Patent US4824746A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4824746A
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US
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Thin electrode supported on electronically conductive sheet and process of manufacture
Assignee: Hydro-Québec
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Filing: 1988-03-11
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Granted: 1989-04-25
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Expires: 2008-03-11
Abstract
Abstract Process of manufacturing thin electrodes, supported on an electronically conductive sheet, the electrodes being made from an element selected from lithium, lithium alloy, or doped lithium, whose melting point does not differ from the melting point of lithium by ±50° C. and whose thickness is constant, from a roller of the sheet and a source of the element. According to the invention, there is provided a bath of the element in molten state, the sheet is continuously unrolled, a constant quantity of the molten element is continuously applied on one of the two faces of the sheet, so as to produce a film on the sheet, whose thickness is constant and between about 0.1 and about 40μ and whose surface is homogeneous and uniform. The process is carried out in such a manner that the molten element is prevented from solidifying while in contact with the sheet, and the solidification of the element on the sheet takes place after formation of the film on the sheet. Electrode made of a sheet coated with a layer of lithium whose thickness is 0.1 to 40μ.
Inventors
- 👤 Andre Belanger
- 👤 Michel Gauthier
- 👤 Michel Robitaille
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/64; H01M4/66; H01M4/661; H01M4/662; H01M4/04; H01M4/0402; H01M4/0404; H01M4/043; H01M4/0435; H01M4/0483; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/665; H01M4/666; H01M4/667; H01M4/70; H01M4/80; H01M4/806; H01M2004/026; H01M2004/027; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0082; H01M4/40; H01M4/405; H01M4/668; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108; Y10T29/49115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
Process for manufacturing thin electrodes supported on an electronically conductive sheet, said electrodes being made from an element selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium alloy and doped lithium, whose melting point does not differ from the melting point of lithium by ±50° C., the thickness of said element being constant, from a roll of said sheet and a source of said element, which comprises providing a bath of said element in molten state and keeping said bath under an inert atmosphere, continuously unwinding said sheet, continuously applying on at least one of the two faces of said sheet, a constant quantity of said element in molten state, so as to produce a film on said sheet whose thickness is constant and between about 0.1 and about of 40μ and whose surface is homogeneous and uniform, preventing the element in molten state from immediately solidifying while in contact with said sheet, and causing a controlled solidification of said element on said sheet after said film has been formed thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Process for manufacturing thin electrodes supported on an electronically conductive sheet, said electrodes being made from an element selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium alloy and doped lithium, whose melting point does not differ from the melting point of lithium by ±50° C., the thickness of said element being constant, from a roll of said sheet and a source of said element, which comprises providing a bath of said element in molten state and keeping said bath under an inert atmosphere, continuously unwinding said sheet, continuously applying on at least one of the two faces of said sheet, a constant quantity of said element in molten state, so as to produce a film on said sheet whose thickness is constant and between about 0.1 and about of 40μ and whose surface is homogeneous and uniform, preventing the element in molten state from immediately solidifying while in contact with said sheet, and causing a controlled solidification of said element on said sheet after said film has been formed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein said sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy, a metallized fiberglass, a loaded plastic and a metallized plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is made of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron and molybdenum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein the sheet comprises an alloy of nickel, copper or iron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 4, wherein the sheet is made of brass, bronze, steel or monel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
Process according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is made of nickel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
Process according to claim 6, wherein the element is metallic lithium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the element is an alloy of lithium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
Process according to claim 1, wherein the lithium is alloyed or doped with antimony, bismuth, boron, tin, silicon, magnesium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 7, which comprises keeping the bath at a temperature varying between the melting point of lithium and about 400° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
Process according to claim 10, which comprises unwinding the sheet above the bath of molten lithium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process according to claim 11, which comprises continuously circulating a molten lithium applicator in said bath, and applying said applicator on said face of the sheet of nickel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
73 words
Process according to claim 12, wherein said applicator comprises a roller whose axis is parallel to the surface of molten lithium, the base of the roller being immersed in the molten lithium while the upper portion is in contact with said face, the surface of the roller comprises asperities allowing the roller to be coated with molten lithium so as to uniformly transfer the latter on said face of the sheet of nickel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
Process according to claim 13, wherein the asperities consist of regular geometrical patterns constituting cavities regularly distributed across the roller surface, said cavities collecting the molten material and transferring same on the metallic sheet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
Process according to claim 14, wherein the cavities are gauged as a function of the thickness of the layer of pure lithium, lithium alloy or doped lithium.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
Process according to claim 15, which comprises unrolling the sheet at a speed between 0.5 and 100 cm/s.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Process according to claim 15, which comprises heating the roller in order to prevent the molten lithium from immediately solidifying before being applied against said face of the sheet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
Process according to claim 1, which comprises thermally treating said sheet before and after having applied the element in molten state against said face.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
Process according to claim 15, wherein after having coated the metallic sheet with molten lithium, said face is treated with a scraper thereby reducing the thickness of lithium applied and optionally removing surface imperfections left by the roller.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
Process according to claim 15, which comprises maintaining the lithium bath as well as the sheet, in the vicinity of said lithium bath, under an inert atmosphere containing neither oxygen nor water vapor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
Process according to claim 13, which comprises providing a scraper for removing any excess molten material from the surface of the roller before the latter is applied to the face of the metallic sheet to be coated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
100 words
Thin supported electrode which comprises an electronically conductive sheet, at least one face of which is at least partially covered with a layer of an element selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium alloy and doped lithium, the melting point of said element being close to that of lithium to ±50° C., the layer of said element having a uniform thickness varying between about 0.1μ and about 40μ, the surface of said layer being substantially free of asperities and cannot be removed from the sheet by means of a knife, whenever produced by the process according to claim 1.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
Electrode according to claim 22, wherein the sheet is made of a material selected from the group consisting of a metal, an alloy, a metallized fiberglass, a loaded plastic and metallized plastic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
Electrode according to claim 23, wherein the sheet comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, iron and molybdenum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electrode according to claim 23, wherein the sheet comprises an alloy based on nickel, copper or iron.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
Electrode according to claim 25, wherein the sheet is made of brass, bronze, steel or monel.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
Electrode according to claim 23, wherein the sheet is made of nickel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
Electrode according to claim 27, wherein the element is metallic lithium.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
Electrode according to claim 22, wherein the element is selected from the alloys of lithium.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
Electrode according to claim 29, wherein the lithium is alloyed with antimony, bismuth, boron, tin, silicon, magnesium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
Electrochemical generator comprising an anode, a cathode as well as an electrolyte wherein the anode is as defined in any one of claims 22, 23 or 24.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
Electrochemical generator comprising an anode, a cathode as well as an electrolyte wherein the anode is as defined in any one of claims 25, 26 or 27.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
Electrochemical generator comprising an anode, a cathode as well as an electrolyte wherein the anode is as defined in any one of claims 29 or 30.
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) | 1992-04-24 | 1992-10-24 | 1993-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-24 | 1996-10-24 | 1997-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-24 | 2000-10-24 | 2001-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |