The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 21, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1999
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Characterizing electrochemical cell components and a response of an electrochemical cell to a specified operating condition involves preparing a sample of an electrode material in contact with an electrolyte. Self-heating, power-temperature or power-time data is obtained for the sample using a calorimetry technique, such as by use of an accelerating rate calorimetry technique or a differential scanning calorimetry technique. A power function is developed for the sample using the self-heating, power-temperature or power-time data. The power function is representative of thermal power per unit mass of the sample as a function of temperature and amount of reactant remaining from a reaction of the sample electrode material and electrolyte. A first power function is developed that characterizes a reaction between the cathode material and the electrolyte in terms of thermal power per unit mass of a cathode sample material, and a second power function is developed that characterizes a reaction between the anode material and the electrolyte in terms of thermal power per unit mass of the anode sample material. An electrode material sample from which a power function is developed is prepared using less than about 100 grams of the electrode material, such as between about 1 and 10 grams, but may be as little as between about 1 milligram and 1 gram. A computer system and computer-readable medium are provided to electronically design and test cells of arbitrary size and shape using power functions developed for individual electrode/electrolyte combinations.