US6017651A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and reagents for enhancing the cycling efficiency of lithium polymer batteries
Assignee: Polyplus Battery Co Inc
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Filing: 1998-09-03
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Granted: 2000-01-25
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Expires: 2018-09-03
Abstract
Abstract Batteries including a lithium electrode and a sulfur counter electrode that demonstrate improved cycling efficiencies are described. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell having a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide is provided. The lithium electrode includes a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell. In a more particular embodiment, the lithium electrode is in an electrolyte solution, and, more particularly, an electrolyte solution including either elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide. In another embodiment, the coating is formed after the lithium electrode is contacted with the electrolyte. In a more particular embodiment, the coating is formed by a reaction between the lithium metal of the lithium electrode and a chemical species present in the electrolyte.
Inventors
- 👤 Yevgeniy S. Nimon
- 👤 May-Ying Chu
- 👤 Steven J. Visco
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/04; H01M4/049; H01M4/0495; C; C07; C07C; C07C227/00; C07C227/30; C07C227/32; H01M10/00; H01M10/05; H01M10/052; H01M10/056; H01M10/0564; H01M10/0565; H01M10/0566; H01M10/0567; H01M10/0569; H01M10/36; H01M4/0402; H01M4/0404; H01M4/0409; H01M4/0411; H01M4/0416; H01M4/0419; H01M4/0421; H01M4/0423; H01M4/0426; H01M4/043; H01M4/0435; H01M4/0438; H01M4/045; H01M4/13; H01M4/134; H01M4/139; H01M4/1395; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/381; H01M4/382; H01M4/58; H01M4/581; H01M4/5815; H01M4/62; H01M4/624; H01M4/626; H01M10/39; H01M10/3909; H01M10/42; H01M10/44; H01M2004/026; H01M2004/028; H01M2300/00; H01M2300/0017; H01M2300/0065; H01M2300/0085; H01M4/60; H01M4/621; H01M4/625; H01M50/00; H01M50/40; H01M50/46; H01M6/00; H01M6/14; H01M6/16; H01M6/162; H01M6/164; H01M6/168; H01M6/18; H01M6/181; H01M6/188; H01M6/40; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide, said lithium electrode having a lithium metal electrode surface including a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, lithium sulfide, and a lithium polysulfide, said lithium electrode having a lithium metal electrode surface including a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein said lithium electrode is in an electrolyte solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 2, wherein said electrolyte solution contains at least one of elemental sulfur, a sulfide, and a polysulfide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 3, wherein said surface coating of said lithium electrode is formed prior to contacting said lithium electrode with said electrolyte.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 4, wherein said surface coating is formed by contacting said surface of said lithium electrode with LiAlCl 4 .3SO 4 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 5, wherein said surface coating comprises a reaction product of lithium metal and LiAlCl 4 .3SO 4 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 6, wherein said surface coating comprises Li 2 S 2 O 4 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 3, wherein said surface coating of said lithium electrode is formed after contacting said lithium electrode with said electrolyte.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein said surface coating of said lithium electrode is formed by the reaction of a chemical species in said electrolyte that is effective to form an alloy with lithium metal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 9, wherein said chemical species includes a mutivalent transition- or alkaline earth metal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 10, wherein said multivalent metal is a salt of a metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Bi, Sn, Pb, Cd, Si, In, and Ga, said salt being soluble in said electrolyte.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising an electrode and an electrolyte containing one or more sulfur compounds including at least one of elemental sulfur, sulfides, and polysulfides, said electrolyte including a reagent that is effective to form a substantially insoluble metal-sulfide complex in said electrolyte to increase thereby the cycling efficiency of said electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising an electrode and an electrolyte containing one or more sulfur compounds including at least one of elemental sulfur, sulfides, and polysulfides, said electrolyte including a reagent that is effective to form a substantially insoluble metal-sulfide complex in said electrolyte to increase thereby the cycling efficiency of said electrode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 12, wherein said electrode is a lithium electrode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 13, wherein said lithium electrode is combined with a sulfur-containing electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein said reagent is a salt of Ba or Mo.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 15, wherein said reagent is a salt of Ba.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein said sulfur-containing electrode includes at least one of elemental sulfur, sulfides, and polysulfides.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 17, wherein said active sulfur-containing electrode further includes an ionically conductive material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein said ionically conductive material is a polyalkyleneoxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising a lithium-tin alloy, the surface of said electrode including a lithium oxide coating, and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, a lithium sulfide, or a lithium polysulfide.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrochemical cell, comprising a lithium-tin alloy, the surface of said electrode including a lithium oxide coating, and a sulfur electrode including at least one of elemental sulfur, a lithium sulfide, or a lithium polysulfide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrochemical cell of claim 20, wherein said electrolyte includes at least one of elemental sulfur, a sulfide, or a polysulfide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
87 words
A battery cell comprising: a. a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i. an electrochemically active material, and ii. an electronically conductive material, b. a negative electrode comprising a lithium metal electrode surface including a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell; and c. an electrolyte electronically separating the positive and negative electrodes; wherein said electrochemically active material includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of lithium, polysulfides of lithium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
87 words
A battery cell comprising: a. a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i. an electrochemically active material, and ii. an electronically conductive material, b. a negative electrode comprising a lithium metal electrode surface including a surface coating that is effective to increase the cycling efficiency of said electrochemical cell; and c. an electrolyte electronically separating the positive and negative electrodes; wherein said electrochemically active material includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of lithium, polysulfides of lithium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
The battery cell of claim 22, wherein said surface coating is formed by contacting said surface of said lithium electrode with LiAlCl 4 .3SO 4 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The battery cell of claim 23, wherein said surface coating comprises a reaction product of lithium metal and LiAlCl 4 .3SO 4 .
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The battery cell of claim 24, wherein said surface coating comprises Li 2 S 2 O 4 .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
72 words
A battery cell comprising: a. a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i. an electrochemically active material, and ii. an electronically conductive material, b. a negative electrode comprising a lithium-tin alloy and lithium oxide composite; c. an electrolyte electronically separating the positive and negative electrodes; wherein said electrochemically active material includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of lithium, polysulfides of lithium, and combinations thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
72 words
A battery cell comprising: a. a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i. an electrochemically active material, and ii. an electronically conductive material, b. a negative electrode comprising a lithium-tin alloy and lithium oxide composite; c. an electrolyte electronically separating the positive and negative electrodes; wherein said electrochemically active material includes at least one component selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of lithium, polysulfides of lithium, and combinations thereof.
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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) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |