Aqueous rechargeable battery

Greater energy densities can be obtained in aqueous rechargeable batteries based on the `rocking chair` principle by the use of certain polymer insertion compounds as an electrode material. Aqueous lithium ion batteries using poly(carbon disulfide) polymer as an anode have energy densities comparable to nickel metal hydride batteries.

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Claims

1. An aqueous rechargeable battery having a cathode including a first insertion compound with inserted species A, the amount of inserted A in the cathode increasing on discharge and decreasing on recharge of the battery, wherein A is a member of the group consisting essentially of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, an anode including a second insertion compound with inserted species A, the amount of inserted A in the anode decreasing on discharge and increasing on recharge of the battery, and an electrolyte comprising a salt of A dissolved in an aqueous solvent mixture, wherein the improvement comprises using of a polymer for at least one of the insertion compounds.

2. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second insertion compound is a polymer.

3. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 2 wherein the polymer is a carbon-sulfur based polymer.

4. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 3 wherein the polymer is poly(carbon disulfide) having the formula (CS.sub.x).sub.n, wherein x is a number from about 1.2 to 2.33 and n is a number greater than or equal to 2.

5. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 4 wherein A is lithium.

6. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first insertion compound is a lithium manganese oxide spinel Li.sub.y Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4, wherein y is a number in the range from 0 to about 2.

7. A rechargeable battery as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pH of the electrolyte is greater than 7.

Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
5441831 August 15, 1995 Okamoto et al.
5604057 February 18, 1997 Nazri
Foreign Patent Documents
2134052 April 1995 CAX
2114902 August 1995 CAX
Other references
  • Li, et al., "Lithium-Ion Cells with Aqueous Electrolytes", J. Electrochem. Soc., vol. 142, No. 6, Jun. 1995, pp. 1742-1746. "Safer Rechargeable Lithium Ion Batteries Use Aqueous Electrolyte", Materials Technology, vol. 11, No. 1, Jan./Feb. 1996, pp. 9-12. Plichta, et al., "Lithium Ion Aqueous Cells", Army Research Lab Report No. ARL-TR-422, Feb. 1995. Deutscher, et al., "Investigations on an aqueous lithium secondary cell", Journal of Power Sources, 55 (1995) pp. 41-46. No month. Review of the 13th International Seminar on Primary and Secondary Battery Technology and Applications, Mar. 4-7, 1996 Boca Raton, FL, USA (as presented by ITE Newsletter No. 2 (Mar.-Apr.) 1996).
Patent History
Patent number: H1721
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 23, 1996
Date of Patent: Apr 7, 1998
Assignee: Moli Energy (1990) Limited (Maple Ridge)
Inventor: David Stanley Wainwright (Vancouver)
Primary Examiner: Charles T. Jordan
Assistant Examiner: Meena Chelliah
Law Firm: Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik
Application Number: 8/772,464