KR-102961639-B1 - battery cell

KR102961639B1KR 102961639 B1KR102961639 B1KR 102961639B1KR-102961639-B1

Abstract

A battery cell comprising a flexible housing, first and second electrodes, an electrolyte, and at least one sealing region. The flexible housing includes a peripheral sealing portion in which the housing is sealed around its periphery. The first and second electrodes each include a first region and a second region protruding from the first region, and the first and second regions of the first and second electrodes are located within the flexible housing. The electrolyte is located between the first region of the first electrode and the first region of the second electrode. The first regions of the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte are arranged to define an electrochemical region accommodated within the flexible housing. The second regions of the first and second electrodes protrude from the electrochemical region. The at least one sealing region includes a region in which the inner surfaces of the flexible housing are sealed together. The at least one sealing region is arranged between the first regions of the first and second electrodes and the peripheral sealing portion and is arranged to prevent the electrolyte from moving out of the electrochemical region.

Inventors

쿡, 애슐리
로이드, 벤
클리어리, 션
시비옹텍, 아가타
가드너, 알란
나이트, 앤서니

Assignees

겔리온 테크놀로지스 피티와이 리미티드

Dates

Publication Date: 20260511
Application Date: 20200527
Priority Date: 20190531

Claims (20)

In battery cells, A flexible housing including a perimeter seal that seals the housing around its periphery; First and second electrodes each comprising a first region and a second region protruding from the first region, wherein the first and second regions of the first and second electrodes are located within the flexible housing; An electrolyte positioned between a first region of a first electrode and a first region of a second electrode, wherein the first regions of the first and second electrodes and the electrolyte are arranged to define an electrochemical region accommodated within a flexible housing, and the second regions of the first and second electrodes protrude from the electrochemical region; and A plurality of clamping surfaces arranged to accommodate a clamping force such that the application of a clamping force to a clamping surface applies a clamping pressure to an electrochemical region, wherein the clamping pressure is sufficient to prevent or at least suppress the vaporization of the electrolyte under all pressure conditions configured for the battery cell to operate; and A battery cell comprising at least one sealing region in which the inner surfaces of the flexible housing are sealed together, wherein the at least one sealing region is arranged between a first region of the first and second electrodes and a peripheral sealing portion and is arranged to suppress the electrolyte from moving out of the electrochemical region when a clamping force is applied to the clamping surfaces.
In paragraph 1, A battery cell wherein the at least one sealing region comprises a first region of the first and second electrodes, a peripheral sealing portion, and a sealing region arranged between at least one second region of the first and/or second electrodes.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell wherein the above-mentioned at least one sealing region includes a sealing region disposed between a second region of a first electrode and a second region of a second electrode.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell wherein the at least one sealing region comprises a sealing region arranged between the second region of the first electrode and the peripheral sealing portion.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell wherein the above-mentioned at least one sealing region includes a sealing region arranged between a second region of a second electrode and a peripheral sealing portion.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell wherein the above-mentioned at least one sealing region includes a sealing region arranged within a peripheral sealing portion and within the outer range of the first and second electrodes.
In paragraph 1 or 2, The above peripheral seal is a battery cell that defines a sealed boundary.
In Paragraph 7, A battery cell wherein the above-mentioned at least one sealing region comprises a sealing region arranged within a portion of a sealing boundary where no electrode is located.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell in which the second region of the first electrode is offset from the second region of the second electrode.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell in which at least one sealing region comprises a sealing material arranged in the sealing region and attached to the opposing inner surface of the flexible housing.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell in which the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially planar, and the first electrode is positioned substantially parallel to the second electrode.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell further comprising a first contact tab electrically connected to a second region of a first electrode and a second contact tab electrically connected to a second electrode, wherein the first and second contact tabs extend through a peripheral seal of a flexible housing.
In Paragraph 12, A battery cell in which at least a portion of the first and second tabs can protrude outside the flexible housing and includes electrical terminals of the battery cell.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell further comprising a porous separator disposed between a first region of a first electrode and a first region of a second electrode.
In paragraph 1 or 2, A battery cell in which the above-mentioned at least one sealing region is arranged to form part of at least one of the clamping surfaces.
At least one battery cell according to claim 1 or 2; and A battery cell array comprising a clamp arranged to apply a clamping force sufficient to suppress vaporization of the electrolyte on the clamping surfaces of at least one battery cell.
In Paragraph 16, A battery cell array comprising the clamp having first and second clamping elements arranged on opposite sides of at least one battery cell, and a clamping device arranged to force the first and second clamping elements to apply a clamping force to at least one battery cell.
In Paragraph 17, The above clamping device is a battery cell array arranged to maintain first and second clamping elements in a fixed relationship with respect to each other.
In Paragraph 17, The above clamping device is a battery cell array in which the first and second clamping elements are arranged to press against each other.
In Paragraph 16, The above clamp is a battery cell array arranged to apply uniaxial pressure to the clamping surface.

