Covalent Associates, Inc.

Richard Laura

Yair Ein-Eli

Acyclic, asymmetric methyl alkyl carbonates, particularly for use with a carbonaceous, e.g., graphite, anode, in electrolytes suitable for portable power sources, are disclosed. Asymmetric alkyl carbonate solvents, having the general structural formula MeO--CO.sub.2 R, where R is larger than methyl, can be used as the only solvent in the non-aqueous electrolyte of a portable power source; no other solvent is necessary for superior performance in, e.g., high energy density lithium ion batteries or high power electrochemical capacitors. Furthermore, an asymmetric alkyl methyl carbonate can serve as the primary solvent for a non-aqueous electrolyte, i.e., the solvent providing the requisite properties, with the appropriate volume balance being made up with a combination of cyclic and acyclic carbonates or esters chosen for a particular application.

Asymmetric organic alkyl methyl carbonates for non-aqueous power sources

Acyclic, asymmetric ethyl alkyl carbonates, particularly for use with a carbonaceous, e.g., graphite, anode, in electrolytes suitable for portable power sources, are disclosed. Asymmetric alkyl carbonates having the general structural formula EtO--CO.sub.2 R, where R is larger than ethyl, and most preferably equal to butyl, iso-butyl or sec-butyl, are particularly useful in causing the freezing point of the electrolytes in which they are used to decrease dramatically, thus providing the key to low temperature, high cycle life and high capacity for portable power sources.

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Melrose, MA, United States of America

Richard Laura