Current collector for bipolar stacked battery

Abstract

A current collector for a bipolar battery has a conductive region. An insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to batteries, and more particularly, to current collectors for bipolar stacked batteries. Background Art

[0002] Electric vehicles (EVs) have become increasingly common in the market as an alternative to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, mainly due to their environmentally friendly nature and advanced technological features. The operation of electric vehicles heavily relies on their battery systems, which provide the necessary electrical energy to power the electric motors.

[0003] Typically, in order to generate sufficient voltage to operate the high-torque motors in a vehicle, a large number of batteries are connected in series. However, this design has several inherent drawbacks. For example, one drawback is that the stacking of series-connected batteries requires a large number of joining parts. Due to volume loss, the joining parts not only result in a loss of energy density and power density, but they also introduce additional resistance, leading to a decrease in power density. In addition, the joining parts tend to concentrate the current around the joining area, resulting in non-uniform temperature and current distribution across the battery. This may ultimately lead to premature degradation of the battery system.

[0004] To address these challenges, bipolar batteries have been developed. In these bipolar batteries, the positive and negative electrodes are arranged on both sides of the current collector, thus significantly reducing the need for joining parts. However, these bipolar batteries have their own set of problems. Specifically, they are at risk of under-voltage: if the current collectors from different layers come into contact, the battery cells cannot exhibit the necessary voltage, resulting in a lower total voltage. Similarly, if the electrolytes of different battery layers come into contact, the cells likewise cannot generate the required voltage.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 9,373,869 B2 outlines the use of separators made of inorganic solid electrolytes to avoid electrical short circuits. This particular method involves covering the current collector with an insulating polymer to prevent electrical short circuits. The challenge with U.S. Patent No. 9,373,869 B2 is that it requires the overlap of the reinforcement and the electrodes (positive and negative) as well as the separator. This configuration may result in air bubbles being trapped between the layers and delamination of these layers. In addition, this configuration may lead to non-uniform pressure distribution during handling. This non-uniform pressure may cause cracking of the electrodes and / or the separator.

[0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] This summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form some concepts that will be further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a current collector for a bipolar battery is disclosed. The current collector for a bipolar battery has a conductive region. An insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a current collector for a bipolar battery is disclosed. The current collector for a bipolar battery has a conductive region with a thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm. The conductive region is made of a composite material, which is made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material. The conductive material is in a form that provides anisotropic conductivity to enhance conductivity in the thickness direction of the current collector while suppressing in-plane conductivity. An insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region. The conductive region and the insulating region are formed to prevent ion conduction.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a current collector for a bipolar battery is disclosed. The current collector for a bipolar battery has a conductive region with a thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm. The conductive region is made of a composite material, which is made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material. The conductive material is formed to provide anisotropic conductivity to enhance conductivity in the thickness direction of the formed current collector while suppressing in-plane conductivity. An insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region, and the conductivity of the insulating region is less than 10 -8 S / cm. The height difference between the conductive region and the insulating region is defined as a difference Δh, where the range of the difference Δh is between 0 μm and 20 μm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present application will be further described in detail with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present application, but rather to illustrate certain properties thereof. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar parts.

[0012] Figure 1A A top view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0013] Figure 1B A side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0014] Figure 2A An enlarged side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0015] Figure 2B An enlarged side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0016] Figure 2CShows an enlarged side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 3 Shows a top view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 4A Shows an enlarged side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4B Shows an enlarged side view of an exemplary current collector for a bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 Shows a side view of an exemplary bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0021] Figure 6 Shows an exploded top view of an exemplary bipolar stacked battery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0022] The following description is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present disclosure may be constructed and / or utilized. This specification sets forth the functional and sequential steps for constructing and operating the present disclosure. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments, which are also intended to be covered within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

[0023] This patent application presents a system and method for forming a current collector having a conductive region built in an insulating region and a bipolar stacked battery using such a current collector.

[0024] Referring Figures 1A to 1B , current collector 1 can be seen. Current collector 1 can be composed of two main regions: conductive region 2 and insulating region 3. Current collector 1 can be a physical connection between the conductive region and the insulating region. This connection can be designed to ensure structural integrity while maintaining the different functional characteristics of each region. Conductive region 1 can be seamlessly integrated with the insulating region, thereby creating a robust and reliable unified structure.

