Catholyte management for a solid-state separator
AssigneeQuantumScape Corporation
InventorsWilliam H. GARDNER, Joseph SALVI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided herein are electrochemical cells that include a seal impermeable to a liquid electrolyte and that is bonded to a solid-state Li ion-conducting electrolyte in a manner that effectively isolates and protects a Li metal negative electrode from exposure to either, or both, a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte used as a catholyte in the positive electrode. Some of the electrochemical cells include a series of electrochemical stacks, which may be stacked in a variety of configurations including configurations that share a Li metal negative electrode.
Claims31
An electrochemical stack, comprising a solid-state electrolyte;
- a positive electrode comprising a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte;
- a positive electrode current collector;
- and
- a seal impermeable to the liquid electrolyte or the gel electrolyte that bonds to the positive electrode current collector and to the solid-state electrolyte.
An electrochemical cell, comprising:
- a container;
- at least one electrochemical stack in the container, the electrochemical stack comprising at least:
- a solid-state electrolyte;
- a positive electrode comprising a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte;
- a positive electrode current collector;
- and
- a seal impermeable to the liquid electrolyte or the gel electrolyte that bonds to the positive electrode current collector and to the solid-state electrolyte, wherein the seal is not bonded to the container.
A method of making an electrochemical cell, comprising:
- providing a positive electrode current collector and an electrochemical cell stack on a substrate;
- applying a seal material on to the positive electrode current collector;
- wherein the electrochemical stack comprises:
- a solid-state electrolyte;
- a positive electrode comprising a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte;
- wherein the seal material is impermeable to the liquid electrolyte or the gel electrolyte, and wherein the seal material bonds to the positive electrode current collector and to the solid-state electrolyte;
- enclosing the cell stack within a pressure ring;
- and
- applying at least 3 pounds per square inch (PSI) to the electrochemical cell.
A method of making an electrochemical cell, comprising:
- providing a positive electrode current collector on a substrate;
- applying a seal material on the positive electrode current collector;
- providing a pressure ring;
- providing an electrochemical stack on the seal material and within the pressure ring,
- wherein the electrochemical stack comprises:
- a solid-state electrolyte;
- a positive electrode comprising a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte;
- and
- wherein the seal material is impermeable to the liquid electrolyte or the gel electrolyte that bonds to the positive electrode current collector and to the solid-state electrolyte;
- and
- applying at least 3 pounds per square inch (PSI) to the electrochemical cell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.