Longitudinal constraints for energy storage devices

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the constraint comprises a metal, metal alloy, ceramic, glass, or a combination thereof, the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity.

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity,
• wherein the constraint comprises carbon fibers at >50% packing density.

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity,
• wherein the first and second compression members comprise a material having a tensile strength of at least 10,000 psi.

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity,
• wherein the at least one tension member comprises a material having a tensile strength of at least 10,000 psi.

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the constraint comprises at least one of polyetheretherketone (PEEK), PEEK with carbon, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with carbon, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with glass, polyimide, and combinations thereof, the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity.

A sealed secondary battery for cycling between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery comprising an enclosure that seals the contents of the secondary battery, an electrode assembly and a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the enclosure, and a constraint within the enclosure that maintains a pressure on the electrode assembly as the sealed secondary battery is cycled between the charged and the discharged states, the electrode assembly comprising a population of electrode structures, a population of counter-electrode structures and an electrically insulating separator material between members of the electrode and counter-electrode populations wherein

• the electrode assembly has opposing first and second longitudinal end surfaces separated along a longitudinal axis, and a lateral surface surrounding the longitudinal axis and connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, members of the electrode population and members of the counter-electrode population are arranged in an alternating sequence in a stacking direction that parallels the longitudinal axis within the electrode assembly, and
• the constraint comprises first and second compression members that overlie the first and second longitudinal end surfaces, respectively, the first and second compression members being connected by at least one tension member that overlies the lateral surface and pulls the compression members toward each other,
• wherein the constraint comprises at least one of aramid fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, and combinations thereof, the secondary battery has a rated capacity and the constraint places the first and second longitudinal end surfaces under a compressive load of at least 100 psi when the secondary battery is charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity.