Rechargeable, High-Density Electrochemical Device
Rechargeable, high-density electrochemical devices are disclosed. These electrochemical devices may, for example, include high energy densities that store more energy in a given, limited volume than other batteries and still show acceptable power or current rate capability without any liquid or gel-type battery components. Certain embodiments may involve, for example, low volume or mass of all of the battery components other than the cathode, while simultaneously achieving high electrochemically active mass inside the positive cathode.
1 . A rechargeable electrochemical device comprising:
a positive composite cathode, said positive cathode comprising:
a solid-state electrochemically active material comprising an electronic conductivity and an ionic conductivity in a pre-charged state of the electrochemically active material;
a solid-state electronically conducting material comprising an electronic conductivity that is at least three times higher than the electronic conductivity of said electrochemically active material in its pre-charged state, and
a solid-state, inorganic, ionically conducting material, which has an ionic conductivity that is at least three times higher than the ionic conductivity of said electrochemically active material in its pre-charged state.
2 . A rechargeable electrochemical device comprising:
a positive composite cathode comprising:
a solid-state electrochemically active material comprising an electronic conductivity and an ionic conductivity; and
a solid-state, ionically conducting material, which comprises a different material than said electrochemically active material;
wherein the electrochemical device does not comprise liquid and the electrochemical device does not comprise gel-like solvent.
3 . The electrochemical device of claim 1 wherein said electrochemically active material provides more electronic conductivity for said positive composite cathode than any other material within said positive composite cathode.
4 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 wherein said electrochemically active material provides more electronic conductivity for said positive composite cathode than any other material within said positive composite cathode.
5 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 further comprising an electronically conducting material comprising an electronic conductivity at least three times higher than said electronic conductivity of said electrochemically active material in its pre-charged state.
6 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 wherein said ionically conducting material has an ionic conductivity at least three times higher than said ionic conductivity of said electrochemically active material .
7 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 wherein said ionically conducting material is the same material as said electrochemically active material.
8 . The electrochemical device of claim 2 , further comprising a solid state electrolyte, which does not comprise a liquid and which does not comprise a gel-like solvent.
9 . A rechargeable electrochemical device comprising:
a solid state positive cathode,
a negative anode, and
a solid state electrolyte sandwiched between said cathode and said anode;
wherein said electrochemical device has a rated capacity of at least 2 mAh/cm 2 based on the geometric footprint of said positive cathode.
10 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said cathode comprises only solid-state electrochemically active phases.
11 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said electrochemical device has a rated capacity of at least 4 mAh/cm 2 based on the geometric footprint of said positive cathode.
12 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said electrochemical device comprises a rated capacity of at least 5 mAh/cm 2 based on the geometric footprint of said positive cathode.
13 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said electrochemical device comprises a rated capacity of at least 17 mAh/cm 2 based on the geometric footprint of said positive cathode.
14 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 30 hours within its reversibility range.
15 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 10 hours within its reversibility range.
16 . The electrochemical device of claim 10 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 30 hours within its reversibility range.
17 . The electrochemical device of claim 10 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 10 hours within its reversibility range.
18 . The electrochemical device of claim 11 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 30 hours within its reversibility range.
19 . The electrochemical device of claim 11 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 10 hours within its reversibility range.
20 . The electrochemical device of claim 12 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 30 hours within its reversibility range.
21 . The electrochemical device of claim 12 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 10 hours within its reversibility range.
22 . The electrochemical device of claim 13 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 30 hours within its reversibility range.
23 . The electrochemical device of claim 13 wherein said electrochemical device is fully dischargeable in less than 10 hours within its reversibility range.
24 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 comprising a volumetric capacity density of at least 60 Ah/liter in a fully packaged state.
25 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 comprising a volumetric energy density of at least 240 Wh/liter in a fully packaged state.
26 . The electrochemical device of claim 10 comprising a volumetric capacity density of at least 90 Ah/liter in a fully packaged state.
27 . The electrochemical device of claim 10 comprising a volumetric energy density of at least 360 Wh/liter in a fully packaged state.
28 . The electrochemical device of claim 11 comprising a volumetric capacity density of at least 100 Ah/liter in a fully packaged state.
29 . The electrochemical device of claim 11 comprising a volumetric energy density of at least 400 Wh/liter in a fully packaged state.
30 . The electrochemical device of claim 13 comprising a volumetric capacity density of at least 250 Ah/liter in a fully packaged state.
31 . The electrochemical device of claim 13 comprising a volumetric energy density of at least 1000 Wh/liter in a fully packaged state.
32 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said positive cathode comprises a composite prior to its initial charge.
33 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 wherein said positive cathode comprises a single phase prior to its initial charge.
34 . The electrochemical device of claim 9 , further comprising at least two solid state positive cathodes;
at least two negative anodes; and
at least two solid state electrolytes, each of said electrolytes sandwiched between one of said positive cathodes and one of said negative anodes;
wherein said electrochemical device comprises a rated capacity of at least 4 mAh/cm 2 based on the geometric footprint of said at least two positive cathodes.
35 . The electrochemical device of claim 34 wherein said at least two positive cathodes comprise a smaller positive cathode and a larger positive cathode and wherein said rated capacity is based on the geometric footprint of said larger positive cathode.