Chemical protection of metal surface

Abstract

An electrochemical cell includes an anode having a metal material having an oxygen containing layer. The electrochemical cell also includes a cathode and an electrolyte. The anode includes a chemically bonded protective layer formed by reacting a D or P block precursor with the oxygen containing layer.

1 . An anode for an electrochemical cell comprising: 
 a metal material having an oxygen containing layer;    a chemically bonded protective layer formed by reacting a D or P block precursor with the oxygen containing layer.    
   
   
       2 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the D or P block precursor is an organo-metallic compound.  
   
   
       3 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the metal material is selected from alkaline metals, and alkaline earth metals.  
   
   
       4 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the metal material comprises lithium.  
   
   
       5 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: AR 1 R 2 X wherein A is selected from phosphorous or boron, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, R 2  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
   
   
       6 . The anode of  claim 5  wherein the halogen is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine.  
   
   
       7 . The anode of  claim 5  wherein the alkyl, alkoxy, and aromatic groups may be fluorinated or partially fluorinated.  
   
   
       8 . The anode of  claim 5  wherein the alkyl group is functionalized.  
   
   
       9 . The anode of  claim 5  wherein the alkyl group is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, iso-octyl, tert-octyl, 2-ethyhexyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, and 1-methyl-4-isopropylcyclohexyl.  
   
   
       10 . The anode of  claim 5  wherein the aromatic group is selected from phenyl groups, phenyl groups having alkyl substituents in the para, meta or ortho position, and polyaromatic compounds.  
   
   
       11 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: AR 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 X wherein A is phosphorous, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen R 2  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen, R3 is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen, R4 is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen.  
   
   
       12 . The anode of  claim 11  wherein the halogen is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine.  
   
   
       13 . The anode of  claim 11  wherein the alkyl, alkoxy, and aromatic groups may be fluorinated or partially fluorinated.  
   
   
       14 . The anode of  claim 11  wherein the alkyl group is functionalized.  
   
   
       15 . The anode of  claim 11  wherein the alkyl group is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, iso-octyl, tert-octyl, 2-ethyhexyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, and 1-methyl-4-isopropylcyclohexyl.  
   
   
       16 . The anode of  claim 1  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: SiR 1  R 2 R 3 X wherein, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, R 2  is selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons R 3  is selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
   
   
       17 . The anode of  claim 16  wherein the halogen is selected from chlorine, bromine, fluorine, and iodine.  
   
   
       18 . The anode of  claim 16  wherein the alkyl, alkoxy, and aromatic groups may be fluorinated or partially fluorinated.  
   
   
       19 . The anode of  claim 16  wherein the alkyl group is functionalized.  
   
   
       20 . The anode of  claim 16  wherein the alkyl group is selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl, tert-butyl, tert-pentyl, iso-octyl, tert-octyl, 2-ethyhexyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, 1-methylcyclopentyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, 1-methylcyclohexyl, and 1-methyl-4-isopropylcyclohexyl.  
   
   
       21 . An electrochemical cell comprising: 
 an anode including a metal material having an oxygen containing layer;    a cathode;    an electrolyte,;    the anode including a chemically bonded protective layer formed by reacting a D or P block precursor with the oxygen containing layer.    
   
   
       22 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: AR 1 R 2 X wherein A is selected from phosphorous or boron, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, R 2  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons.  
   
   
       23 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: AR 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 X wherein A is phosphorous, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen R 2 is  selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen, R3 is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen, R4 is selected from halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, or oxygen.  
   
   
       24 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21  wherein the D or P block precursor comprises a chemical compound of the formula: SiR 1 R 2 R 3 X wherein, X is a halogen or halogen containing compound and R 1  is selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, R 2 is  selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons R 3  is selected from hydrogen, halogens, alkyl groups having from 1 to 20 carbons, alkoxy groups containing 1 to 20 carbons, or aromatic groups having from 1 to 20 carbons.