Electrochemical cell, electrochemical cell module comprising the electrochemical cell, and preparation method of the electrochemical cell

1. An electrochemical cell comprising:

an anode assembly having opposite surfaces;

a cathode having at least one folded portion and having ionic continuity with the opposite surfaces of the anode assembly, wherein the cathode is disposed on the opposite outer surfaces of the anode assembly,

wherein the anode assembly comprises

an anode, and

an active metal ion conducting membrane that is disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane has at least one folded portion; and

a gas diffusion layer disposed on opposite outer surfaces of the cathode,

wherein opposite side surfaces of the gas diffusion layer are in fluid communication with an outside of the electrochemical cell.

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode surrounds the opposite surfaces of the anode assembly.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the at least one folded portion of the cathode is folded in a same direction as a folding direction of the at least one folded portion of the active metal ion conducting membrane.

4. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein opposite end portions of the cathode are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the anode assembly, respectively.

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode surrounds the opposite surfaces of the anode assembly, and

wherein opposite end portions of the cathode are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the anode assembly, respectively.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode has opposite surfaces, and

wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane has ionic continuity with the opposite surfaces of the anode.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane surrounds the opposite surfaces of the anode.

8. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein opposite end portions of the active metal ion conducting membrane are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the anode, respectively.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane surrounds the opposite surfaces of the anode, and

wherein opposite end portions of the active metal ion conducting membrane are disposed on the opposite surfaces of the anode, respectively.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane forms a housing that is substantially impermeable to liquid and gas and defines an internal region which is hermetically sealed from an external region, and

wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane isolates the anode from the cathode.

11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane has a multi-layer structure.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 6 , further comprising a seal that interfaces with the active metal ion conducting membrane to enclose the anode therein, wherein the seal forms a housing that is substantially impermeable to liquid and gas and has an internal region which is hermetically sealed from an external region, and

wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane isolates the anode from the cathode.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the seal is compliant with a thickness change of the anode and maintains physical contact with the anode.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the seal comprises a polymer with the ability to block gas and moisture.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14 , wherein the polymer with the ability to block gas and moisture is at least one selected from poly(2-vinylpyridine), polytetrafluoroethylene, a tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, a perfluoroalkoxy copolymer, a fluorinated cyclic ether, polyethylene oxide diacrylate, polyethylene oxide dimethacrylate, polypropylene oxide diacrylate, polypropylene oxide dimethacrylate, polymethylene oxide diacrylate, polymethylene oxide dimethacrylate, a poly(C1-C6alkyldiol diacrylate), a poly(C1-C6alkyldiol dimethacrylate), polydivinylbenzene, polyether, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyimide, polycarboxylic acid, polysulfonic acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polysulfone, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly(p-phenylene), polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, poly(2,5-ethylene vinylene), polyacene, poly(naphthalene-2,6-diyl), polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, polyvinylidene fluoride, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, poly(vinyl acetate), poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate), poly(methyl methacrylate-co-ethyl acrylate), polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate, poly(1-vinyl pyrrolidone-co-vinyl acetate), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylate, polymethacrylate, polyurethane, polyvinyl ether, an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, a styrene-butadiene rubber, an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene rubber, a sulfonated styrene/ethylene-butylene triblock copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyamide, an epoxy resin, an acryl resin, and a polymerization product of at least one acrylate monomer selected from ethoxylated neopentyl glycol diacrylate, ethoxylated bisphenol A diacrylate, ethoxylated aliphatic urethane acrylate, an ethoxylated C1-C6 alkylphenol acrylate, and a C1-C6 alkyl acrylate.

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane is an active metal ion conducting solid membrane.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane is a gas and moisture barrier membrane.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane is a composite membrane.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 18 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane comprises

an organic film having a plurality of pores, and

an ion-conductive polymer electrolyte disposed in the plurality of pores of the organic film.

20. The electrochemical cell of claim 19 , wherein the ion-conductive polymer electrolyte comprises at least one selected from polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polysulfone.

21. The electrochemical cell of claim 19 , wherein the active metal ion conducting membrane comprises

an organic film having a plurality of through holes, and

an ion-conductive inorganic particle which is disposed in the plurality of through holes of the organic film.

22. The electrochemical cell of claim 21 , wherein the ion-conductive inorganic particle comprises at least one selected from a glassy metal ion conductor, an amorphous metal ion conductor, a ceramic active metal ion conductor, and a glass ceramic active metal ion conductor.

