# US 12,002,963 B2 · Electrode configuration with a protrusion inhibiting separator

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- Number: US 12,002,963 B2
- Document ID: US12002963B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/054,639
- Filed: 2019-05-28
- Published: 2021-06-24
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2018-05-31
- Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Applicants: Yelena Gorlin; John F. Christensen; Nathan P. Craig; Georgy Samsonidze; Ramachandran Subbaraman; Robert Bosch GmbH
- Inventors: Yelena Gorlin; John F. Christensen; Nathan P. Craig; Georgy Samsonidze; Ramachandran Subbaraman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002963B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/628: {Inhibitors, e.g. gassing inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/5825: {Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines}
- H01M 10/056: characterised by the materials used as electrolytes, e.g. mixed inorganic/organic electrolytes
- H01M 10/0585: of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
- H01M 10/4235: {Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte (H01M10/4242 takes precedence)}
- H01M 50/431: Inorganic material
- H01M 50/434: Ceramics
- H01M 50/449: having a layered structure
- H01M 50/46: Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their combination with electrodes
- H01M 2004/027: {Negative electrodes}
- H01M 2004/028: {Positive electrodes}
- H01M 2300/0065: Solid electrolytes
- H01M 2300/0088: Composites
- 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

An electrode configuration for a battery cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator includes an electrically conductive protrusion inhibiting layer and a first insulating layer interposed between and electrically insulating the protrusion inhibiting layer from one of the positive and negative electrode.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrode configuration for a battery cell, comprising:
a positive electrode;
a negative electrode; and
a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the separator comprising:
a protrusion inhibiting layer that is electrically conductive, the protrusion inhibiting layer comprising a lithium ion conducting material and a lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent interspersed within the lithium ion conducting material; and
a first electronically insulating layer interposed between and electrically insulating the protrusion inhibiting layer from one of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusion inhibiting layer has a greater shear modulus than the other of the positive and negative electrode so as to mechanically inhibit growth of lithium protrusions on the other of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 2, wherein the lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent comprises one or more of carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, particles of silver, particles of steel, particles of copper, and particles of lithium.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 3, wherein the primary lithium ion conducting material includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, lithium-lanthanum-zirconium-oxide (LLZO), lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), lithium-aluminum-titanium-phosphate (LATP), Li2S—P2S5, and Li3PS4.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusion inhibiting layer is configured to chemically inhibit growth of lithium protrusions on the other of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 5, wherein the lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent comprises an alloying material that alloys with lithium in the battery so as to inhibit growth of lithium protrusions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 6, wherein the alloying material includes one or more material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, magnesium, silicon, silver, and gold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 6, wherein the lithium ion conducting material includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, lithium-lanthanum-zirconium-oxide (LLZO), lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), lithium-aluminum-titanium-phosphate (LATP), Li2S—P2S5, and Li3PS4.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronically insulating layer includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: PEO with conducting salt; gels with the addition of carbonate solvent and conducting salt; ceramic single ion conductors; lithium-lanthanum-zirconium-oxide (LLZO); lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON); lithium-aluminum-titanium-phosphate (LATP); glassy single ion conductors; atomic layer deposition layers of lithium conducting, electronically insulating materials; Al2O3; Li3P; Si3N4; cation exchange polymers; and a perfluorosulfonic acid membrane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronically insulating layer has low permeability to counter-ions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electronically insulating layer includes a single ion conducting layer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, the separator further comprising a second insulating layer that electrically insulates the protrusion inhibiting layer from the other of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 13

A battery cell comprising:
an electrode configuration comprising:
a positive electrode;
a negative electrode; and
a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the separator comprising:
a protrusion inhibiting layer that is electrically conductive, the protrusion inhibiting layer comprising a lithium ion conducting material and a lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent interspersed within the lithium ion conducting material; and
a first electronically insulating layer interposed between and electrically separating the protrusion inhibiting layer from one of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The battery cell as recited in claim 13, wherein the protrusion inhibiting layer is configured to mechanically inhibit growth of lithium protrusions on the other of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The battery cell as recited in claim 14, wherein the lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent comprises one or more of carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, particles of silver, particles of steel, particles of copper, and particles of lithium.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The battery cell as recited in claim 15, wherein the primary lithium ion conducting material includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, lithium-lanthanum-zirconium-oxide (LLZO), lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), lithium-aluminum-titanium-phosphate (LATP), Li2S—P2S5, and Li3PS4.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The battery cell as recited in claim 13, wherein the protrusion inhibiting layer is configured to chemically inhibit growth of lithium protrusions on the other of the positive and negative electrode.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The battery cell as recited in claim 17, wherein the lithium protrusion growth inhibiting constituent comprises an alloying material that alloys with lithium in the battery so as to inhibit growth of lithium protrusions.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The battery cell as recited in claim 18, wherein the alloying material includes one or more material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, tin, magnesium, silicon, silver, and gold.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The electrode configuration as recited in claim 1, wherein the protrusion inhibiting layer has a fracture toughness of greater than 104 Pa*m1/2.