid-state inorganic air cathode in a highly columnar, open structure thin-film.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for forming the cathode in the highly columnar, open structure includes means for depositing under increased pressure.