US4869977A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electrolyte additive for lithium-sulfur dioxide electrochemical cell
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-25
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Granted: 1989-09-26
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Expires: 2008-04-25
Abstract
Abstract The degradation of organic electrode separators in rechargeable lithium-sulfur dioxide electrochemical cells which utilize chemically uncombined aluminum chloride as an electrolyte component can be reduced by incorporating an additive into the electrolyte which is effective to provide a redox couple having a potential in the range which is above that of the SO 2 /S 2 O 4 -2 couple and below that of the Cl 2 /Cl - couple.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Connolly
- 👤 Robert J. Thrash
- 👤 Bruce D. Webber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/05; H01M10/056; H01M10/0561; H01M10/0563; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A nonaqueous conductive liquid which comprises a solution in liquid sulfur dioxide of: (a) at least one polar organic compound having a Donor Number in the range from about 10 to about 25; (b) aluminum chloride; (c) at least one lithium salt; and (d) at least one additive which is effective to provide a redox couple in said solution having a potential in the range which is above that of the SO 2 /S 2 O 4 -2 couple and below that of the Cl 2 /Cl couple, wherein said polar organic compound and lithium salt do not provide a redox coupled in the solution having a potential in said range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A nonaqueous conductive liquid which comprises a solution in liquid sulfur dioxide of: (a) at least one polar organic compound having a Donor Number in the range from about 10 to about 25; (b) aluminum chloride; (c) at least one lithium salt; and (d) at least one additive which is effective to provide a redox couple in said solution having a potential in the range which is above that of the SO 2 /S 2 O 4 -2 couple and below that of the Cl 2 /Cl couple, wherein said polar organic compound and lithium salt do not provide a redox coupled in the solution having a potential in said range.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein the concentration of said additive in the solution is in the range from about 0.01 to about 0.3 molar.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein said additive provides a redox couple having a potential in the range from about 3.2 to about 4.1 V with respect to the Li/Li + couple.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of N-methylphenothiazine, thianthrene, Li 2 B 10 Cl 10 , Fe(1,10-phenanthroline) 3 Cl 2 and Fe(1,10-phenanthroline) 2 (CN) 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein said polar organic compound is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,3-dioxolane, acetonitrile and γ-butyrolactone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein said solution contains from about 60 to about 99 percent by weight of sulfur dioxide based on the combined weight of polar organic compound and sulfur dioxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein the concentration of aluminum chloride in said solution is in the range from about 0.1 to about 6 molar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein the ratio of moles of aluminum chloride to equivalents of lithium cation in said solution is in the range from about 0.01 to about 50.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The liquid of claim 1 wherein said lithium salt comprises lithium tetrachloroaluminate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrochemical cell comprising in combination: (a) an anode which is comprised of lithium; (b) a cathode; (c) an organic electrode separator; and (d) a nonaqueous conductive liquid electrolyte which comprises a solution in liquid sulfur dioxide of aluminum chloride, at least one lithium salt, at least one polar organic compound having a Donor Number in the range from about 10 to about 25 and at least one additive which is effective to provide a redox couple in the electrolyte having a potential in the range which is above that of the SO 2 /S 2 O 4 -2 couple and below that of the Cl 2 /Cl couple, wherein said polar organic compound and said lithium salt do not provide a redox couple in the electrolyte having a potential in said range.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electrochemical cell comprising in combination: (a) an anode which is comprised of lithium; (b) a cathode; (c) an organic electrode separator; and (d) a nonaqueous conductive liquid electrolyte which comprises a solution in liquid sulfur dioxide of aluminum chloride, at least one lithium salt, at least one polar organic compound having a Donor Number in the range from about 10 to about 25 and at least one additive which is effective to provide a redox couple in the electrolyte having a potential in the range which is above that of the SO 2 /S 2 O 4 -2 couple and below that of the Cl 2 /Cl couple, wherein said polar organic compound and said lithium salt do not provide a redox couple in the electrolyte having a potential in said range.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said organic electrode separator is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins and copolymers of olefins with substituted olefins.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said organic electrode separator is comprised of polyethylene.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein the concentration of said additive in the solution is in the range from about 0.01 to about 0.3 molar.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of N-methylphenothiazine, thianthrene, Li 2 B 10 Cl 10 , Fe(1,10-phenanthroline) 3 Cl 2 and Fe(1,10-phenanthroline) 2 (CN) 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10 wherein said polar organic compound is selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,3-dioxolane, acetonitrile and γ-butyrolactone.
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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) | 1992-09-25 | 1993-03-27 | 1993-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-25 | 1997-03-27 | 1997-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-25 | 2001-03-27 | 2001-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |