Battery including aluminum components

• US 7,459,234 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 12/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duracell U.S. Operations, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Berkowitz, Fred J., Issaev, Nikolai N., Pozin, Michael, Janik, Jaroslav
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLS, MONIQUE M
• Application Number:
  US10/719,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20050112468A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 429/231.95, 429/245, 429/223, 429/224, 429/221, 429/231.7, 429/233, 429/178, 429/179, 296/231, 297/30
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: C22C 21/16 with magnesium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/028 Positive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/40 Alloys based on alkali metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 Alloys based on lithium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/661 Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings H01M4/669 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/107 having curved cross-section, e.g. round or elliptic H01M50/103, H01M50/109, H01M50/11 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/533 characterised by the shape of the leads or tabs
• 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 6/16 with organic electrolyte H01M6/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53135 Storage cell or battery

Abstract

A primary lithium battery can include a current collector that includes aluminum, a positive lead that includes aluminum, or both. The aluminum battery components can have high mechanical strength and low electrical resistance.

Claims

1. A primary lithium battery comprising:

a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end and having a continuous external wall defining an opening at the first end and enclosing the second end;

an anode including a lithium-containing anode active material;

a cathode within the housing comprising a current collector, the current collector having an exposed end shaped into a crown including aluminum;

a separator within the housing between the anode and the cathode;

a positive lead including aluminum within the housing in contact with the crown; and

a positive external contact in contact with the positive lead, closing the opening defined by the external wall at the end of the housing,

wherein the battery has an impedance that increases by less than 0.20 Ohms after the battery is dropped six times from a height of one meter onto a hard surface.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein the lithium-containing anode active material is lithium or a lithium alloy.

3. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes a 1000 series aluminum, 2000 series aluminum alloy, a 3000 series aluminum alloy, a 5000 series aluminum alloy, a 6000 series aluminum alloy, or a 7000 series aluminum alloy.

4. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes a 5000 series aluminum alloy.

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0-0.4% by weight of chromium.

6. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0.01-6.8% by weight of copper.

7. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0.05-1.3% by weight of iron.

8. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0.1-7% by weight of magnesium.

9. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0-2% by weight of manganese.

10. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0-2% by weight of silicon.

11. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including less than 0.25% by weight of titanium.

12. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0-2.3% by weight of nickel.

13. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an aluminum alloy including 0-8.2% by weight of zinc.

14. The battery of claim 1, wherein the current collector includes aluminum.

15. The battery of claim 14, wherein the current collector includes a 1000 series aluminum, a 2000 series aluminum alloy, a 3000 series aluminum alloy, a 5000 series aluminum alloy, a 6000 series aluminum alloy, or a 7000 series aluminum alloy.

16. The battery of claim 14, wherein the current collector includes a 6000 series aluminum alloy.

17. The battery of claim 14, wherein the current collector includes an aluminum alloy including 0-0.4% by weight of chromium, 0.01-6.8% by weight of copper, 0.05-1.3% by weight of iron, 0.1-7% by weight of magnesium, 0-2% by weight of manganese, 0-2% by weight of silicon, less than 0.25% by weight of titanium, 0-2.3% by weight of nickel, and 0-8.2% by weight of zinc.

18. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes an extension directed toward the cathode.

19. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes four or more extensions directed toward the cathode.

20. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead includes six or more extensions directed toward the cathode.

21. The battery of claim 1, further comprising a nonaqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode, the cathode and the separator.

22. The battery of claim 21, wherein the nonaqueous electrolyte includes an organic solvent.

23. The battery of claim 21, wherein the nonaqueous electrolyte includes a perchlorate salt.

24. The battery of claim 1, wherein the cathode includes a manganese dioxide, iron disulfide, a CFx, or a vanadate.

25. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery is a cylindrical battery.

26. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has an impedance of less than 0.150 Ohms.

27. The battery of claim 1, wherein the battery has an impedance of less than 0.130 Ohms.

28. The battery of claim 1, wherein the positive lead is welded to a portion of the cathode.

29. A primary lithium battery comprising:

a cylindrical housing having a first end and a second end and having a continuous external wall defining an opening at the first end and enclosing the second end;

an anode including a lithium-containing anode active material;

a cathode within the housing including a current collector including aluminum, the current collector having an exposed end shaped into a crown;

a separator within the housing between the anode and the cathode;

a positive lead including aluminum within the housing in contact with the crown; and

a positive external contact in contact with the positive lead, closing the opening defined by the external wall at the end of the housing.

wherein the battery has an impedance that increases by less than 0.20 Ohms after the battery is dropped six times from a height of one meter onto a hard surface.

30. The battery of claim 29, wherein the current collector and the positive lead each independently include a 1000 series aluminum, a 2000 series aluminum alloy, a 3000 series aluminum alloy, a 5000 series aluminum alloy, a 6000 series aluminum alloy, or a 7000 series aluminum alloy.

31. The battery of claim 29, wherein the current collector includes 6000 series aluminum alloy and the positive lead includes a 5000 series aluminum alloy.

32. The battery of claim 29, wherein the current collector and the positive lead each include an aluminum alloy including 0-0.4% by weight of chromium, 0.01-6.8% by weight of copper, 0.05-1.3% by weight of iron, 0.1-7% by weight of magnesium, 0-2% by weight of manganese, 0-2% by weight of silicon, less than 0.25% by weight of titanium, 0-2.3% by weight of nickel, and 0-8.2% by weight of zinc.

33. The battery of claim 29, wherein the positive lead includes an extension directed toward the cathode.

34. The battery of claim 29, wherein the positive lead includes four or more extensions directed toward the cathode.

35. The battery of claim 29, wherein the positive lead includes six or more extensions directed toward the cathode.