[0025] Furthermore, it is important to note that both conductive region 2 and insulating region 3 are designed not to conduct ions. This feature is crucial in applications such as bipolar stacked batteries, where ion conduction can interfere with the function of the device or system using the current collector. By preventing ion conduction, the current collector enhances the stability and reliability of the entire electrical system.

[0026] The thickness of the current collector 1 is not particularly limited. According to an embodiment, the thickness of the current collector 1 can be from 0.1 um to 1 mm and can be from 1 um to 50 um.

[0027] The conductive region 2 can be made of materials known for their high conductivity. This region can be the main path of the current, enabling electrons to be effectively transported across the collector. The conductive region 2 can be composed of a metal foil, a metal mesh, etc. Examples of the metal constituting the current collector 1 may include, but are not limited to, Cu, Ni, Cr, Au, Pt, Ag, Au, Al, Fe, Ti, Zn, Co, and stainless steel. It can be a pure element, doped, alloyed, or coated metal. The surface of the metal can also be covered with carbon or other materials.

[0028] The conductive region 2 can also be a composite material made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material, thereby providing unique electrical properties and structural benefits. The conductive material can include, but is not limited to, Cu, Ni, Cr, Au, Pt, Ag, Au, Al, Fe, Ti, Zn, Co, and stainless steel or carbon. The non-conductive matrix can include, but is not limited to, plastic materials such as polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyamide (PA), polyimide (PI); polyamide-imide (PAI); polycarbonate (PC); polyoxymethylene (POM); polyetheretherketone (PEEK); polyetherimide (PEI); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyphenylene ether (PPO); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These materials can be characterized by having side chains modified by functional groups to improve performance. In addition, the non-conductive component can be composed of inorganic materials such as SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, MgCO3, MgSO4, CaCO3, CaSO4, S, P2S5, TiS2, and ZnS.

[0029] Reference Figures 2A to 2C , the configuration of the conductive and non-conductive mixture within the conductive region 2 can be variable. As Figure 2A can be seen, it can include voids of non-conductive material filled with a conductive material or randomly dispersed conductive materials within a non-conductive matrix. This flexibility in design can allow for customization according to specific application requirements. The conductive material can assume various forms, such as spherical or needle-like shapes, as Figure 2BThese shapes can be selected to provide anisotropic conductivity, which can enhance conductivity in the thickness direction of the current collector 1 while suppressing in-plane conductivity. This property can be particularly beneficial for applications requiring directional current flow. To further improve conductivity both in the in-plane direction and through the thickness of the current collector 1, conductive fibers, such as carbon nanotubes or carbon nanofibers, can be incorporated, such as in Figure 2C The inclusion of these fibers can create a network within the non-conductive matrix that promotes excellent electrical connection throughout the conductive area 2.

[0030] Return to reference Figures 1A to 1B , the insulating region 3 may be made to increase the insulation around the conductive region 2. The insulating region 3 may be made of an electrically insulating material, thereby preventing any undesired current flow outside the designated conductive path. The insulating region 3 may be integrated to improve the safety and efficiency of the collector 1 by preventing short circuits and other electrical hazards. It may be intricately formed around the conductive region 2, meticulously surrounding both its longer and shorter sides. The presence of the insulating region 3 is to ensure that any edge of the conductive region 2 can be completely shielded.

[0031] In terms of its electrical properties, the insulating region 3 can be constructed as a special insulator. The electrical conductivity of the insulating region 3 should be less than 10 -8 S / cm, with a more stringent and more desirable threshold below 10 -10 S / cm. This ensures that the insulator is performing optimally to provide maximum protection against any undesired electrical current.

[0032] The material used for the insulating region 3 may not be limited to a specific material as long as the material has the required ability for insulation. The insulating region 3 may include, but is not limited to: acrylic acid, such as polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyamide (PA); polyimide (PI); polyamide-imide (PAI); polycarbonate (PC); polyoxymethylene (POM); polyetheretherketone (PEEK); polyetherimide (PEI); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyphenylene oxide (PPO); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Moreover, it can be an inorganic material such as SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, MgCO3, MgSO4, CaCO3, CaSO4, S, P2S5, TiS2 and ZnS.

[0033] The insulating region 3 can be made of a variety of different materials. Figure 3As shown, a top view of the current collector 1 can be shown. In this embodiment, the vertical edge 3a does not need to be of the same material as the horizontal edge 3b.

