Lithium ion battery capable of being discharged to zero volts
AssigneeQuallion LLC
InventorsHisashi Tsukamoto, Clay Kishiyama, Mikito Nagata, Hiroshi Nakahara, Tiehua Piao
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Abstract
A lithium ion battery particularly configured to be able to discharge to a very low voltage, e.g. zero volts, without causing permanent damage to the battery. More particularly, the battery is configured to define a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) which is lower than a Substrate Dissolution Potential (SDP) to thus avoid low voltage substrate damage. The configuration includes a lithium nickel cobalt oxide positive active material combined with negative electrode comprising a titanium or titamum alloy substrate having a carbon active material formed thereon.
Claims27
A rechargeable battery comprising:
- one positive electrode, said positive electrode comprising a metal substrate having one positive active material formed thereon, said positive active material consisting of a lithium oxide comprising cobalt and nickel;
- a negative electrode comprising a metal substrate selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloy having a second active material comprising carbon formed thereon;
- an electrolyte wherein said negative electrode and said electrolyte form a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, said SEI layer being susceptible of damage when a voltage potential exceeding a Film Dissolution Potential (FDP) is applied thereto, and wherein said FDP is lower than the maximum positive operating potential of the battery;
- said positive and negative electrodes defining a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level when the voltage between said electrodes is zero;
- and wherein
- said positive and negative electrodes are selected and configured to establish ZCP at a lower level than FDP to prevent dissolution of said SEI layer during storage at a predetermined temperature.
A rechargeable battery comprising:
- one positive electrode, said positive electrode comprising a metal substrate having one positive active material formed thereon, said positive active material consisting of a lithium oxide comprising cobalt and nickel;
- a negative electrode comprising a substrate selected from the group consisting of titanium and titanium alloy having a second active material comprising carbon formed thereon;
- said negative electrode being susceptible of damage when a voltage exceeding a Damage Potential Threshold (DPT) is applied thereto, and wherein said DPT is lower than the maximum positive operating potential of the battery;
- said positive and negative electrodes defining a Zero Volt Crossing Potential (ZCP) relative to a reference level when the voltage between said electrodes is zero;
- and wherein
- said positive and negative electrodes are selected and configured to define a value of ZCP which is less than the value of DPT at a predetermined temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.