Cell electrode and electrochemical cell therewith

Abstract

This invention provides an electrode for an electrochemical cell in which an active material in an electrode material is a proton-conducting compound, wherein the electrode material comprises a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound or a polymer having a unit containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moiety.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] This invention relates to an electrode used in an electrochemical cell such as a secondary battery and an electric double-layer capacitor and an electrochemical cell using the electrode. In particular, it relates to an electrode having improved cycle properties without reduction in an appearance capacity, and an electrochemical cell using the electrode. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] There have been suggested and practically used electrochemical cells (hereinafter, referred to as “cell”) such as secondary batteries and electric double-layer capacitors in which a proton-conducting compound is used as an electrode active material. Such a cell is illustrated in a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. [0005] Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a cell where a positive electrode 2 containing a proton-conducting compound as an active material is formed on a positive current collector 1 while a negative electrode 3 is for...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent aims to improve the performance of electrodes in batteries by preventing deterioration caused by peroxidation and per reduction. The invention provides an electrode with a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound or polymer that interacts with protons in the electrolyte to control the proton concentration and inhibit deterioration. The addition of a nitrogen-containing compound or polymer to the electrode creates an optimal proton-concentration atmosphere for the reaction, resulting in inhibition of deterioration due to peroxidation. The polymer can have a unit containing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic moiety, such as benzimidazole, benzbisimidazole, or imidazole. The invention can improve cycle properties and provide a better performance of the electrodes in batteries.

Problems solved by technology

Furthermore, it has a drawback of insufficient long term stability under a high temperature atmosphere.

These problems are caused by aggravated deterioration atmosphere due to deceleration of proton adsorption-desorption reaction as a charge / discharge mechanism of an electrode active material.

In particular, at an elevated temperature, peroxidation of a material is much more accelerated, resulting in accelerated deterioration.

An electrode active material is susceptible to deterioration in an oxidized state.

Thus, charge / discharge power of the cell is deteriorated.

Under a high-level acid atmosphere (low pH), the phenomenon particularly tends to occur so that deterioration in cycle properties is accelerated.

An excessively higher electrolyte concentration (proton concentration) may further accelerate oxidation deterioration.

As seen in this graph, as an electrolytic solution concentration increases, a capacity decreases according to the cycle number so that cycle properties are deteriorated.

There has been described that although a conventional electrolytic solution comprising a quaternary ammonium carboxylate has a drawback that degradation of a rubber packing is accelerated so that sealing performance is significantly deteriorated, an additive having a cationic, quaternary amidine group may improve thermal stability of the electrolytic solution and a specific conductivity, and that in particular, a compound in which electrons in the amidine group are delocalized and a cation is stabilized by resonance gives an improved specific conductivity because of accelerated ion dissociation.

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