US4212933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Current collector for electrochemical cells and method of making
Assignee: Chloride Silent Power Ltd
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Filing: 1978-05-22
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Granted: 1980-07-15
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Expires: 1998-05-22
Abstract
Abstract A cathode current collector for a sodium sulphur cell is formed of a metal substrate, for example of a nickel alloy such as Inconel 600, which is provided with a firmly adherent coating of carbon which is produced by decomposition of a carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C. to 1000° C. in an electric field, conveniently a radio frequency field employed for inductively heating the substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Trevor L. Markin
- 👤 Roger J. Bones
- 👤 Keith R. Linger
- 👤 Peter J. Bindin
- 👤 Michael P. J. Brennan
- 👤 Geoffrey J. May
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:19
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B3/00; H05B3/10; H05B3/12; H05B3/14; H05B3/145; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/66; H01M4/661; H01M4/663; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
A cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein the coated substrate is the product obtained by a process comprising contacting said substrate with a gas atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a carbon-containing gas and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of said carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
A cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein the coated substrate is the product obtained by a process comprising contacting said substrate with a gas atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a carbon-containing gas and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of said carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cathode current collector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a metal element with a coating of a nickel or a nickel-containing metal alloy.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cathode current collector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a metal element with a coating of a nickel-chromium-iron alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cathode current collector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is Inconel 600.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making a cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein said process comprises contacting said substrate with a gas atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a carbon-containing gas and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of a carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of making a cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein said process comprises contacting said substrate with a gas atmosphere comprising an inert gas and a carbon-containing gas and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of a carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the temperature of the substrate is between 400° C. and 1000° C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the temperature of the substrate is between 400° C. and 600° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electric discharge is produced by a radio frequency field.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the substrate is inductively heated by the radio frequency field.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the electric discharge is produced by a direct voltage between an electrode around the substrate and the substrate or between two electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said atmosphere includes an inert gas to promote the formation of a glow discharge.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the inert gas is argon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the carbon-containing gas is ethylene or carbon disulphide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the carbon-containing gas is introduced after the arc has been struck in the argon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pressure of said atmosphere is between 10 millitorr and 10 torr.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the pressure is between 0.1 torr and 10 torr.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the substrate is a nickel or a nickel-containing alloy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the substrate is a nickel-chromium-iron alloy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the substrate is Inconel 600.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the substrate is a molybdenum-coated metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
179 words
A cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein the coated substrate is the product obtained by (A) contacting said substrate with an inert gas atmosphere and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and (B) contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of a carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of an inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
179 words
A cathode current collector for a sodium-sulphur cell, wherein said collector comprises an electrically conductive substrate having a surface selected from the group consisting of nickel, a nickel-containing alloy, molybdenum, titanium and tungsten, said substrate being coated with carbon, wherein the coated substrate is the product obtained by (A) contacting said substrate with an inert gas atmosphere and providing a glow discharge in an electric field sufficient to form ions of said inert gas and to bombard said substrate with said ions to thereby substantially clean said substrate, and (B) contacting the resulting clean substrate with a plasma sheath of carbon produced by decomposition of a carbon-containing gas in a glow discharge with the substrate heated to a temperature of 200° C.-1000° C. in the presence of an inert gas and in an electric field, wherein said clean substrate is enveloped by said plasma and carbon is deposited on said clean substrate to thereby form a highly adherent and stable coating of carbon on said substrate capable of withstanding conditions in a cathodic region of a sodium sulphur cell.
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) | 1983-07-15 | 1984-01-14 | 1984-07-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-15 | 1988-01-14 | 1988-07-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-15 | 1992-01-14 | 1992-07-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |