Organic Material Patents (Class 429/249)
  • Publication number: 20120282514
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are microporous polymeric membranes suitable for use as battery separator film. Also disclosed herein is a method for producing such a membrane, batteries containing such membranes as battery separators, methods for making such batteries, and methods for using such batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TORAY BATTERY SEPARATOR FILM GODO KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Yamada
  • 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: 8283073
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin membrane having a porosity of 45% to 85% wherein the microporous polyolefin membrane easily absorbs the strain produced when the membrane undergoes compression, and retains excellent permeability and excellent electrical insulation performance even after compression by setting the maximum pore diameter at 0.1 ?m to 0.23 ?m, the MD elastic modulus at 400 to 2,000 MPa, and the ratio MD elastic modulus/TD elastic modulus at 1.5 to 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei E-Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ikemoto, Yoshihiro Imamura, Takeshi Onizawa
  • Patent number: 8277968
    Abstract: Provided is a reactive polymer-supporting porous film for use as a battery separator which comprises a porous substrate film and a partially crosslinked reactive polymer supported on the porous substrate film, the partially crosslinked reactive polymer being obtained by the reaction of a crosslinkable polymer having at least one reactive group selected from the group consisting of 3-oxetanyl group and epoxy group in the molecule with a monocarboxylic acid. Further, provided is a method of manufacturing a battery which comprises layering electrodes on the reactive polymer-supporting porous film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Nitto Denko Corporation, Sunstar Giken Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoaki Ichikawa, Yoshihiro Uetani, Shigeru Fujita, Keisuke Kii, Satoshi Nishikawa, Shinji Bessyo
  • Publication number: 20120237832
    Abstract: Disclosed is a separator for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the separator including a biaxially-oriented polyolefin porous film including extended-chain crystals and folded-chain crystals, wherein the extended-chain crystals and the folded-chain crystals form a shish-kebab structure. The average distance between the extended-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 1.5 ?m or more and less than 11 ?m, and the average distance between the folded-chain crystals adjacent to each other is 0.3 ?m or more and less than 0.9 ?m. A heat resistant porous film may be laminated on the polyolefin porous film. The heat resistant porous film includes a resin having heat resistance or a melting point higher than a melting point of the polyolefin porous film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakagiri, Yasuyuki Shibano, Norihiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20120208068
    Abstract: A separator of a molten salt battery made of a porous resin sheet. The separator is improved in wettability to a molten salt by giving hydrophilicity to the resin sheet. In the case of a fluororesin sheet, the sheet is impregnated with water, and irradiated with ultraviolet rays so that C—F bonds in the fluororesin are cleaved and the resultant reacts with water to generate hydrophilic groups, such as OH groups, in each surface layer thereof. The separator gains hydrophilicity through the hydrophilic groups. The separator made of the resin can be made into a bag form. In a molten salt battery having the bag-form separator, the growth of a dendrite is prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukunaga, Shoichiro Sakai, Chihiro Hiraiwa, Koji Nitta, Masatoshi Majima, Shinji Inazawa
  • Patent number: 8236153
    Abstract: An immobilization carrier containing an electron acceptor compound is used in addition to glutaraldehyde and poly-L-lysine to immobilize an enzyme and an electron acceptor compound simultaneously to an electrode. For example, here are used diaphorase as the enzyme and 2-amino-3-carboxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (ACNQ) as the electron acceptor compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Sato, Tokuji Ikeda, Kenji Kano
  • Publication number: 20120189917
    Abstract: An electrochemical energy store comprising a separator (40, 40a, 40b) is described, wherein said electrochemical energy store has a positively charged electrode (20), a negatively charged electrode (30), an electrolyte, and a porous separator (40, 40a, 40b) which separates the positively charged electrode (20) and the negatively charged electrode (30) from each other. The separator (40, 4a, 40b) includes at least one microporous foil which is produced using ion irradiation, among other things. The separator (40, 40a, 40b) farther includes ion ducts (43) extending at different angles from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: OXYPHEN AG
    Inventors: Annette Heusser-Nieweg, Peter Terstappen
  • 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: 20120183862
    Abstract: A battery separator comprising at least one nonwoven web layer is provided. The nonwoven web layer comprises a plurality of first fibers, a plurality of second fibers, and a binder. The first fibers comprise a water non-dispersible synthetic polymer and have a different configuration and/or composition than the second fibers. The first fibers have a length of less than 25 millimeters and a minimum transverse dimension of less than 5 microns. The nonwoven web layer comprises at least 10 weight percent of the first fibers, at least 10 weight percent of the second fibers, and at least 1 weight percent of the binder. The battery separator exhibits an enhanced combination of strength, durability, and ionic resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Rakesh Kumar Gupta, Melvin Glenn Mitchell, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Mark Dwight Clark, Chris Delbert Anderson, Marvin Lynn Mitchell, Paula Hines Mitchell, Amber Layne Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8221921
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The separator is a microporous resin film of a single layer made of a resin material in which at least one kind of insulating and flame-retarding fiber is dispersed in a polyolefin resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Ogawa, Hiroyuki Akashi, Yoshiaki Obana, Atsushi Kajita, Yukako Teshima
  • Patent number: 8221920
    Abstract: A separator for a valve regulated lead-acid battery which comprises a paper sheet where very fine glass fiber is a main component, which has a piercing strength (puncture strength) of 4.5 N/mm or more and a tensile strength of 7.0 N/10 mm2 or more. The paper sheet is made by blending 80 to 90% by weight of glass fiber having 1.5 ?m or less average fiber size, 5 to 10% by weight of single-material monofilament-form thermally non-adhesive organic fiber (non-heat-bondable organic fiber) and 5 to 10% by weight of single-material monofilament-form thermally adhesive organic fiber (heat-bondable organic fiber) comprising the same kind of material as in the thermally non-adhesive organic fiber in a wet papermaking process whereupon the fiber materials are bonded each other by thermal fusion of the thermally adhesive organic fiber whereby a coat (film) by melting of the organic fiber is not substantially formed on the surface of the glass fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawachi, Shoji Sugiyama, Takashi Shidomi
  • Publication number: 20120177976
    Abstract: Disclosed or provided are high melt temperature microporous Lithium-ion rechargeable battery separators, shutdown high melt temperature battery separators, battery separators, membranes, composites, and the like that preferably prevent contact between the anode and cathode when the battery is maintained at elevated temperatures for a period of time, methods of making, testing and/or using such separators, membranes, composites, and the like, and/or batteries, Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, and the like including one or more such separators, membranes, composites, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: C. Glen Wensley, Carlos R. Negrete, Jill V. Watson
  • Publication number: 20120164538
    Abstract: A microporous membrane winding includes a microporous membrane wound around a core. The core has an outer diameter of 5 inches or greater, and has an outer surface with a surface roughness of 3.0 ?m or less. A microporous membrane that is excellent in thickness uniformity and is favorably used as a separator for a lithium-ion secondary battery can be obtained from the microporous membrane winding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Daisuke Inagaki, Hisashi Takeda, Shintaro Inaba
  • Publication number: 20120164513
    Abstract: The present discloser provides a battery separator, including: a porous hyper-branched polymer which undergoes a closed-pore mechanism at a field effect condition, wherein the field effect condition includes at least one of a temperature being above 150° C., a voltage being 20V, or a current being 6 A; and a porous structure material. The invention also provides a method for manufacturing the battery separator and a secondary battery having the battery separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yu Min Peng, Jing-Pin Pan, Tsung-Hsiung Wang, Chang-Rung Yang
  • Publication number: 20120152826
    Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. Such curable composition comprises the reaction product of an aldehyde or ketone and an amine salt of an inorganic acid. The composition when applied to spunbond polyester continuous filaments is cured to form a water-insoluble polymer binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Kiarash Alavi Shooshtari, James Patrick Hamilton, Jawed Asrar
  • Publication number: 20120152825
