Electroactive Polymer Coating for Improved Battery Safety
OwnerChristopher M. Langinventor
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Abstract
A single or multi-component polymer coating is applied to components used in fabrication of electrochemical cells to protect the cells from damages that can result in cell imbalance or cell performance reduction. The polymer coating is electrically conductive under normal operating conditions but, when operated at low voltages, functions as an insulative material that increases the electrical resistance of the cell components. This increased electrical resistance improves cell safety by minimizing short-circuit current flow and reducing heating rate in the cell components.
Claims26
A conductive additive for an electrochemical cell electrode comprising:
- a carbon additive material;
- and
- an electroactive polymer coating dispersed on the carbon additive material, the electroactive polymer functioning as an insulating layer when a potential in the electrochemical cell is less than a switching voltage and functioning as a conductive layer when the potential in the electrochemical cell is greater than the switching voltage.
A conductive additive for an electrochemical cell electrode comprising:
- a non-conductive material;
- and
- an electroactive polymer coating dispersed on the non-conductive material, the electroactive polymer functioning as an insulating layer when the potential in the electrochemical cell is less than a switching voltage and functioning as a conductive layer when the potential in the electrochemical cell is greater than the switching voltage.
A method of forming an electroactive polymer coated material comprising:
- dissolving an electroactive polymer in a solvent to form a mixture;
- adding at least one of an oxide, metal or carbon-based material to the mixture to form a slurry;
- and
- drying the slurry to form the electroactive polymer coated material.
A method of forming an electroactive polymer coated conductive additive comprising:
- providing a conductive additive;
- and
- coating the conductive additive with an electroactive polymer layer, wherein the electroactive polymer layer functions as an insulating layer when a potential in an electrochemical cell is less than a switching voltage and the electroactive polymer layer functions as a conductive layer when the potential in the electrochemical cell is greater than the switching voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.