Lithium metal battery with solid polymer electrolyte

Abstract

A battery having a lithium metal anode, a solid polymer electrolyte and a cathode material enabling high voltage discharge.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery comprising:
 an anode comprising a first electrochemically active material;   a cathode comprising both a second electrochemically active material and a first electrolyte; and   a second electrolyte interposed between the anode and the cathode;   wherein at least one of the first electrolyte and second electrolyte comprises a solid polymer electrolyte;   wherein the solid polymer electrolyte has a glassy state, and comprises both at least one cationic diffusing ion and at least one anionic diffusing ion;   wherein at least one of the at least one cationic diffusing ions comprises lithium;   wherein at least one of the at least cationic diffusing ion and the at least one of the anionic diffusing ion is mobile in the glassy state; and   wherein the first electrochemically active material comprises a lithium metal.   
     
     
         2 . The battery of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the glassy state extends in a range of temperatures of the solid polymer electrolyte from a melting temperature of the solid polymer electrolyte to a temperature lower than the melting temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein an electronic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte is less than 1×10 −8  S/cm at room temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein a melting temperature of the solid polymer electrolyte is greater than 250° C. 
     
     
         5 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte is a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         6 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein an ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte is isotropic. 
     
     
         7 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte is non-flammable. 
     
     
         8 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the Young's modulus of the solid polymer electrolyte is equal to or greater than 3.0 MPa. 
     
     
         9 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein an ionic conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte is greater than 1.0×10 −5  S/cm at room temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The battery of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a single cationic diffusing ion;   wherein the at least one of the at least one single anionic diffusing ion comprises lithium; and   wherein a diffusivity of the single cationic diffusing ion is greater than 1.0×10 −12  m 2 /s at room temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The battery of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a single anionic diffusing ion; and   wherein a diffusivity of the single anionic diffusing ion is greater than 1.0×10 −12  m 2 /s at room temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one cationic diffusing ion has a diffusivity greater than 1.0×10 −12  m 2 /s. 
     
     
         13 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one anionic diffusing ion has a diffusivity greater than 1.0×10 −12  m 2 /s. 
     
     
         14 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one anionic diffusing ion and the at least one cationic diffusing ion has a diffusivity greater than 1.0×10 −12  m 2 /s. 
     
     
         15 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity greater than 1×10 −4  S/cm at room temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity greater than 1×10 −3  S/cm at 80° C. 
     
     
         17 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity greater than 1×10 −5  S/cm at −40° C. 
     
     
         18 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein a concentration of lithium is greater than 3 moles of lithium per liter of solid polymer electrolyte. 
     
     
         19 . The battery of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one cationic diffusing ion has a cationic diffusivity and the at least one anionic diffusing ion has an anionic diffusivity; and   wherein the cationic diffusivity is greater than the anionic diffusivity.   
     
     
         20 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein a cationic transference number of the solid polymer electrolyte is greater than 0.5 and less than 1.0.