Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Current producing cell – elements – subcombinations and... – Include electrolyte chemically specified and method
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-03
2004-08-31
Weiner, Laura (Department: 1745)
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Current producing cell, elements, subcombinations and...
Include electrolyte chemically specified and method
C429S307000, C429S322000, C252S062200, C361S502000, C361S504000, C361S505000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06783896
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrolyte, an ion conductor including the electrolyte, and electrochemical devices including the electrolyte, such as lithium cells, lithium ion cells, electrical double-layer capacitors.
Accompanying the evolution of portable equipment in recent years, there has been active development of electrochemical devices utilizing electrochemical phenomena, such as cells for use as their power supplies and capacitors. In addition, electrochromic devices (ECD), in which a color change occurs due to an electrochemical reaction, are examples of electrochemical devices for uses other than power supplies.
These electrochemical devices are typically composed of a pair of electrodes and an ion conductor filled between them. The ion conductor contains a salt (AB) as an electrolyte, which is dissolved in a solvent, polymer or mixture thereof such that the salt is dissociated into cations (A
+
) and anions (B
−
), resulting in ionic conduction. In order to obtain the required level of ion conductivity for the device, it is necessary to dissolve a sufficient amount of this electrolyte in solvent or polymer. In actuality, there are many cases in which a solvent other than water is used, such as organic solvents and polymers. Electrolytes having sufficient solubility in such organic solvents and polymers are presently limited to only a few types. For example, electrolytes having sufficient solubility for use in lithium cells are only LiClO
4
, LiPF
6
, LiBF
4
, LiAsF
6
, LiN(SO
2
CF
3
)
2
, LiN(SO
2
C
2
F
5
)
2
, LiN(SO
2
CF
3
)(SO
2
C
4
F
9
) and LiCF
3
SO
3
. Although the cation type of the electrolyte is frequently limited by the device as is the case with the lithium ion of lithium cells, any anion can be used for the electrolyte provided it satisfies the condition of having high solubility.
Amidst the considerable diversity of the application range of these devices, efforts are made to seek out the optimum electrolyte for each application. Under the present circumstances, however, optimization efforts have reached their limit due to the limited types of available anions. In addition, existing electrolytes have various problems, thereby creating the need for an electrolyte having a novel anion portion. More specifically, since ClO
4
ion of LiClO
4
is explosive and AsF
6
ion of LiAsF
6
is toxic, they cannot be used for reasons of safety. Even the only practical electrolyte of LiPF
6
has problems including heat resistance and hydrolysis resistance. Although electrolytes of LiN(CF
3
SO
2
)
2
, LiN(SO
2
C
2
F
6
)
2
, LiN(SO
2
CF
3
)(SO
2
C
4
F
9
) and LiCF
3
SO
3
are stable and high in ionic conductivity, they corrode the aluminum collector inside the cell when a potential is applied. Therefore, their use presents difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a useful novel electrolyte, a novel ion conductor containing the electrolyte, and a novel electrochemical device containing the ion conductor.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrolyte for an electrochemical device. This electrolyte comprises a first compound that is an ionic metal complex represented by the general formula (1),
wherein M is a transition metal selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 3-11 of the periodic table, or an element selected from the group consisting of elements of groups 12-15 of the periodic table;
A
a+
represents a metal ion, onium ion or hydrogen ion;
a represents a number from 1 to 3; b represents a number from 1 to 3; p is b/a; m represents a number from 1 to 4; n represents a number from 1 to 8; q is 0 or 1;
R
1
represents a C
1
-C
10
alkylene group, C
1
-C
10
halogenated alkylene group, C
4
-C
20
arylene group or C
4
-C
20
halogenated arylene group, these alkylene and arylene groups of said R
1
optionally having substituents and hetero atoms, one of said R
1
being optionally bonded with another of said R
1
;
R
2
represents a halogen, C
1
-C
10
alkyl group, C
1
-C
10
halogenated alkyl group, C
4
-C
20
aryl group, C
4
-C
20
halogenated aryl group or X
3
R
3
, these alkyl and aryl groups of said R
2
optionally having substituents and hetero atoms, one of said R
2
being optionally bonded with another of said R
2
to form a ring;
each of X
1
, X
2
and X
3
independently represents O, S or NR
4
; and
each of R
3
and R
4
independently represents a halogen, C
1
-C
10
alkyl group, C
1
-C
10
halogenated alkyl group, C
4
-C
20
aryl group, or C
4
-C
20
halogenated aryl group, these alkyl and aryl groups of said R
3
and R
4
optionally having substituents and hetero atoms, one of said R
3
being optionally bonded with another of said R
3
to form a ring, one of said R
4
being optionally bonded with another of said R
4
to form a ring.
According to the present invention, there is provided an ion conductor for an electrochemical device. This ion conductor comprises the electrolyte; and a member selected from the group consisting of a nonaqueous solvent, a polymer and a mixture thereof, said member dissolving therein said electrolyte.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electrochemical device comprising (a) first and second electrodes; and (b) the ion conductor receiving therein said first and second electrodes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6506516 (2003-01-01), Wietelmann et al.
patent: 6548212 (2003-04-01), Heider et al.
patent: 2001/0033964 (2001-10-01), Heider et al.
patent: 198 29 030 (1999-10-01), None
patent: 1 035 612 (2000-09-01), None
patent: 1074555 (2001-02-01), None
patent: 1075036 (2001-02-01), None
Koide Makoto
Sugimoto Hiromi
Takahashi Mikihiro
Takase Hironari
Tsujioka Shoichi
Central Glass Company Limited
Crowell & Moring LLP
Weiner Laura
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