Robust metal film encapsulation

• US 8,394,522 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2008
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sapurast Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Infinite Power Solutions, Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Snyder, Shawn W., Brantner, Paul C., Keating, Joseph A., Bradow, Timothy N., Narayan, Prativadi B., Neudecker, Bernd J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, CYNTHIA K
• Application Number:
  US12/111,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20080261107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,778 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 429/136
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to metal film encapsulation of an electrochemical device. The metal film encapsulation may provide contact tabs for the electrochemical device. The present invention may also include a selectively conductive bonding layer between a contact and a cell structure. The present invention may further include ways of providing heat and pressure resilience to the bonding layer and improving the robustness of the protection for the cell structure.

Claims

1. A battery comprising:

a first electrical contact;

a cell structure comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte;

a bonding layer coupled with said first electrical contact and said bonding layer comprising an embedded conductor, wherein said embedded conductor contacts said cell structure and wherein said embedded conductor physically contacts said first electrical contact; and

a second electrical contact;

wherein said bonding layer and said at least one cell structure are sandwiched between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact; and

wherein said bonding layer comprises a plurality of layers in which the cell structure is at least in part within one of the plurality of layers.

2. The battery of claim 1, wherein said bonding layer comprises at least one adhesive material.

3. The battery of claim 2, wherein said adhesive material comprises a material selected from the group of thermoplastic, thermally set, ethylene, methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid metallate (E/MAA) copolymer, cyano-acrylates, epoxies, fluoro-acrylates, polyimides containing ether linkages, urea-formaldehyde resins, vinyl chlorides, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

4. The battery of claim 1, wherein said bonding layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of thermoplastic, thermally set, ethylene methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid metallate (E/MAA) copolymer, cyano-acrylates, epoxies, fluoro-acrylates, polyimides containing ether linkages, urea-formaldehyde resins, vinyl chlorides, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

5. The battery of claim 1, wherein said bonding, layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, oxide ceramic, nitride ceramic, carbide ceramic, silicate based glass, non-silicate based glass, fiberglass, and any combination thereof.

6. The battery of claim 4, wherein said bonding layer further comprises at least one material selected from the group of polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, oxide ceramic, nitride ceramic, carbide ceramic, silicate based glass, non-silicate based glass, fiberglass, and any combination thereof.

7. The battery of claim 1, wherein said embedded conductor comprises at least one element selected from the group of Li, B, graphitic carbon, Al, Si, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Pb, any alloy thereof, and stainless steel.

8. The battery of claim 7, wherein said embedded conductor further comprises a plurality of conductors selected from the group of Li, B, graphitic carbon, Al, Si, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, In, Sn, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Pb, any alloy thereof, and stainless steel.

9. The battery of claim 1, wherein said bonding layer comprises an isotropic or anisotropic electronically conducting adhesive comprising at least one adhesive selected from the group of ethylene methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid metallate (E/MAA) copolymer, cyano-acrylates, epoxies, fluoro-acrylates, polyimides containing ether linkages, urea-formaldehyde resins, vinyl chlorides, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and at least one electronically conducting material selected from the group comprising gold-coated polymer spheres, solder-type alloys, carbon, Ni, Cu, Au, Ag, and metallic powders.

10. The battery of claim 1, wherein said first electrical contact is a conductor or an electronically insulating layer with a conducting insert.

11. The battery of claim 10, wherein said electronically insulating layer comprises at least a ceramic selected from the group of BeO, B₂O₃, BN, borate glass, Al₂O₃, AlN, SiO₂, Si₃N₄, silicate glass, ScO_x, TiO_x, VO_x, CrO_x, FeO_x, YO_x, ZrO_x, NbO_x, MoO_x, HfO_x, TaO_x, WO_x, and any combination thereof.

12. The battery of claim 10, wherein said electronically insulating layer comprises at least a polymer material selected from the group of polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, and Tenite resins.

13. The battery of claim 10, wherein said electronically insulating layer comprises a composite material whose components are selected from the group of BeO, B203, BN, borate glass, Al₂O₃, AlN, Si O₂, Si3N4, silicate glass, ScO_x, TiO_x, VO_x, CrO_x, FeO_x, YO_x, ZrO_x, NbO_x, MoO_x, HfO_x, TaO_x, WO_x, polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, and any combination thereof.

