IP Library Granted Patent US 9,548,497
Granted Patent B2
US 9,548,497 · App. 13/157,981 · Granted Jan 17, 2017

Layered composite current collector with plurality of openings, methods of manufacture thereof, and articles including the same

Inventors: Boris Ravdel (Voluntown, CT); Frank Puglia (Richmond, RI)
Assignee: EaglePicher Technologies, LLC
H01M4/667H01M4/668H01M4/742Y10T29/49108Y10T29/49115
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,548,497
App. No.
13/157,981
Granted
Jan 17, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A current collector including: a polymer film including a first major surface, an opposite second major surface, and a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the polymer film; a first layer on the first major surface of the polymer film; a second layer on the second major surface of the polymer film; and a third layer on an inner surface of an opening of the plurality of openings, wherein the third layer contacts the first layer and the second layer, and wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently has an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 Siemens per meter.

Claims (58)

1. A current collector comprising:

a polymer film comprising a first major surface, an opposite second major surface, and

a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the polymer film;

a first layer on the first major surface of the polymer film;

a second layer on the second major surface of the polymer film; and

a third layer on an inner surface of the plurality of openings,

wherein the third layer contacts the first layer and the second layer,

wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently has an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 Siemens per meter,

wherein for each of the plurality of openings, the third layer fills 20 to 80% of a total volume of each of the plurality of openings.

2. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein a width of the plurality of openings is 0.1 micrometer to 300 micrometers.

3. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the plurality of openings is circular, square, rectangular, or elliptical.

4. The current collector of claim 2 , wherein a length of the plurality of openings is 0.2 micrometer to 10,000 micrometers.

5. The current collector of claim 4 , wherein a ratio of the length to the width is 1000:1 to 1:1.

6. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein a first distance in a first direction between a first opening of the plurality of openings and an adjacent second opening of the plurality of openings is 0.01 to 50 millimeters.

7. The current collector of claim 6 , wherein a second distance between the first opening and an adjacent third opening of the plurality of openings is 0.01 to 50 millimeters, wherein the second distance is in a second direction and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction.

8. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a first thickness taken perpendicular to the first major surface, the second layer has a second thickness taken perpendicular to the second major surface, and the third layer has a third thickness taken perpendicular to the openings, and

wherein the first thickness, the second thickness, and the third thickness are each independently 0.01 micrometer to 25 micrometers.

9. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is in electrical communication with the second layer.

10. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the third layer is on an entire surface of an opening of the plurality of openings.

11. The current collector of claim 10 , wherein the third layer occludes the opening.

12. The current collector of claim 11 , wherein the third layer fully fills the opening and the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer comprise a same metal.

13. The current collector of claim 12 , wherein the third layer electrically connects the first layer and the second layer.

14. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a polyacetal, polyolefin, polyacrylic, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyester, polyamide, polyamideimide, polyarylate, polyarylsulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyvinyl chloride, polysulfone, polyimide, polyetherimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyetherketone, polyether etherketone, polyether ketone ketone, polybenzoxazole, polyphthalide, polyacetal, polyanhydride, polyvinyl ether, polyvinyl thioether, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl ketone, polyvinyl halide, polyvinyl nitrile, polyvinyl ester, polysulfonate, polysulfide, polythioester, polysulfone, polysulfonamide, polyurea, polyethylene terephthalate, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

15. The current collector of claim 14 , wherein the polymer is poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene), polyethylene terephthalate, or poly(4,4′-oxydiphenyl ene-pyromellitimide).

16. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently comprise an element of Groups 3 to 15 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

17. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently comprise a metal of Groups 3 to 15 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.

18. The current collector of claim 17 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are copper or an alloy thereof.

19. The current collector of claim 17 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are aluminum or an alloy thereof.

20. The current collector claim 1 , further comprising an interlayer interposed between the polymer film and the first layer, the second layer, or the third layer.

21. The current collector of claim 1 , further comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the plurality of openings are disposed in the first portion and not disposed in the second portion.

22. An electrode comprising:

the current collector of claim 1 ; and

further comprising an electrode material on at least one of the first layer, the second layer, or the third layer of the current collector.

