Silicon Containing Patents (Class 429/252)
  • Patent number: 8518577
    Abstract: An electrode assembly for a battery. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode with a positive electrode active material layer and a negative electrode with a negative electrode active material layer. The assembly further includes a separator that has a porous layer formed of a ceramic material and a binder and a polyolefin resin layer. The porous layer has a thickness of about 4 to 6 ?m and the polyolefin resin layer has a thickness of about 12 to 16 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Mook Lim, Kyu-Nam Han, Myung-Ro Lee
  • Publication number: 20130183570
    Abstract: Disclosed is an organic/inorganic composite porous film comprising: (a) inorganic particles; and (b) a binder polymer coating layer formed partially or totally on surfaces of the inorganic particles, wherein the inorganic particles are interconnected among themselves and are fixed by the binder polymer, and interstitial volumes among the inorganic particles form a micropore structure. A method for manufacturing the same film and an electrochemical device including the same film are also disclosed. An electrochemical device comprising the organic/inorganic composite porous film shows improved safety and quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventor: LG Chem, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 8470898
    Abstract: A porous thin-film polymer separator for use in a lithium ion battery may be formed by a phase separation method in which hydrophobic-treated ceramic particles are used to help induce the formation of a tortuous, interconnected network of pores coextensively across the thickness of the separator. As part of the phase separation method, a wet thin-film layer is formed from a polymer slurry that comprises a polymer solvent in which a polymer material is dissolved and the hydrophobic-treated ceramic particles are dispersed. The wet thin-film layer is subsequently exposed to a polymer non-solvent to form a solvent-exchanged thin-film precipitated polymer layer which is then heated to produce the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Xiaosong Huang
  • Patent number: 8455053
    Abstract: A separator which includes a covering layer in which a fine framework of polyolefin resin is coated with a glass layer and an exposed layer in which the polyolefin resin is exposed is provided. A battery is provided having a cathode and an anode, an electrolyte, and a separator where the separator has the covering layer in which the fine framework of polyolefin resin is coated with the glass layer and a method for manufacturing a separator including the step of coating a fine framework of polyolefin resin with the glass layer by applying a precursor containing viscous liquid product which contains only polysilazane compound or a mixture of viscous liquid product which contains only polysilazane compound with polycarbosilazane compound to the polyolefin resin and placing the precursor applied polyoleline resin in a water bath to dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kajita, Yukako Teshima, Hiroshi Imoto, Takehiko Tanaka, Hiroshi Horiuchi
  • Publication number: 20130136981
    Abstract: A lithium-ion battery cell is provided that includes at least one inorganic, multi-functional constituent that has a low thermal conductivity and is suitable for reducing or restricting thermal anomalies at least locally.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Peuchert, Andreas Roters, Frank-Thomas Lentes, Meike Schneider, Ulf Dahlmann, Wolfram Beier, Wolfgang Schmidbauer, Gabriele Roemer-Scheuermann
  • Publication number: 20130115519
    Abstract: Provided is a separator for a rechargeable lithium battery including a porous support including a polymer derived from polyamic acid or a polymer derived from polyimide, wherein the polyamic acid and the polyimide include a repeating unit prepared from aromatic diamine including at least one ortho-positioned functional group relative to an amine group and dianhydride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: ICUF-HYU (Industry-University Cooperation Foundati Hanyang Unversity
    Inventors: Young Moo Lee, So Young Lee, Na Rae Kang, Jung Hoon Kim, Nurasyikin Misdan, Yang-Kook Sun, Hun-Gi Jung
  • Publication number: 20130078526
    Abstract: A production method for producing a separator for an electrochemical device including the steps of: applying, to a base material, a separator forming composition containing a monomer or an oligomer and a solvent; irradiating the thus formed coating with an energy ray to form a resin (A) having a cross-linked structure; and drying the coating after formation of the resin (A) to form pores, wherein, as a solvent of the separator forming composition, a solvent (a) having a solubility parameter (SP value) of 8.1 or more and less than 8.9 is used, or a solvent (b) having an SP value of 7 or more and 8 or less and a solvent (c) having an SP value of 8.9 or more and 9.9 or less are used in combination. A separator for an electrochemical device produced by the production method, and an electrochemical device of the invention including the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Eri Kojima, Takahiro Furutani, Toshiyuki Watanabe, Kunihiko Koyama
  • Publication number: 20130065132
