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US 8,658,295 B2Granted
Self healing lithium-ion battery negative electrodes, product including same, and methods of making and using same
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsYang T. Cheng, Adam T. Timmons, Stephen J. Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One embodiment includes a lithium-ion battery negative electrode including one or more low-melting point alloys that react with lithium.
Claims19
A product comprising:
- a positive electrode;
- a negative electrode comprising an alloy that reacts with lithium, said alloy having a melting point below about 150 degrees Celsius and comprising at least two metals, at least one of which being a metal that can react with lithium, wherein said melting point is above an operating temperature for said negative electrode the negative electrode being constructed and arranged to self-heal by periodically warming to a temperature near said melting point to substantially remove any cracks in said negative electrode.
A method comprising:
- providing a lithium-ion battery system comprising a negative electrode comprising an alloy that reacts with lithium composition, wherein said alloy has a melting point below about 150 degrees Celsius and above a normal operating temperature of said lithium-ion battery system;
- heating said negative electrode for a sufficient period of time to substantially remove any cracks in said negative electrode;
- and
- cooling said negative electrode.
1 more element
A method for increasing the cycle life of a cell enclosure-type lithium-ion battery system used in a product, the method comprising:
- providing the cell enclosure-type lithium-ion battery system including at least one negative electrode and at least one positive electrode, wherein said at least one negative electrode comprises an alloy, wherein said alloy has a melting point below about 150 degrees Celsius and above a normal operating temperature of the cell enclosure-type lithium-ion battery system;
- periodically warming said at least one negative electrode to a temperature near said melting point for a period of time sufficient to substantially remove any cracks in said at least one negative electrode;
- and
- cooling said at least one negative electrode to a temperature below said melting point.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.