# US 2015/0147641 A1 · Multifunction battery separator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2015/0147641 A1 - Document ID: US20150147641A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/087,448 - Filed: 2013-11-22 - Published: 2015-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-22 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Mahmoud H. Abd Elhamid; Xingcheng Xiao; Mei Cai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20150147641A1 ## CPC - H01M 50/44: Fibrous material - H01M 50/434: Ceramics - H01M 50/491: Porosity - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y10T 29/49108: Electric battery cell making - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Use of a flexible, nonconductive, porous, and thermally tolerant ceramic material as a separator in a lithium-ion battery or lithium-sulfur battery is described. The separator can be made of aluminum oxide and provides excellent mechanical and thermal properties that prevent wear and puncture of the separator caused by particles removed from the electrodes during the charging and discharging process. The separator is designed to mitigate effects of melt shrinkage and facilitate the lithium ion transport, in contrast to separators that include a polymeric material, thus preventing short-circuiting between the positive and the negative electrode. Improved wetting and filling of the separator with electrolyte solution are provided, for improved rate capability of the battery (fast charging and discharging). The separator further reduces the potential for thermal runaway in Li batteries. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrochemical battery cell comprising: a separator disposed between two electrodes, the separator comprising a flexible, electrically insulative, porous, and thermally tolerant ceramic material, wherein the separator does not include an organic polymer; wherein the electrochemical battery cell comprises one of a lithium-ion battery cell and a lithium-sulfur battery cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein the separator includes a ceramic material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 2, wherein the ceramic material is a member selected from a group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, chromium nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, boron carbide, titanium carbon, chromium carbide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein the separator is thermally stable to about 1650° C. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein the separator has a porosity of about 60% and a pore size of about 0.004 μm to about 10.556 μm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein the separator is permeable to lithium ions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein the separator is wettable with a non-aqueous electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved therein with contact angle of less than about 10 degrees. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electrochemical battery cell of claim 1, wherein one of the electrodes is a negative electrode comprising a lithium host material capable of storing intercalated lithium and the other of the electrodes is a positive electrode comprising a lithium-based active material capable of storing intercalated lithium at a higher electrochemical potential than the lithium host material of the negative electrode. ### Claim 9 A battery comprising: a plurality of electrochemical battery cells, wherein at least one electrochemical battery cell includes: a separator disposed between two electrodes, the separator comprising a flexible, electrically insulative, porous, and thermally tolerant ceramic material, wherein the separator does not include an organic polymer; and an electrolyte; wherein the battery comprises one of a lithium-ion battery and a lithium-sulfur battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein the separator includes a ceramic material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The battery of claim 10, wherein the ceramic material is a member selected from a group consisting of aluminum oxide, zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, tantalum oxide, silicon nitride, cubic boron nitride, aluminum nitride, chromium nitride, titanium nitride, silicon carbide, boron carbide, titanium carbon, chromium carbide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein the separator is thermally stable to about 1650° C. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein the separator has a porosity of about 60% and a pore size of about 0.004 μm to about 10.556 μm. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein the separator is permeable to lithium ions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein the electrolyte comprises a non-aqueous electrolyte having a lithium salt dissolved therein. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The battery of claim 9, wherein one of the electrodes is a negative electrode comprising a lithium host material capable of storing intercalated lithium and the other of the electrodes is a positive electrode comprising a lithium-based active material capable of storing intercalated lithium at a higher electrochemical potential than the lithium host material of the negative electrode. ### Claim 17 A method of making an electrochemical battery cell comprising: disposing a separator between two electrodes, the separator comprising a flexible, electrically insulative, porous, and thermally tolerant ceramic material, wherein the separator does not include an organic polymer; wherein the electrochemical battery cell comprises one of a lithium-ion battery cell and a lithium-sulfur battery cell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the separator includes a ceramic material selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, a metal carbide, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the separator is thermally stable to about 1650° C. ### Claim 20 (depends on 9) A vehicle comprising a battery according to claim 9.