    Abstract: A ceramic microporous polyolefin battery separator membrane, high in air permeability, low in shrinkage and improved temperature resistance addresses the safety requirements of lithium ion batteries. The separators made by the current invention consists of one or more polyolefin polymers and kaolin fillers comprised of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide. The membranes of current invention have a thickness of 5-200 microns, air permeability of 1-200 sec/10 cc (Gurley seconds), and average pore diameter of less than 1 micron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ADVANCED MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Advanced Membrance Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8372545
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing battery separators for use in a lithium-ion battery containing non-aqueous electrolytes, producing batteries being resistant to thermal runaway and explosion, includes the steps of preparing a dryblend comprising two UHMW Polyethylenes and Calcined Kaolin, feeding said dry-blend into an extruder, melt-kneading said dry blend in the extruder while feeding mineral oil, making a solution from a die into the form of a sheet, using casting rolls, thereby cooling the solution down, producing a thick gel sheet, stretching the gel sheet in both machine and transverse directions, producing a 20 micron thick gel sheet containing oil thereby, extracting the oil by use of a solvent and drying the film, heat-setting the film and producing a microporous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrin Samii, Abbas Samii, Banafsheh Behnam, David Veno
  • Publication number: 20120308872
    Abstract: A separator for use in a lithium ion battery to provide a physical and electrically insulative mechanical barrier between confronting inner face surfaces of a negative electrode and a positive electrode may be formed predominantly of heat-resistant particles. The heat-resistant particles, which have diameters that range from about 0.01 ?m to about 10 ?m, are held together as a thin-layered, handleable, and unified mass by a porous inert polymer material. The high content of heat-resistant particles amassed between the confronting inner face surfaces of the negative and positive electrodes provides the separator with robust thermal stability at elevated temperatures. Methods for making these types of separators by a phase-separation process are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Xiaosong Huang
  • Publication number: 20120301792
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a positive electrode including a lithium nickel-based positive active material; a negative electrode including a negative active material; an electrolyte including a lithium salt and a non-aqueous organic solvent; and a separator including a polymer substrate and a hydroxide compound-containing coating layer disposed on the polymer substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Yul Ryu, Joon-Sup Kim, Jea-Woan Lee, Jin-Hee Moon, Wan-Uk Choi, Young-Ugk Kim, Chang-Keun Back, Seung-Hee Park, Yong-Bum Lee
  • Publication number: 20120295154
    Abstract: A cross-linked microporous polysulfone or polysulfone copolymer battery electrode separator membrane are described. Such membranes, which would otherwise be soluble above a particular, generally high temperature in selected battery electrolyte systems, once at least in part cross-linked, swell in the electrolyte at the particular higher temperature instead of dissolving. When the membrane separators are restrained between solid electrodes in a battery, the separator cannot increase in bulk volume, and the swelling occurs within the pores with the pore volume decreasing from its original bulk volume. The drop in pore volume causes the battery current density to drop, thereby reducing the heat generation within the hot area of the battery. This process provides a measure of safety against overheating and fires, and the battery is capable of continued usage if the overheating is localized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Ray L. Hauser
  • Patent number: 8304113
    Abstract: A ceramic microporous polyolefin battery separator membrane, high in air permeability, low in shrinkage and improved temperature resistance addresses the safety requirements of lithium ion batteries. The separators made by the current invention consists of one or more polyolefin polymers and kaolin fillers comprised of aluminum oxide and silicon oxide. The membranes of current invention have a thickness of 5-200 microns, air permeability of 1-200 sec/10 cc (Gurley seconds), and average pore diameter of less than 1 micron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Membrane Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrin Samii, Banafsheh Behnam, David Veno, Abbas Samii
  • Patent number: 8232010
    Abstract: A process for the production of hydrogen for micro fuel cells, comprises the successive steps of: continuously supplying a catalytic bed with an aqueous solution of sodium borohydride, the catalytic bed being made of at least one metal chosen among cobalt, nickel, platinum, ruthenium with obtainment of hydrogen and of a by-product comprising sodium metaborate, continuously recovering the hydrogen thus obtained and supplying, with said hydrogen as it is as obtained, a micro fuel cell which transforms hydrogen into electric energy. An apparatus provides continuous supply of hydrogen to a micro fuel cell. An integrated system structured for continuously producing and supplying hydrogen to a micro fuel cell and for converting the continuously supplied hydrogen into electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.