23. The electrode of claim 22 , wherein the electrode material is disposed on the third layer.

24. The electrode of claim 23 , wherein the electrode material fills a through-hole defined by the third layer.

25. A battery comprising the electrode of claim 22 , wherein the battery is a lithium-ion battery or a lithium polymer battery.

26. A method of manufacturing a current collector, the method comprising:

providing a polymer film comprising a first major surface and an opposite second major surface;

perforating the polymer film to provide a perforated polymer film having a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the polymer film;

disposing a first layer on the first major surface of the polymer film;

disposing a second layer on the second major surface of the polymer film; and

disposing a third layer on an inner surface of the plurality of openings,

wherein the third layer contacts the first layer and the second layer,

wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently has an electrical conductivity of greater than 10 Siemens per meter, and

wherein for each of the plurality of openings, the third layer fills 20 to 80% of a total volume of each of the plurality of openings.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein disposing the first layer, disposing the second layer, and disposing the third layer are performed after perforating the polymer film.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein disposing the first layer, disposing the second layer, and disposing the third layer are performed at a same time.

29. The method of claim 26 , further comprising filling the plurality of openings with the third layer.

30. A method of manufacturing an electrode, the method comprising:

providing a current collector according to claim 1 ; and

disposing an electrode material on the current collector to manufacture the electrode.

31. The method of claim 30 , further comprising filling the plurality of openings with the electrode material.

32. The current collector of claim 17 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer each independently comprise Ni, Ti, or a combination thereof.

33. The current collector of claim 32 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer consist of Ni or Ti.

34. The current collector of claim 32 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer have an electrical conductivity of 1000 to 5×10 7 Siemens per meter.

35. The current collector of claim 34 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the third layer consist of Ni.

36. The current collector of claim 1 , wherein an average largest diameter of the plurality of openings is 0.1 micrometer to 10,000 micrometers.

37. The current collection of claim 1 , wherein the first layer comprises a first conductor, the second layer comprises a second conductor, and the third layer comprises a third conductor, wherein the third conductor is different from the first conductor or the second conductor.

Assignments (16)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 17, 2023
From: TUTHILL ACQUISITION LLC; EPV BUYER, INC.; EPV INTERMEDIATE, LLC
To: VECTRA CO.; DUKE INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; DUKE FINANCE HOLDINGS, LLC; DUKE FINANCE, LLC; DUKE FINANCE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC; OM GROUP CORPORATE, LLC; OMG ENERGY HOLDINGS, INC.; LITHIUMSTART INC.; EAGLEPICHER ELECTRONIC PACKAGING, LLC; EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; EP INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; EP INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 065247/0032 →
RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF LIEN ON PATENTS (1L) Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: VECTRA CO.; EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; DUKE FINANCE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065221/0832 →
RELEASE AND TERMINATION OF LIEN ON PATENTS (2L) Recorded Oct 12, 2023
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: VECTRA CO.; EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; DUKE FINANCE SUBSIDIARY HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065222/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 2, 2023
From: YARDNEY TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC.
To: ENER-TEK INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 065087/0987 →
SECOND LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 9, 2018
From: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 045545/0893 →
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 9, 2018
From: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 045545/0508 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Mar 8, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045539/0138 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Mar 8, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 045539/0225 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Feb 22, 2017
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 041777/0090 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2016
From: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037459/0921 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2015
From: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037311/0571 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Oct 28, 2015
From: PNC BANK
To: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 036985/0642 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2015
From: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; OMG ELECTRONIC CHEMICALS, LLC; OMG AMERICAS, INC.; EAGLEPICHER MEDICAL POWER, LLC; COMPUGRAPHICS U.S.A. INC.
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 034902/0368 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2015
From: ENER-TEK INTERNATIONAL, INC
To: EAGLEPICHER TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 034727/0353 →
DOCUMENTATION SHOWING ENER-TEK INTERNATIONAL, INC. IS PARENT COMPANY OF YARDNEY TECHNICAL PRODUCTS, INC. Recorded Jan 15, 2015
From: YARDNEY TECHNICAL PRODUCTS INC.
To: ENER-TEK INTERNATIONAL, INC
Reel/Frame 034769/0275 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 10, 2011
From: RAVDEL, BORIS; PUGLIA, FRANK
To: YARDNEY TECHNICAL PRODUCTS INC.
Reel/Frame 026427/0929 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120315537A1 · Dec 13, 2012