The present invention relates to a battery, in particular a lithium ion battery, which comprises at least two individual cells, in particular individual lithium ion cells, interconnected in series, the battery having passive corrosion protection in the region of the interconnection, i.e. in the region of the contacting of the outer discharge conductor of the positive discharge electrode (also referred to as the cathode) of one individual cell with the outer discharge conductor of the negative discharge electrode (also referred to as the anode) of another individual cell, at least in the region of the contacting.
The term hybrid or electrical vehicle refers to vehicles which by design can be powered fully or partially by electrical energy.
Motor vehicles with a hybrid drive, also referred to as hybrid vehicles, have for example an internal combustion engine, an electrical machine and one or more electrical energy storage devices. Electrical vehicles having fuel cells generally consist of a fuel cell for energy conversion, a tank for liquid or gaseous fuel, an electrochemical energy storage device and an electrical machine for the propulsion.
The electrical machine of the hybrid vehicle is generally configured as a starter/generator and/or electrical drive. As a starter/generator, it replaces the starter and generator normally provided. In an embodiment as an electrical drive, an additional torque, i.e. acceleration moment, can be contributed by the electrical machine to the powertrain of the vehicle. As a generator, it allows recovery of braking energy and support of the vehicle electrical system. In a pure electrical vehicle, the drive power is provided only by an electrical machine. A feature common to the hybrid and electrical vehicle types is that a large amount of electrical energy needs to be provided and transferred.
The energy flow is controlled by means of electronics, generally referred to as a hybrid controller. Inter alia, it regulates whether and to what extent energy should be drawn from or delivered to the energy storage device.
The drawing of energy from the fuel cell or the energy storage device is generally used to constitute drive power or to supply the vehicle electrical system. The delivery of energy is used to charge the storage device, or to convert braking energy into electrical energy, i.e. for regenerative braking.
The energy storage device for hybrid applications can be recharged during driving. The energy required for this is provided by the internal combustion engine.
For example, lead batteries, double-layer capacitors, nickel metal hydride cells, nickel zinc cells or lithium ion cells may be used as energy sources and storage devices for electrical vehicle applications.
The lithium ion cell is in most cases accommodated in a gastight metal housing. One special possibility for the embodiment with lithium ion cells is in the form of a softpack. This consists of a battery cell which is enclosed by a sheet, typically composite aluminum sheet packaging. Discharge conductors are fed out of the cells in different possible embodiments (see
a) represents a conventional individual lithium ion cell 1 in which the outer discharge electrodes, i.e. the positive discharge electrode (of the cathode) 2 and the negative discharge electrode (of the anode) 3 are applied externally on the edge of the individual cell 1. The outer discharge electrodes 2 and 3 in this case pass through the outer shell of the individual cell 1 and, in the cell, contact the electrode regions required for the current discharge (the cathode or the anode, respectively) in the individual cell 1.
b) represents an alternative concept of such an individual cell 1, in which the discharge electrodes 2 and 3 are applied on one side of the individual cell 1 and protrude from the individual cell 1.
The discharge electrodes of the lithium ion cells, irrespective of the housing design, are constructed from different materials (metals) having correspondingly different electrochemical potentials as compared with other battery types. Thus, the discharge electrodes at the positive pole (cathode) generally consist of aluminum and the discharge electrodes at the negative pole (anode) generally consist of copper. In contrast to this, the discharge electrodes for example in the case of lead acid cells respectively consist of lead and in the case of nickel-cadmium and nickel-zinc cells respectively of stainless steel having an identical electrochemical potential. Owing to the different discharge electrode materials in the case of lithium ion cells, with series interconnection of the cells and the resulting contact of the materials having a different electrochemical potential, corrosion of the discharge electrodes at the contact point takes place under certain circumstances. This type of corrosion is generally referred to as contact corrosion. This is a very substantial difference from other electrochemical cells, in which identical materials (metals) are respectively contacted.
Contact corrosion can occur when different metals, i.e. metals having a different electrochemical potential (measured for example against the standard platinum-hydrogen electrode) come in contact with one another. As already described, this contact can occur in the storage device with series connection of lithium ion cells to one another, the negative discharge electrodes of which generally consist of (nickelized) copper (potential +0.34 V) and the positive discharge electrodes of which generally consist of aluminum (potential −1.66 V).
The less reactive metal (copper) having the higher electrochemical potential then under certain circumstances (presence of a medium which functions as an electrolyte) promotes corrosion in the reactive metal (aluminum) having the lower electrochemical potential by contact corrosion, since the two metals act as an anode and cathode and a weak current therefore flows between the two discharge electrodes. A precondition for this process is, as already mentioned, a suitable additional material at the contact point of the two metals, for example water formed by air condensation. However, even the quite normal air humidity, which is always present for example in a closed storage device, may be sufficient.
The corrosion problem for series interconnection of two lithium ion cells is represented in
In general, the aluminum discharge electrode of the cell is oxidized and dissolves. The reactions also depend on the pH and the oxygen concentration.
The following reactions take place during the corrosion:
Reaction at the positive discharge electrode of the cell, consisting of aluminum:
Mereactive→Mereactive+e−
Reaction at the negative discharge electrode of the cell, consisting of copper:
Meunreactive++e−→Meunreactive
If metal ions are present
In an acidic electrolyte (pH<5) hydrogen is formed:
2H++2e−->H2
In an acidic electrolyte, water is formed when oxygen is present:
O2+4H++4e−->2H2O
In an alkaline medium (pH>7), water reacts to form hydroxide:
2H2O+2e−->H22OH−
Corrosion elements differ in the structure of the corrosion components, i.e. partners participating in the corrosion, which function as the anode, cathode and electrolyte. A feature common to them is the electrical arrangement: the anode and cathode are electrically conductively connected to one another both by the electrolyte (water or condensate in the battery) and by direct contact (conductive connection, for example welding of the cell connectors to one another).
Without corrosion protection, inter alia at pores (for example connection gaps in the conductive connection), under certain circumstances enhanced corrosion (so-called crevice corrosion) takes place. The crevice corrosion is initiated as a result of the creation of concentration gradients between the electrolyte inside and outside the gap. Owing to its geometry, the gap in this case provides the preconditions in the form of impeding the diffusion equilibration, so that a concentration element can form.
When corrosion attack on the cell discharge electrodes leads to impairment of the functionality, this is referred to as corrosion damage. In the event of corrosion damage, the operational reliability of the storage device can be compromised and the total power of the battery can be significantly reduced.
Corrosion protection describes measures for avoiding damage which can be caused by corrosion on metallic components, here discharge electrodes.
In the case of corrosion protection, a distinction is made between active and passive corrosion protection.
In active corrosion protection, “more reactive” layers having a lower electrochemical potential protect the metal to be protected and in this case function as a sacrificial or protective covering. This means that the layer preferentially dissolves and therefore preserves for as long as possible the function of the discharge electrode to be protected. A classical example is the zinc coating of steel. Since the corrosion products could have an unfavorable effect on the overall functionality of the energy storage device, however, such a corrosion protection principle is associated with significant disadvantages for lithium ion accumulators.
On the basis of this, it is an object of the present invention to produce an alternative corrosion protection concept for batteries, in particular for lithium ion cells or batteries, which permits a long lifetime of the batteries (above all based on lithium ion cells) and at the same time does not compromise the functionality of the batteries throughout the lifetime.
This object is achieved by the features of claim 1, the other dependent claims presenting advantageous refinements.
According to the invention, a battery is therefore provided comprising at least two individual cells which are interconnected in series and each of which has, for contacting, at least one discharge electrode connected to the cathode and at least one discharge electrode connected to the anode of the respective individual cell, wherein the discharge electrodes connected to the cathode and the anode of the individual cell consist of different metals and the discharge electrodes (for the anode and cathode) each have passive corrosion protection at least in the region of the contacting of the discharge electrodes.
In particular, the individual cells are cells in which Li ions are incorporated at interstitial sites in the active material of the electrodes, i.e. individual lithium ion cells. The invention therefore preferably relates to a lithium ion battery which is formed by a multiplicity of interconnected individual lithium ion cells.
Since absolute corrosion resistance can only be achieved with difficulty, the protective measures implemented for the cell discharge conductors in the context of the invention are generally intended to reduce the rate of the corrosive attack to such an extent that no damage occurs over the lifetime, or correspondingly the medium acting as an electrolyte is prevented from contact with the discharge electrodes. In this way, damage to the connection contact is intended to be avoided during the lifetime.
In a preferred embodiment, the passive corrosion protection is configured in the form of an attached component, in particular as a clip, which is formed from a nonmetallic material, as a covering consisting of a nonmetallic material and/or as a conversion layer.
Passive corrosion on the cells is preferably achieved by a suitable covering of the discharge electrodes (as explained below in the exemplary embodiments) in order to avoid contact with corroding media (for example electrolyte as condensation water). In principle, all materials which adhere well to the metals of the discharge electrodes and repel water are suitable as a covering. The bond between the coverings and the discharge electrodes may in this case be physical and/or chemical in nature. For example, a coating, rubber, plastic clips comprising an adhesive or conversion layers (conversion layers are very thin nonmetallic, usually inorganic layers on a metal surface, which are generally produced by chemical reaction of an aqueous treatment solution with the metallic substrate), an eloxal layer, a hard eloxal layer, chromatization or other conversion layers with a substantially nonmetallic character. The term refers to conversion layers protective layers which are artificially formed when the corrosion-protection effect of “natural” passive layers is insufficient in the case of many metals. On the other hand, the “natural” corrosion layers generally do not form a sufficient adhesion base for subsequent functional layers. For this reason, “natural” corrosion layers must be removed and instead of them “artificial” protective layers—conversion layers—must be generated by means of chemical or electrochemical treatment, for example phosphate layers or blackening layers, or anodization layers.
This is done, for example, in aqueous “corrosion media” (phosphatization/anodization electrolyte inter alia) in two basic steps:
Passive corrosion protection has the advantage that, with absolute leaktightness of the aforementioned layers, the lifetime of such a lithium ion battery is no longer determined by the corrosion of the electrodes, since effective corrosion protection can be maintained throughout the lifetime of the battery.
Preferred materials, which may be envisioned both for the attached component and for the covering, are in this case selected from the group consisting of coatings, rubber or plastics.
As conversion layers, eloxal layers, hard eloxal layers, chromatizations, phosphate layers, blackening layers and/or anodization layers may in particular be envisioned.
It is furthermore preferred in this case for the passive corrosion protection to be applied directly (for example by clipping, pressing, mechanical fixing) onto the discharge electrodes of the anode and cathode, or onto the discharge electrodes of the anode and cathode by means of an adhesive layer. In the embodiment mentioned last, it is thus possible for there also to be an adhesive layer, for example an encapsulation layer, between the respective electrode and the corrosion protection, which bonds the corrosion protection and the respective electrode. Preferred adhesives are in this case selected from the group consisting of universal adhesives, two-component adhesives, physically bonding adhesives (wet-tack adhesives containing solvent), chemically curing adhesives (epoxy resin adhesives, silicones, cyanoacrylate adhesives) or pressure-sensitive adhesives.
It is likewise possible for the passive corrosion protection to be formed as a coating, and at least in the region of the contacting of the discharge electrodes. The coating may, for example, be formed from protective, epoxy-resin, polyurethane-resin and/or butyl- and/or silicon-rubber coatings.
In another preferred embodiment, the passive corrosion protection is applied onto discharge electrodes of the anode and the cathode in a hermetically sealing fashion.
It is furthermore possible for the passive corrosion protection to be formed over the entirety of the discharge electrodes, i.e. over the entire surface of the working electrodes, or only in the region of the contacting.
According to these two embodiments, for example, the complete surface of the respective discharge electrodes is therefore covered with passive corrosion protection. As an alternative to this, however, it is also conceivable to apply corrosion protection only in the region of the contacting, i.e. in the region in which the discharge electrode of the cathode of one cell is electrically in contact with the discharge electrode of the anode of the other cell.
Preferred materials of the respective electrodes are in this case copper or nickelized copper for the discharge electrode of the negative electrode and aluminum for the discharge electrode of the positive electrode.
The present invention will be explained in more detail with the aid of the following appended figures, without restricting the invention to the special embodiments referred to therein.
Several passive corrosion methods, which will be explained in more detail below, have proven to be particularly effective methods for treatment of the cells against contact corrosion:
One possibility is to use plastic clips 8 (see
a) represents an embodiment according to the invention of a lithium ion battery 100, which is based on the series-interconnected lithium ion cells known from the prior art, which are represented in
Possible adhesives 9 for fastening such clips 8 on the cell discharge conductors 2, 3′ may be universal adhesives, epoxy resin-based adhesives, 2-component adhesives or similar adhesives which effectively prevent infiltration by moisture. The sealing of the discharge electrodes 2, 3′ may likewise be carried out by means of protective coatings 9 or by encapsulation 9. Possible encapsulation materials are, for example, epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, butyl and silicone rubber or the like.
Another possibility for protecting the discharge conductors consists in coating 10 of the points at risk, in particular at the points where the discharge electrodes are welded (region 4). In the present examples (
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2010 029 970.7 | Jun 2010 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP11/59513 | 6/8/2011 | WO | 00 | 12/20/2012 |