    Inventors: Roberta Giuffrida, Marco Antonio Salanitri, Giuseppe Emanuele Spoto, Stefania Calamia, Salvatore Leonardi, Salvatore Coffa, Roberta Zito
  • Patent number: 8227115
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a composite lithium oxide, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, a sheet-like separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a porous electron-insulating film attached to the surface of the negative electrode. The sheet-like separator is a monolayer film made of polypropylene resin or a multilayer film whose layer to be in contact with the positive electrode is made of polypropylene resin. The porous electron-insulating film includes an inorganic oxide filler and a binder. The inorganic oxide filler contains aluminum oxide or magnesium oxide. The sheet-like separator has a thickness not less than 1.5 times the thickness of the porous electron-insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyomi Kato, Kaoru Inoue
  • Publication number: 20120145468
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of a freestanding, heat resistant microporous polymer film (10) constructed for use in an energy storage device (70, 100) implements one or more of the following approaches to exhibit excellent high temperature mechanical and dimensional stability: incorporation into a porous polyolefin film of sufficiently high loading levels of inorganic or ceramic filler material (16) to maintain porosity (18) and achieve low thermal shrinkage; use of crosslinkable polyethylene to contribute to crosslinking the polymer matrix (14) in a highly inorganic material-filled polyolefin film; and heat treating or annealing of biaxially oriented, highly inorganic material-filled polyolefin film above the melting point temperature of the polymer matrix to reduce residual stress while maintaining high porosity. The freestanding, heat resistant microporous polymer film embodiments exhibit extremely low resistance, as evidenced by MacMullin numbers of less than 4.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Amtek Research International LLC
    Inventors: Richard W. Pekala, Srinivas Cherukupalli, Robert W. Waterhouse
  • Patent number: 8197969
    Abstract: A battery capable of improving cycle characteristics and a manufacturing yield is provided. An anode includes: an anode current collector; and an anode active material layer arranged on the anode current collector, in which the anode active material layer includes an anode active material including a plurality of pores, and the rate of change in the amount of mercury intruded into the plurality of pores is distributed so as to have a peak in a diameter range from 80 nm to 1200 nm both inclusive, the amount of mercury intruded being measured by mercury porosimetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takakazu Hirose, Kenichi Kawase, Isamu Konishiike, Shunsuke Kurasawa, Masayuki Iwama, Koichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8192873
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery generally comprises an electrode assembly, a container for accommodating the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly comprises two electrodes having opposite polarities and a separator. The separator comprises a porous membrane comprising clusters of ceramic particles. The porous membrane is formed by bonding the particle clusters with a binder. Each particle cluster is formed either by sintering or by dissolving and re-crystallizing all or a portion of the ceramic particles. The ceramic particles comprise a ceramic material having a band gap. Each particle cluster may have the shape of a grape bunch or a lamina, and may be formed by laminating scale or flake shaped ceramic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Chull Han, Chan Jung Kim, Jae Woong Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Jin Hee Kim, Ha Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8178245
    Abstract: An electrode assembly and a secondary battery having the same are provided. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode including a negative electrode active material layer, and a porous layer for separating the positive and negative electrodes from each other that is formed of a combination of a ceramic material having a particle size of about 50 to 300 nm (particle size distribution value: D50) and a binder. Moreover, the porous layer contains an antacid. The secondary battery having the electrode assembly has satisfactory lifespan and overcharge characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin-Hee Kim
  • Publication number: 20120070713
