Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Other

The Procter Gamble Company

Zimmer Gmbh

The Proctor 'Gamble Company

Cambridge Polymer Group, Inc.

Martin F Van Buren

Denis G Fauteux

Arthur A Massucco

John R Powell

Eric S Kolb

Jie Shi

Peter W Kopf

John L Ennis

Stephen E Rudolph

Gavin J C Braithwaite

Edward T Kopesky

Mehmet Rona

Richard S Lindstrom

Wlodek T Krawiec

Marina Sherman

Jason Berlin

Tony Williamson

The invention provides methods of making hydrolyzed cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels by polymerizing vinyl acetate (VAc) monomers to polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) polymer network by chemical-crosslinking and hydrolysis. The invention also provides methods for including pendant chains in the hydrogel during the polymerization process. Materials produced and use of the cross-linked hydrolyzed PVA hydrogels also are disclosed herein.

Hydrolyzed hydrogels

The present invention is directed to an electrode, and associated fabrication process, for use in an electrochemical cell. The electrode has an active material comprising a transition metal oxide. A lithium salt having an organic component is associated with the surface of the transition metal oxide so as to increase compatibility with an associated electrolyte. In another embodiment, a lithium salt of saccharin may be adsorbed onto the surface of the transition metal oxide.

Electrode modification using surface associated lithium salts and an associated process for fabrication of an electrode

An electrode for use in an electrochemical cell comprising a current collecting substrate, an electrode active material cluster having at least one particle wherein the particle includes at least one inclusion, an elastomer binder surrounding at least a portion of the at least one particle, and means associated with the elastomer binder for precluding mechanical degradation of the electrode active material cluster and, in turn, loss of electrical continuity between the at least one particle therein.

Electrode materials having an elastomer binder and associated electrochemical and fabrication process

An electrochemical cell, and an associated process, wherein the cell includes a controlled electrode surface comprising an electrode with a metallic current collector having a surface, an electrolyte and a reduced additive. The invention further includes a passivating layer at the interface between the metallic current collector and the electrolyte. The passivating layer includes the reduced additive. This passivating layer substantially precludes contact between electrolyte solvent and surface of the metallic current collector to, in turn, substantially prevent gas formation within the cell, which would otherwise result from decomposition of the solvent upon contact with the surface of the metallic current collector. Also, the reduced additive will likewise be substantially precluded from generating a gas upon its decomposition.

Electrochemical cell having a controlled electrode surface and associated fabrication and chemical process

The present invention is directed to both an electrolyte solution for use as a gel electrolyte in an electrolytic cell, and a process for making both the electrolyte gel and the electrolytic cell. The electrolyte solution comprises a polymerizable electrolyte material and a reinforcement polymer. The reinforcement polymer preferably consists of at least poly(methyl methacrylate), while the polymerizable electrolyte material comprises at least a solvent, a monomer, a polymerization initiator, and an ionic conductor. The use of a reinforcement polymer increases the homogeneity and thus the coatability of the electrolytic solution, while also improving the mechanical properties of the cured electrolyte gel.

Electrolytic solution for use as gel electrolyte and process for making

An electrochemical cell, and an associated process, wherein the cell includes a controlled electrode surface comprising an electrode with a carbonaceous surface, an electrolyte and a reduced additive. The reduced additive is formulated from an additive which is either soluble or insoluble in the solvated electrolyte prior to reduction. The invention further includes a passivating layer at the carbonaceous electrode/electrolyte interface. The passivating layer includes the additive and/or the reduced additive. This passivating layer substantially precludes contact between electrolyte solvent and the carbonaceous surface of the electrode to, in turn, substantially prevent gas formation within the cell, which would otherwise result from decomposition of the solvent upon contact with the carbonaceous surface. Also, the additive and/or the reduced additive will likewise be substantially precluded from generating a gas upon its decomposition.

Electrochemical cell having a controlled electrode surface and

The present invention is directed to an electrolytic cell and associated process for fabrication, wherein the cell utilizes an intermediate sub-component connecting layer. This layer comprises an electrolyte which, in an at least partially cured state, is at least partially sandwiched between an electrolyte on a first sub-component and an electrolyte on a second sub-component. Prior to full curing of the intermediate sub-component connecting layer, the cell is oriented into a desired product configuration. Once such a configuration is obtained, the intermediate sub-component connecting layer is fully cured to, in turn, maintain the cell in the desired product configuration without concern of misalignment or mechanical degradation between the various sub-components and/or the cell.

