Protected active metal electrodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017214055-A1
Application number	US-201715423458-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 2, 2017
Priority date	Oct 14, 2003
Publication date	Jul 27, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making an electrochemical cell structure, the method comprising: tape-casting an inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane selected from the group consisting of a glass, a ceramic and a glass-ceramic, the membrane having a first surface and a second surface; and assembling the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane with a lithium metal anode adjacent to the first surface; wherein the membrane effectively isolates the lithium metal anode from an environment at the second surface of the membrane, while allowing transport of lithium ions across the membrane, the membrane having a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −5 S/cm.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein following tape-casting, the inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane is fired to full density.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane is selected from the group consisting of a ceramic and a glass-ceramic.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ge, Ti, Nb and Zr.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Ge and Ti.

6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Zr.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane has a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −4 S/cm.

8 . An electrochemical cell structure, comprising: a tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane selected from the group consisting of a glass, a ceramic and a glass-ceramic, the membrane having a first surface and a second surface; and a lithium metal anode on the first surface of the membrane; wherein the membrane effectively isolates the lithium metal anode from an environment at the second surface of the membrane, while allowing transport of lithium ions across the membrane, the membrane having a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −5 S/cm.

9 . The electrochemical cell structure of claim 8 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane is a dense ceramic or a glass-ceramic comprising an element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ge, Ti, Nb and Zr.

10 . The electrochemical cell structure of claim 9 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Ge and Ti.

11 . The electrochemical cell structure of claim 9 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Zr.

12 . The electrochemical cell structure of claim 8 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane has a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −4 S/cm.

13 . A battery cell comprising: a tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane selected from the group consisting of a glass, a ceramic and a glass-ceramic, the membrane having a first surface and a second surface; a lithium metal anode on the first surface of the membrane; and a cathode environment comprising a cathode adjacent the second surface of the membrane; wherein the membrane effectively isolates the lithium metal anode from the cathode environment, while allowing transport of lithium ions across the membrane, the membrane having a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −5 S/cm.

14 . The battery cell of claim 13 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises a dense ceramic or glass-ceramic comprising an element selected from the group consisting of Ga, Ge, Ti, Nb and Zr.

15 . The battery cell of claim 14 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Ge and Ti.

16 . The battery cell of claim 14 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane comprises an element selected from the group consisting of Nb and Zr.

17 . The battery cell of claim 13 , wherein the cathode comprises a transition metal oxide.

18 . The battery cell of claim 13 , wherein the cathode comprises an ionic liquid.

19 . The battery cell of claim 13 , further comprising a porous polyolefin separator disposed between the cathode and the second surface of the membrane.

20 . The battery cell of claim 13 , wherein the tape-cast inherently lithium ion conductive separator membrane has a lithium ion conductivity of at least 10 −4 S/cm.

Assignees

• Polyplus Battery Co Inc

Inventors

• Visco Steven J
• Nimon Yevgeniy S

Classifications

• H01M50/414

  Synthetic resins, e.g. thermoplastics or thermosetting resins · CPC title

• H01M50/451

  comprising layers of only organic material and layers containing inorganic material · CPC title

• H01M50/434

  Ceramics · CPC title

• H01M50/437

  Glass · CPC title

• H01M2/1646

  Electricity · mapped topic