Battery cell enclosure with anti-gravity electrolyte distribution

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a power-source configured to generate power-source torque;
• and
• a battery cell configured to supply electrical energy to the power-source, the battery cell including:
• an anode;
• a cathode;
• a liquid electrolyte;
• and
• a battery cell case configured to house the anode, the cathode, and the liquid electrolyte and having a case interior wall arranged proximate one of the anode and the cathode, a battery case ceiling, and a battery case floor catching and collecting the liquid electrolyte due to force of gravity;
• wherein the case interior wall defines a pattern of surface tension varying between hydrophobic and hydrophilic along the case interior wall between the battery case floor and the battery cell ceiling to thereby facilitate self-propulsion of the liquid electrolyte in opposition to the force of gravity and a predetermined distribution of the liquid electrolyte along the battery cell wall.

A battery cell comprising:

• an anode;
• a cathode;
• a liquid electrolyte;
• and
• a battery cell case configured to house the anode, the cathode, and the liquid electrolyte and having a case interior wall arranged proximate one of the anode and the cathode, a battery case ceiling, and a battery case floor catching and collecting the liquid electrolyte due to force of gravity;
• wherein:
• the case interior wall defines a pattern of surface tension varying between hydrophobic and hydrophilic along the case interior wall between the battery case floor and the battery cell ceiling to thereby facilitate self-propulsion of the liquid electrolyte in opposition to the force of gravity and a predetermined distribution of the liquid electrolyte along the battery cell wall;
• the pattern of surface tension has a wettability gradient progressing from hydrophobic to hydrophilic up the case interior wall to thereby transfer the liquid electrolyte from the battery case floor up the battery case interior wall in opposition to the force of gravity;
• and
• the wettability gradient is a function of a contact angle θ of the liquid electrolyte at an interface between the liquid electrolyte and the case interior wall, and wherein the contact angle θ includes a contact angle θB of the liquid electrolyte at a location proximate the battery case ceiling and a contact angle θA of the liquid electrolyte at a location proximate the battery case floor according to an expression θB=θA−∫0H(d*dh), and wherein H is defined as a height of the case interior wall and d is defined as the wettability gradient.