Solid state battery having mismatched battery cells
A solid-state, mismatched battery comprises a first battery cell having a first internal resistance, and a second battery cell having a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being a predefined resistance that is less than the first internal resistance. One or more of electrical connectors electrically couple the first and second battery cells. A casing encloses the first and second battery cells. A pair of terminals is electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.
1. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
(a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer with a first internal resistance;
(b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer with a second internal resistance, the second internal resistance being less than the first internal resistance, and such that a ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2;
(c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells;
(d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and
(e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.
2. A battery according to claim 1 comprising at least one of the following:
(i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and
(ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω.
3. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first battery cell has a first internal resistance per unit active area, and the second battery cell has a second internal resistance per unit active area.
4. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel.
5. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first battery cell comprises a first maximum current density and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second maximum current density which is larger than the first maximum current density.
6. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and wherein the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness and the second cathode thickness is less than the first cathode thickness.
7. A battery according to claim 6 comprising at least one of the following:
(i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%;
(ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and
(iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns.
8. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first and second battery cells comprise at least one of:
(i) a plurality of the first or second battery cells;
(ii) lithium battery cells; and
(iii) battery component layers having a thickness of less than about 100 microns.
9. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first and second electrolyte layers are composed of LiPON.
10. A battery according to claim 1 wherein the first and second battery cells comprise a cathode composed of LiCoO 2 .
11. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
(a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer composed of LiPON with a first internal resistance;
(b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer composed of LiPON with a second internal resistance, wherein the ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2;
(c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells;
(d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and
(e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.
12. A battery according to claim 11 comprising at least one of the following:
(i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and
(ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω.
13. A solid-state, mismatched battery comprising:
(a) a first battery cell having a first electrolyte layer (i) composed of LiPON, (ii) having a first thickness, and (iii) having a first internal resistance;
(b) a second battery cell having a second electrolyte layer (i) composed of LiPON, (ii) having a second thickness than is different from the first thickness, and (iii) having a second internal resistance such that a ratio of the first internal resistance to the second internal resistance is at least 3:2;
(c) one or more of electrical connectors electrically coupling the first and second battery cells;
(d) a casing enclosing the first and second battery cells; and
(e) a pair of terminals electrically coupled to the first and second battery cells to output electrical power to an external load.
14. A battery according to claim 13 wherein the first battery cell comprises a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second cathode thickness that is less than the first cathode thickness.
15. A battery according to claim 14 wherein the first and second cathodes are composed of LiCoO 2 .
16. A battery according to claim 11 wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel.
17. A battery according to claim 11 wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and comprising at least one of the following:
(i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%;
(ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and
(iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns.
18. A battery according to claim 13 comprising at least one of the following:
(i) a first internal resistance of at least 150Ω; and
(ii) a second internal resistance of less than 100Ω.
19. A battery according to claim 13 wherein the electrical connectors couple the first and second battery cells in parallel.
20. A battery according to claim 13 wherein the first battery cell comprises a first electrolyte thickness and a first cathode thickness, and wherein the second battery cell comprises a second electrolyte thickness and a second cathode thickness, and comprising at least one of the following:
(i) the second electrolyte thickness is less than the first electrolyte thickness by at least 20%;
(ii) the first electrolyte thickness is at least 3 microns; and
(iii) the first cathode thickness is at least 15 microns.