Patent US5540741A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5540741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lithium secondary battery extraction method
Assignee: Valence Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1995-01-17
•
Granted: 1996-07-30
•
Expires: 2015-01-17
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a method of fabricating a rechargeable battery structure by extracting plasticizer from plastic battery preforms to render them insensitive to water while maintaining the homogeneous characteristics of the plastic materials to allow subsequent activation of the batteries through the introduction of an electrolyte solution. These battery preforms need not be maintained under anhydrous conditions and can be activated immediately preceding use thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Antoni S. Gozdz
- 👤 Caroline N. Schmutz
- 👤 Jean-Marie Tarascon
- 👤 Paul C. Warren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:48
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J9/00; C08J9/28; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/04; H01M10/0431; H01M10/05; H01M10/052; H01M10/056; H01M10/0564; H01M10/0565; H01M50/00; H01M50/40; H01M50/409; H01M50/411; H01M50/414; H01M50/426; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M6/18; H01M6/181; H01M6/30; H01M6/32; H01M6/42; H01M6/46; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/12; C08J2327/16; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0085; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108; Y10T29/49115
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of making a battery structure comprising: a) forming a solid state positive electrode of a polymer, a plasticizer and an active material; b) forming a solid state negative electrode of the same polymer, a plasticizer and an active material; c) forming a separator membrane of the same polymer and a plasticizer; d) bonding said electrodes and said separator membrane to form a unitary battery structure; e) extracting a portion of said plasticizer from at least said separator membrane; and f) activating said battery by reswelling at least said separator membrane by contacting said unitary battery structure with an electrolytic salt solution.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of making a battery structure comprising: a) forming a solid state positive electrode of a polymer, a plasticizer and an active material; b) forming a solid state negative electrode of the same polymer, a plasticizer and an active material; c) forming a separator membrane of the same polymer and a plasticizer; d) bonding said electrodes and said separator membrane to form a unitary battery structure; e) extracting a portion of said plasticizer from at least said separator membrane; and f) activating said battery by reswelling at least said separator membrane by contacting said unitary battery structure with an electrolytic salt solution.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said extraction is carried out under supercritical extraction conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of dibutyl phthalate, dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, trisbutoxyethyl phosphate, propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, trimethyl trimellitate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymer and copolymers of vinyl chloride, acrylonitrile, vinyl chloride and vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride and acrylonitrile, vinylidene fluoride, vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropylene, vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropylene and a member of the group consisting of vinyl fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, and trifluoroethylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said active material in said positive electrode is selected from the group consisting of Li x Mn 2 O 4 , LiCoO 2 and LiNiO 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said active material in said negative electrode is selected from the group consisting of petroleum coke, microbead carbon coke, synthetic graphite, natural graphite, synthetic graphitized carbon fibers and synthetic graphitized carbon whiskers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said active material in said negative electrode is a low-voltage lithium intercalation compound selected from the group consisting of oxides of tungsten, oxides of molybdenum, chalcogenides of titanium or chalcogenides of molybdenum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrolytic salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium salt of perchlorate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, hexafluoroarsenate, hexafluoroantimonate, bis(trifluorosulfon)imide, tri(trifluorosulfono)methide, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solvent for extracting said plasticizer is selected from the group consisting of ether, diethyl ether, hexanes, petroleum ether, ligroin, hexanes, cyclohexane, methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, trichloroethane, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the extraction step is carried out at a temperature range from ambient to the boiling point of the solvent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the extraction step is carried out in a Soxhlet apparatus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plasticizer is removed from said positive electrode, said negative electrode and said separator membrane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said reswelling is carried out on said positive electrode, said negative electrode and said separator membrane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, propane and nitrous oxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising a cosolvent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the extraction step is carried out at a temperature from about 0° C. to about 30° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the battery is dried under vacuum before activation with the lithium salt solution.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said polymeric material further comprises a finely divided inorganic filler.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid state positive electrode is formed by casting a slurry comprising the positive active material, said polymer, said plasticizer of the polymer, a conductive carbon, and a low boiling solvent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid state positive electrode is formed by pressing at an elevated temperature a dry, homogeneous mixture comprising the positive active material, said polymer, said plasticizer of the polymer, and a conductive carbon, to form a thin plastic electrode film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid state negative electrode is formed by pressing at an elevated temperature a dry homogeneous mixture comprising the negative active material, said polymer, said plasticizer of the polymer, and a conductive carbon to form a thin plastic electrode film.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid state positive electrode is formed by pressing at an elevated temperature a dry powdered homogeneous mixture comprising the positive active material, said polymer, said plasticizer of said polymer, and a conductive carbon, to form a solid cylindrical block of the cathodic material, said material being shaped into a thin continuous film by skiving on a lathe with a sharp knife.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said solid state negative electrode is formed by pressing at an elevated temperature a dry, powdered, homogeneous mixture comprising the negative active material, said polymer, said plasticizer of said polymer, and a conductive carbon, to form a solid cylindrical block of the anodic material, said material being shaped into a thin continuous film by skiving on a lathe with a sharp knife.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic electrolyte is formed by pressing at an elevated temperature, a dry, homogeneous mixture comprising said polymer matrix, said plasticizer of the polymer, and said inorganic, finely divided filler to form a thin plastic electrode film.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a battery structure comprising: a) forming a positive electrode of a copolymer of VdF and HFP, LiMn 2 O and DBP; b) forming a negative electrode of a copolymer of VdF and HFP, carbon and DBP; c) forming a separator membrane of a copolymer of VdF and HFP with DBP; d) laminating said electrodes and said separator membrane under heat and pressure to form a unitary battery structure; e) extracting at least a portion of said DBP from said battery structure with a solvent; f) drying said battery in a stream of air; g) placing said battery under vacuum for from 0 to 30 minutes; and h) activating said battery by reswelling said battery structure with a lithium salt electrolytic solution.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making a battery structure comprising: a) forming a positive electrode of a copolymer of VdF and HFP, LiMn 2 O and DBP; b) forming a negative electrode of a copolymer of VdF and HFP, carbon and DBP; c) forming a separator membrane of a copolymer of VdF and HFP with DBP; d) laminating said electrodes and said separator membrane under heat and pressure to form a unitary battery structure; e) extracting at least a portion of said DBP from said battery structure with a solvent; f) drying said battery in a stream of air; g) placing said battery under vacuum for from 0 to 30 minutes; and h) activating said battery by reswelling said battery structure with a lithium salt electrolytic solution.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the extracting solvent is diethyl ether.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5219680A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-30 | 2000-01-29 | 2000-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-30 | 2004-01-29 | 2004-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-30 | 2008-01-29 | 2008-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |