Multiply stacked electrochemical cell and method for preparing the same

• US 6,726,733 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2001
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Energy Solution Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Chem Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahn, Soon-Ho, Lee, Jae-Hyun, Kim, Kyung-Joon, Lee, Hyang-Mok
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parsons, Thomas H.
• Application Number:
  US09/958,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20020160258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• Field of Search: 429/152, 429/153, 429/130, 429/163, 429/9, 429/128, 296/233
• US Class Current: 29/623.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0413 Large-sized flat cells or batteries for motive or stationary systems with plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0436 Small-sized flat cells or batteries for portable equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0459 Cells or batteries with folded separator between plate-like electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0468 Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators
• 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 10/0583 of accumulators with folded construction elements except wound ones, i.e. folded positive or negative electrodes or separators, e.g. with "Z"-shaped electrodes or separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/417 Polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/426 Fluorocarbon polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/449 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/466 U-shaped, bag-shaped or folded
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/489 Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49112 including laminating of indefinite length material

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrochemical element, specifically an electrochemical element with improved energy density comprising stacked electrochemical cells.

In order to achieve such objects, the present invention provides an electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking full cells or bicells having a cathode, a separator layer, and an anode sequentially as a basic unit, and a separator film interposed between each stacked cell wherein, said separator film has a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells, and folds outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell and a method for manufacturing the same.

Claims

1. An electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking full cells having a cathode, a separator layer, and an anode sequentially as a basic unit, and a separator film interposed between each stacked full cell wherein, said separator film has a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells, and folds outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell.

2. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by taping.

3. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by heat-sealing.

4. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein said separator film is selected from a group consisting of a micro-porous polyethylene film, a micro-porous polypropylene film, or a multi-layer film prepared by a combination thereof, and a polymer film for polymer electrolyte of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, or polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene copolymer.

5. The electrochemical element according to claim 4, wherein said polymer film for polymer electrolyte comprises a primary micro-porous polymer layer and a secondary gelling polymer layer of polyvinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer.

6. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein said each cathode of the full cell is an electrode coated with a cathodic material on both sides of a cathode current collector, and said each anode is an electrode coated with an anodic material on both sides of an anode current collector.

7. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein each full cell placed in the outermost side of said electrochemical cell comprises a cathode coated with a cathodic material on a single side of a cathode current collector, or an anode coated with an anodic material on a single side of an anode current collector, and a current collector foil is placed in the outermost side.

8. The electrochemical element according to claim 1, wherein said separator film interposed between each stacked full cell is one separator film.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of d) fixing the end of said separator film by taping.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of e) fixing the end of said separator film by heat sealing by bringing a thermo-welding machine, or a hot plate into contact with the separator film.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said each full cell of a) is placed on or below the separator film.

18. The electrochemical element according to claim 12, wherein said each cathode of the bicell is an electrode coated with a cathodic material on both sides of a cathode current collector, and said each anode is an electrode coated with an anodic material on both sides of an anode current collector.

19. The electrochemical element according to claim 12, wherein each bicell placed in the outermost side of said electrochemical cell comprises a cathode coated with a cathodic material on a single side of a cathode current collector, or an anode coated with an anodic material on a single side of an anode current collector, and a current collector foil is placed in the outermost side.

9. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked and filled within a battery case, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking full cells having a cathode, a separator layer, and an anode sequentially as a basic unit, and a separator film having a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells and folding outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell, said separator film interposed between each stacked full cell comprising the steps of:

a) placing a full cell on and below the separator film continuously or alternately;

b) laminating said placed full cells and said separator film of a); and

c) folding outward said laminated full cells and said separator film of b) to the full cell adjacent next to the first full cell to fold each full cell in a Z-shape and wrapping the remaining separator film round an outer portion of the stacked full cell at least once so that each full cell is stacked.

13. An electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking i) a bicell having a cathode;

a separator layer;

an anode;

another separator layer; and

another cathode sequentially as a basic unit;

or ii) a bicell having an anode;

a separator layer;

a cathode;

another separator layer; and

another anode sequentially as a basic unit; and

a separator film interposed between each stacked bicells wherein, said separator film has a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells, and folds outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell.

14. The electrochemical element according to claim 13, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by taping.

15. The electrochemical element according to claim 13, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by heat-sealing.

16. The electrochemical element according to claim 13, wherein said separator film is selected from a group consisting of a micro-porous polyethylene film, a micro-porous polypropylene film, or a multi-layer film prepared by a combination thereof, and a polymer film for polymer electrolyte of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, or polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene copolymer.

