Claims
- 1. A process for preparing solid lithium electrochemical generators comprising the steps of:(a) preparing a battery laminate comprising a lithium anode film, a polymer electrolyte film, a cathode film and a current collector film; (b) cutting said battery laminate with a mechanical cutting means comprising means selected from the group consisting of solids, liquids, and mixtures thereof, thereby exposing a cut edge of said battery laminate; and (c) applying a reactive fluid selected from the group consisting of water, alcohol, halogenated compounds, sulfured compounds and oxygenated compounds onto said cut edge to electrically insulate an exposed edge of said lithium anode film from an exposed edge of said cathode film so as to prevent electrical short circuits between said anode film and said cathode film.
- 2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive fluid oxidizes said exposed edge of said lithium anode film and forms a passivation film along said exposed edge of said anode film.
- 3. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive fluid is applied onto said cut edge during the step of cutting said battery laminate.
- 4. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive fluid is applied onto said cut edge following the step of cutting said battery laminate.
- 5. A process as defined in claim 2 wherein lithium from said exposed edge of said lithium anode film is oxidized by said reactive fluid and converted into an electrically insulating material such as Li2O or LiOH.
- 6. A process as defined in claim 5 wherein said lithium anode film is made of lithium metal, lithium alloy or lithium based compound.
- 7. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive fluid is methanol.
- 8. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said battery laminate is a biface laminate comprising an anode film, an electrolyte film, a cathode film, a current collector, a second cathode film, a second electrolyte film and a second anode film.
- 9. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein prior to cutting said battery laminate, a pressing operation is carried out to make said films adherent to each other.
- 10. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical cutting means comprises a blade or a die.
- 11. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical cutting means cuts using a technique selected from the group consisting of crush cutting, shear cutting, or punching.
- 12. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical cutting means comprises a jet of reactive or non-reactive fluid.
- 13. A process as defined in claim 12 wherein said jet of reactive or non-reactive fluid comprises a solid abrasive material.
- 14. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said mechanical cutting means comprises an abrasive wire.
- 15. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reactive fluid comprises water.
CROSS-REFERENCE
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/152,341, filed Sep. 14, 1998 now abandoned.
GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS
The Government of the United States of America has rights in this invention pursuant to Cooperative Agreement No. DE-FCO2-91CE50336 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/152341 |
Sep 1998 |
US |
Child |
09/393493 |
|
US |