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Rechargeable lithium/water, lithium/air batteriesRelated Patent Categories: Batteries: Thermoelectric And Photoelectric, PhotoelectricRechargeable lithium/water, lithium/air batteries description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070221265, Rechargeable lithium/water, lithium/air batteries. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application entitled, "Lithium/Water, Lithium/Air Batteries," filed on Mar. 22, 2006. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to rechargeable electrochemical cells, and more specifically, to electrochemical cells comprising lithium anodes for use in water and/or air environments. BACKGROUND [0003] There has been considerable interest in recent years in developing high energy density batteries with lithium containing anodes. Lithium metal is particularly attractive as the anode of electrochemical cells because of its extremely light weight and high energy density, compared for example to anodes, such as lithium intercalated carbon anodes, where the presence of non-electroactive materials increases weight and volume of the anode, and thereby reduces the energy density of the cells, and to other electrochemical systems with, for example, nickel or cadmium electrodes. Lithium metal anodes, or those comprising mainly lithium metal, provide an opportunity to construct cells which are lighter in weight, and which have a higher energy density than cells such as lithium-ion, nickel metal hydride or nickel-cadmium cells. These features are highly desirable for batteries for portable electronic devices such as cellular phones and laptop computers where a premium is paid for low weight. Unfortunately, the reactivity of lithium and the associated cycle life, dendrite formation, electrolyte compatibility, fabrication and safety problems have hindered the commercialization of lithium cells. [0004] Lithium battery systems generally include a cathode which is electrochemically lithiated during the discharge. In this process, lithium metal is converted to lithium ion and transported through electrolyte to the battery's cathode where it is reduced. In a lithium/sulfur battery, lithium ion forms one of a variety of lithium sulfur compounds, at the cathode. Upon charging, the process is reversed, and lithium metal is plated, from lithium ion in the electrolyte, at the anode. In each discharge cycle, a significant number (e.g., 15-30%) of available Li may be electrochemically dissolved in the electrolyte, and nearly this amount can be re-plated at the anode upon charge. Typically, slightly less lithium is re-plated at the anode at each charge, as compared to the amount removed during each discharge; a small fraction of the metallic Li anode typically is lost to insoluble electrochemically inactive species during each charge-discharge cycle. [0005] This process is stressful to the anode in many ways, and can lead to premature depletion of Li and reduction of the battery cycle life. During this cycling, the Li anode surface can become roughened (which can increase the rate of field-driven corrosion) and Li surface roughening can increase proportionally to the current density. Many of the inactive reaction products associated with overall Li loss from the anode upon cycling can also accumulate on the increasingly roughened Li surface and may interfere with charge transport to the underlying metallic Li anode. In the absence of other degradation processes in other parts of the battery, the per-cycle Li anode loss alone can eventually render the cell inactive. Accordingly, it is desirable to minimize or inhibit Li-loss reactions, minimize the Li surface roughness/corrosion rate, and prevent any inactive corrosion reaction products from interfering with charge transport across the Li anode surface. Especially at higher current density (which is commercially desirable) these processes can lead to quicker cell death. [0006] The separation of a lithium anode from the electrolyte of a rechargeable lithium battery or other electrochemical cell can be desirable for a variety of reasons, including the prevention of dendrite formation during recharging, reaction of lithium with the electrolyte, and cycle life. For example, reaction of a lithium anode with the electrolyte may result in the formation of resistive film barriers on the anode, which can increase the internal resistance of the battery and lower the amount of current capable of being supplied by the battery at the rated voltage. Many different solutions have been proposed for the protection of lithium anodes in such devices, including coating the lithium anode with interfacial or protective layers formed from polymers, ceramics, or glasses, the important characteristic of such interfacial or protective layers being to conduct lithium ions. