Lithium batteries

Claim 2

A battery comprising a cathode slurry of manganese dioxide and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent in contact with a copper substrate, and a lithium anode, said battery having an OCV below the value at which the copper substrate will be oxidized by the manganese dioxide in the presence of the lithium.

Claim 3

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal, a nodular layer of copper covering one surface of said metal sheet, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said nodular copper layer, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator.

Claim 4

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal, a nodular layer of copper covering one surface of said metal sheet, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said nodular copper layer, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator.

Claim 5

An anode assembly, comprising a sheet of lithium foil laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulated copper foil.

Claim 6

An anode assembly, comprising a sheet of lithium foil laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulated copper foil.

Claim 7

An intercell assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a thin sheet of metal having opposed surfaces of nodulated copper, and a sheet of lithium foil laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 8

An intercell assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a thin sheet of metal having opposed surfaces of nodulated copper, and a sheet of lithium foil laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 9

A laminar battery, comprising a first thin sheet of metal foil having a nodulated copper surface formed on one side thereof, a deposit of a slurry of Mn0 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on a central region of said nodular surface, a separator over and in contact with said slurry deposit, a lithium foil anode in contact with said separator on a side of said separator opposite said slurry deposit, said anode being laminated to a central region of a nodular copper surface formed on a second thin sheet of metal foil confronting said first sheet, and a thermoplastic frame between and laminated to said first and second sheets around the peripheries thereof surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator.

Claim 10

A laminar battery, comprising a first thin sheet of metal foil having a nodulated copper surface formed on one side thereof, a deposit of a slurry of Mn0 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on a central region of said nodular surface, a separator over and in contact with said slurry deposit, a lithium foil anode in contact with said separator on a side of said separator opposite said slurry deposit, said anode being laminated to a central region of a nodular copper surface formed on a second thin sheet of metal foil confronting said first sheet, and a thermoplastic frame between and laminated to said first and second sheets around the peripheries thereof surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator.

Claim 11

A multicell battery comprising cells each having a lithium anode and a Mno 2 cathode spaced by a separator and communicating electrochemically through a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent, in which the cells are electrochemically isolated and electronically connected together through metal intercell connectors each having opposed nodular copper surfaces in contact with an anode and a cathode of different adjacent cells.

Claim 12

A multicell battery comprising cells each having a lithium anode and a Mno 2 cathode spaced by a separator and communicating electrochemically through a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent, in which the cells are electrochemically isolated and electronically connected together through metal intercell connectors each having opposed nodular copper surfaces in contact with an anode and a cathode of different adjacent cells.

Claim 13

An intercell connector assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a sheet of aluminum having a layer of copper adhered to opposite surfaces and a surface layer of nodulated copper formed on the outer surface of each of said copper layers, and a layer of lithium laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 14

An intercell connector assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a sheet of aluminum having a layer of copper adhered to opposite surfaces and a surface layer of nodulated copper formed on the outer surface of each of said copper layers, and a layer of lithium laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 15

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal, a nodular layer of copper covering one surface of said metal sheet, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said nodular copper layer, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator, said anode comprising a sheet of lithium foil laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulated copper foil.

Claim 16

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal, a nodular layer of copper covering one surface of said metal sheet, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said nodular copper layer, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator, said anode comprising a sheet of lithium foil laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulated copper foil.

Claim 17

The battery of -item 8, in which said sealing means comprises a closed loop of thermoplastic material surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator and having opposed surfaces in which the peripheries of the nodulated surfaces of said metal sheet and said copper foil substrate are embedded.

Claim 18

The battery of -item 8, in which said sealing means comprises a closed loop of thermoplastic material surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator and having opposed surfaces in which the peripheries of the nodulated surfaces of said metal sheet and said copper foil substrate are embedded.

Claim 19

An intercell assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a thin sheet of aluminum having opposed surfaces formed integral with layers of copper having external nodulated surfaces, and a sheet of lithium foil laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 20

An intercell assembly for a laminar battery, comprising a thin sheet of aluminum having opposed surfaces formed integral with layers of copper having external nodulated surfaces, and a sheet of lithium foil laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 21

A multicell battery comprising cells each having a lithium anode and a Mno 2 cathode spaced by a separator and communicating electrochemically through a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent, in which the cells are electrochemically isolated and electronically connected together through metal intercell connectors each having nodular copper surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with an anode and the other of said surfaces being in contact with a cathode of different adjacent cells, said intercell connectors having 0092834 peripheries extending beyond the borders of said anodes and said cathodes and being sealed together through intermediate closed loops of thermoplastic material.

Claim 22

A multicell battery comprising cells each having a lithium anode and a Mno 2 cathode spaced by a separator and communicating electrochemically through a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent, in which the cells are electrochemically isolated and electronically connected together through metal intercell connectors each having nodular copper surfaces, one of said surfaces being in contact with an anode and the other of said surfaces being in contact with a cathode of different adjacent cells, said intercell connectors having 0092834 peripheries extending beyond the borders of said anodes and said cathodes and being sealed together through intermediate closed loops of thermoplastic material.