    Abstract: Provided are spunbond polyester mats using an improved curable composition. The curable composition comprises a reaction product of an amine and a reactant in the form of an amino-amide intermediate. To the amino-amide is added an aldehyde or ketone to form the curable binder composition. The composition when used as a binder in the mat is cured to form a water-insoluble binder which exhibits good adhesion and thermodimensional stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventors: Kiarash Alavi Shooshtari, James Patrick Hamilton, Jawed Asrar
  • Patent number: 8202406
    Abstract: A porous sheet which has good balance between electrolytic solution permeability and dry-up resistance, is superior in high-rate property, and is suitable for a separator for an electrochemical element, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The present invention relates to a porous sheet comprising a porous substrate containing non-fibrillar fibers having an average fiber diameter of 0.01-10 ?m and a net-like structural body composed of a polymer, the net-like structural body having penetrating pores with a pore diameter of 0.01-10 ?m, wherein the net-like structural body is present at the surface and at the internal of the porous substrate and the non-fibrillar fibers having an average fiber diameter of 0.01-10 ?m and the net-like structural body are entangled; to a separator for an electrochemical element comprising the porous sheet; and to a method for manufacturing the porous sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Paper Mills Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Tsukuda, Masatoshi Midorikawa, Tomohiro Sato
  • Patent number: 8202652
    Abstract: A slurry composition for a positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery, comprising a polymer A wherein a HOMO value by a semiempirical method molecular orbital calculation is ?13.5 eV to ?10 eV and a content of ethylene repeating units is 30 mol % to 95 mol %; a polymer B wherein a HOMO value by a semiempirical method molecular orbital calculation is ?13.5 eV to ?10 eV, a glass transition temperature is ?80° C. to 0° C., and a gel content is 50 wt % or more; an active material for a positive electrode; a conductivity adding agent; and a liquid medium C in which the polymer A dissolves but the polymer B does not dissolve. According to the composition, a lithium ion secondary battery having a large battery capacity, a good charge/discharge cycle characteristic and an improved rate characteristic can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Zeon Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuhiro Kanzaki, Takao Suzuki, Katsuya Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8182943
    Abstract: A composite solid electrolyte include a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Methods of making the composites is also disclosed. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: PolyPlus Battery Company
    Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. DeJonghe, Yevgeniy S. Nimon
  • Publication number: 20120122011
    Abstract: A fibrous sheet for fuel cell or battery applications is formed by electrospinning a fluorinated ion-conducting polymer solution to form an agglomeration of fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Lijun Zou, Timothy J. Fuller, Michael R. Schoeneweiss
  • Publication number: 20120107656
    Abstract: A separator for a battery includes a porous polymer film having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface has openings distributed thereon communicating with pores of the porous polymer film, and the ratio of the total area of the openings to the area of the first surface is 89% or more and 96% or less. The diameters of the openings may be within the range of 0.8 ?m or more and 40 ?m or less. A region with a predetermined thickness including at least the first surface of the porous polymer film preferably includes at least one selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, and a copolymer of propylene and another copolymerizable monomer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Saori Tanizaki, Norihiro Yamamoto, Yasushi Nakagiri, Yasuyuki Shibano
  • Patent number: 8168332
    Abstract: A 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 and made of a mixture of a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder polymer, wherein the binder polymer includes a first polyvinylidene fluoride based copolymer having solubility of 25 weight % or more with respect to acetone at 35° C.; a second polyvinylidene fluoride-based copolymer having solubility of 10 weight % or less with respect to acetone at 35° C.; and a polymer having a cyano group. This separator decelerates deterioration of life span of an electrochemical device, and prevents disintercalation of inorganic particles in the porous coating layer, thereby improving safety of the electrochemical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoon-Jung Bae, Pil-Kyu Park, Jong-Hwan Kim, Dong-Hun Han, Han-Ho Lee, Sang-Young Lee, Ji-Sang Yu, Hyun-Min Jang
  • Patent number: 8163424
