High elastic modulus polymer electrolytes suitable for preventing thermal runaway in lithium batteries

US8703310B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Scott Allen Mullin · San Leandro, US
• Ashoutosh Panday · Berkeley, US
• Nitash Pervez Balsara · Corona, US
• Mohit Singh · Berkeley, US
• Hany Basam Eitouni · Oakland, US
• Enrique Daniel Gomez · State College, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 30, 2012
• Grant date: Apr 22, 2014
• Expiry date: Oct 30, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×107 Pa and an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10−5 Scm−1. The electrolyte is made under dry conditions to achieve the noted characteristics. In another aspect, the electrolyte exhibits a conductivity drop when the temperature of electrolyte increases over a threshold temperature, thereby providing a shutoff mechanism for preventing thermal runaway in lithium battery cells.