    Abstract: In accordance with at least selected embodiments or aspects, the present invention is directed to improved, unique, and/or high performance ISS lead acid battery separators, such as improved ISS flooded lead acid battery separators, ISS batteries including such separators, methods of production, and/or methods of use. The preferred ISS separator may include negative cross ribs and/or PIMS minerals. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, a PIMS mineral (preferably fish meal, a bio-mineral) is provided as at least a partial substitution for the silica filler component in a silica filled lead acid battery separator (preferably a polyethylene/silica separator formulation). In accordance with at least selected embodiments, the present invention is directed to new or improved batteries, separators, components, and/or compositions having heavy metal removal capabilities and/or methods of manufacture and/or methods of use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, John R. Timmons, Jeffrey K. Chambers, Tejas R. Shah
  • Patent number: 8101301
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery generally comprises an electrode assembly, a container for accommodating the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly comprises two electrodes having opposite polarities and a separator. The separator comprises a porous membrane comprising clusters of ceramic particles. The porous membrane is formed by bonding the particle clusters with a binder. Each particle cluster is formed either by sintering or by dissolving and re-crystallizing all or a portion of the ceramic particles. The ceramic particles comprise a ceramic material having a band gap. Each particle cluster may have the shape of a grape bunch or a lamina, and may be formed by laminating scale or flake shaped ceramic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won Chull Han, Chan Jung Kim, Jae Woong Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Jin Hee Kim, Ha Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20120003546
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery generally comprises an electrode assembly, a container for accommodating the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly comprises two electrodes having opposite polarities and a separator. The separator comprises a porous membrane comprising clusters of ceramic particles. The porous membrane is formed by bonding the particle clusters with a binder. Each particle cluster is formed either by sintering or by dissolving and re-crystallizing all or a portion of the ceramic particles. The ceramic particles comprise a ceramic material having a band gap. Each particle cluster may have the shape of a grape bunch or a lamina, and may be formed by laminating scale or flake shaped ceramic particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventors: Won Chull Han, Chan Jung Kim, Jae Woong Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Jin Hee Kim, Ha Young Lee
  • Publication number: 20110318643
    Abstract: A permanent pasting sheet for an open and/or sealed battery, the material including glass microfibers that withstand acid electrolytes and a hydrophilic binder that withstands acid electrolytes, wherein the fiber material has a Cobb60 degree, determined using the standard ISO 535, that is greater than or equal to three times its weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: BERNARD DUMAS
    Inventors: Nicolas Clement, Daniel Doillon, Sylvie Bayle, Nicolas Benattar
  • Patent number: 8053102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrical separators and to a process for making them. An electrical separator is a separator used in batteries and other arrangements in which electrodes have to be separated from each other while maintaining ion conductivity for example. The separator is preferably a thin porous insulating material possessing high ion permeability, good mechanical strength and long-term stability to the chemicals and solvents used in the system, for example in the electrolyte of the battery. In batteries, the separator should fully electrically insulate the cathode from the anode. Moreover, the separator has to be permanently elastic and to follow movements in the system, for example in the electrode pack in the course of charging and discharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Gerhard Hoerpel
  • Patent number: 8039140
    Abstract: An absorbent battery separator comprising a substantially homogeneous blend of a thermoplastic polymer and of at least one inert filler, where the inert filler is pyrogenic silica, precipitated silica, titanium dioxide, magnesium carbonate, magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide, or mixtures thereof and, the separator has a volume porosity of at least 75% and an extraction pore size of greater than 2 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Amer-Sil S.A.