17. The electrochemical element according to claim 16, wherein said polymer film for polymer electrolyte comprises a primary micro-porous polymer layer and a secondary gelling polymer layer of polyvinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer.

20. An electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, wherein said electrochemical cells are formed by alternately stacking i) a bicell having a cathode;

a separator layer;

an anode;

another separator layer; and

another cathode sequentially; and

ii) a bicell having an anode;

a separator layer;

a cathode;

another separator layer; and

another anode sequentially; and

a separator film interposed between each stacked bicells wherein, said separator film has a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells, and folds outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell.

21. The electrochemical element according to claim 20, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by taping.

22. The electrochemical element according to claim 20, wherein an outermost end of said separator film is fixed by heat-sealing.

23. The electrochemical element according to claim 20, wherein said separator film is selected from a group consisting of a micro-porous polyethylene film, a micro-porous polypropylene film, or a multi-layer film prepared by a combination thereof, and a polymer film for polymer electrolyte of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, or polyvinylidene fluoride hexafluoropropylene copolymer.

24. The electrochemical element according to claim 23, wherein said polymer film for polymer electrolyte comprises a primary micro-porous polymer layer and a secondary gelling polymer layer of polyvinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer.

25. The electrochemical element according to claim 20, wherein said each cathode of the bicell is an electrode coated with a cathodic material on both sides of a cathode current collector, and said each anode is an electrode coated with an anodic material on both sides of an anode current collector.

26. The electrochemical element according to claim 20, wherein each bicell placed in the outermost side of said electrochemical cell comprises a cathode coated with a cathodic material on a single side of a cathode current collector, or an anode coated with an anodic material on a single side of an anode current collector, and a current collector foil is placed in the outermost side.

27. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by alternately stacking i) a bicell having a cathode;

a separator layer;

an anode;

another separator layer; and

another cathode sequentially as a basic unit;

or ii) a bicell having an anode;

a separator layer;

a cathode;

another separator layer; and

another anode sequentially as a basic unit; and

a separator film having a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells and folding outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell, said separator film interposed between each stacked bicell comprising the steps of;

a) placing a bicell on and below the separator film continuously or alternately;

b) laminating said placed bicells and said separator film of a); and

c) folding outward said laminated bicells and said separator film of b) to the bicell adjacent next to the first bicell to fold each bicell in a Z-shape and wrapping the remaining separator film round an outer portion of the stacked bicell at least once so that each bicell is stacked.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising a step of d) fixing the end of said separator film by taping.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising a step of e) fixing the end of said separator film by heat sealing by bringing a thermo-welding machine, or a hot plate into contact with the separator film.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said each bicell of a) is placed on or below the separator film.

31. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, wherein said electrochemical cells are formed by alternately stacking i) a bicell having a cathode;

a separator layer;

an anode;

another separator layer; and

another cathode sequentially; and

ii) a bicell having an anode;

a separator layer;

a cathode;

another separator layer; and

another anode sequentially; and

a separator film having a unit length which is determined to wrap the electrochemical cells and folding outward every unit length to fold each electrochemical cell in a Z-shape starting from the electrochemical cell of a first spot to the electrochemical cell of the last spot continuously while the remaining separator film wraps an outer portion of the stacked cell, said separator film interposed between each stacked bicell comprising the steps of;

a) placing a bicell on and below the separator film continuously or alternately;

b) laminating said placed bicells and said separator film of a); and

c) folding outward said laminated bicells and said separator film of b) to the bicell adjacent next to the first bicell to fold each bicell in a Z-shape and wrapping the remaining separator film round an outer portion of the stacked bicell at least once so that each bicell is stacked.

32. The method according to claim 31, further comprising a step of d) fixing the end of said separator film by taping.

33. The method according to claim 31, further comprising a step of e) fixing the end of said separator film by heat sealing by bringing a thermo-welding machine, or a hot plate into contact with the separator film.

34. An electrochemical element comprising electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked, said electrochemical cells formed by stacking full cells having a cathode, a separator layer, and an anode sequentially as a basic unit, and a separator film interposed between each stacked full cell, said separator film having a length adapted to wrap the stacked electrochemical cells in a continuous serpentine pattern through the stacked electrochemical cells starting from the electrochemical cell in a first position of the stacked electrochemical cells to the electrochemical cell in a last position in the stacked electrochemical cells and also wrapping an outer portion of the stacked electrochemical cells.