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a porous electron-insulating layer adhered to a surface of at least one selected from the group consisting of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte. The porous electron-insulating layer comprises a particulate filler and a resin binder, and the particulate filler comprises an indefinite-shape particle comprising a plurality of primary particles that are joined to one another. A neck is preferably formed between the primary particles. Since the porous electron-insulating layer has high porosity, it is possible to obtain a secondary battery that exhibits excellent low-temperature characteristics, which are particularly important in actual use, and that is capable of discharging at a large current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsumoru Ohata, Junji Nakajima, Tetsuya Hayashi, Shigeo Ikuta, Yusuke Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8163425
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; a porous electron-insulating layer adhered to a surface of at least one selected from the group consisting of the positive electrode and the negative electrode; and an electrolyte. The porous electron-insulating layer comprises a particulate filler and a resin binder, and the particulate filler comprises an indefinite-shape particle comprising a plurality of primary particles that are joined to one another. A neck is preferably formed between the primary particles. Since the porous electron-insulating layer has high porosity, it is possible to obtain a secondary battery that exhibits excellent low-temperature characteristics, which are particularly important in actual use, and that is capable of discharging at a large current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tsumoru Ohata, Junji Nakajima, Tetsuya Hayashi, Shigeo Ikuta, Yusuke Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8153306
    Abstract: Disclosed are an organic electrolyte for a lithium-ion battery and a lithium-ion battery comprising the same, wherein the electrolyte includes a base electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent, and diphenyloctyl phosphate added thereto in an amount of 0.1 to 20 wt %. As compared to a conventional organic electrolyte using only a carbonate ester-based solvent, such as ethylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, etc., the lithium-ion battery employing the organic electrolyte can improve thermal stability of an electrolyte solution, high-rate performance, and charge/discharge cyclability of a battery, while maintaining battery performance of the base electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventors: Jung Gu Kim, Eun Gi Shim, Tae Heum Nam
  • Publication number: 20120070714
    Abstract: In accordance with at least certain embodiments of the present invention, a novel concept of utilizing PIMS minerals as a filler component within a microporous lead-acid battery separator is provided. In accordance with more particular embodiments or examples, the 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: Jeffrey K. Chambers, Tejas R. Shah
  • 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: 8124276
    Abstract: A bipolar battery includes: a bipolar electrode composed, by forming a positive electrode active material layer 12 an one surface of a current collector and forming a negative electrode active material layer 13 on the other surface; and a separator 14 composed to be stacked alternately with the bipolar electrode, wherein, in a single cell layer 15 composed by including the positive electrode active material layer 12, the separator 14 and the negative electrode active material layer 13, which are adjacent to one another, a thickness of the separator 14 is 0.68 times or more to less than 1.0 times a thickness of the positive electrode active material layer 12, and is 0.68 times or more to less than 1.0 times a thickness of the negative electrode active material layer 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyoichi Watanabe, Takaaki Abe, Takamitsu Saito, Osamu Shimamura, Kenji Hosaka, Hajime Sato, Hideaki Horie
  • Publication number: 20120040232
    Abstract: This invention relates to microporous membranes comprising polyolefin, the use of such membranes as battery separators, and methods for producing such microporous membranes. In particular, the invention relates to microporous membranes having a shutdown temperature in the range of 120.0° C. to 130.0° C. and a maximum solid state heat shrinkage ?30.0%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Satoshi Miyaoka, Koichi Kono, Donna J. Crowther, Patrick Brant
  • Publication number: 20120028131
    Abstract: The invention relates to microporous membranes comprising polymer and having well-balanced permeability, shutdown temperature, and pin puncture strength. The invention also relates to methods for making such membranes, and the use of such membranes as battery separator film in, e.g., lithium ion secondary batteries. The membrane has a shutdown temperature <130.5° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Toray Tonen Specialty Separator Godo Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Ishihara, Satoshi Miyaoka, Koichi Kono, Donna J. Crowther, Patrick Brant
  • Patent number: 8097366