Description

battery cell The present disclosure relates to a battery cell and a battery cell arrangement comprising a battery cell and a clamp. The device disclosed herein may find specific applications in the field of lithium batteries, such as lithium sulfur batteries, but is not limited thereto. A typical electrochemical cell includes electrodes in the form of an anode and a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte may be contained within a housing. Electrical connections, for example, connection tabs, may be attached to the housing to provide electrical connections with the anode and cathode of the cell and may serve as terminals of the battery. The housing of a battery cell can be provided in the form of a flexible housing, such as a flexible pouch. Flexible housings are generally lighter compared to rigid housings. Therefore, battery cells contained in flexible housings can find specific applications in fields where the weight of the cell is critical. For example, battery cells can be used as a power source for means of transportation such as land vehicles, aircraft, and/or spacecraft. In such applications (and/or other applications), it may be desirable to use relatively lightweight battery cells to reduce the total weight of the vehicle, and thus battery cells with flexible housings can be particularly useful. However, battery cells with flexible housings can be prone to expansion due to the flexible nature of the housing. This can be particularly important in applications where the battery may be exposed to low-pressure conditions and/or high temperatures. For example, battery cells used in aircraft and/or spacecraft may be exposed to low-pressure conditions if the carrier is projected at a high altitude. In this context, the subject matter included in the present application was devised. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described merely by example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams of a battery cell having a flexible housing. FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of the first and second electrodes forming part of the battery cell of FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIGS. 3A to 3C are schematic cross-sectional views of the battery cell of FIGS. 1A and FIG. 1B. Figures 4A and 4B are schematic diagrams of a battery cell array including battery cells and clamps. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a battery cell including sealed regions. FIGS. 6A to 6C are schematic cross-sectional views of the battery cell of FIG. 5. Before describing specific examples of the present invention, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the specific battery cell, battery, or method described herein. Furthermore, it should be understood that the terms used herein are for describing specific examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In describing the battery cell, battery, and method of the present invention and in the claims thereof, the terms set forth below will be used such that singular expressions (“a,” “an,” and “the”) include plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Accordingly, for example, a reference to “battery cell” includes a reference to one or more of such elements. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a battery cell (100) having a flexible housing (101). FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the battery cell (100) showing the components of the cell (100) located within the flexible housing (101). The battery cell (100) may include any suitable electrochemical cell. For example, the cell may include a lithium cell. Suitable lithium cells include lithium-ion, lithium-air, lithium-polymer, and lithium-sulfur cells. The battery cell illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a pouch type, which is generally known in the art. The battery cell (100) comprises a flexible housing (101) (e.g., a pouch), a first electrode (111), and a second electrode (114) (only the second region (114b) of which is visible in FIG. 1B), wherein both electrodes are located within the flexible housing (101). The battery cell (100) further comprises an electrolyte (not illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) located within the flexible housing and between the first and second electrodes (111, 114). The flexible housing (101) seals its periphery with a peripheral seal (105). The housing (100) is sealed so that the electrodes (111, 114) and the electrolyte are sealed within the flexible housing (101). FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams of a first electrode (111) and a second electrode (114), respectively. As shown in FIG. 2A, the first electrode (111) includes a first region (111a) and a second region (111b). Similarly, as shown in FIG. 2B, the second electrode (114) includes a first region (114a) and a second region (114b). The second regions (111b, 114b) of the electrodes (111, 114) protrude from the first regions (111a, 114a) of the electrodes. As sh