15. The battery of claim 10, wherein said conductor is covered with a mechanically robust film.

16. The battery of claim 15, wherein said mechanically robust film comprises materials selected from the group of Lipon, borides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, and any combination thereof.

22. The battery of claim 1, wherein said bonding layer further comprises printed circuitry.

23. The battery of claim 22, wherein said bonding layer further comprises an edge wherein a portion of said edge contacts said first contact and a portion of said edge does not contact said first contact.

14. A battery comprising:

a first electrical contact wherein said first electrical contact is a conductor covered at least in part with an electrically insulating film or wherein said first electrical contact is an electronically insulating layer with a conducting insert;

a cell structure comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte;

a bonding layer coupled with said first electrical contact and said bonding layer comprising an embedded conductor; and

a second electrical contact;

wherein said bonding layer and said at least one cell structure are sandwiched between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;

wherein said bonding layer comprises a plurality of layers; and

wherein said electrically insulating film comprises materials selected from the group selected from the group of Lipon, BeO, B₂O₃, BN, borate glass, Al₂O₃, MN, SiO₂, Si₃N₄, silicate glass, ScOx, TiO_x, VO_x, CrO_x, FeO_x, YO_x, ZrO_x, NbO_x, MoO_x, HfO_x, TaO_x, WO_x, olyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, and any combination thereof.

17. A battery comprising:

at least one cell structure comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte;

an insulating layer comprising a plurality of layers in which the cell structure is at least in part within one of the plurality of layers;

at least one embedded conductor positioned inside each of said plurality of layers of said insulating layer wherein said embedded conductor is adapted to act as a first electrical contact and wherein said embedded conductor contacts said cell structure; and

a second electrical contact;

wherein said at least one cell structure is sandwiched between said insulating layer and said second electrical contact.

18. A battery comprising:

a first cell structure and a neighboring cell structure stacked on top of each other;

wherein each said cell structure comprises, a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact;

a bonding layer;

wherein said bonding layer is sandwiched between said first electrical contact of said first cell structure and said second electrical contact of said neighboring cell structure;

wherein said boding layer comprises a plurality of layers in which the cell structure is at least in part within one of the plurality of layers; and

wherein said bonding layer further comprises at least one embedded conductor and wherein said embedded conductor contacts said cell structure and wherein said embedded conductor physically contacts said first electrical contact.

19. The battery of claim 18, wherein said bonding layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of thermoplastic, thermally set, ethylene ethylene methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, ethylene methacrylic acid metallate (E/MAA) copolymer, cyano-acrylates, epoxies, fluoro-acrylates, polyimides containing ether linkages, urea-formaldehyde resins, vinyl chlorides, and low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

20. The battery of claim 18, wherein said bonding layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, oxide ceramic, nitride ceramic, carbide ceramic, silicate glass, non-silicate based glass, fiberglass, and any combination thereof.

21. The battery of claim 18, wherein said bonding layer comprises at least one material selected from the group of thermoplastic, thermally set, ethylene ethylene methacrylic acid (E/MAA) copolymer, ethylene methacrylic, acid Metallate (E/MAA) copolymer, cyano-acrylates, epoxies, fluoro-acrylates, polyimides containing ether linkages, urea-formaldehyde resins, vinyl chlorides, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyamides, polyimides, polyethylene terephthalates, para-aramids, polyethylenes, high-density polytheylenes, Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, polycarbonates, polyvinyl chlorides, acetal delrin, phenolics, fluoroplastics, polyurethanes, polystyrenes, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrenes (ABS), Keton PEEK, Tenite resins, oxide ceramic, nitride ceramic, carbide ceramic, silicate glass, non-silicate based glass, fiberglass, and any combination thereof.

24. A battery comprising:

a first electrical contact;

a cell structure comprising a cathode, an anode and an electrolyte;

a bonding layer coupled with said first electrical contact and said bonding layer comprising an embedded conductor, wherein said embedded conductor contacts said cell structure; and

a second electrical contact;

wherein said bonding layer and said at least one cell structure are sandwiched between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact; and

wherein said bonding layer comprises a plurality of layers and wherein said bonding layer comprises printed circuitry embedded within said bonding layer.