Porous Polymer Lithium Cathode

Abstract

A cathode for a lithium battery using porous polymer materials with tapered or cone-shaped metalized pores. The types of batteries include, but are not limited to, Li—CoO2, Li—Mn2O4, Li—FePO4, Li—S, Li—O2, and other lithium cathode chemistries. The tapered metalized pores contain lithium metal in small reaction zones in the cathode in a flexible structure. The form factor of such assembly would be very thin. Because of the thin form factor these electrodes would be suitable for batteries that require high power density, such certain electrical vehicles, power tools, and wearable devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cathode comprising:
 a porous polymer cathode base material having an anode facing surface, a cathode backside surface, and pores with internal cathode pore walls; and   a coating of conductive material on said cathode backside surface, and on said internal cathode pore walls;   said internal cathode pore walls have a proximate end, proximal to the anode facing surface and a distal end, proximal to the cathode backside surface;   the said coating of conductive material applied to the internal cathode pore walls is tapered to be thicker at the said distal end than the proximate end.   
     
     
         2 . The cathode of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said coating of conductive material at said distal end fills the distal end to block the opening in the distal end of the pore. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cathode of  claim 1  further comprising:
 said porous polymer anode base material has structured pores.