Enerdel, Inc.

Gregory K Maclean

Steven D Cochran

Dell Albert Crouch, Jr

A lithium cell and method for producing, wherein an electrode contains a first polymer and a separator contains a second polymer having a melting point below that of the first polymer. The first polymer may be the same in the anode and the cathode, or one electrode may contain the first polymer and the other electrode contain a third polymer. The first polymer may be a homopolymer, and the second polymer may be a copolymer, and may contain the first and/or third polymers as components. In one embodiment, the first polymer is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and the second polymer is PVDF and hexafluoropropylene. The relatively high melting point first and/or first and third polymer(s) permits high temperature drying of the electrodes, which facilitates water removal and thereby increases cell life. It also reduces swelling of the porous structure, which facilitates permeation of the electrolyte.

Lithium cell with mixed polymer system

The present invention, a cell layer edge support, provides longer battery cell life while minimizing the possibility of shorts within the cell. More specifically, an edge support layer is positioned around at least a portion of the smaller electrode, either the anode or the cathode, in the cell to define a supporting perimeter comparable to the perimeter of the larger electrode. The support layer generally comprises a polymeric material which helps to absorb pressures exerted on the cell layers during packaging. The anode, cathode, support layer and a separator layer placed between the anode and the cathode may be joined to form a battery. Preferably, a plurality of cells having the support layer may be joined to form a higher energy, longer life battery.

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Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Gregory K Maclean