Process for fabricating electrolytic cell having an intermdiate

An apparatus and process for applying an electrode paste onto a substrate for use in an electrolytic cell. The apparatus includes a mixing device which mixes, and then dispenses, predetermined amounts of an electrode paste and a polymerization initiator onto a substrate. The mixing device is constructed so as to substantially preclude polymerization of the electrode paste during such mixing, as well as to preclude polymerization prior to application of the mixture onto the substrate.

Electrode paste applicator process

Electrode paste applicator apparatus

The present invention is directed to an electrode mask for use in an electrolytic cell, and an associated process for fabricating such a cell with an electrode mask. The electrode mask is applied to a limited portion of the active material of at least one of the first and second electrodes so that the peripheral edge of the electrode mask and associated electrodes are in planer relationship with each other. In addition, the electrode mask can be applied in a manner which enables a fully fabricated electrolytic cell to be manufactured with any desired geometric configuration, merely by altering the electrode mask application pattern, and a die-cutter to cut an assembled cell in conformance with the applied pattern of the electrode mask.

Electrode mask application process for forming an electrolytic cell

An electrolytic cell and process for treating an alkali metal electrode, wherein an additive is applied to the electrode so as to result in a predominately additive interface between the electrode and an electrolyte. The additive interface is ionically conductive yet non-ionic. In addition, the additive interface is substantially inert when in contact with the electrode, while being substantially insoluble in the electrolyte.

Electrolytic cell and process for treating an alkali metal electrode

An electrolytic cell, such as a rechargeable lithium battery, having cavitands associated with a metal ion source-electrode and an electrolyte. The cavitands, which are anchored to the electrode by a polymer leash, are capable of releasably attracting particular ions, such as lithium ions, which are migrating from the electrolyte, toward the surface of the electrode during electrodeposition. The polymer leash serves to continuously maintain the cavitands at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the electrode, regardless of surface area fluctuations, typically caused during deposition and dissolution of the particular ions. Accordingly, the cavitands facilitate substantially uniform electrodeposition of the particular ions, which, in turn, substantially suppresses and/or controls the formation and growth of a passive film or layer, on the electrode surface, which may otherwise promote the formation of dendrites.

Cavitand electrolytic cell and electrolytic process

An molecular complex is provided which includes a linear polymer associated with a cyclic molecule to form a rotaxane of the general formula, ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are blocking end groups of size and character sufficient to prevent dethreading of the rotaxane and said R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 the same or different;

Molecular complexes for use as electrolyte components

An molecular complex is provided which includes a linear polymer associated with a cyclic molecule to form a rotaxane of the general formula, ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are blocking end groups of size and character sufficient to prevent dethreading of the rotaxane and said R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 the same or different; where the cyclic molecule comprises a cyclic skeleton and at least one A functional group, said functional group attached to the cyclic skeleton; where A is selected from the group consisting of polymerizable functional groups, cation complexing groups, anion complexing groups and ionic species; and wherein at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and A are selected from the group consisting of cation complexing groups, anion complexing groups and ionic species. The molecular complex may used in an electrolyte.

Compounds are provided for use in an electrolyte comprising repeating unit selected from the group consisting of cyclic and heterocyclic species having y carbon atoms and z heteroatoms, X, and where y is 4, 5 or 6 and z is 0, 1 or 2. The heteroatom is selected from the group consisting of O, S and N. The repeating unit is further substituted by four to six pendant groups having the formula, (CHR.sub.1).sub.m O(CHR.sub.1 CHR.sub.1 O).sub.n Y, where the majority of pendant groups comprises at least two O and further, in which m is 0 or 1, in which n is in the range of 0 to 25, in which each R.sub.1 is the same or different and R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, allylic and alkenyl radicals having 1 to 18 carbon atoms and Y, and in which each Y is the same or different and Y is a functional group selected from the group consisting of polymerizable functionalities, plasticizing agents and ionic species. Electrolytes, plasticizers and macroions prepared from these compounds are described.

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Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Martin F Van Buren