Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A secondary electrochemical cell comprising an anode containing a material capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, a cathode capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, an alkali metal incorporated in at least one of said anode and cathode and an electrolyte comprising an organic solvent, a salt of said alkali metal and at least one sequestering agent capable of complexing with the alkali moiety of said electrolyte salt, wherein said anode material consists essentially of a carbonaceous material having a degree of graphitization greater than about 0.40.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A secondary electrochemical cell comprising an anode containing a material capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, a cathode capable of reversibly incorporating an alkali metal, an alkali metal incorporated in at least one of said anode and cathode and an electrolyte comprising an organic solvent, a salt of said alkali metal and at least one sequestering agent capable of complexing with the alkali moiety of said electrolyte salt, wherein said anode material consists essentially of a carbonaceous material having a degree of graphitization greater than about 0.40.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said degree of graphitization is greater than about 0.80.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cell of claim 2, wherein said degree of graphitization is about 1.00.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said carbonaceous material is a highly graphitic carbonaceous material selected from the group consisting of highly graphitic boron-carbon-nitrogen compounds, synthetic graphites, natural graphites, petroleum cokes, heat-treated at temperatures above 2100° C. and carbons prepared by chemical vapor deposition or pyrolysis of hydrocarbons.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said alkali metal is lithium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said at least one sequestering agent is selected from the group consisting of glymes, crown ethers, cryptands and combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
The cell of claim 6, wherein said sequestering agent includes a glyme having a structure represented by the formula: RO--(C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.n --OR.sub.1 wherein n is between 1 and about 20 and R and R 1 are independently selected from the group consisting of short-chained normal alkanes up to about four carbon atoms in length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cell of claim 7, wherein n is between 1 and about 10 and R and R 1 are independently selected from the group consisting of normal alkanes up to two carbon atoms in length.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 8, wherein said glymes are selected from the group consisting of methyl monoglyme, ethyl monoglyme, methyl diglyme, methyl triglyme and methyl tetraglyme.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The cell of claim 6, wherein said sequestering agent includes a crown ether selected from the group consisting of 12 crown 4 ether, benzo 14 crown 4 ether, dicyclohexyl 18 crown 6 ether, 15 crown 5 ether, 18 crown 6 ether and 21 crown 7 ether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cell of claim 10, wherein said crown ether is 12 crown 4 ether.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said molar ratio of said sequestering agent to said electrolyte salt is greater than about 1:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, sulfolane, dimethylsulfite, p-dioxane, 1,3-dioxane, dimethyl ether and diethoxyethane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 13, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises propylene carbonate and ethylene carbonate in a ratio by volume between about 1:3 and about 3:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cell of claim 14, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises 50% by volume dimethoxyethane and 50% by volume ethylene carbonate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said alkali metal electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of LiAsF 6 , LiPF 6 , LiClO 4 , LiBF 4 , LiB(C 6 H 5 ) 4 , LiCF 3 SO 3 , LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 , LiSO 3 F, LiAlCl 4 , LiBr and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cell of claim 16, wherein said alkali metal electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of LiAsF 6 , LiCF 3 SO 3 , LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cell of claim 1, wherein said cathode comprises a transition metal chalcogenide material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cell of claim 18, wherein said transition metal is selected from the group consisting of manganese, nickel, iron, chromium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt and mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The cell of claim 18, wherein said transition metal chalcogenide is lithiated.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for intercalating alkali metal ions into a highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material, said method comprising the steps of: contacting said electrode material with an electrolyte solution of an electrolyte solvent, an alkali metal electrolyte salt and at least one sequestering agent capable of complexing with the alkali metal moiety of said electrolyte salt, which electrolyte solution is also in contact with a counterelectrode; and applying a current between said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material and said counterelectrode so that said alkali metal ions intercalate into said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material from said electrolyte solution; whereby said sequestering agent substantially prevents cointercalation of said electrolyte solvent with said alkali metal ions with said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for intercalating alkali metal ions into a highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material, said method comprising the steps of: contacting said electrode material with an electrolyte solution of an electrolyte solvent, an alkali metal electrolyte salt and at least one sequestering agent capable of complexing with the alkali metal moiety of said electrolyte salt, which electrolyte solution is also in contact with a counterelectrode; and applying a current between said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material and said counterelectrode so that said alkali metal ions intercalate into said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material from said electrolyte solution; whereby said sequestering agent substantially prevents cointercalation of said electrolyte solvent with said alkali metal ions with said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said highly graphitic carbonaceous electrode material has a degree of graphitization greater than about 0.40.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 21, said sequestering agents are selected from the group consisting of glymes, crown ethers and cryptands.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said electrolyte solution comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, sulfolane, dimethylsulfite, p-dioxane, 1,3-dioxane, dimethoxyethane and diethyl ether.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said alkali metal electrolyte salt is selected from the group consisting of LiAsF 6 , LiPF 6 , LiClO 4 , LiBF 4 , LiB(C 6 H 5 ) 4 , LiCF 3 SO 3 , LiN(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 , LiSO 3 F, LiAlCl 4 , LiBr and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said counterelectrode includes a transition metal chalcogenide material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cell of claim 21, wherein said transition metal is selected from the group consisting manganese, nickel, iron, chromium, titanium, vanadium, molybdenum, cobalt and mixtures thereof.