Metal-air battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9786932-B2
Application number	US-201715450034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2017
Priority date	Sep 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A metal-air battery includes first and second cells, each cell including a negative electrode metal layer, a negative electrode electrolytic film, a positive electrode layer configured to use oxygen as an active material, and a gas diffusion layer, wherein the negative electrode metal layer, the negative electrode electrolytic film, the positive electrode layer, and the gas diffusion layer are sequentially disposed, wherein each cell has an open surface through which at least a portion of the gas diffusion layer is in fluid communication with, outside air, wherein the first and second cells contact each other, and wherein a direction of a first open surface of the first cell is different from a direction of a second open surface of the second cell.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A metal-air battery comprising:
a first cell comprising a first negative electrode metal layer, a first negative electrode electrolytic film, a first positive electrode layer configured to use oxygen as an active material, and a first gas diffusion layer,
wherein the first negative electrode electrolytic film is between the first negative electrode metal layer and the first positive electrode layer, and
the first positive electrode layer is between the first negative electrode electrolytic film and the first gas diffusion layer; and;

a third cell comprising
a third negative electrode metal layer,
a third negative electrode electrolytic film on the third negative electrode metal layer,
a third positive electrode layer configured to use oxygen as an active material and on the third negative electrode electrolytic film, and
a third gas diffusion layer on the third positive electrode layer,
wherein the third negative electrode electrolytic film is between the third negative electrode metal layer and the third positive electrode layer, and
wherein the third positive electrode layer is between the third negative electrode electrolytic film and the third gas diffusion layer,

wherein the first negative electrode metal layer, the first negative electrode electrolytic film, and the first positive electrode layer are in a bent state such that the first positive electrode layer contacts a first surface of the first gas diffusion layer and a second surface of the first gas diffusion layer that is disposed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first surface of the first gas diffusion layer is disposed, and a side surface of the first gas diffusion layer between the first and second surfaces of the first gas diffusion layer are in fluid communication with outside air,
wherein the third negative electrode metal layer, the third negative electrode electrolytic film, and third first positive electrode layer are in a bent state such that the third positive electrode layer contacts a first surface of the third gas diffusion layer and a second surface of the third gas diffusion layer that is disposed in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first surface of the third gas diffusion layer is disposed, and a side surface of the third gas diffusion layer between the first and second surfaces of the third gas diffusion layer are in fluid communication with outside air,
wherein the first and third cells are spaced apart from each other and the open surface of the first cell and the open surface of the third cell face each other.

2. The metal-air battery of claim 1 , wherein a channel to which air is introduced is defined by the open surface of the third cell and the open surface of the first cell.

3. The metal-air battery of claim 2 , wherein a size of the channel is constant in a direction in which the air is introduced.

4. The metal-air battery of claim 2 , wherein a size of the channel decreases in a direction in which the air is introduced.

5. The metal-air battery of claim 2 , further comprising a nozzle that is disposed around an inlet of the channel and has a cross-sectional area that decreases in a direction in which the air is introduced.

6. The metal-air battery of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second cell in which a second negative electrode metal layer, a second negative electrode electrolytic film, a second positive electrode layer that uses oxygen as an active material, and a second gas diffusion layer are sequentially disposed and have an open surface through which at least a portion of the second gas diffusion layer is in fluid communication with, outside air, and
a fourth cell in which a fourth negative electrode metal layer, a fourth negative electrode electrolytic film, a fourth positive electrode layer that uses oxygen as an active material, and a fourth gas diffusion layer are sequentially disposed and have an open surface through which at least a portion of the fourth gas diffusion layer is in fluid communication with, outside air,
wherein the second cell contacts the first cell and a direction extending perpendicular and away from the open surface of the second cell is different from a direction extending perpendicular and away from the open surface of the first cell, and
wherein the fourth cell contacts the third cell and a direction extending perpendicular and away from the open surface of the fourth cell is different from a direction extending perpendicular and away from the open surface of the third cell.

7. The metal-air battery of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the first cells and a plurality of the third cells are provided,
wherein the plurality of third cells is arranged in a direction that is parallel to the direction of the plurality of the first cells or is inclined with respect to the direction of the plurality of the first cells.

8. The metal-air battery of claim 1 , wherein the first and third cells have a rectilinear cross-sectional shape.

9. The metal-air battery of claim 2 , further comprising an air circulator that comprises a first area that is disposed around an inlet of the channel and is configured to provide a first pressure, a second area that is disposed around an outlet of the channel and is configured to provide a second pressure that is less than the first pressure, and a third area that connects the first area and the second area and is configured to provide a third pressure that is greater than the first pressure.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Park Minsik
• Ko Jeongsik
• Lee Heungchan
• Im Dongmin

Classifications

• H01M8/04201 Primary

  Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes · CPC title

• H01M12/08

  composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M12/02 Primary

  Details (of electrodes H01M4/00; of non-active parts H01M50/00) · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title