Electrochemical cell, components thereof, and methods of making and using same

Abstract

An electrochemical cell including at least one nitrogen-containing compound is disclosed. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound may form part of or be included in: an anode structure, a cathode structure, an electrolyte and/or a separator of the electrochemical cell. Also disclosed is a battery including the electrochemical cell.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
 a cathode comprising an electroactive material;   an anode comprising lithium;   a separator between the anode and cathode;   a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising one or more non-aqueous solvents, and one or more lithium salts; and   a nitrogen-containing material in one or more of the group consisting of: the cathode, the anode, and the separator, wherein the nitrogen-containing material is less than one percent soluble in the non-aqueous electrolyte.   
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the electrolyte comprises the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the solubility of the nitrogen-containing material is less than 0.5 percent in the non-aqueous electrolyte. 
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: N-methyl acetamide, acetonitrile, acetals, ketals, esters, carbonates, sulfones, sulfites, sulfolanes, aliphatic ethers, acyclic ethers, cyclic ethers, glymes, polyethers, phosphate esters, siloxanes, dioxolanes, N-alkylpyrrolidones, substituted forms thereof, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the nitrogen-containing material comprises a functional group N—O. 
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode includes the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the anode includes the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the separator includes the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the anode and cathode each include the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the separator and one or both of the anode and cathode include the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode comprises a binder comprising the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 12 , wherein the binder comprises a nitrogen-containing material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyacrylamide, polyallylaminde, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides. 
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode comprises a layer comprising the nitrogen-containing material. 
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyacrylamide, polyallylaminde, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides. 
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the cathode comprises a surface functionalized with a compound selected from the group consisting of N—O and amine. 
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the separator comprises a material selected from the group consisting of one or more monomers, oligomers, and polymers of: polyethylene imine, polyphosphazene, polyvinylpyrolidone, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyelectrolytes, polyallylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyimides, polybenzimidazole, and polyamides. 
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the separator comprises a surface functionalized with a group selected from N—O and amine. 
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the separator comprises an electrolyte material. 
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the anode comprises a base electrode material layer and a multi-layered structure comprising an ion conductive layer. 
     
     
         21 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein a concentration of the nitrogen-containing material in the non-aqueous electrolyte remains about constant during use of the electrochemical cell. 
     
     
         22 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 2 , wherein the nitrogen-containing material comprises one or more of:
 a compound comprising an N—O functional group, the compound selected from the group consisting of polyelectrolytes comprising a nitro aliphatic portion as a functional group, polynitrostyrene, nitrocellulose, and octyl nitrate,   a compound comprising an amine functional group selected from the group consisting of polyethylene imine, polyacrylamide, polyaniline, polyallylamine, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride, polyamide, and   micellar-type structures comprising the N—O or the amine functional group, wherein the nitrogen-containing material is less than one percent soluble in the electrolyte.   
     
     
         23 . A battery comprising:
 a housing;   a positive lead;   a negative lead; and   one or more electrochemical cells as defined in  claim 1 .