Anode for thermal battery, apparatus for manufacturing the anode for thermal battery, and method of manufacturing the anode for thermal battery

Abstract

A lithium anode of a thermal battery may include a metal alloy foam in which a plurality of pores is formed and including nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and aluminum (Al) mixed in a predetermined composition ratio, and lithium impregnated into the metal alloy foam in a molten state and accommodated in the pores, wherein the chromium in the composition ratio may facilitate the impregnation of the lithium into the pores and reduce the reactivity of the metal alloy foam to the lithium at an operating temperature of the thermal battery, and the aluminum in the composition ratio may facilitate the impregnation of the lithium into the pores and prevent the lithium from penetrating into a surface of the metal alloy foam.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a thermal battery, the method comprising:
 melting lithium in a glove box under an argon atmosphere;   immersing a metal alloy foam, in which a plurality of pores are formed and comprising nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and aluminum (Al) mixed in a predetermined composition ratio in the molten lithium; and   arranging an anode current collector on one surface of the metal alloy foam and sequentially stacking an electrolyte, a cathode, and a cathode current collector on another surface of the metal alloy foam.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein a surface pre-treatment operation using eutectic salts is not performed on the surfaces of the metal alloy foam. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the molten lithium is impregnated into the metal alloy foam within five minutes in the immersing of the metal alloy foam in the molten lithium. 
     
     
         10 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a thermal battery, the method comprising:
 melting lithium in a glove box under an argon atmosphere;   immersing a metal alloy foam, in which a plurality of pores are formed and comprising nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), and molybdenum (Mo) mixed in a predetermined composition ratio, in the molten lithium; and   arranging an anode current collector on one surface of the metal alloy foam and sequentially stacking an electrolyte, a cathode, and a cathode current collector on another surface of the metal alloy foam.   
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing an anode of a thermal battery, the method comprising:
 providing a metal alloy foam wrapped around a first roller to a conveying unit;   passing the metal alloy foam through a container containing molten lithium, according to a movement of the conveying unit; and   cooling the lithium impregnated into the metal alloy foam by spraying argon by an argon blower.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising processing the metal alloy foam to a certain thickness by pressing the metal alloy foam, in which the lithium is impregnated, by using a press roller. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising recovering the metal alloy foam in which the lithium is impregnated to wrap the metal alloy foam around a second roller. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the first roller is 16 cm to 30 cm. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a rotation speed of the first roller is 0.02 rpm to 2 rpm. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a rotation speed of the press roller is 0.1 rpm to 2 rpm. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the argon blower sprays argon at a pressure of 50 psi to 200 psi. 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for manufacturing an anode of a thermal battery, the apparatus comprising:
 a first roller releasing a wrapped metal alloy foam and supplying the metal alloy foam to a conveying unit, according to a rotation of the first roller,   a container containing molten lithium and through which the metal alloy foam passes according to a movement of the conveying unit; and   an argon blower spraying argon to cool the lithium impregnated into the metal alloy foam moving along the conveying unit.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprises a press roller pressing and processing the metal alloy foam in which the lithium is impregnated to have a certain thickness. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a second roller recovering and wrapping the metal alloy foam in which the lithium is impregnated.