23. The electrochemical cell of claim 21 , wherein the ion-conductive inorganic particle comprises at least one selected from BaTiO 3 , Pb(Zr a Ti 1−a )O 3 wherein 0≤a≤1, Pb 1−x La x Zr 1−y Ti y O 3 wherein 0≤x<1 and 0≤y<1, Pb(Mg 3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 —PbTiO 3 , HfO 2 , SrTiO 3 , SnO 2 , CeO 2 , Na 2 O, MgO, NiO, CaO, BaO, ZnO, ZrO 2 , Y 2 O 3 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , SiO 2 , SiC, lithium phosphate, Li 3 PO 4 , lithium titanium phosphate, Li x Ti y (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<2 and 0<y<3, lithium aluminum titanium phosphate, Li x Al y Ti z (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<2, 0<y<1, and 0<z<3, L 1+x+y (Al b Ga 1−b ) x (Ti c Ge 1−c ) 2-x Si y P 3-y O 12 wherein 0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, 0≤b≤1, and 0≤c≤1, lithium lanthanum titanate, Li x La y TiO 3 wherein 0<x<2 and 0<y<3, lithium germanium thiophosphate, Li x Ge y P z S w wherein 0<x<4, 0<y<1, 0<z<1, and 0<w<5, a lithium nitride glass, Li x N y wherein 0<x<4 and 0<y<2, a SiS 2 glass, Li x Si y S z wherein 0<x<3, 0<y<2, and 0<z<4, a P 2 S 5 glass, Li x P y S z wherein 0<x<3, 0<y<3, and 0<z<7, Li 2 O, LiF, LiOH, Li 2 CO 3 , LiAlO 2 , a Li 2 O—Al 2 O 3 —SiO 2 —P 2 O 5 —TiO 2 —GeO 2 ceramic, and Li 3+x La 3 M 2 O 12 wherein M comprises at least one selected from Te, Nb, and Zr.

24. The electrochemical cell of claim 19 , wherein the organic film comprises a polymer with the ability to block gas and moisture.

25. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises at least one selected from lithium, a lithium alloy, and a metal alloyable with lithium.

26. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the gas diffusion layer has ionic conductivity.

27. The electrochemical cell of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a metal-air battery or a lithium secondary battery.

28. An electrochemical cell module comprising:

a plurality of electrochemical cells according to claim 1 that are stacked upon one another; and

at least one gas diffusion layer disposed between neighboring surfaces of each of the electrochemical cells.

29. A method of preparing the electrochemical cell of claim 1 , the method comprising:

providing the cathode;

disposing the active metal ion conducting membrane on a surface of the cathode;

disposing the anode on a surface of the active metal ion conducting membrane; and

folding the cathode and the active metal ion conducting membrane to form a first contact and a second contact between the active metal ion conducting membrane and at least one of a first spot on a surface of the anode, a second spot on the surface of the anode, and a surface region of the active metal ion conducting membrane that is not disposed on the anode to prepare the electrochemical cell; and

disposing the gas diffusion layer disposed on the opposite outer surfaces of the cathode.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the anode is provided without a support.

31. The method of claim 29 , further comprising hermetically sealing edge portions of the folded active metal ion conducting membrane to enclose the anode, wherein the hermetically sealing comprises heat-pressing the active metal ion conducting membrane.

32. The method of claim 29 , further comprising

disposing a seal between edge portions of the folded active metal ion conducting membrane to hermetically seal edge portions of the folded active metal ion conducting membrane to enclose the anode therein interface.

33. An electrochemical cell comprising:

an anode assembly having opposite first and second surfaces; and

a cathode surrounding the anode assembly and having

at least one folded portion that is folded in a same direction as a folding direction of the anode assembly, and

opposite first and second end portions disposed on the opposite first and second surfaces of the anode assembly, respectively, and

wherein the cathode is disposed on the opposite outer surfaces of the anode assembly,

wherein the anode assembly comprises

an anode having opposite first and second surfaces; and

an active metal ion conducting membrane that is disposed between the anode and the cathode, surrounds the anode, and has at least one folded portion and opposite first and second end portions which are disposed on the opposite first and second surfaces of the anode, respectively; and

a gas diffusion layer disposed on opposite outer surfaces of the cathode

wherein opposite side surfaces of the gas diffusion layer are in fluid communication with an outside of the electrochemical cell.