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,905 and 5,462,566 to Skotheim describe a film of an n-doped conjugated polymer interposed between the alkali metal anode and the electrolyte. U.S. Pat. No. 5,648,187 to Skotheim and U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,672 to Skotheim et al. describe an electrically conducting crosslinked polymer film interposed between the lithium anode and the electrolyte, and methods of making the same, where the crosslinked polymer film is capable of transmitting lithium ions. U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,765 to Bates describes a thin layer of a lithium ion conducting ceramic coating between the anode and the electrolyte. Yet further examples of interfacial films for lithium containing anodes are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,387,497 and 5,487,959 to Koksbang; U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,975 to De Jonghe et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,434,021 to Fauteux et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,434 to Kawakami et al. [0007] A single protective layer of an alkali ion conducting glassy or amorphous material for alkali metal anodes, for example, lithium anodes in lithium-sulfur cells, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,02,094 to Visco et al. to address the problem of short cycle life. [0008] While a variety of techniques and components for protection of lithium and other alkali metal anodes are known, especially in rechargeable batteries, these protective coatings present particular challenges. Since lithium batteries function by removal and re-plating of lithium from a lithium anode in each charge/discharge cycle, lithium ion must be able to pass through any protective coating. The coating must also be able to withstand morphological changes as material is removed and re-plated at the anode. [0009] Rechargeable (secondary) lithium batteries present a particular challenge in connection with their use with aqueous electrolytes. Water, and hydrogen ions, are particularly reactive with lithium. Such devices, to be successful in achieving long cycle life, will require very good protection of the lithium anode. [0010] Despite the various approaches proposed for forming lithium anodes and forming interfacial and/or protective layers, improvements are needed, especially for lithium anodes designed for use in aqueous and/or air environments. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] Rechargeable electrochemical cells, and more specifically, rechargeable electrochemical cells comprising lithium anodes for use in water and/or air environments are presented. [0012] In one aspect, a series of electrochemical cells are provided. In one embodiment, an electrochemical cell comprises an anode comprising a base electrode material comprising lithium, a single-ion conductive material, a polymeric layer between the base electrode material and the single-ion-conductive material, and a separation layer between the base electrode material and the polymeric layer. [0013] In another embodiment, an electrochemical cell comprises an anode comprising a base electrode material comprising lithium, and a multi-layered structure positioned between the anode and an electrolyte of the cell. The multi-layered structure comprises at least two first layers each of a single-ion conductive material, at least two second layers each of a polymeric material, wherein the at least two first layers and at least two second layers are arranged in alternating order with respect to each other, and wherein each layer of the multi-layered structure has a maximum thickness of 25 microns. [0014] In another embodiment, an electrochemical cell comprises an anode comprising a base electrode material comprising lithium, a single-ion conductive material, a polymeric layer between the base electrode material and the single-ion-conductive material, a separation layer between the base electrode material and the polymeric layer, and an aqueous-based electrolyte in electrochemical communication with the anode. [0015] In another aspect, a method of electrical energy storage and use is provided. In one embodiment, a method of electrical energy storage and use comprises providing an electrochemical cell comprising an anode with lithium as the active anode material, a cathode, and an aqueous electrolyte in electrochemical communication with the anode and cathode, and cycling the cell, by alternatively discharging and charging the cell, at least three times wherein, at the end of the 3.sup.rd cycle, the cell exhibits at least 80% of the cell's initial capacity. [0016] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of various non-limiting embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures. In cases where the present specification and a document incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure, the present specification shall control. If two or more documents incorporated by reference include conflicting and/or inconsistent disclosure with respect to each other, then the document having the later effective date shall control. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] Non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component illustrated is typically represented by a single numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component is labeled in every figure, nor is every component of each embodiment of the invention shown where illustration is not necessary to allow those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention. In the figures: [0018] FIG. 1 shows a structure for use in an electrochemical cell, including a single-ion conductive layer and a polymer layer, according to one embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 2 shows a structure for use in an electrochemical cell, including several multi-layered structures, according to an embodiment of the invention; Continue reading about Rechargeable lithium/water, lithium/air batteries... 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