    Abstract: An alkaline battery separator including 25 to 62% by mass of an alkali-resistance synthetic fiber, 5 to 25% by mass of a fibrillated organic solvent-spun cellulose fiber having a Canadian standard freeness value of 10 to 280 ml, and 33 to 50% by mass of a mercerized pulp having a Canadian standard freeness value of not less than 550 ml, wherein the fibrillated organic solvent-spun cellulose fiber intertwines with the mercerized pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimitsu Harada, Hisashi Nagi, Hiroyuki Kawai, Masakazu Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8088512
    Abstract: 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 a crosslinked solid polymer in contact with the first and second electrodes. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a network of electrically connected particles comprising an electroactive material, and the particles of one electrode exert a repelling force on the other electrode when the first and second electrodes are combined with an uncrosslinked precursor to the solid polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: A123 Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Antoni S. Gozdz, Richard K. Holman, Andrew L. Loxley, Ronnie Wilkins
  • Publication number: 20110318644
    Abstract: An amphoteric ion exchange membrane for use in a vanadium redox flow battery has a vanadium ion permeability of less than 10×10?9 cm2/min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Maolin ZHAI, Jingyi Qiu, Jing Peng, Ling Xu
  • Publication number: 20110311878
    Abstract: A polyolefin microporous membrane that can realize a lithium ion secondary battery having favorable resistance against foreign matters or the like, and high cycle characteristics at a high temperature is provided. The present invention provides a polyolefin microporous membrane having a ratio of tensile strength in a length direction to that in a width direction of 0.75 to 1.25, and a thermal shrinkage rate in the width direction at 120° C. of less than 10%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Daisuke Inagaki, Shinichi Iwakiri, Shintarou Inaba
  • Patent number: 8080330
    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: May 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Farasis Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Douglas Kepler, Yu Wang
  • Patent number: 8076029
    Abstract: A primary cell having an anode comprising lithium and a cathode comprising iron disulfide (FeS2) and carbon particles. The electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent mixture which contains 1,3-dioxolane and isosorbide dimethyl ether. The solvent mixture may comprise 1,3-dioxolane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane and additive isosorbide dimethyl ether. The isosorbide dimethyl ether comprises typically between about 2 and 15 percent by weight of the solvent mixture and improves cell service life and performance. A cathode slurry is prepared comprising iron disulfide powder, carbon, binder, and a liquid solvent. The mixture is coated onto a conductive substrate and solvent evaporated leaving a dry cathode coating on the substrate. The anode and cathode can be spirally wound with separator therebetween and inserted into the cell casing with electrolyte then added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: The Gillette Company
    Inventors: Michael Sliger, Nikolai N. Issaev, Eric Navok, Kenneth E. Yelm
  • Patent number: 8076023
    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: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ichinose, Masatoshi Nagayama
  • Publication number: 20110293989
    Abstract: Disclosed is a resin composition containing a filler, a high molecular weight polyolefin, and a polyolefin wax having a weight average molecular weight of 700 to 6,000, wherein the resin composition satisfies the following formula (1), assuming that the weight of the ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin contained in the resin composition is W1, the weight of the polyolefin wax having a weight average molecular weight of 700 to 6,000 is W2, and the intrinsic viscosity of the ultrahigh molecular weight polyolefin is [?]: [?]×4.3?21<{W2/(W1+W2)}×100<[?]×4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hirohiko Hasegawa, Daizaburo Yashiki
  • Publication number: 20110274961
    Abstract: The invention relates to microporous polymeric membranes suitable for use as battery separator film. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a membrane, batteries containing such membranes as battery separators, methods for making such batteries, and methods for using such batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: TORAY TONEN SPECIALTY SEPARATOR GODO KAISHA
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Junko Takita, Yoichi Matsuda, Sadakatsu Suzuki
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20110262814
    Abstract: There is provided a polyolefin microporous film which is excellent in taking-up stability in a production line and a processing line of the polyolefin microporous film, and further in a line for a battery taking-up step, and hardly generates step deviation when a roll thereof has received an impact. The polyolefin microporous film has a compression elastic modulus of 0.1 to 1,000 kPa, and a ratio of a tensile elastic modulus in the longitudinal direction to a tensile elastic modulus in the transverse direction of 1.5 to 7.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Takashi Ikemoto, Yoshihiro Imamura