Claim 23

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal having at least one external copper surface, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said copper surface, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator, said battery having been electrically drained promptly after electrochemical assembly to an OCV below the value at which said copper surface will be oxidized by said Mn0 2 in the presence of lithium.

Claim 24

A laminar battery, comprising a thin flat sheet of metal having at least one external copper surface, a cathode slurry deposit of MnO 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on and in intimate contact with a central region of said copper surface, a separator extending over said cathode slurry deposit, a lithium anode in contact with a central region of said separator on a side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and means forming a sealed compartment about said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator, said battery having been electrically drained promptly after electrochemical assembly to an OCV below the value at which said copper surface will be oxidized by said Mn0 2 in the presence of lithium.

Claim 25

A laminar battery, comprising a first thin sheet of metal foil having at least one external copper surface, a deposit of a slurry of Mn° 2 and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on a central region of said copper surface, a separator over and in contact with said slurry deposit, a lithium foil anode in contact with said separator on a side of said separator opposite said slurry deposit, said anode being laminated to a central region of a nodular copper surface formed on a second thin sheet of metal foil confronting said first sheet, and a thermoplastic frame between and laminated to said first and second sheets around the peripheries thereof surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator, in which said battery has been electrically drained to an OCV below the valu at which copper will be oxidized by MnO 2 in the presence of lithium before any substantial oxidation of copper has occurred. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

Claim 26

A battery comprising a cathode and a lithium anode, characterized in that said cathode comprises a slurry (54) of manganese dioxide and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent in contact with a copper substrate (5,6), said battery having an open circuit voltage below the value at which the copper substrate will be oxidized by the manganese dioxide in the presence of the lithium.

Claim 27

A battery comprising a cathode and a lithium anode, characterized in that said cathode comprises a slurry (54) of manganese dioxide and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent in contact with a copper substrate (5,6), said battery having an open circuit voltage below the value at which the copper substrate will be oxidized by the manganese dioxide in the presence of the lithium.

Claim 28

Battery according to claim 1, characterized in that the copper substrate comprises a nodular copper layer (6).

Claim 29

A battery according to claims 1 or 2 characterized as being a laminar battery containing a thin flat sheet of metal (4), a layer of copper (5,6) covering one surface of said metal sheet, a deposit of said cathode slurry (54) on and in intimate contact with a central region of said copper layer, a separator (11) extending over said cathode slurry deposit, said lithium anode (14) in contact with a central region of said separator on the side of said separator opposite said cathode slurry deposit, and sealing means (7) forming a sealed compartment about said anode (14), cathode slurry deposit (54) and separator (11).

Claim 30

A battery according to claim 3 characterized in that said lithium anode comprises a sheet of lithium foil (14) laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulated copper foil (16).

Claim 31

A battery according to claims 3 or 4 characterized in that said sealing means (7) comprises a closed loop of thermoplastic material surrounding said anode (14), cathode slurry deposit (54) and separator (11) and having opposed surfaces in which the peripheries of the nodulated surfaces of said copper layer (6) and copperfoil substrate (16) are embedded.

Claim 32

A battery according to any preceding claim characterized in that said open circuit voltage is obtained by electrically draining said battery promptly after electrochemical assembly.

Claim 33

A laminar battery, preferably in accordance with any of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises a first thin sheet of metal foil (4) having a nodulated copper surface (6) formed on one side thereof, a deposit of a slurry (54) of Mn0 2. and carbon in a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent on a central region of said nodular surface (6), a separator (11) over and in contact with said slurry deposit, a lithium foil anode (14, 14a) in contact with said separator (11) on a side of said separator opposite said slurry deposit, said anode beinj laminated to a central region of a nodular copper surface (16,21) formed on a second thin sheet of metal foil (15,18) confronting said first sheet, and a thermoplastic frame (7) between and laminated to said first and second sheets around the peripheries thereof surrounding said anode, said cathode slurry deposit, and said separator.

Claim 34

A multicell battery comprising cells,preferably in accordance with any of the preceding claims, each having a lithium anode and a cathode, characterized in that each said cathode (53,54) comprises Mn0 2 spaced by a separator (11) and communicating electrochemically through a solution of a lithium salt in an organic solvent, said cells being electrochemically isolated and electronically connected together through metal intercell connectors (12,12a) each having opposed nodular copper surfaces (16,17) in contact with an anode (14) and a cathode (53) of different adjacent cells.

Claim 35

Multicell battery according to claim 8 characterized in that said intercell connectors have peripheries extending beyond the borders of said anodes and said cathodes and being sealed together through intermediate closed loops of thermoplastic materials (7).

Claim 36

An intercell assembly for a laminar battery preferably in accordance with claim 8 or claim 9 characterized by comprising a thin sheet of metal (15,18) having opposed surfaces of nodulated copper (16,17), and a sheet of lithium foil (14,14a) laminated to a central region of one of said nodulated copper surfaces.

Claim 37

An intercell assembly according to claim 10 characterized in that said metal sheet comprises aluminum (18) having opposed surfaces formed integral with layers of copper (19,20) having external nodulated surfaces (21,22).

Claim 38

A lithium anode assembly, preferably for a battery according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a sheet of lithium foil (14,14a) laminated to and permeating the interstices of a central region of the surface of a substrate of nodulate copper foil (16,21).