Multi-cell ultracapacitor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10446328-B2
Application number	US-201715598865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2017
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

An ultracapacitor that comprises a first and second electrochemical cell that are connected in parallel is provided. The cells are define by a first electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, a second electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. The second cell is by the second electrode, a third electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the second electrode and the third electrode. The ultracapacitor also contains a nonaqueous electrolyte that is in ionic contact with the electrodes and contains a nonaqueous solvent and an ionic liquid. A package encloses the first cell, the second cell, and the nonaqueous electrolyte.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An ultracapacitor comprising:
a first electrochemical cell that is defined by a first electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, a second electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode;
a second electrochemical cell that is connected in parallel with the first cell, wherein the second cell is defined by the second electrode, a third electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the second electrode and the third electrode;
a nonaqueous electrolyte that is in ionic contact with the first electrode, second electrode, and third electrodes, wherein the nonaqueous electrolyte contains nonaqueous solvent and an ionic liquid; and
a package that encloses the first electrochemical cell, the second electrochemical cell, and the nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the package contains a substrate having a thickness of from about 20 micrometers to about 1,000 micrometers.

2. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor exhibits a capacitance of about 6 Farads per cubic centimeter or more as determined at a temperature of 23° C., frequency of 120 Hz, and without an applied voltage.

3. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the ultracapacitor exhibits an ESR of about 150 mohms or less as determined at a temperature of 23° C., frequency of 1 kHz, and without an applied voltage.

4. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the current collector of the first electrode, second electrode, third electrode, or a combination thereof, includes a conductive metal.

5. The ultracapacitor of claim 4 , wherein the conductive metal is aluminum or an alloy thereof.

6. The ultracapacitor of claim 4 , wherein a plurality of fiber-like whiskers project outwardly from the conductive metal.

7. The ultracapacitor of claim 6 , wherein the whiskers contain a carbide of the conductive metal.

8. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the carbonaceous material of the first electrode, second electrode, third electrode, or a combination thereof, contains activated carbon particles.

9. The ultracapacitor of claim 8 , wherein at least 50% by volume of the activated carbon particles have a size of from about 0.01 to about 30 micrometers.

10. The ultracapacitor of claim 8 , wherein the activated carbon particles contain a plurality of pores, wherein the amount of pores having a size of about 2 nanometers or less is about 50 vol. % or less of the total pore volume, the amount of pores having a size of from about 2 nanometers to about 50 nanometers is about 20 vol. % to about 80 vol. % of the total pore volume, and the amount of pores having a size of about 50 nanometers or more is from about 1 vol. % to about 50 vol. % of the total pore volume.

11. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the nonaqueous solvent includes propylene carbonate.

12. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid contains a cationic species and a counterion.

13. The ultracapacitor of claim 12 , wherein the cationic species includes an organoquaternary ammonium compound.

14. The ultracapacitor of claim 13 , wherein the organoquaternary ammonium compound has the following structure:

wherein m and n are independently a number from 3 to 7.

15. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid is present at a concentration of about 1.0 M or more.

16. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the separator of the first electrochemical cell, the second electrochemical cell, or both includes a cellulosic fibrous material.

17. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the substrate of the package contains a barrier layer.

18. The ultracapacitor of claim 17 , wherein the barrier layer includes a metal.

19. The ultracapacitor of claim 17 , wherein the substrate further contains an outer layer.

20. The ultracapacitor of claim 19 wherein the outer layer contains a film that includes a polyolefin, polyester, or a combination thereof.

21. The ultracapacitor of claim 17 , wherein the substrate further comprises a sealing layer.

22. The ultracapacitor of claim 21 , wherein the sealing layer contains an ionomer.

23. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrochemical cells are stacked together.

24. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , further comprising a first termination that is electrically connected to the first electrode and the third electrode, and a second termination that is electrically connected to the second electrode.

25. The ultracapacitor of claim 1 , further comprising a third electrochemical cell that is defined by the third electrode, a fourth electrode that contains a current collector having opposing sides coated with a carbonaceous material, and a separator positioned between the third electrode and the fourth electrode.

26. The ultracapacitor of claim 25 , further comprising a first termination that is electrically connected to the first electrode and the third electrode, and a second termination that is electrically connected to the second electrode and the fourth electrode.

Assignees

• Avx Corp

Inventors

• Knopsnyder Jonathan Robert
• Hansen Shawn
• Ritter Andrew P

Classifications

• H01G11/68

  characterised by their material · CPC title

• H01G11/60

  characterised by the solvent · CPC title

• H01G11/78

  Cases; Housings; Encapsulations; Mountings · CPC title

• H01G11/62

  characterised by the solute, e.g. salts, anions or cations therein · CPC title

• H01G11/76

  specially adapted for integration in multiple or stacked hybrid or EDL capacitors · CPC title