# US 10,320,027 B2 · Application of force in electrochemical cells > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,320,027 B2 - Document ID: US10320027B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/685,860 - Filed: 2017-08-24 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-05 - Assignees: Sion Power Corporation - Applicants: Sion Power Corporation - Inventors: Chariclea Scordilis-Kelley; John D. Affinito; Lowell D. Jones; Yuriy V. Mikhaylik; Igor P. Kovalev; William F. Wilkening; Christopher T. S. Campbell; John A. Martens - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320027B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - H01M 4/133: Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx - H01M 4/136: Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy - H01M 4/139: Processes of manufacture - H01M 4/1395: of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys - H01M 4/581: {Chalcogenides or intercalation compounds thereof} - H01M 4/587: for inserting or intercalating light metals - H01M 10/0468: {Compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators} - H01M 10/0481: {Compression means other than compression means for stacks of electrodes and separators} - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/058: Construction or manufacture - H01M 4/13: Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof - H01M 4/40: Alloys based on alkali metals - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The present invention relates to the application of a force to enhance the performance of an electrochemical cell. The force may comprise, in some instances, an anisotropic force with a component normal to an active surface of the anode of the electrochemical cell. In the embodiments described herein, electrochemical cells (e.g., rechargeable batteries) may undergo a charge/discharge cycle involving deposition of metal (e.g., lithium metal) on a surface of the anode upon charging and reaction of the metal on the anode surface, wherein the metal diffuses from the anode surface, upon discharging. The uniformity with which the metal is deposited on the anode may affect cell performance. For example, when lithium metal is redeposited on an anode, it may, in some cases, deposit unevenly forming a rough surface. The roughened surface may increase the amount of lithium metal available for undesired chemical reactions which may result in decreased cycling lifetime and/or poor cell performance. The application of force to the electrochemical cell has been found, in accordance with the invention, to reduce such behavior and to improve the cycling lifetime and/or performance of the cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: charging and/or discharging an electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises: a first electrode; a second electrode, the second electrode comprising lithium metal and/or a lithium alloy as an electrode active material; and an electrolyte in electrochemical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein, during at least one period of time during the charging and/or the discharging, an anisotropic force having a component normal to an active surface of the second electrode is applied to the active surface of the second electrode; and wherein the component of the anisotropic force that is normal to the active surface of the second electrode is at least about 80% of the yield stress of the second electrode material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the component of the anisotropic force that is normal to the active surface of the second electrode is from about 80% of the yield stress of the second electrode material to about 200% of the yield stress of the second electrode material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises lithium metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrode comprises a lithium alloy. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises an electrode active material comprising at least one electroactive transition metal chalcogenide, at least one electroactive conductive polymer, sulfur, carbon, and/or combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises an electrode active material comprising an electroactive oxide, an electroactive sulfide, and/or an electroactive selenide of one or more transition metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, V, Cr, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, and Ir. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises an electrode active material comprising an electroactive oxide of nickel, an electroactive oxide of manganese, an electroactive oxide of cobalt, an electroactive oxide of vanadium, and/or an electroactive sulfide of iron. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises an electroactive sulfur-containing material as an electrode active material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic force is applied uniformly over the active surface of the second electrode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising fully charging the electrochemical cell. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising fully discharging the electrochemical cell. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the charging of the electrochemical cell involves deposition of lithium metal on the active surface of the second electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is contained within a containment structure, and at least a portion of the anisotropic force is applied by a compressive element external to the containment structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic force is applied during at least one period of time during the charging of the electrochemical cell and during at least one period of time during the discharging of the electrochemical cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the anisotropic force is applied between the charging of the electrochemical cell and the discharging of the electrochemical cell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the anisotropic force is applied prior to a first charge of the electrochemical cell and prior to a first discharge of the electrochemical cell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, after alternatively discharging and charging the electrochemical cell twenty-five times, the electrochemical cell exhibits at least about 50% of the initial capacity of the electrochemical cell at the end of the twenty-fifth cycle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is cylindrical. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell further comprises a separator, permeable to the electrolyte, between the first electrode and the second electrode.