Electrolyte coating system for porous electrodes
AssigneeValence Technology, Inc.
InventorsGert Jensen, Dale Shackle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The subject invention provides a three-step process for electrolyte deposition. A surplus of electrolyte pre-wet material, having a relatively low viscosity, is layered onto a dry, porous electrode. Surplus pre-wet material is mechanically removed from the surface of the electrode. This also removes bubbles or foaminess which has developed in the pre-wet material. The pre-wet solution is allowed to absorb into the porous electrode, and the surface is then coated with the high-viscosity electrolyte precursor. Curing or further processing of the electrode/electrolyte then continues with standard processes.
Claims14
A method of preparing a porous electrode structure having an electrolyte layer thereupon, said method comprising:
- (a) preparing a porous electrode structure;
- (b) layering excess low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon an electrode surface of the porous electrode;
- (c) removing excess low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material to remove bubbles and form a scraped pre-wet material;
- (d) allowing the scraped pre-wet material to absorb into the porous electrode structure;
- and
- (e) applying a viscous electrolyte precursor material to the surface of the porous electrode structure with absorbed pre-wet material.
A method of preparing a porous electrode structure having an electrolyte layer thereupon, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) layering a low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon a porous electrode surface;
- (b) scraping the surface of the low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material to remove bubbles formed therein;
- (c) allowing the scraped low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material to permeate the porous electrode;
- and
- (c) applying a viscous electrolyte precursor material to the surface of the porous electrode permeated with low-viscosity pre-wet material.
A method of preparing a battery having a solid electrolyte, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a porous cathode structure;
- (b) layering a low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon a cathodic surface of the porous cathode;
- (c) shaving the surface of the low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon the surface of the porous cathode to remove any bubbles formed thereupon;
- (d) applying a viscous electrolyte precursor material to the surface of the shaved cathode/pre-wet surface to produce a cathode/electrolyte structure;
- (e) preparing a porous anode structure;
- (f) layering a low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon an anodic surface of the porous anode;
- (g) shaving the surface of the low-viscosity electrolyte pre-wet material upon the surface of the porous anode to remove any bubbles formed thereupon;
- (h) applying a viscous electrolyte precursor material to the surface of the shaved anode/pre-wet surface to produce an anode/electrolyte structure;
- (i) laminating together the electrolyte surfaces of the cathode/electrolyte structure and the anode/electrolyte structure to form an anode/electrolyte/cathode structure;
- and
- (j) curing the electrolyte.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.