Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell of a primary or secondary chemistry with a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell has a casing comprising an annular sidewall supported on a lower plate opposite an upper lid. The lid has a sealed electrolyte fill port. At least one electrolyte channel in the inner surface of the lid extends radially from the fill port and outwardly beyond an outer peripheral edge of the current collector. A current collector contacts an inner surface of the lid with a first electrode active material contacting the current collector. An opposite polarity active material contacts the lower plate. A dielectric material coats the lower open end of the annular sidewall and a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall. A glass seals the dielectric material to the lower plate. An electrolyte activates the electrode assembly.

Abstract: An electrical energy power source comprises a casing made by micro-bonding an upper ceramic wafer and a lower ceramic wafer to the opposed surfaces of a ceramic ring. The upper and lower ceramic wafers have respective first and second conductive pathways extends therethrough. A first current collector supporting a first active material layer contacts the upper ceramic wafer and the first conductive pathway, and a second current collector supporting a second, opposite polarity active material layer contacts the lower ceramic wafer and the second conductive pathway. A separator resides between the first and second active materials, and an electrolyte filled into the casing through a fill port activates the active materials. The first and second conductive pathways serve as opposite polarity terminals for the power source.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell of a secondary chemistry having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. Before the present invention, miniature secondary electrochemical cells have been known to experience undesirable open circuit voltage discharge during their initial 21-day aging period. It is believed that electrolyte permeating through the cathode active material and an intermediate carbonaceous coating contacting the titanium base plate of the casing is the source of the undesirable discharge. To ameliorate this, aluminum is contacted to the inner surface of the base plate inside the casing. While aluminum is resistant to the corrosion reaction that is believed to be the mechanism for degraded open circuit voltage in miniature secondary electrochemical cells containing lithium, it is not biocompatible. This means that titanium is still a preferred material for the casing parts including the base plate that might be exposed to body fluids, and the like.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both of ceramic casing halves. A thin film metallization, such as of titanium, contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. The first ceramic casing half is moved into registry with the second ceramic casing half so that the first and second ring-shaped metallizations contact each other.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having a via hole providing an electrically conductive pathway extending through the container. A metal lid closes the open-end of the container. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises an anode current collector deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with the electrically conductive pathway in the via hole. An anode active material contacts the current collector and a cathode active material contacts the metal lid. A separator is disposed between the anode and cathode active materials. That way, the electrically conductive pathway serves as a negative terminal, and the lid, electrically isolated from the conductive pathway by the ceramic container, serves as a positive terminal. The negative and positive terminals are configured for electrical connection to a load.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having a via hole providing an electrically conductive pathway extending through the container. A metal lid closes the open-end of the container. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises an anode current collector deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with the electrically conductive pathway in the via hole. An anode active material contacts the current collector and a cathode active material contacts the metal lid. A separator is disposed between the anode and cathode active materials. That way, the electrically conductive pathway serves as a negative terminal, and the lid, electrically isolated from the conductive pathway by the ceramic container, serves as a positive terminal. The negative and positive terminals are configured for electrical connection to a load.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell of a primary or secondary chemistry with a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an annular sidewall connected to a base plate opposite an upper lid. A sealing glass forms a hermetic glass-to-ceramic seal with a dielectric material contacting a lower portion of the annular sidewall and a glass-to-metal seal with the base plate. Since the glass seals against three surfaces of the annular sidewall, which are the inner and outer sidewall surfaces adjacent to the lower edge, the glass seal is robust enough to withstand the heat generated when the lid is welded to the upper edge of the annular sidewall. The lid has a sealed electrolyte fill port that is axially aligned with an annulus residing between the inner surface of the annular sidewall and the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having first and second via holes providing respective first and second electrically conductive pathways extending through the container. A metal lid secured to the open-end of the container by a gold seal provides the cell casing. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises a cathode active material deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with a current collector in electrical continuity with one of the conductive pathways. A solid electrolyte, preferably of LiPON (LixPOyNz), is deposited on the cathode active material followed by an anode active material in contact with the other conductive pathway. The first and second conductive pathways can comprise platinum or gold. That way, the first and second conductive pathways serve as negative and positive terminals for the cell.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell of a primary or secondary chemistry with a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell has a casing comprising an annular sidewall supported on a lower plate opposite an upper lid. The lid has a sealed electrolyte fill port. At least one electrolyte channel in the inner surface of the lid extends radially from the fill port and outwardly beyond an outer peripheral edge of the current collector. A current collector contacts an inner surface of the lid with a first electrode active material contacting the current collector. An opposite polarity active material contacts the lower plate. A dielectric material coats the lower open end of the annular sidewall and a portion of the inner surface of the sidewall. A glass seals the dielectric material to the lower plate. An electrolyte activates the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both ceramic casing halves. The two ceramic casing halves are separated from each other by a metal interlayer, such as of gold, bonded to a thin film metallization adhesion layer, such as of titanium, that contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. A solid electrolyte (LixPOyNz) is used to activate the electrode assembly.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having first and second via holes providing respective first and second electrically conductive pathways extending through the container. A metal lid secured to the open-end of the container by a gold seal provides the cell casing. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises a cathode active material deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with a current collector in electrical continuity with one of the conductive pathways. A solid electrolyte, preferably of LiPON (LixPOyNz), is deposited on the cathode active material followed by an anode active material in contact with the other conductive pathway. The first and second conductive pathways can comprise platinum or gold. That way, the first and second conductive pathways serve as negative and positive terminals for the cell.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a volume of less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing comprises an open-ended ceramic container having a via hole providing an electrically conductive pathway extending through the container. A metal lid closes the open-end of the container. An electrode assembly housed inside the casing comprises an anode current collector deposited on an inner surface of the ceramic container in contact with the electrically conductive pathway in the via hole. An anode active material contacts the current collector and a cathode active material contacts the metal lid. A separator is disposed between the anode and cathode active materials. That way, the electrically conductive pathway serves as a negative terminal, and the lid, electrically isolated from the conductive pathway by the ceramic container, serves as a positive terminal. The negative and positive terminals are configured for electrical connection to a load.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The casing enclosure consists of a lower plate supporting a cylindrically-shaped can having an open upper end closed with a cover. The can is selectively coated with a dielectric material to provide electrical isolation of the to-be-housed active materials from the can sidewall. A glass-to-metal seal electrically isolates the lower plate from the can. An electrode assembly comprising a sandwich of cathode active material/separator/anode active material is housed in the casing. That way, the lower plate contacting the cathode active material is the positive terminal and the closing cover connected to the can and contacted to the anode active material serves as the negative cell terminal. An electrolyte filled into the casing activates the electrode assembly and the fill opening is sealed with a plug. The cell can be of either a primary or a secondary chemistry.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both of ceramic casing halves. A thin film metallization, such as of titanium, contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. The first ceramic casing half is moved into registry with the second ceramic casing half so that the first and second ring-shaped metallizations contact each other.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical cells that generally relate to the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to primary lithium electrochemical cells possessing insulator pocket structures, which substantially envelope cathode components to prevent lithium cluster formation therein.

Abstract: A miniature electrochemical cell having a total volume that is less than 0.5 cc is described. The cell casing is formed by joining two ceramic casing halves together. One or both casing halves are machined from ceramic to provide a recess that is sized and shaped to contain the electrode assembly. The opposite polarity terminals are metal feedthroughs, such as of gold, and are formed by brazing gold into openings machined into one or both ceramic casing halves. The two ceramic casing halves are separated from each other by a metal interlayer, such as of gold, bonded to a thin film metallization adhesion layer, such as of titanium, that contacts an edge periphery of each ceramic casing half. A solid electrolyte (LixPOyNz) is used to activate the electrode assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are electrochemical cells that generally relate to the conversion of chemical energy to electrical energy. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to primary lithium electrochemical cells possessing insulator pocket structures, which substantially envelope cathode components to prevent lithium cluster formation therein.