    Inventor: Urbain Lambert
  • Patent number: 7989103
    Abstract: A microporous separator film for electrochemical cells and a method of making such films is disclosed. The microporous separator film includes an intimate mixture of an electrically insulating matrix phase and a self-switching voltage activated conductive phase, wherein the voltage activated conductive phase provides a plurality of conductive paths from a first face of the microporous separator film to a second face of the microporous separator film. The method for making the composite microporous separator film includes the steps of forming an intimate mixture of at least an insulating matrix phase and a self-switching voltage activated phase, forming a film from the mixture, and generating pores within the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Farasis Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Douglas Kepler, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 7964311
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery is provided. The lithium ion secondary battery generally comprises an electrode assembly, a container for accommodating the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte. The electrode assembly comprises two electrodes having opposite polarities and a separator. The separator comprises a porous membrane comprising clusters of ceramic particles. The porous membrane is formed by bonding the particle clusters with a binder. Each particle cluster is formed either by sintering or by dissolving and re-crystallizing all or a portion of the ceramic particles. The ceramic particles comprise a ceramic material having a band gap. Each particle cluster may have the shape of a grape bunch or a lamina, and may be formed by laminating scale or flake shaped ceramic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Won Chull Han, Chan Jung Kim, Jae Woong Kim, Jun Ho Kim, Jin Hee Kim, Ha Young Lee
  • Patent number: 7951482
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a non-aqueous electrolyte, and a substantially rectangular battery case for housing the electrode assembly and the non-aqueous electrolyte. The thickness ?, the width ?, and the height ? of the battery case satisfy the relation ?<???c. The electrode assembly includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a porous heat-resistant layer disposed between these electrodes. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer, and the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material layer. The ratio of the pore volume included in a predetermined area of the porous heat-resistant layer to the battery theoretical capacity is 0.18 to 1.117 ml/Ah. The predetermined area has the same area as the positive electrode active material layer. The porosity of the porous heat-resistant layer is 35 to 85%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ichinose, Masatoshi Nagayama
  • Patent number: 7947397
    Abstract: A battery component structure employing inorganic-silicate binders. In some embodiments, casting or coating of components may be performed using aqueous slurries of silicates and electrode materials or separator materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Frank M. Delnick, Frederick W. Reinhardt, Judy G. Odinek
  • Patent number: 7931995
    Abstract: A solid polymer electrolyte composite for an electrochemical reaction apparatus that possesses satisfactory ion conduction properties and has excellent mechanical strength and heat resistance, is provided. the solid polymer electrolyte composite is characterized in that a solid polymer electrolyte is contained in the continuous pores of an expanded porous polytetrafluoroethylene sheet which has continuous pores and in which the inner surfaces defining the pores are covered with a functional material such as a metal oxide. An electrochemical reaction apparatus containing an electrolyte, wherein said electrochemical reaction apparatus is characterized in that the aforementioned solid polymer electrolyte composite is used as this electrolyte is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Bamdad Bahar, Greg Rusch, Jeffrey Kolde, Hiroshi Kato
  • Patent number: 7875380
    Abstract: A complex membrane for an electrochemical device such as a lithium secondary battery, its manufacturing method, and an electrochemical device having the complex membrane are disclosed. The complex membrane includes a micro-porous polyolefin membrane, and a web-phase porous membrane united to at least one side of the micro-porous polyolefin membrane and composed of nano-fibers. Since the complex membrane is capable of absorbing an electrolyte uniformly, it greatly improves performance of a battery when being used for an electrochemical device. In addition, owing to excellent mechanical strength and good binding capacity to an electrode, it helps to increase a process rate for manufacturing the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Nanophil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Suk-Won Chun, Jong-Su Park, Seong-Mu Jo, Hwa-Seop Lee
  • Patent number: 7790321
    Abstract: The present invention relates to electrical separators, especially for use in lithium high energy batteries, and to a process for making them. Separators for use in lithium high energy batteries have to have a very low weight and a very low thickness. It has been found that, surprisingly, such separators having a weight of less than 50 g/m2 and a thickness of less than 35 ?m are preparable by applying a ceramic coating to a polymeric web less than 30 ?m in thickness, these separators being very useful in lithium high energy batteries when pyrogenic oxides of the elements Al, Si and/or Zr are used as a particulate pore-forming component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Gerhard Hoerpel
  • Patent number: 7767333
    Abstract: The separator for storage battery of the present invention is a separator for storage battery mainly composed of microfibrous glass and an expanded microcapsule which has been kept in shape with its shell rendered water-permeable by expansion is incorporated in the aforesaid microfibrous glass so that an electrolyte can be retained in the gap between the glass fibers and in the expanded microcapsule to provide a high electrolyte retention and allow the aforesaid expanded microcapsule to act as a cushioning material, whereby the separator is provided with an enhanced restoring force under pressure and is thus kept the adhesion to the electrode over an extended period of time, making it possible to attain the enhancement of the storage battery capacity and the prolongation of its life and apply only a low pressure to incorporate the electrode group in the battery case during assembly of storage battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Kakizaki, Takuo Mitani
  • Patent number: 7759009
    Abstract: A pyrogenic oxidic powder composed of particles, comprising (i) atoms of an element of groups 3A, 4A, 3B or 4B of the periodic table of the elements, and (ii) oxygen atoms, said particles being characterized by lithium atoms attached to said atoms via an oxygen bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Gerhard Hörpel
  • Patent number: 7695864
    Abstract: In an electrode plate 3 including a both-surface coated part 14 in which an active material layer 13 and a porous protective film 28 are formed, a core material exposed part 18 which is an end part of the current collector core material 12 and in which the active material layer 13 and the porous protective film 28 are not formed, and a one-surface coated part 17 which is provided between the both-surface coated part 14 and the core material exposed part 18 and in which the active material layer 13 and the porous protective film 28 are formed, a plurality of grooves 10 are formed in both surfaces of the both-surface coated part 14 and are not formed in the one-surface coated part 17. The grooves 10 are formed so that each of the grooves extends from the porous protective film 28 to the active material layer 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Miyahisa, Yoshiki Ohsawa, Hideyuki Kumakiri, Tsutomu Nishioka, Shusaku Goto, Takeshi Kasamatsu, Seiichi Kato
  • Patent number: 7695870
    Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite separator includes a porous substrate having a plurality of pores; and a porous coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous substrate with a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer. The binder polymer is a copolymer including: (a) a first monomer unit having a contact angle to a water drop in the range from 0° to 49°; and (b) a second monomer unit having a contact angle to a water drop in the range from 50° to 130°. This organic/inorganic composite separator has excellent thermal stability, so it may restrain an electric short circuit between a cathode and an anode. In addition, the separator may prevent inorganic particles in the porous coating layer from being extracted during an assembling process of an electrochemical device, thereby improving stability of an electrochemical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-Hyeok Park, Sang-Young Lee, Jang-Hyuk Hong, Moon-Ja Nam, Jung-A Yoo, Sang-Seop Kim, Chang-Hun Han
  • Patent number: 7682738
    Abstract: A method for producing a lead acid battery that operates on the oxygen cycle is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: assembling a cell comprising a positive plate, a negative plate, and a sheet of separator material which is an absorbent, porous filtration medium, so that there is free space between the plates and surfaces of the separator, inserting the cell into a case, introducing into the case a mixture of sulfuric acid and silica including silica from a never dried precipitated silica slurry, causing the sulfuric acid in the mixture in the free space to gel, and sealing the case. The sulfuric acid in the mixture in the free space can be caused to gel by an increase in the silica content thereof, by an increase in the specific gravity thereof, or by both an increase in the silica content thereof, and an increase in the specific gravity thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: KVG Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio L. Ferreira, George C. Zgruis, Norman Lifshutz
  • Patent number: 7682751
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery includes a positive electrode containing a composite lithium oxide, a negative electrode capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, a sheet-like separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a porous electron-insulating film attached to the surface of the negative electrode. The sheet-like separator is a monolayer film made of polypropylene resin or a multilayer film whose layer to be in contact with the positive electrode is made of polypropylene resin. The porous electron-insulating film includes an inorganic oxide filler and a binder. The sheet-like separator has a thickness not less than 1.5 times the thickness of the porous electron-insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyomi Kato, Kaoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 7635543
