US4346152A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lithium-germanium electrodes for batteries
Assignee: Gas Technology Institute
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Filing: 1980-07-18
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Granted: 1982-08-24
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Expires: 2000-07-18
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to lithium-germanium containing electrodes for electrical energy storage batteries, batteries containing such electrodes and a process for fabrication of such electrodes from materials in the charged and uncharged state. The electro-chemically active material may be a binary alloy of lithium-germanium or ternary alloys of lithium-germanium-silicon and lithium-germanium-aluminum. Negative electrodes for electrical storage batteries fabricated according to this invention provide batteries having improved stability over prior art lithium containing electrodes and provides a particularly advantageous negative electrode for use in lithium-metal sulfide batteries having improved stability.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony F. Sammells
- 👤 Michael R. St. John
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/66; H01M4/669; H01M10/00; H01M10/36; H01M10/39; H01M10/399; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/40; H01M4/661; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
39 words
A negative lithium electrode for molten salt electrical storage batteries comprising: an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of lithium-germanium alloys, lithium-germanium-silicon alloys, lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys and mixtures thereof, and a current collector support in electronic communication therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
39 words
A negative lithium electrode for molten salt electrical storage batteries comprising: an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of lithium-germanium alloys, lithium-germanium-silicon alloys, lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys and mixtures thereof, and a current collector support in electronic communication therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The negative lithium electrode structure of claim 1 wherein said lithium-germanium alloys have the formula ratios Li x Ge y wherein x is a number greater than 0 up to 4.4 based upon y being 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The negative lithium electrode structure of claim 1 wherein said lithium-germanium-silicon alloys have the formula ratios of Li a Ge b Si c wherein a is a number greater than 0 up to 4.4, b is a number about 0.02 to 0.05, based upon c being 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The negative lithium electrode structure of claim 1 wherein said lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys have the formula ratios Li d Ge e Al f wherein d is a number greater than 0 up to 1, e is a number about 0.010 to 0.025, based upon f being 1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The negative lithium electrode structure of claim 1 wherein said current collector is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, steel, tantalum and molybdenum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrical storage battery comprising a casing enclosing a lithium-containing salt electrolyte which is molten at operating temperatures, a positive electrode and a negative electrode spaced from each other in contact with said electrolyte, said negative electrode comprising a current collector support in electronic communication with an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of lithium-germanium alloys, lithium-germanium-silicon alloys, lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
An electrical storage battery comprising a casing enclosing a lithium-containing salt electrolyte which is molten at operating temperatures, a positive electrode and a negative electrode spaced from each other in contact with said electrolyte, said negative electrode comprising a current collector support in electronic communication with an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of lithium-germanium alloys, lithium-germanium-silicon alloys, lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said lithium-germanium alloys have the formula ratios Li x Ge y wherein x is a number greater than 0 up to 4.4 based upon y being 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said lithium-germanium-silicon alloys have the formula ratios Li a Ge b Si c wherein a is a number greater than 0 up to 4.4, b is a number about 0.02 to 0.05, based upon c being 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys have the formula ratios Li d Ge e Al f wherein d is a number greater than 0 up to 1, e is a number about 0.010 to 0.025, based upon f being 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said current collector is selected from the group consisting of nickel, iron, steel, tantalum and molybdenum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said positive electrode comprises metal sulfide active material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said electrolyte comprises an eutectic mixture of lithium halide and at least one other metal halide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 12 wherein said positive electrode comprises metal sulfide active material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The negative lithium electrode of claim 1 wherein said electrochemically active material is ternary lithium-germanium-silicon alloys.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The negative lithium electrode of claim 1 wherein said electrochemically active material is ternary lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said electrochemically active material is ternary lithium-germanium-silicon alloys.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical storage battery of claim 6 wherein said electrochemically active material is ternary lithium-germanium-aluminum alloys.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-08-23 | 1986-02-22 | 1986-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-23 | 1990-02-22 | 1990-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-23 | 1994-02-22 | 1994-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |