US 10,593,988 B2Granted

Electrochemical cell for lithium-based batteries

AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC

InventorsXingcheng Xiao, John S. Wang

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Abstract

An electrochemical cell is formed. The cell includes a non-lithium negative electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable negative electrode current collector, and a positive electrode disposed in contact with a lithium ion permeable positive electrode current collector. The non-lithium negative electrode and the positive electrode are lithium ion permeable. The cell also has a lithium source electrode including lithium ions. A respective microporous polymer separator is disposed between the lithium source electrode and each of the negative and positive electrodes; or a first separator is disposed between the lithium source electrode and one of the negative and positive electrodes, and a second separator is disposed between the negative and positive electrodes. An electrolyte is introduced into the electrochemical cell. A voltage potential is applied across the electrochemical cell to pre-lithiate any of the non-lithium negative electrode and positive electrode with lithium ions from the lithium source electrode.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method, comprising:

forming an electrochemical cell, including:
at least one non-lithium negative electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable negative electrode current collector, the at least one non-lithium negative electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the at least one non-lithium negative electrode is lithium ion permeable;
at least one positive electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable positive electrode current collector, the at least one positive electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the positive electrode is lithium ion permeable;
a lithium source electrode including lithium ions in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 50% greater than the lithium ion capacity of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode, the lithium source electrode having a first side and an opposing second side and a projected area that is at least 20% of the area of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode;
and
one of:
i) a first polymer separator disposed between the first side of the lithium source electrode and one of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and a second polymer separator disposed between the second side of the lithium source electrode and one of the at least one positive electrode;
or
ii) a first microporous polymer separator disposed between the lithium source electrode and the first side of a first of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, a second microporous polymer separator disposed between the second side of the first non-lithium negative electrode and a first side of a first of the at least one positive electrode, a third microporous polymer separator disposed between the second side of the first positive electrode and the first side of a second of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, and a fourth microporous polymer separator disposed between the second side of the second non-lithium negative electrode and the first side of a second of the at least one positive electrode;
introducing an electrolyte into the electrochemical cell;
applying a voltage potential across the electrochemical cell, thereby pre-lithiating any of the non-lithium negative electrode and the positive electrode with lithium ions from the lithium source electrode, and forming a rechargeable lithium-based battery;
cycling the battery through discharge and charge cycles;
and
then, relithiating any of the non-lithium negative electrode and the positive electrode with lithium ions from the lithium source electrode.

11 more elements

A method, comprising:

forming an electrochemical cell, including:
at least one non-lithium negative electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable negative electrode current collector, the at least one non-lithium negative electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the at least one non-lithium negative electrode is lithium ion permeable;
at least one positive electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable positive electrode current collector, the at least one positive electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the positive electrode is lithium ion permeable;
at least one lithium source electrode including lithium ions in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 50% greater than the lithium ion capacity of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode, the at least one lithium source electrode having a first side and an opposing second side and a projected area that is at least 20% of the area of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode;
and
one of:
i) a first polymer separator disposed between a first of the at least one lithium source electrode and the first side of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, a second polymer separator disposed between the second side of the least one non-lithium negative electrode and the first side of the at least one positive electrode, and a third polymer separator disposed between the second side of the at least one positive electrode and a second of the at least one lithium source electrode;
or
ii) a first polymer separator disposed between a first of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and a first side of a first of the at least one positive electrode, a second polymer separator disposed between a second side of the first of the at least one positive electrode and the first side of the at least one lithium source electrode, a third polymer separator disposed between the second side of the at least one lithium source electrode and a first side of a second of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, and a fourth polymer separator disposed between a second side of the second of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and a second of the at least one positive electrode;
introducing an electrolyte into the electrochemical cell;
applying a voltage potential across the electrochemical cell, thereby pre-lithiating any of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and the at least one positive electrode with lithium ions from the at least one lithium source electrode, and forming a rechargeable lithium-based battery;
cycling the battery through discharge and charge cycles;
and
then, relithiating any of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and the at least one positive electrode with lithium ions from the at least one lithium source electrode.

11 more elements

An electrochemical cell comprising:

at least one non-lithium negative electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable negative electrode current collector, the at least one non-lithium negative electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the at least one non-lithium negative electrode is lithium ion permeable;
at least one positive electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable positive electrode current collector, the at least one positive electrode having a first side and an opposing second side, wherein the positive electrode is lithium ion permeable;
a lithium source electrode including lithium ions in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 50% greater than the lithium ion capacity of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode, and having a projected area that is at least 20% of the area of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode or the at least one positive electrode;
and
one of:
i) a first polymer separator disposed between a first side of the lithium source electrode and the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, and a second polymer separator disposed between the second side of the lithium source electrode and the at least one positive electrode;
or
ii) a first microporous polymer separator disposed between the lithium source electrode and a first side of a first of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, a second microporous polymer separator disposed between a second side of the first of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode and a first side of a first of the at least one positive electrode, a third microporous polymer separator disposed between a second side of the first of the at least one positive electrode and a first side of a second of the at least one non-lithium negative electrode, and a fourth microporous polymer separator disposed between a second side of the second of the least one non-lithium negative electrode and a first side of a second of the at least one positive electrode.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/724,703Filed 28 May 2015 · continuation in part
Priority: 20 Jun 2013
Published: US 2015/0263379 A117 Sep 2015
Granted: 17 Mar 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

H01M 10/0525
Li-accumulators: rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
C25D 7/0614
Wires; Strips; Foils: strips or foils
H01M 4/0447
Forming after manufacture of the electrode, e.g. first charge, cycling: of complete cells or cells stacks
H01M 4/139
Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof: processes of manufacture

Family

Application13/923,354Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jun 2013
US 2015/0263379 A1Pre-grant publication · published 17 Sep 2015
US 9,379,418 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0375325 A1Published application
US 10,593,988 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.