Foam collector for electrochemical cells
US6214490A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/10
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved current collector for electrochemical cells is formed of a conductive porous foam. The foam is preferably a nickel foam as is often used as an electrochemical cell substrate. The high porosity foam's compressibility and resiliency provide an adaptive contact surface which accommodates variations in the shape and position of electrodes and other circuit elements. By using this material as an improved current collector, electrochemical cells are more easily produced with reduced internal resistance. Improved methods of assembly are a result of the nature of the high porosity foam material and its compliance. The foam collector may be used as a pressure connection or welded to the spiral edge of jelly-roll electrode assemblies. To increase effective contact area and also improve resistance to vibration forces, portions of the collector are compressed in a radial space between a jelly-roll assembly and the surrounding container. Foam current collectors according to the invention also have a low profile increasing the productive volume of the cell. The foam collector may be connected to the spiral edge of negative or positive electrodes of standard jelly-roll configuration c…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.