Methods, systems, and devices for applying forces to electrochemical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022359902-A1
Application number	US-202017621409-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 18, 2020
Priority date	Jun 21, 2019
Publication date	Nov 10, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for applying forces to electrochemical devices are generally described. In some cases, the methods include applying a force to an electrochemical device via a solid surface that, in the absence of an applied force, has at least a portion that is convex with respect to a side of the electrochemical device. Certain embodiments are related to systems and devices for applying a force to an electrochemical cell, with some of the systems and devices employing, for example, solid articles with certain shapes (e.g., convex shapes in the absence of an applied force) and/or inventive couplings.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
applying a force to a side of an electrochemical device via a solid surface, wherein at least a portion of the solid surface is convex with respect to the side of the electrochemical device in the absence of an applied force, and wherein the applying causes the solid surface to deform such that the solid surface becomes less convex.

2 . A method, comprising:
applying a force to a solid article that is proximate to an electrochemical device such that a solid surface of the solid article is deformed, wherein:
the applying is performed via a coupling comprising a surface portion in contact with an exterior surface opposite the solid surface, and
the deforming causes relative rotational motion between a contour of the exterior surface and a contour of the surface portion of the coupling that interfaces with the contour of the exterior surface.

3 . A method, comprising:
applying a force to a first solid article that is proximate to an electrochemical device such that a solid surface of the first solid article is deformed, wherein the applying is performed via a coupling, the coupling comprising:
a surface portion in contact with an exterior surface opposite the solid surface; and
a fastener interfacing with the surface portion of the coupling;
wherein a contour of the exterior surface interfaces with a contour of the surface portion of the coupling such that, when the force is applied, the fastener experiences a bending moment that is smaller than the bending moment that the fastener would experience if the exterior surface and the surface portion of the coupling were flat but under otherwise identical conditions.

4 . A method, comprising:
applying a force to an electrochemical device via a solid surface, wherein the solid surface is shaped such that the force applied to the electrochemical device causes a more uniform utilization of electrode active material in the electrochemical device during cycling relative to the utilization of the electrode active material that would be achieved using a flat solid surface but under otherwise identical conditions.

5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the solid surface is convex with respect to a side of the electrochemical device, and wherein the applying causes the solid surface to deform such that the solid surface becomes less convex.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying is performed via a coupling comprising a surface portion in contact with an exterior surface opposite the solid surface, and the deforming causes relative rotational motion between a contour of the exterior surface and a contour of the surface portion of the coupling that is coupled to the contour of the exterior surface.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying is performed via a coupling, the coupling comprising:
a surface portion in contact with an exterior surface opposite the solid surface; and a fastener interfacing with the surface portion of the coupling; wherein a contour of the exterior surface interfaces with a contour of the surface portion of the coupling such that, when the force is applied, the fastener experiences a bending moment that is smaller than the bending moment that the fastener would experience if the exterior surface and the surface portion of the coupling were flat but under otherwise identical conditions.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid surface is shaped such that the force applied to the electrochemical device causes a more uniform utilization of electrode active material within the electrochemical device during cycling relative to the utilization of the electrode active material that would be achieved using a flat solid surface but under otherwise identical conditions.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying causes the flatness of the solid surface to increase relative to the flatness of the solid surface in the absence of the applied force.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flatness tolerance of the solid surface decreases by factor of at least 1.5 relative to the flatness of the solid surface in the absence of the applied force.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the flatness tolerance of the solid surface decreases by a factor of up to 10 relative to the flatness of the solid surface in the absence of the applied force.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a component of the applied force normal to the active surface of at least one electrode of the electrochemical device defines a pressure of at least 49 Newtons per square centimeter.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a component of the applied force normal to the active surface of at least one electrode of the electrochemical device defines a pressure of less than or equal to 250 Newtons per square centimeter.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the side of the electrochemical device is a first side, the solid surface is a part of a first solid article, the electrochemical device comprises a second side, and at least a portion of a second solid surface of a second solid article proximate the second side of the electrochemical device has a convexity that is less than the convexity of the second solid surface of the second solid article when the applied force is removed.

15 . The method of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the contour of the surface portion of the coupling is complementary with the contour of the exterior surface.

16 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the contour of the surface portion of the coupling has a convexity, and the contour of the exterior surface has a concavity that interfaces with the convexity of the contour of the surface portion of the coupling.

17 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the fastener comprises a rod spanning from the first solid article to the second solid article.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the concavity is concave along two axes.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the concavity is concave along a single axis.

20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device comprises lithium metal and/or a lithium metal alloy as an anode active material.

21 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising charging and/or discharging the electrochemical device during the step of applying the force.

22 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the solid article is or comprises a first solid plate.

23 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second solid article is or comprises a second solid plate.

24 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the exterior surface opposite the solid surface is part of the solid article.

25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a distal solid article is adjacent to a side of the solid article opposite the solid surface.

26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the exterior surface is part of the distal solid article.

27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the solid article and/or the distal solid article comprises a metal, metal alloy, composite material, or a combination thereof.

28 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the solid article comprises a polymeric material.

29 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the distal solid article comprises a solid plate.

30 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid surface has a geometric area smaller than a maximum lateral geometric area of the distal solid article.

Assignees

• Sion Power Corp

Inventors

• Milobar Daniel G

Classifications

• H01M50/264 Primary

  for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames · CPC title

• H01M50/202

  Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery · CPC title

• H01M10/0481 Primary

  Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators · CPC title

• H01M50/119

  Metals · CPC title

• H01M50/291

  characterised by their shape · CPC title