# US 2021/0344086 A1 · Rechargeable battery with internal current limiter and interrupter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0344086 A1 - Document ID: US20210344086A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/370,973 - Filed: 2021-07-08 - Published: 2021-11-04 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-25 - Assignees: American Lithium Energy Corporation - Applicants: American Lithium Energy Corporation - Inventors: Jiang Fan; Dengguo Wu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210344086A1 ## CPC - H01M 50/574: Devices or arrangements for the interruption of current - H01M 4/13: Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof - H01M 4/366: {as layered products} - H01M 4/62: Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers - H01M 4/628: {Inhibitors, e.g. gassing inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors} - H01M 4/667: {in the form of layers, e.g. coatings} - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 10/058: Construction or manufacture - H01M 10/4235: {Safety or regulating additives or arrangements in electrodes, separators or electrolyte (H01M10/4242 takes precedence)} - H01M 10/425: {Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing (printed circuits H05K1/00)} - H01M 50/578: in response to pressure - H01M 50/581: in response to temperature - H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators - H01M 2010/4271: {Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing} - H01M 2200/00: Safety devices for primary or secondary batteries - H01M 2200/10: Temperature sensitive devices - H01M 2200/20: Pressure-sensitive devices - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - 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 ## Abstract A high energy density rechargeable (HEDR) battery employs a combined current limiter/current interrupter to prevent thermal runaway in the event of internal discharge or other disruption of the separator. The combined current limiter/current interrupter is interior to the battery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An improved high energy density rechargeable battery, comprising: a first electrode; a first current collector for transferring electrons; a current interrupter interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the current interrupter comprises a heat sensitive material configured to generate a gas upon activation of at least a temperature trigger, wherein the generating of the gas forms a nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector, and wherein the forming of the nonconductive gap electrically decouples the first electrode from the first current collector; a second electrode having an opposite polarity of the first electrode; and a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, further comprising a current limiter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, further comprising a second current collector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The battery of claim 3, wherein the current limiter is interposed between the second electrode and the second current collector. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, wherein the current limiter is interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The battery of claim 5, wherein the current limiter and the current interrupter are simultaneously incorporated into a single protective layer interposed by lamination between the first electrode and the first current collector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, wherein a resistivity of the current limiter is greater than the internal resistivity of the first electrode at temperatures above a temperature range for standard operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, wherein the resistivity of the current limiter does not transition at temperatures within the temperature range for standard operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The battery of claim 2, wherein the resistivity of the current limiter is less than the internal resistivity of the first electrode at temperatures within a temperature range for standard operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein the temperature trigger is activated when temperature exceeds a temperature range for standard operation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein the heat sensitive material is further configured to generate the gas upon activation of a voltage trigger, and wherein the voltage trigger is activated when voltage exceeds a voltage range for standard operation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled when the current interrupter is in an unengaged configuration, and wherein the nonconductive gap is formed between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in an engaged configuration. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The battery of claim 12, wherein the heat sensitive material is configured to transition the current interrupter from the unengaged configuration to the engaged configuration upon activation of at least the temperature trigger. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The battery of claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled via a laminated connection provided by the current interrupter when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration, and wherein the forming of the nonconductive gap delaminates the laminated connection between the first electrode and the first current collector. ### Claim 15 A method, comprising: forming a nonconductive gap between an electrode within a battery and a current collector, wherein the nonconductive gap is formed by a heat sensitive material that is adapted to generate a gas upon activation of least a temperature trigger, wherein the heat sensitive material comprises an interrupt layer interposed between the electrode and current collector, and wherein the forming of the nonconductive gap electrically decouples the electrode from the current collector.