Pulse plating of lithium material in electrochemical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021336239-A1
Application number	US-202017107931-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2020
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Oct 28, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is directed to battery system and operation thereof. In an embodiment, lithium material is plated onto the anode region of a lithium secondary battery cell by a pulsed current. The pulse current may have both positive and negative polarity. One of the polarities causes lithium material to plate onto the anode region, and the opposite polarity causes lithium dendrites to be removed. There are other embodiments as well.

First claim

1 .- 19 . (canceled)

20 . A lithium battery device comprising:
a lithiated cathode region having a first surface and a second surface; a first current collector overlying the first surface, the first current collector overlaying the first surface of the lithiated cathode region; a solid electrolyte region having a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface interfacing the second surface, the solid electrolyte region being characterized by a ionic conductivity of at least 10 −7 S/cm; an anode region having a fifth surface and a sixth surface, the fifth surface interfacing the fourth surface; a second current collector overlaying the sixth surface; wherein the anode region is formed by in-situ application of a plurality of current pulses between the first current collector and the second current collector; and wherein the second current collector includes a layer of a metal that enhances plating uniformity.

21 . The device of claim 20 , further comprising a dendrite layer within the proximity of the anode region, the plurality of current pulses being configured to remove at least a part of the dendrite layer.

22 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness being associated with a state of charge of the lithium battery device.

23 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness being associated with the first pulse current.

24 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness being associated with a number of life cycles of the lithium battery device.

25 . The device of claim 20 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness and further comprises a sensor for monitoring a state of charge.

26 .- 33 . (canceled)

34 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the layer of a metal that enhances plating uniformity comprises a metal selected from indium, aluminum, or magnesium.

Assignees

• Quantumscape Battery Inc

Inventors

• Holme Timothy
• Mayer Marie
• Loveness Ghyrn
• Chen Zhebo
• Fasching Rainer

Classifications

• C25D5/611

  Smooth layers · CPC title

• H01M10/052

  Li-accumulators · CPC title

• H01M10/0585

  of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators · CPC title

• C25D5/18

  Electroplating using modulated, pulsed or reversing current · CPC title

• H01M4/1395

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