Lithium secondary battery

• US 6,753,104 B2
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Original Assignee: NGK Insulators Limited
• Inventors: Kitoh, Kenshin
• Primary Examiner(s): Walker, W. L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sorkin, David L.
• Application Number:
  US09/323,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20020015892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,848 Days
• Field of Search: 429/7, 429/211, 429/233, 429/245
• US Class Current: 429/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0431 Cells with wound or folded electrodes H01M10/045 takes precedence
• 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 50/534 characterised by the material of the leads or tabs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/536 characterised by the method of fixing the leads to the electrodes, e.g. by welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/538 Connection of several leads or tabs of wound or folded electrode stacks
• 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: Y10S 903/907 Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A lithium secondary battery includes an internal electrode body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator. The positive electrode and the negative electrode are wound or laminated via the separator so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are not brought into direct contact with each other. At least a plurality of tabs for current collecting were provided to have a total cross-sectional area of the tabs be not less than a constant area in accordance with the quality of the material to be used for the tabs so that the tabs to be connected to each of the positive and negative electrodes may not respectively fuse when at least 100 A current has flown through the lithium secondary battery. The lithium secondary battery maintains a good charge-discharge cycle characteristics, and safety may be secured with electricity being cut off when an excess current has occurred due to external short circuit, etc., so that the battery may not be exploded nor be ignited. In particular, the lithium secondary battery may be preferably used for driving a motor of an electric vehicle, etc.

Claims

1. A lithium secondary battery, comprising:

an internal electrode body including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator, the positive electrode and the negative electrode being wound with the separator so that the positive electrode and the negative electrode are prevented by the separator from coming into direct contact with each other;

an organic electrolyte; and

at least a plurality of positive electrode tabs connected to the positive electrode and at least a plurality of negative electrode tabs connected to the negative electrode for current collecting, a thickness of a said tab being not more than twice a thickness of an electrode active material layer in an electrode to which the tabs are welded,

a total cross-sectional area of all of the positive electrode tabs connected to the positive electrode being not less than a constant area in accordance with the quality of the material to be used for the tabs, said tabs connected to the positive electrode being aluminum tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the positive electrode is not less than 0.009 cm² and not more than 0,36/R cm², R being internal resistance, in mΩ

, of a unit battery;

a total cross-sectional area of all of the negative electrode tabs connected to the negative electrode being not less than a constant area in accordance with the quality of the material to be used for the tabs, said tabs connected to the negative electrode being selected from among copper tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.005 cm² and not more than 0.18/R cm², and nickel tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.004 cm² and not more than 0.14/R cm²,

and wherein said tabs function as current fuses to become nonconductive in the event that a condition arises during discharge of the battery in which sufficient current to damage one or more components of the battery is provided.

2. The lithium secondary battery according to claims 1, wherein a sum of resistance value of the tabs per a unit battery is not more than 1 mΩ

.

3. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the tabs are provided with a narrow portion.

4. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein internal resistance is not more than 10 mΩ

per a unit battery.

5. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein deviation of respective resistance values of the tabs remains within ±

20% of an average value.

6. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein said battery further comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and each said tab is:

connected at a first end to the positive electrode or the negative electrode, and at a second end to said positive terminal or said negative terminal by pressure attachment;

connected at a first end to the positive electrode or the negative electrode, and at a second end to said positive terminal or said negative terminal by welding;

or

connected at a first end to the positive electrode or the negative electrode, and comprises at a second end an eyelet which is connected to said positive terminal or said negative terminal.

7. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein battery capacity is not less than 5 Ah.

8. The tithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is used for an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

9. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein said tabs connected to the positive electrode are aluminum tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the positive electrode is not less than 0.014 cm², and wherein said tabs connected to the negative electrode are selected from among copper tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.008 cm², and nickel tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.008 cm².

10. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of a tab is not more than a thickness of an electrode active material layer in an electrode to which the tabs are welded.

11. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein said tabs connected to the positive electrode are aluminum tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the positive electrode is not more than 0.18/R (cm²), and wherein said tabs connected to the negative electrode are selected from among copper tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not more than 0.09/R cm², and nickel tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not more than 0.07/R cm².

12. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein said tabs connected to the positive electrode are aluminum tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the positive electrode is not less than 0.014 cm² and not more than 0.18/R (cm²), and wherein said tabs connected to the negative electrode are selected from among copper tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.008 cm² and not more than 0.09/R cm², and nickel tabs wherein a total cross-sectional area of all of said tabs connected to the negative electrode is not less than 0.008 cm² and not more than 0.07/R cm².