    Abstract: A lead-acid battery which comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte contains volatile organic acid and the content of volatile organic acid is 250 mg or lower per liter of the electrolyte. The present invention can improve the performance of the lead-acid battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: GS Yuasa Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Funato, Junpei Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7575832
    Abstract: Separators for lithium batteries based on a sheetlike flexible substrate provided with a plurality of openings and having a porous inorganic electrically insulating coating on and in the substrate, the coating closing the openings in the substrate, the material of the substrate being selected from woven or non-woven electrically nonconductive polymeric fibers and the inorganic electrically conductive coating comprising metal oxide particles, the separators being electrical insulators and having lithium ion conducting properties without the presence of an electrolyte, the separators comprising at least one lithium ion conducting inorganic material which may also contain organic groups chemically bonded to the inorganic coating, which separators, after filling them with an additional lithium ion conducting electrolyte, have much higher ion conduction than conventional combinations of non-lithium ion conducting separators and electrolyte; a process for producing the separators; and batteries, such as high power
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Degussa AG
    Inventors: Volker Hennige, Christian Hying, Gerhard Hoerpel
  • Patent number: 7560191
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a lithium secondary battery having improved life characteristics by removal of metal ion impurities incorporated during an assembly process of the battery via a cation exchange process, thereby preventing electrodeposition of the metal ions on an anode, through the addition of a cation exchange material, containing cations selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, ammonium and any combination thereof, to an electrode and/or a surface of a separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji Heon Ryu, Eun Ju Lee, Jung Eun Hyun, Jaepil Lee, Jeong Hee Choi, Min Su Kim, Youngjoon Shin
  • Publication number: 20090111026
    Abstract: An organic/inorganic composite separator includes (a) a polyolefin porous substrate having pores; and (b) a porous active layer containing a mixture of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, with which at least one surface of the polyolefin porous substrate is coated, wherein the porous active layer has a peeling force of 5 gf/cm or above, and a thermal shrinkage of the separator after being left alone at 150° C. for 1 hour is 50% or below in a machine direction (MD) or in a transverse direction (TD). This organic/inorganic composite separator solves the problem that inorganic particles in the porous active layer formed on the porous substrate are extracted during an assembly process of an electrochemical device, and also it may prevent an electric short circuit between cathode and anode even when the electrochemical device is overheated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Seok-Koo Kim, Joon-Yong Sohn, Jong-Hyeok Park, Hyun-Min Jang, Byoung-Jin Shin, Sang-Young Lee, Jang-Hyuk Hong
  • Patent number: 7498369
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprises an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) mixed with a processing oil and a lubricant selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters, ethoxylated fatty acid esters, glycol esters, PEG esters, glycerol esters, ethoxylated esters, sorbitol esters, ethoxylated sorbitol esters, aromatic ethoxylates, alcohol ethoxylates, mercaptan ethoxylates, modified ethoxylates, amide surfactants, phosphate esters, phosphonate esters, phosphite esters, alkyl sulfates, fatty acid ethers, alkyl ether sulfates, alkylaryl ether sulfates, sulfonates, naphthalene sulfonates, sulfosuccinates, sulfonated esters, sulfonated amides, alkyl ether carboxylates, alkylaryl ether carboxylates, quaternary amines, amino quaternary amines, ethoxylated amines, imidazoline derivatives, betaines, sultaines, aminopropionate, catechol derivatives, saturated fatty acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and combinations thereof. The method for making those articles is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Daramic LLC
    Inventors: J. Kevin Whear, Joseph G. Yaritz
  • Patent number: 7419746
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte of the present invention is represented by a general formula: LixMOyNz, where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, B, Ge, Al, C, Ga and S, and x, y and z respectively satisfy x=0.6 to 5.0, y=1.050 to 3.985, and z=0.01 to 0.50. The solid electrolyte hardly deteriorates in a wet atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Ugaji, Shinji Mino, Yasuyuki Shibano, Shuji Ito
  • Patent number: 7399556