  • Publication number: 20110236764
    Abstract: The invention relates to microporous polymeric membranes suitable for use as battery separator film. The invention also relates to a method for producing such membranes, batteries containing such membranes as battery separators, methods for making such batteries, and methods for using such batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TORAY TONEN SPECIALTY SEPARATOR GODO KAISHA
    Inventors: Kotaro Takita, Junko Takita, Yoichi Matsuda, Sadakatsu Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110236745
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to microporous membrane, methods for making microporous membrane, and the use of microporous membrane as battery separator film. More particularly, the invention relates to a microporous polymeric membrane including a paraxylylene polymer or copolymer, particularly in combination with a polymeric microporous membrane. The paraxylylene polymer or copolymer can be formed on or laminated to the microporous polymeric membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: TORAY TONEN SPECIALTY SEPARATOR GODO KAISHA
    Inventors: Patrick Brant, Derek W. Thurman, Daniel P. Cherney
  • Patent number: 8021786
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell superior in resistance against continuous charging at high potential is provided. The non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell includes: a positive electrode having lithium phosphate and a positive electrode active material comprising lithium cobalt oxide containing at least one selected from Mg, Al, Ti, and Zr; and a separator having pores having an average diameter of 0.05 to 0.2 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Kaiduka, Masato Iwanaga, Yukihiro Oki
  • Patent number: 8003261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin film having a thickness of 1 ?m (inclusive) to 50 ?m (inclusive), a porosity of 30% (inclusive) to 70% (inclusive), a piercing strength of 0.15 N/?m or more in terms of a film thickness of 1 ?m, tensile strengths in the length direction (MD tensile strength) and the width direction (TD tensile strength) of 30 MPa or more each, a thermal shrinkage in the width direction (TD thermal shrinkage) of 1% or less at 65° C., and a thermal shrinkage ratio in the length to width direction (MD/TD thermal shrinkage ratio) of more than 2 at 65° C. A process for producing the microporous film and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the film are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Iidani, Daisuke Inagaki
  • 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: 7981818
    Abstract: A multilayer composite sheet for use in a lead-acid battery includes a) a base layer including paper or a glass fiber mat; b) a layer of polymeric nanofibers bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a first surface of the base layer; and c) a scrim layer bonded with discrete adhesive particles to a surface of the layer of nanofibers opposite the base layer. A plate assembly for a lead-acid battery includes one or more multilayer composite sheets located adjacent or partially enclosing a lead plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: P. H. Glatfelter Company
    Inventor: William N. Justice
  • Patent number: 7981549
    Abstract: The instant invention is a separator for a battery having a zinc electrode. The battery separator according to the instant invention includes a microporous membrane, and a coating on at least one surface of the microporous membrane. The coating includes a mixture of 25-40 weight % polymer and 60-75 weight % surfactant combination. The polymer is cellulose acetate, and the surfactant combination includes a first surfactant and a second surfactant. The first surfactant, preferably, has an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of organic ethers, and the second surfactant is, preferably, an oxirane polymer with 2-ethylhexyl dihydrogen phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Celgard Inc.
    Inventors: Jill V. Watson, C. Glen Wensley
  • Publication number: 20110151333
    Abstract: In a lithium ion battery, one or more chelating agents may be attached to a microporous polymer separator for placement between a negative electrode and a positive electrode or to a polymer binder material used to construct the negative electrode, the positive electrode, or both. The chelating agents may comprise, for example, at least one of a crown ether, a podand, a lariat ether, a calixarene, a calixcrown, or mixtures thereof. The chelating agents can help improve the useful life of the lithium ion battery by complexing with unwanted metal cations that may become present in the battery's electrolyte solution while, at the same time, not significantly interfering with the movement of lithium ions between the negative and positive electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Ion C. Halalay, Stephen J. Harris, Timothy J. Fuller