Current collector for a stacked battery design

Abstract

Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first cell and a second cell disposed adjacent the first cell. The devices may include a stacked current collector coupled between the first cell and the second cell. The current collector may include a grid or matrix, and may include a combination of conductive and insulative materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-cell battery comprising:
 a first cell including a first current collector, a first anode, a first cathode, and a second current collector; and   a second cell including a third current collector, a second anode, a second cathode, and a fourth current collector, wherein the second current collector and the third current collector are coupled with one another across a surface of each of the second current collector and the third current collector, wherein the second current collector and the third current collector each comprise a conductive grid, and wherein the second current collector includes a current interrupt component that, when activated, interrupts current flow from the second current collector to the third current collector.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive grid of each of the second current collector and the third current collector is disposed in an insulative material. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 2 , wherein the current interrupt component comprises a positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) material disposed with the insulative material, and wherein the PTC material is configured to expand at a predetermined temperature and separate the second current collector from the third current collector. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 1 , wherein the first current collector and the third current collector comprise a first material in the conductive grid, and wherein the second current collector and the fourth current collector comprise in the conductive grid a second material different from the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 4 , wherein the first material is aluminum and the second material is stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive grid of each current collector is the same material. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 1 , wherein the conductive grid comprises first grid members and second grid members, and wherein the first grid members comprise a current interrupt component. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 7 , wherein the conductive grid comprises first grid members crossed with second grid members, and wherein first grid members are characterized by a thickness less than a thickness of the second grid members. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-cell battery of  claim 1 , wherein the current interrupt component comprises a non-resettable positive temperature coefficient (“PTC”) material disposed between the second current collector and the third current collector, and wherein the PTC material is configured to expand at a predetermined temperature to electrically decouple the first cell and the second cell.