Elastic support having nanotube springs for lithium-ion batteries
A battery is provided that includes a cathode current collector, a cathode, a solid electrolyte, an anode current collector and an elastic support. The elastic support is provided on at least one of the cathode current collector and the anode current collector. The elastic support comprises an elastic polymer and nanotube springs provided within the elastic polymer.
1. A battery comprising:
a cathode current collector;
a cathode;
a solid electrolyte;
an anode current collector; and
an elastic support provided on at least one of the cathode current collector and the anode current collector,
the elastic support comprising an elastic polymer and nanotube springs provided within the elastic polymer.
2. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the nanotube springs are formed of at least one of carbon and copper.
3. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic support is provided on a first surface of the cathode current collector between the cathode and the cathode current collector.
4. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic support is provided on a second surface of the cathode current collector, the second surface of the cathode current collector being opposite a surface of the cathode current collector on which the cathode is disposed.
5. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic support is provided on a third surface of the anode current collector between the anode current collector and the solid electrolyte.
6. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic polymer is crosslinked.
7. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the nanotube springs each have a spiral coiled shape.
8. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the nanotube springs protrude from the elastic polymer by approximately 2 μm.
9. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the nanotube springs are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals on the at least one of the cathode current collector and the anode current collector.
10. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein
the nanotube springs have a spring constant ranging from approximately 10 nN/nm to 40 nN/nm.
11. An elastic support comprising:
an elastic polymer; and
nanotube springs provided within the elastic polymer.
12. The elastic support according to claim 11 , wherein
the nanotube springs are formed of at least one of carbon and copper.
13. The elastic support according to claim 11 , wherein
the elastic polymer is crosslinked.
14. The elastic support according to claim 11 , wherein
the elastic polymer is a polyacrylamide.
15. The elastic support according to claim 1 , wherein
the elastic polymer is formed from a prepolymer, the prepolymer being crosslinkable and having a molecular weight of 500 MW.
16. A method of forming an elastic support for a battery, the method comprising:
forming nanotube springs on an electrode current collector;
forming a prepolymer layer on the electrode current collector; and
polymerizing the prepolymer layer to form an elastic polymer with the nanotube springs provided therewithin.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
the nanotube springs are formed of a conductive material.
18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
the nanotube springs are formed by deposition on the electrode current collector while the electrode current collector is rotating.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein
the nanotube springs are deposited on the electrode current collector s are spaced apart from each other at regular intervals.
20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein
the prepolymer layer is formed of a crosslinkable polymer having a molecular weight less than 500 MW.