Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Bar-ilan University

Baruch Ziv

Timothy J Fuller

Ion C Halalay

Doron Aurbach

Shalom Luski

Anjan Banerjee

Bob Ross Powell

Yuliya Shilina

Raghunathan K

Methods of scavenging acid in a lithium-ion electrochemical cell are provided. An electrolyte solution that contains an acid or is capable of forming the acid is contacted with a polymer comprising a nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety selected from the group consisting of: an amine group, a pyridine group, and combinations thereof. The nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety scavenges acidic species present in the electrolyte solution by participating in a Lewis acid-base neutralization reaction. The electrolyte solution comprises a lithium salt and one or more solvents and is contained in the electrochemical cell that further comprises a first electrode, a second electrode having an opposite polarity from the first electrode, and a porous separator. Lithium ions can be cycled through the separator and electrolyte solution from the first electrode to the second electrode, where acid generated during the cycling is scavenged by the polymer comprising a nitrogen-containing acid-trapping moiety.

Acid-scavenging functional separators for power performance of lithium ion electrochemical cells

A lithium ion battery includes a positive and a negative electrode, and a nanoporous or microporous polymer separator soaked in electrolyte solution and disposed between the electrodes. At least two different chelating agents are included and selected to complex with: i) two or more different transition metal ions; ii) a transition metal ion in two or more different oxidation states; or iii) both i) and ii). The at least two different selected chelating agents are to complex with transition metal ions in a manner sufficient to not affect movement of lithium ions across the separator during operation of the battery. The chelating agents are: dissolved or dispersed in the electrolyte solution; grafted onto the polymer of the separator; attached to the binder material of the negative and/or positive electrode; disposed within pores of the separator; coated on a surface of the separator; and/or coated on a surface of an electrode.

Lithium ion battery

A lithium ion battery includes positive and negative electrodes, and a nanoporous or microporous polymer separator soaked in an electrolyte solution, between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Chelating agent(s) are included to complex with transition metal ions while not affecting movement of lithium ions across the separator during operation of the lithium ion battery. The chelating agents are: dissolved in the electrolyte solution; grafted onto the polymer of the separator; attached to the binder material of the negative and/or positive electrode; coated on a surface of the separator; and/or coated on a surface of the negative and/or positive electrode. The chelating agents are selected from: ion traps in molecular form selected from polyamines, thiols and alkali metal salts of organic acids; polymers functionalized with alkali metal salts of organic acids; polymers functionalized with nitrogen-containing functional groups; and polymers functionalized with two or more functional groups.

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Ramat Gan, Israel

Baruch Ziv