Electrochemical cell, components thereof, and methods of making and using same
An electrochemical cell including at least one nitrogen-containing compound is disclosed. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound may form part of or be included in: an anode structure, a cathode structure, an electrolyte and/or a separator of the electrochemical cell. Also disclosed is a battery including the electrochemical cell.
1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:
a cathode comprising an electroactive sulfur containing material;
an anode comprising lithium;
a separator between the anode and cathode;
a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising one or more non-aqueous solvents, and one or more lithium salts; and
a nitrogen-containing material in one or more of the group consisting of: the cathode, the anode, and the separator, wherein the nitrogen-containing material comprises
micelle structures comprising an —N—O or an amine functional group,
wherein the nitrogen-containing material is less than one percent soluble in the non-aqueous electrolyte, and
wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises the nitrogen-containing material in one or more of the cathode, the anode, and the separator.
2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the solubility of the nitrogen-containing material is less than 0.5 percent in the non-aqueous electrolyte.
3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: N-methyl acetamide, acetonitrile, acetals, ketals, esters, carbonates, sulfones, sulfites, sulfolanes, aliphatic ethers, acyclic ethers, cyclic ethers, glymes, polyethers, phosphate esters, siloxanes, dioxolanes, N-alkylpyrrolidones, substituted forms thereof, and blends thereof.
4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the nitrogen-containing material comprises a functional group N—O.
5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode includes the nitrogen-containing material.
6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode includes the nitrogen-containing material.
7. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the separator includes the nitrogen-containing material.
8. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode and cathode each includes the nitrogen-containing material.
9. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the separator and one or both of the anode and cathode include the nitrogen-containing material.
10. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a binder comprising the nitrogen-containing material.
11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the binder comprises a nitrogen-containing material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyacrylamide, polyallylaminde, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides.
12. The electrochemical cell of claim 11 , wherein the cathode comprises a layer comprising the nitrogen-containing material.
13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyacrylamide, polyallylaminde, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides.
14. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyallylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides.
15. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises an electrolyte material.
16. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a base electrode material layer and a multi-layered structure.
17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16 , wherein the multi-layered structure comprises a polymer layer.
18. The electrochemical cell of claim 17 , wherein the anode comprises a single-ion conductive layer.
19. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises a first base electrode layer, a second base electrode layer, and an embedded layer between the first base electrode layer and the second base electrode layer.
20. A battery comprising:
a housing;
a positive lead;
a negative lead; and
one or more electrochemical cells as defined in claim 1 .
21. The battery of claim 20 , wherein the solubility of the nitrogen-containing material is less than 0.5 percent in the non-aqueous electrolyte.
22. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of the nitrogen-containing material in the non-aqueous electrolyte remains about constant during use of the electrochemical cell.