An energy storage device includes a first electrode comprising a first material and a second electrode comprising a second material, at least a portion of the first and second materials forming an interpenetrating network when dispersed in an electrolyte, the electrolyte, the first material and the second material are selected so that the first and second materials exert a repelling force on each other when combined. An electrochemical device, includes a first electrode in electrical communication with a first current collector; a second electrode in electrical communication with a second current collector; and an ionically conductive medium in ionic contact with said first and second electrodes, wherein at least a portion of the first and second electrodes form an interpenetrating network and wherein at least one of the first and second electrodes comprises an electrode structure providing two or more pathways to its current collector.

Battery structures, self-organizing structures and related methods

Electrocatalyst powders and methods for producing electrocatalyst powders, such as carbon composite electrocatalyst powders. The powders have a well-controlled microstructure and morphology. The method includes forming the particles from an aerosol of precursors by heating the aerosol to a relatively low temperature, such as not greater than about 400° C.

Electrocatalyst powders, methods for producing powders and devices fabricated from same

A high capacity lithium secondary battery with excellent safety is provided by suppressing expansion of a negative electrode active material during charge and increasing the content of a heat-resistant resin in a separator relative to conventional one. The lithium secondary battery includes: a negative electrode active material that comprises compound particles containing at least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Si, Sn, Al, and Zn; and a separator that has a first porous layer comprising polyolefin and a second porous layer comprising a heat-resistant resin. The separator contains 10 to 60 parts by weight of the second porous layer per 100 parts by weight of the first porous layer.

Lithium Secondary Battery

The effective ionic conductivity in a composite structure is believed to decrease rapidly with volume fraction. A system, such as a bipolar device or energy storage device, has structures or components in which the diffusion length or path that electrodes or ions must traverse is minimized and the interfacial area exposed to the ions or electrons is maximized. The device includes components that can be reticulated or has a reticulated interface so that an interface area can be increased. The increased interfacial perimeter increases the available sites for reaction of ionic species. Many different reticulation patterns can be used. The aspect ratio of the reticulated features can be varied. Such bipolar devices can be fabricated by a variety of methods or procedures. A bipolar device having structures of reticulated interface can be tailored for the purposes of controlling and optimizing charge and discharge kinetics. A bipolar device having graded porosity structures can have improved transport properties because the diffusion controlling reaction kinetics can be modified. Graded porosity electrodes can be linearly or nonlinearly graded. A bipolar device having perforated structures also provides improved transport properties by removing tortuosity and reducing diffusion distance.

Reticulated and controlled porosity battery structures

An electrochemical cell and electrode assembly in which an alkali metal anode and a cathode assembly are wound together in a unidirectional winding having substantially straight sides such that the winding will fit into a prismatic cell. The anode and cathode are arranged in the winding to provide for even utilization of reactive material during cell discharge by placing cathode and anode material in close proximity throughout the electrode assembly in the proportions in which they are utilized. The winding also contributes to even utilization of reactive material by employing multiple tabs on the cathode assembly to ensure that cathode material is evenly utilized throughout the electrode assembly during cell discharge and also so that connections to the tabs are readily made.

High reliability electrochemical cell and electrode assembly therefor

An electrochemical cell (10) has a cathode current collector (20), an anode electrode (21) and a porous insulating material (22) wound in a coil (17) and inserted in a sealed can (11). Cathode current collector (20) has a metal substrate (23) carrying a plurality of holes (24). The metal substrate (23) supports layer (25) of an electrode material such as porous carbon. Both edges (26A, 26B) and one end (28) of the substrate (23) is kept free of material. The bare end (28) of the substrate (23) is on the outside of the coil (17). The substrate (23) is wider than the anode electrode (21) and the cathode current collector (20) of the coil (17), so that when the coil (17) is inserted in the can (11), the substrate (23) makes contact with all the internal surfaces of the can (11).

Electrochemical cell having wound electrode structures

A high discharge rate electrochemical battery structure is disclosed as having a perforated disc electrode stack comprising pluralities of disc electrodes respectively connected to a pair of busbars. Each disc electrode has a tab with two fins which are bent at 90 degrees to the disc electrode. Each fin is inserted between two parts of the corresponding busbar and welded thereto. The design of the busbars and disc electrodes provides for redundancy of electrical contact, high thermal and electrical conductivity and improved resistance to mechanical shock.

Disc electrode and busbar for an electrochemical battery

An electrochemical cell electrode such as the cathode element for a high energy density battery cell and its fabrication sequence are disclosed. Material such as finely-divided carbon particles is dispersed over the electrode surface during an ultrasonic energy assisted wet spraying process which produces very thin electrodes that are also low in fabrication cost and increased in uniformity and energy density capability. Fine particle material deposition on both a metal foil electrode and on an insulating member that is later joined to a metal foil electrode are contemplated.

Small particle thin electrochemical electrode and method

An electrochemical reserve cell includes a cylin­drical housing (2) a concentric arrangement of a liquid cell component container, a metal anode (5), a porous separator (4), and a porous carbon element (3). The metal anode is cylin­drical with a spiral slot (19) extending between its ends and is pressed into a perforated anode support cylinder (15) having adjacent edges welded together. The anode (5) and anode support structure (15) are interlocked together.

Electrochemical cell with interlocking anode

A liquid electrolyte solution is added to porous components of an electrochemical cell prior to assembly. The electrolyte solution is frozen and all the components are assembled into a sealed cell. The electrolyte solution is then allowed to melt.

Franz Goebel

Papers

Electrochemical cell having wound electrode structures

Disc electrode and busbar for an electrochemical battery

Small particle thin electrochemical electrode and method

Electrochemical cell with interlocking anode

Method of adding electrolyte to electrochemical cells