Methods of reducing occurrences of short circuits and/or lithium plating in batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018198114-A1
Application number	US-201715596907-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	Dec 22, 2010
Publication date	Jul 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An example method of reducing short circuits from occurring in a battery can include providing a current collector coated with a safety layer. The method can include providing an electrochemically active material film on the safety layer such that the safety layer is configured to reduce exposure of the current collector to an opposing electrode. The method can also include adhering the electrochemically active material film to the current collector via the safety layer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of reducing short circuits from occurring in a battery, the method comprising:
providing a current collector coated with a safety layer; providing an electrochemically active material film on the safety layer such that the safety layer is configured to reduce exposure of the current collector to an opposing electrode; and adhering the electrochemically active material film to the current collector via the safety layer.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the electrochemically active material film comprises providing an anode film, and wherein the safety layer is configured to reduce exposure of the current collector to lithium deposition in a lithium ion battery.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the electrochemically active material film on the safety layer comprises providing the electrochemically active material film on the safety layer such that the safety layer covers a portion of the current collector not covered by the electrochemically active material film.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the electrochemically active material film on the safety layer comprises providing the electrochemically active material film on the safety layer such that the safety layer extends over an area of the current collector that the electrochemically active material film extends over and beyond.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the current collector coated with the safety layer comprises providing the safety layer in a substantially solid state.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein providing the current collector coated with the safety layer comprises:
coating the current collector with a polymer solution; and drying the polymer solution to form the safety layer.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the electrochemically active material film comprises providing a monolithic self-supporting film.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the electrochemically active material film comprises providing the electrochemically active material film comprising a carbon phase that holds the film together.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrochemically active material film comprises silicon particles distributed within the carbon phase.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the carbon phase comprises hard carbon.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemically active material film comprises porosity that is substantially free of material forming the safety layer.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein portions of the electrochemically active material film penetrate the safety layer and come in direct contact with the current collector.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety layer in the aggregate is substantially electrically nonconductive.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety layer is a substantially uniform layer.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the safety layer comprises a polymer.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises polyamideimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, or polyacrylic acid.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adhering the electrochemically active material film to the current collector comprises heat laminating.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein adhering the electrochemically active material film to the current collector comprises roll pressing or flat pressing.

Assignees

• Enevate Corp

Inventors

• Bonhomme Frederic C
• Pierce Steve

Classifications

• H01M2004/021

  Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area · CPC title

• H01M4/661

  Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings (H01M4/669 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/134

  Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title

• H01M4/625

  Carbon or graphite · CPC title

• H01M4/1395

  of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title