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US5554459A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Material and method for low internal resistance LI-ion battery

Assignee: Valence Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1996-01-23
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Granted: 1996-09-10
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Expires: 2016-01-23
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Abstract

Abstract An electrically-conductive collector element (23) in a polymeric laminate lithium ion rechargeable battery is cleaned of surface oxides and coated with an adherent conductive polymer film (34) which is substantially inert to battery electrolyte components and prevents recurrent formation of insulative collector surface oxides, thereby maintaining effective electrode/collector electrical conductivity and significantly reducing internal battery resistance.

Inventors

  • 👤 Antoni S. Gozdz
  • 👤 Paul C. Warren

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 16:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/62; H01M4/621; H01M4/622; H01M4/623; H01M4/64; H01M4/66; H01M4/665; H01M4/667; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0025; H01M4/36; H01M4/58; H01M4/583; H01M4/587; H01M4/624; H01M4/625; H01M4/661; H01M4/70; H01M4/72; H01M4/74; 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: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of making a low internal resistance battery comprising positive and negative electrode members having a separator member disposed therebetween and respective current collector members in contact therewith characterized in that said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements and, prior to said collector members being placed in contact with said electrode members, a) the surfaces of said collector elements are cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 80 words
A method of making a low internal resistance battery comprising positive and negative electrode members having a separator member disposed therebetween and respective current collector members in contact therewith characterized in that said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements and, prior to said collector members being placed in contact with said electrode members, a) the surfaces of said collector elements are cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said conductive composition comprises an electrically-conductive material dispersed throughout a polymer matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 2 which further comprises contacting said battery with a solution of an electrolyte in an organic solvent and wherein said coated composition matrix comprises a polymer which is substantially inert to said solvent.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of making a rechargeable battery which comprises arranging positive and negative electrode body members with a separator member disposed therebetween, each of said electrode and separator members comprising a flexible, polymeric film composition including a compatible plasticizer therefor; arranging respective flexible electrically-conductive current collector members in contact with said electrode members; and bonding each said member to contiguous members to form a unitary flexible laminate battery structure characterized in that said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements and prior to arranging said collector members, a) the surfaces of said collector elements are cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 113 words
A method of making a rechargeable battery which comprises arranging positive and negative electrode body members with a separator member disposed therebetween, each of said electrode and separator members comprising a flexible, polymeric film composition including a compatible plasticizer therefor; arranging respective flexible electrically-conductive current collector members in contact with said electrode members; and bonding each said member to contiguous members to form a unitary flexible laminate battery structure characterized in that said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements and prior to arranging said collector members, a) the surfaces of said collector elements are cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said conductive composition comprises an electrically-conductive material dispersed throughout a polymer matrix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said collector elements is an open-mesh grid and said conductive composition is coated on said element in such a manner as to maintain an open-mesh structure in the resulting collector member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 32 words
A method according to claim 6 which further comprises extracting at least a portion of said plasticizer with a solvent therefor and wherein said matrix polymer is substantially inert to said solvent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 29 words
A method according to claim 7 which further comprises contacting the extracted battery structure with an electrolyte solution and wherein said matrix polymer is substantially inert to said solution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said at least one collector member is at least partially embedded in the outermost surface of its respective electrode member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said at least one collector member is situated within the body of its respective electrode member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said at least one collector member is situated at the interface between its respective electrode member and said separator member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 97 words
A low internal resistance rechargeable battery comprising positive and negative electrode body members with a separator member disposed therebetween, each of said electrode and separator members comprising a flexible, polymeric film composition, and respective flexible electrically-conductive current collector members in contact with said electrode members, each said member being bonded to contiguous members to form a unitary flexible laminate battery structure characterized in that a) said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements the surfaces of which have been cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 97 words
A low internal resistance rechargeable battery comprising positive and negative electrode body members with a separator member disposed therebetween, each of said electrode and separator members comprising a flexible, polymeric film composition, and respective flexible electrically-conductive current collector members in contact with said electrode members, each said member being bonded to contiguous members to form a unitary flexible laminate battery structure characterized in that a) said collector members comprise metallic current collector elements the surfaces of which have been cleaned of insulative materials; and b) said cleaned collector elements are coated with an adherent electrically-conductive polymeric composition.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
A battery according to claim 12 wherein said conductive composition comprises an electrically-conductive material dispersed throughout a polymer matrix.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
A battery according to claim 13 which further comprises a solution of an electrolyte in an organic solvent and wherein said coated composition matrix comprises a polymer which is substantially inert to said solvent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 42 words
A battery according to claim 13 wherein at least one of said collector elements is an open-mesh grid and said conductive composition is coated on said element in such a manner as to maintain an open-mesh structure in the resulting collector member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 27 words
A battery according to claim 15 wherein said at least one collector member is at least partially embedded in the outermost surface of its respective electrode member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 23 words
A battery according to claim 15 wherein said at least one collector member is situated within the body of its respective electrode member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 27 words
A battery according to claim 15 wherein said at least one collector member is situated at the interface between its respective electrode member and said separator member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4161569A Cited
US4215190A Cited
US4581307A Cited
US4585715A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-09-10 2000-03-11 2000-09-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-09-10 2004-03-11 2004-09-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-09-10 2008-03-11 2008-09-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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