US4398346A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for lithium anode and electrochemical cell fabrication
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
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Filing: 1981-10-23
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Granted: 1983-08-16
•
Expires: 2001-10-23
Abstract
Abstract Method of preparing lithium anodes contacted with organic materials prior to association of the anode with a cathode material wherein the contacted anode is first subjected to a heat treatment. Upon incorporation of the improved anode into an electrochemical battery or cell and association of the heat treated anode with a suitable cathode material, the cell may be discharged under controlled conditions for a short time prior to its usual "burn-in" discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd J. Underhill
- 👤 William D. Helgeson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/06; H01M4/08; H01M4/12; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M6/18; H01M6/182; H01M6/50; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108; Y10T29/49115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of preparing an anode for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: providing a lithium anode element having an operative surface area to be associated with a cathode; contacting at least the operative surface area of the anode element with organic material, and heating the anode element and organic material together to a temperature between at least about 260° F. and the melting temperature of the organic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
70 words
A method of preparing an anode for an electrochemical cell comprising the steps of: providing a lithium anode element having an operative surface area to be associated with a cathode; contacting at least the operative surface area of the anode element with organic material, and heating the anode element and organic material together to a temperature between at least about 260° F. and the melting temperature of the organic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the anode element is held at the heating temperature for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the time is at least about one hour.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the anode is cooled to room temperature after the heating step before any further preparation steps are carried out.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the anode and contacting organic material are incorporated into a subassembly including an open cell container prior to the heating step and the entire subassembly is heated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is by means of a forced air oven.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the oven if preheated to a temperature between about 260° F. and about 310° F., the anode and contacting organic material are placed in the oven and heated to substantially the temperature at which the oven is maintained over a period of at least about 45 minutes to one hour and thereafter maintained at that temperature for at least about one hour.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the anode element is removed from the oven following the heating step and cooled to room temperature before any further assembly operations are performed involving it.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is in the form of a coating on the anode element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is in the form of a multi-layer coating on the anode element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is in the form of a self-supporting sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heating temperature is about 295° F.±about 10° F.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the heating is accomplished over a period of time of about two hours ±15 minutes.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heating temperature is between about 260° F. and 310° F.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is a polyvinylpyridine polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the organic material is poly-2-vinylpyridine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the organic material is poly-2-vinylpyridine in the form of a coating on the operative surface area of the anode element and the heating temperature to which the coated anode is heated is about 295° F.±about 10° F.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the heating is for a period of time of about 2 hours ±15 minutes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the coated anode element is held at the heating temperature for at least about one hour.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the coated anode is incorporated into a subassembly including a cell container prior to the heating step and the entire subassembly is heated.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making an electrochemical cell wherein the anode includes an operative surface area and the cathode comprises a charge-transfer complex material, comprising the steps: providing a lithium anode element having an operative surface to be associated with a cathode in a cell; contacting at least the operative surface of the anode element with organic material; heating the anode element and organic material to a temperature between at least about 260° F. and the melting temperature of the organic material; providing a cathode including a charge-transfer complex material, and assembling the anode and cathode in electrochemically operative relationship.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of making an electrochemical cell wherein the anode includes an operative surface area and the cathode comprises a charge-transfer complex material, comprising the steps: providing a lithium anode element having an operative surface to be associated with a cathode in a cell; contacting at least the operative surface of the anode element with organic material; heating the anode element and organic material to a temperature between at least about 260° F. and the melting temperature of the organic material; providing a cathode including a charge-transfer complex material, and assembling the anode and cathode in electrochemically operative relationship.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a container is provided for the cell components, the anode and the contacting organic material are assembled into the container following which they are heated, and the cathode material is subsequently melted and poured into the container.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the assembly is cooled prior to the addition of the cathode material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the cell is shorted across a resistor of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a predetermined time following its assembly.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the discharge is accomplished in two steps, the first step being discharge at a relatively high rate for a relatively short period of time; the second step being discharge at a relatively low rate for a relatively long period of time.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the first step discharge is carried out across a resistor of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a period of about one hour.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the cathode comprises the reaction product of a mixture of polyvinylpyridine and iodine.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 27 wherein the polyvinylpyridine is poly-2-vinylpyridine.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the iodine and poly-2-vinylpyridine are present in a weight ratio greater than about 30:1.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the weight ratio is about 50:1.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the weight ratio is greater than 50:1.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the weight ratio is about 100:1.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the anode element is held at the heating temperature for a period of time.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the time is at least about one hour.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the anode is cooled to room temperature after the heating step before any further preparation steps are carried out on it.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the anode and contacting organic material are incorporated into a subassembly including an open cell container prior to the heating step and the entire subassembly is heated.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the heating is by means of a forced air oven.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the oven is preheated to a temperature between about 260° F. and about 310° F., the anode and contacting organic material are placed in the oven and heated to substantially the temperature at which the oven is maintained over a period of about 45 minutes to about one hour and thereafter maintained at that temperature for about one hour.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the anode element is removed from the oven following the heating step and cooled to room temperature before any further assembly operations are performed involving it.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the organic material is in the form of a coating on the anode element.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the organic material is in the form of a multi-layer coating on the anode element.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the organic material is in the form of a self-supporting sheet.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the heating temperature is about 295° F.±about 10° F.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the heating temperature is between about 260° F. and 310° F.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the organic material is a polyvinylpyridine polymer.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the organic material is poly-2-vinylpyridine.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the organic material is poly-2-vinylpyridine in the form of a coating on the operative surface area of the anode element and the heating temperature to which the coated anode is heated is about 295° F.±about 10° F.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the coated anode element is held at the heating temperature for at least about one hour.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the coated anode is incorporated into a subassembly including a cell container prior to the heating step and the entire subassembly is heated.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the cell is discharged across a resistor of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a predetermined time following its assembly.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 50 wherein the discharge is accomplished in two steps, the first step being discharge at a relatively high rate for a relatively short period of time; the second step being discharge at a relatively low rate for a relatively long period of time.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the cathode comprises the reaction product of a mixture of polyvinylpyridine and iodine.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the polyvinylpyridine is poly-2-vinylpyridine.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the iodine and poly-2-vinylpyridine are present in a weight ratio greater than about 30:1.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the weight ratio is about 50:1.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the weigth ratio is greater than 50:1.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the weight ratio is about 100:1.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the cell is discharged across a resistor of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a predetermined time following its assembly.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 54 wherein the resistance is about 0.1 ohms and the time is about one hour.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the discharge is accomplished in two steps, the first step being discharge at a relatively high rate for a relatively short period of time; the second step being discharge at a relatively low rate for a relatively long period of time.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 47 wherein the first step discharge is carried out across a resistor of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohms for a period of about one hour.
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) | 1986-08-15 | 1987-02-14 | 1987-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-15 | 1991-02-14 | 1991-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-15 | 1995-02-14 | 1995-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |