# US 5,707,759 A · Anode for a rechargeable lithium cell and a method of manufacturing it > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,759 A - Document ID: US5707759A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/522,820 - Filed: 1995-09-06 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-09-05 - Assignees: Saft - Inventors: Bernard Simon; Jean-Pierre Boeuve - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707759A ## CPC - H01M 4/0419: {involving spraying} - H01M 4/04: Processes of manufacture in general - H01M 4/0404: {by coating on electrode collectors} - H01M 4/0435: {Rolling or calendering} - H01M 4/621: {Binders} - H01M 4/622: {being polymers} - H01M 4/587: for inserting or intercalating light metals - H01M 2004/027: {Negative electrodes} - H01M 2300/0025: Organic electrolyte - 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 The invention concerns an anode for a rechargeable lithium cell, comprising a conductive support and a paste containing an electrochemically active material into which lithium can be inserted and a polymer binder, the anode being characterized in that the binder is selected from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, and copolymers and mixtures thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An anode for a rechargeable lithium cell, comprising: (a) a conductive support and (b) a layer comprising: an electrochemically active material forming a host structure into which lithium inserts itself and frees itself during cycling, and a polymer binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral copolymers and polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral mixtures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, in which said binder is a copolymer of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral in which the polyvinyl alcohol is present in the range 5% to 30% by weight. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, in which said binder is present in the range 1% to 50% by weight of said layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An anode according to claim 3, wherein said binder is present in the range 5% to 20% by weight. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, in which said active material is a carbon material selected from, the group consisting of graphite, coke and vitreous carbon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, wherein the host structure is lithium-containing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, wherein the anode has been cycled. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An anode according to claim 1, wherein the binder is polyvinyl alcohol. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The anode according to claim 1, wherein the binder is polyvinyl butyral. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The anode according to claim 1, wherein the binder is a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral copolymer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The anode according to claim 1, wherein the binder is a of mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl butyral. ### Claim 12 A method of manufacturing an anode for a rechargeable lithium cell, comprising the following steps: (a) dissolving a polymer binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral copolymers and polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral mixtures, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, N-methylpyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof, to give a dissolved binder solution; (b) adding an electrochemically active material forming a host structure into which lithium inserts itself and frees itself during cycling to the dissolved binder solution, to form a paste; (c) depositing said paste on a conductive support; and (d) drying said support with said paste thereon until said solvent is evaporated off. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, in which a paste is formed by adding said active material and a cross-linking agent to said binder in solution. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, in which said crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, acid anhydrides, polyamines, melamine and compound containing melamine groups, epoxides, and epichlorhydrin. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is an isocyanate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is an acid anhydride. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is a polyamine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is a melamine derivative. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is an epoxide. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, in which the crosslinking agent is epichlorhydrin. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, in which said binder is polyvinyl alcohol and said solvent is selected the group consisting of from water and a water-alcohol mixture. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, in which said binder is polyvinyl butyral and said solvent is an alcohol. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, in which said binder is a copolymer of polyvinyl butyral and polyvinyl alcohol and said solvent is a water-alcohol mixture. ### Claim 24 An anode for a rechargeable lithium cell, formed by a method comprising the steps of: (a) dissolving a polymer binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral copolymers and polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral mixtures, in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, N-methylpyrrolidone, and mixtures thereof, to give a dissolved binder solution; (b) adding an electrochemically active material comprising a host structure into which lithium inserts itself and frees itself during cycling to the dissolved binder solution, to form a paste; (c) depositing said paste on a conductive support; and (d) drying said support with said paste thereon until said solvent is evaporated off. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) An anode according to claim 24 wherein the polymer binder is polyvinyl alcohol. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) An anode according to claim 24 wherein the polymer binder is polyvinyl butyral. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) An anode according to claim 24 wherein the polymer binder is a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral copolymer. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) An anode according to claim 24 wherein the polymer binder is a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl butyral mixture.