    Abstract: Provided are a composite polymer electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery in which a composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure composed of a plurality of polymer matrices with different pore sizes is impregnated with an electrolyte solution, and a method of manufacturing the same. Among the polymer matrices, a microporous polymer matrix with a smaller pore size contains a lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler, thereby enhancing ionic conductivity, the distribution uniformity of the impregnated electrolyte solution, and maintenance characteristics. The microporous polymer matrix containing the lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler is coated on a surface of a porous polymer matrix to form the composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure, which is then impregnated with the electrolyte solution, to manufacture the composite polymer electrolyte. The composite polymer electrolyte is used in a unit battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Gi Lee, Kwang Man Kim, Kwang Sun Ryu, Soon Ho Chang
  • Patent number: 7374843
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microporous membrane, which is provided with high safety even under a condition that the interior temperature of a battery becomes high, and which has high permeability and high mechanical strength at the same time. The polyolefin microporous membrane is characterized by a membrane thickness of 5 to 50 ?m, a void content of 30 to 60%, a gas transmission rate of 40 to 300 sec/100 cc/20 ?m, a piercing strength of not less than 2.5 N/20 ?m and a break through temperature of not lower than 110° C. The separator in accordance with the present invention is used to exhibit high safety under a high temperature condition as well as high permeability, and therefore it is particularly useful as a separator for miniaturized high capacity batteries of a non-aqueous electrolytic solution type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporations
    Inventors: Masayuki Adachi, Takashi Ikemoto, Hiroshi Sogo
  • Publication number: 20080026294
    Abstract: Lithium batteries are disclosed in which the battery separator is formed directly on one of the electrodes, e.g., the positive electrode. The battery separator comprises silica particles dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Battery electrodes with an integral battery separator are also disclosed, as are methods of forming such electrodes and batteries containing such electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventor: Zhiping Jiang
  • Patent number: 7288338
    Abstract: A binderless glass fiber mat suitable for use as a separator for valve regulated (“recombinant”) lead acid (“VRLA”) batteries is disclosed. The separator is produced by a dry process by collecting the fibers from fiberizing apparatus, without subjecting them to a wet paper making or other post forming process, and selecting portions of the collected fibers which are sufficiently uniform in thickness and grammage for use as battery separators. The fibers can be entwined to produce a superior separator material. Additives can be introduced during the collection process to enhance the properties of the separator. A battery comprises at least one stack of alternating positive and negative plates, with the separator between adjacent plates. Separators according to the invention are significantly more resilient and have longer fibers than otherwise identical separators made from different samples of the same glass fibers, but by a conventional wet paper making process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: KVG Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: George Zguris
  • Patent number: 7223342
    Abstract: The present invention relates to adsorption membranes, comprising microporous polymer membranes into which are incorporated porous silicon dioxide particles modified with hydrocarbon ligands having 2 to 24 carbon atoms as adsorbent particles. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of producing the inventive adsorption membranes as well as devices which comprise the inventive adsorption membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Demmer, Stefan Fischer-Fruehholz, Andreas Kocourek, Dietmar Nusbaumer, Eberhard Wuenn
  • Patent number: RE44264
    Abstract: Provided are a composite polymer electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery in which a composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure composed of a plurality of polymer matrices with different pore sizes is impregnated with an electrolyte solution, and a method of manufacturing the same. Among the polymer matrices, a microporous polymer matrix with a smaller pore size contains a lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler, thereby enhancing ionic conductivity, the distribution uniformity of the impregnated electrolyte solution, and maintenance characteristics. The microporous polymer matrix containing the lithium cationic single-ion conducting inorganic filler is coated on a surface of a porous polymer matrix to form the composite polymer matrix multi-layer structure, which is then impregnated with the electrolyte solution, to manufacture the composite polymer electrolyte. The composite polymer electrolyte is used in a unit battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Young Gi Lee, Kwang Man Kim, Kwang Sun Ryu, Soon Ho Chang