Test cell assembly including a reference electrode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025201935-A1
Application number	US-202418671374-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 22, 2024
Priority date	Dec 15, 2023
Publication date	Jun 19, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A test cell assembly can include a reference electrode. The reference electrode can be connected to the outside of an all-solid-state battery and two or more reference electrodes can be provided so as to be rotatable and linearly movable, so it is possible to switch electrode modes and replace a deteriorated reference electrode without disassembling the all-solid-state battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A test cell assembly, comprising:
a frame having an internal space of a first volume; an all-solid-state battery accommodated in the internal space of the frame; and a reference electrode structure provided on an outer lateral surface of the frame, wherein the reference electrode structure comprises:
a reference electrode part configured to acquire electrochemical signals of the all-solid-state battery;
a connection part fixed to the outer lateral surface of the frame and being in contact with the reference electrode part;
a linear movement part configured to linearly move the reference electrode part; and
a rotational movement part configured to rotate the reference electrode part.

2 . The test cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises:
a hollow body part having open upper and lower sides and having the internal space; an upper pressurizing part fitted to the upper side of the body part and pressurizing an upper portion of the all-solid-state battery in a contact manner; and a lower pressurizing part fitted to the lower side of the body part and pressurizing a lower portion of the all-solid-state battery in a contact manner.

3 . The test cell assembly of claim 2 , wherein the body part comprises:
a seating recess recessed to a first depth from an outer lateral surface of the body part; and a through-hole formed through an inner surface of the body part to communicate the internal space and the seating recess with each other.

4 . The test cell assembly of claim 3 , wherein the body part further comprises a filling member filled in the through-hole, wherein the filling member comprises a solid electrolyte, and wherein the filling member forms a movement passage for lithium ions between the all-solid-state battery and the reference electrode structure.

5 . The test cell assembly of claim 3 , wherein the connection part is inserted into the seating recess and has a cylindrical shape with a first surface in contact with the through-hole, and wherein the reference electrode part comprises:
a cylindrical fixing member configured to be in contact with a second surface of the connection part and rotatable about a lengthwise central axis thereof; two or more insertion passages formed through the fixing member from a first end to a second end thereof; and two or more reference electrodes respectively inserted into the two or more insertion passages.

6 . The test cell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the connection part further comprises:
a cylindrical plate; a connection hole formed through the plate from a first surface to a second surface thereof; and an insulating hole formed through the plate from the first surface to the second surface thereof at a position spaced apart from the connection hole by a first distance, wherein the connection hole is filled with a solid electrolyte, and wherein the insulating hole is filled with an insulating material.

7 . The test cell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the two or more insertion passages are arranged to be rotationally symmetrical about the central axis.

8 . The test cell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the reference electrodes are formed by coating a noble metal on a wire;
wherein the wire comprising one selected from the group consisting of tungsten (W), aluminum (Al), nickel (Ni), stainless steel (SUS), and a combination thereof; and wherein the noble metal comprising one selected from the group consisting of gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), and a combination thereof.

9 . The test cell assembly of claim 6 , wherein the test cell assembly is configured to be operated in a three-electrode mode in which any one of the two or more reference electrodes is in contact with the connection hole; and
wherein the test cell assembly is configured to be operated in a two-electrode mode in which all the two or more reference electrodes are in contact with the plate and not aligned with the connection hole and the insulating hole.

10 . The test cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the test cell assembly is configured to be operated in a three-electrode mode in which a movement passage for lithium ions is formed between the all-solid-state battery and the reference electrode structure; and
wherein the test cell assembly is configured to be operated in a two-electrode mode in which a movement passage for lithium ions is not formed between the all-solid-state battery and the reference electrode structure.

11 . The test cell assembly of claim 10 , wherein the test cell assembly is configured to be switched from the three-electrode mode to the two-electrode mode or from the two-electrode mode to the three-electrode mode, such that switching between the three-electrode mode and the two-electrode mode is performed without disassembling the all-solid-state battery.

12 . The test cell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the linear movement part comprises:
a first moving member provided along an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member; a second moving member connected to the first moving member; and a first driving member configured to provide a driving force to the second moving member, wherein the first moving member is connected to the fixing member to be moved linearly together with the fixing member, and wherein the second moving member is configured to linearly move the first moving member in a lengthwise direction of the fixing member by receiving the driving force from the first driving member.

13 . The test cell assembly of claim 12 , wherein the linear movement part comprises a rod-shaped first shaft, wherein the first shaft has a first end connected to the second moving member and a second end connected to the first driving member, such that the first shaft is configured to transmit the driving force of the first driving member to the second moving member.

14 . The test cell assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first moving member comprises a worm gear provided with at least one thread; and
wherein the second moving member comprises a worm wheel provided with two or more teeth to be engaged with the thread.

15 . The test cell assembly of claim 12 , wherein the linear movement part comprises at least one first ball plunger formed on an inner peripheral surface of the first moving member, wherein the reference electrode part comprises two or more first insertion concave portions recessed and spaced apart at a selected angle along a circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing member; and
wherein the first ball plunger comprises:
a first plunger body having an internal region of a second volume and having an opening open in one direction;
a first spring located in the internal region; and
a first plunger ball located in the opening of the first plunger body and movable in a vertical direction by the first spring, wherein the first plunger ball is configured to be inserted into the first insertion concave portion.

16 . The test cell assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rotational movement part comprises:
a first rotating member provided along an outer peripheral surface of the fixing member; a second rotating member connected to the first rotating member; and a second driving member configured to provide a driving force to the second rotating member, wherein the first rotating member is connected to the fixing member to be rotated together with the fixing member, and wherein the second rotating member is configured to rotate the first rotating member about the central axis by receiving the driving force from the second driving member.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Institute For Reseach & Industry Cooperation Pusan National Univ

Inventors

• Lim Chung Bum
• Min Hong-Seok
• Noh Sung Woo
• Park Je Sik
• Seo Jeong Hyun
• Seo Im Sul
• Lee Joo Young
• Seong Ju Yeong
• Lee Yong Seok
• Min Yu Jeong
• Joo So Young
• Lee Ga Eun
• Shin Heon-Cheol

Classifications

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• H01M50/172

  Arrangements of electric connectors penetrating the casing · CPC title

• G01N27/301 Primary

  Reference electrodes · CPC title

• G01N27/26 Primary

  by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title