Method for controlling the charging or discharging process of a secondary battery with auxiliary electrode

Abstract

The present invention includes three-dimensional secondary battery cells comprising an electrolyte, a cathode, an anode, and an auxiliary electrode. The cathode, the anode, and the auxiliary electrode have a surface in contact with the electrolyte. The anode and the cathode are electrolytically coupled. The auxiliary electrode is electrolytically coupled and electrically coupled to at least one of the anode or the cathode. Electrically coupled means directly or indirectly connected in series by wires, traces or other connecting elements. The average distance between the surface of the auxiliary electrode and the surface of the coupled cathode or the coupled anode is between about 1 micron and about 10,000 microns. The average distance means the average of the shortest path for ion transfer from every point on the coupled cathode or anode to the auxiliary electrode.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A method for controlling the charging or discharging process of a secondary battery, the secondary battery comprising an anode, a cathode and an auxiliary electrode, the method comprising sensing the voltage of the anode or the cathode relative to the auxiliary electrode as the battery is charging or discharging and tuning or stopping the charging or discharging when the voltage of the anode and/or the cathode exceeds a specified limit relative to the auxiliary electrode. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the anode comprises silicon and the discharging of the battery is tuned or stopped when the anode voltage sensed relative to the auxiliary electrode is 0.9V versus lithium. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the anode comprises silicon and the charging of the battery is tuned or stopped when the anode voltage sensed relative to the auxiliary electrode is 0.1V versus lithium. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the charging of the battery is tuned or stopped when the cathode voltage sensed relative to the auxiliary electrode is 4.3V relative to lithium. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29  wherein the charging of the battery is tuned or stopped when the anode voltage sensed relative to the auxiliary electrode is 0V versus lithium. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/100 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/50 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/20 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the anode comprises silicon. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/100 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery and, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/100 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/50 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery and, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/50 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/20 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery and, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/20 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 28  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/100 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 28  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/50 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 28  wherein, as the battery is charging, the charging rate of the battery is at least C/20 relative to the capacity, C, of the anode or cathode being charged. 
     
     
         47 . A method for replenishing a secondary battery, the secondary battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and an auxiliary electrode containing a source of carrier ions, and the method comprising (i) sensing the voltage of the anode or the cathode relative to the auxiliary electrode as the battery is charging or discharging and optionally storing sensed voltage data in a memory unit and (ii) replenishing the anode or cathode with carrier ions from the auxiliary electrode according to the sensed voltage or stored voltage data. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the anode comprises silicon. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the secondary battery is a lithium ion battery and the anode comprises silicon.