US4048394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secondary battery or cell with vitreous carbon coated graphite current collector
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1977-02-28
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Granted: 1977-09-13
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Expires: 1997-02-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved secondary battery or cell of the type having: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) one or more cathodic reaction zones containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two-phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) a current collector which at least partially exposed to said cathodic reactant and which is in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit. The improvement comprises employing in said device a current collector comprising a graphite body bearing a coating of vitreous carbon on at least those surfaces thereof which are exposed to said cathodic reactant.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank A. Ludwig
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 02:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; H01M10/3909; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/66; H01M4/663; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A secondary battery or cell of the type comprising: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) a cathodic reaction zone containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) a current collector which is at least partially exposed to said cathodic reactant and which is in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit, wherein the improvement comprises: a current collector comprising a graphite body bearing a coating of vitreous carbon on at least those surfaces thereof which are exposed to said cathodic reactant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A secondary battery or cell of the type comprising: (A) an anodic reaction zone containing a molten alkali metal reactant-anode in electrical contact with an external circuit; (B) a cathodic reaction zone containing a cathodic reactant which, when said battery or cell is at least partially discharged, is selected from the group consisting of (i) a single phase composition comprising molten polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant and (ii) a two phase composition comprising molten sulfur and molten sulfur saturated polysulfide salts of said anodic reactant; (C) a cation-permeable barrier to mass liquid transfer interposed between and in contact with said anodic and cathodic reaction zones; and (D) a current collector which is at least partially exposed to said cathodic reactant and which is in electrical contact with both said cation-permeable barrier and said external circuit, wherein the improvement comprises: a current collector comprising a graphite body bearing a coating of vitreous carbon on at least those surfaces thereof which are exposed to said cathodic reactant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said current collector also serves as the container for the device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 2 wherein said current collector/container has a plated metal surface which is not exposed to said cathodic reactant and which provides said container with axial conductivity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said current collector also serves for a liner for the device and is disposed adjacent to and in electrical contact with an axially conductive container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein said graphite body is impregnated with said vitreous carbon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 5 wherein said graphite body is impregnated with said vitreous carbon to a depth of between about 1 and about 10 mils.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 5 wherein said graphite body bears a coating having a thickness ranging from about 5 to about 10 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein a porous electrode is disposed within said cathodic reaction zone and wherein contact between said porous electrode and said current collector is effected by a vitreous carbon bond.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 1 wherein a cylindrical or tubular container has disposed internally thereof a tubular or cylindrical cation-permeable barrier such that a first reaction zone is located internally of said cation-permeable barrier and a second reaction zone is located between the outer wall of said cation-permeable barrier and the inner wall of said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 9 wherein said first reaction zone is said anodic reaction zone, said second reaction zone is said cathodic reaction zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 10 wherein said current collector also serves as the container for the device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 11 wherein said current collector/container has a plated surface which is not exposed to said cathodic reactant and which provides said container with axial conductivity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 10 wherein said current collector also serves as a liner for the device and is disposed internally of and in electrical contact with an axially conductive container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 10 wherein said current collector is impregnated with vitreous carbon to a depth of between about 1 and about 10 mils.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A secondary battery or cell in accordance with claim 14 wherein said coating on said current current collector is between about 5 and about 10 microns in thickness.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-12 | 1981-03-14 | 1981-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-12 | 1985-03-14 | 1985-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-12 | 1989-03-14 | 1989-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |