Valence Technology, Inc.

Other

Peikang Liu

Feng Gao

Porter H Mitchell

Jeremy Barker

Jeffrey L Swoyer

Anodes, cathodes, and/or solid electrolytes (or separator layers) of an electrochemical cell can be fabricated from aqueous compositions containing monomers and/or polymers. In one formulation, the aqueous composition contains binding materials that are polymerized and crosslinked. In a second formulation, the composition is a latex having as aqueous phase and a solid polymer phase. Upon removal of water, the compositions provide a polymeric structure suitable for use as an electrode or solid electrolyte.

Method of preparing electrochemical cells

Electrochemically stable plasticizer

The invention provides a new family of compounds and a method of making the compounds. The new compounds are useful as ion conductive salts, and particularly useful as salts for batteries. The compounds of the invention are prepared from three principal reagents, bis (trifluoromethanesufonyl) methane (CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.2 ; benzoyl chloride; and pyridine which facilitates reaction and then is removed. A precursor sodium salt (CF.sub.3 SO.sub.2).sub.2 CHNa is first prepared. Then, equimolar amounts of the precursor sodium salt and pyridine are dissolved in anhydrous acetonitrile. A stoichiometric amount of the selected substitute benzoyl chloride is then added drop by drop. After addition of Li.sub.3 PO.sub.4, there is pyridine release and formation of the product of the aforesaid two reagents. In the benzene ring, R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, and R.sub.5 are each identical or different and are each independently selected from hydrogen and an electron withdrawing substituent.

Thermally stable, highly conductive salt

A novel processing method provides a separator or electrode film demonstrating good physical properties and excellent conductive properties. Specifically, a binder of a suitable polymer, such as a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF) homopolymer, and a filler material such as silica or alumina are homogenized, such as by ball milling, to form a mixture free of solvents or plasticizers. An appropriate plasticizer, such as dimethyl adipate, is mixed into the binder and filler materials, and the resulting material is formed into a sheet. The sheet is hot pressed or melt processed at a temperature greater than the softening point but less than the melting point of the polymer mix. Electrode films can also be made using the method herein.

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Henderson, NV, United States of America

Peikang Liu