[0034] Reference Figures 4A to 4B , the position of the insulating region 3 can be free from the constraint of strict limitation. The guiding principle is that the conductive region 2 should be comprehensively shielded. The key is that it electronically insulates the edge of the conductive region 2. However, it may be important to avoid forming too large a height difference between the two regions. When a device similar to a bipolar stacked battery is produced, during the bonding process, the height difference between the two regions may be problematic. The height difference can create regions of uneven pressure. Such pressure differences may damage the current collector 1 or even the separator layer. The height difference can be defined as Δh. This distance (represented as the distance of the exposed surface of the conductive region 2) should be carefully calibrated to ensure insulation between the layers. Without being restricted by rigid parameters, but ideally the difference Δh should span a range from 0 μm to 500 μm, and more specifically, from 0 μm to 100 μm, and preferably from 0 μm to 20 μm. This can ensure a balanced design, providing optimal insulation while maintaining the structural integrity and performance of the application.

[0035] Reference Figure 5 , a bipolar stacked battery 4 using the above-described current collector 1 can be shown. In the direction from the high-voltage side to the low-voltage side, the bipolar stacked battery 4 can be composed of the current collector 1, the positive electrode layer 5, the separator 7, the negative electrode layer 6, and another current collector 1 in a repeated order, that is, 1, 5, 7, 6, 1, 5, 7, 6, 1, ……, 1, 5, 7, 6, 1. As Figure 5 shown, the just surface of the edge of the bipolar stacked battery 4 can be composed of the insulating region 3. All other components such as the positive electrode layer 5, the separator 7, the negative electrode layer 6, etc. can be kept within the region defined by the edge of the current collector 1 (in other words, the outer edge of the insulating region 3). That is, no layer contacts other layers in / among the electrical stack. The top and bottom of the bipolar stacked battery 4 can have current collectors 1, and the conductive regions 2 are exposed for electrical connection to an external circuit or device.

[0036] Reference Figure 6 , the dimensional hierarchy of the components of the bipolar stacked battery 4 may be crucial for its operation and is defined as follows: S1 > S7 > S2 > S6 ≥ S5, where:

[0037] S1 represents the area of the current collector 1,

[0038] S2 represents the area of the conductive region 2 in the current collector 1,

[0039] S5 represents the area of the positive electrode layer 5,

[0040] S6 represents the area of the negative electrode layer 6,

[0041] S7 represents the area of the separator 7.

[0042] The area S1 of the current collector 1 can be the largest in order to protect against any form of short circuit that could compromise the integrity of the bipolar stacked battery 4. The larger S1 ensures that the conductive region 2 can be fully within the bounds of the insulating region 3, thus preventing electron and ion cross-communication.

[0043] The separator 7 with area S7 can be larger than the area S2 of the conductive region 2. This can be accomplished by design to avoid any possible electronic short circuit between adjacent current collectors 1 within the configuration of the bipolar stacked battery 4.

[0044] The conductive region 2 having an area S2 should be larger than the area S6 of the negative electrode layer 6 and the area S5 of the positive electrode layer 5 to ensure full contact with both electrode layers, facilitating efficient electron transfer and uniform current distribution.

[0045] Finally, the area S6 of the negative electrode layer 6 can be equal to or larger than the area S5 of the positive electrode layer 5. This design ensures that the ion flux is sufficient to maintain a consistent flow across the positive electrode layer 5, which is crucial for the charge and discharge cycles of the bipolar stacked battery 4.

[0046] The positive electrode layer 5 can be a layer containing at least a positive electrode active material (CAM). Examples of CAM can include, but are not limited to: layered lithium-containing oxide materials such as LiCoO2, LiMnO2, LiNiO2, LiNixMnyCo1-x-yO2, LiNixCoyAl1-x-yO2; lithium-containing phosphates having an olivine structure such as LiFePO4, LiFexMn1-xPO4, LiMnPO4, LiFexCo1-xPO4, LiCoPO4; lithium-containing oxide materials having a spinel structure such as LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, LiMn2O4; layered structure oxides with excess lithium such as Li2MnO3, Li2RuO3, Li2RuxTi1-xO3, Li2RuxSn1-xO3, Li2MnxTi1-xO3, Li2MnxSn1-xO3; layered lithium-containing sulfide materials such as TiS2, MoS2, NbS2, TaS2, sulfur; or lithium-containing sulfides having a Chevrel structure such as LiCuxMoS1-z.

[0047] The surface of the CAM can be coated with a thin layer material (i.e., a coating). Examples of the coating can include, but are not limited to, crystalline phases such as Li2ZrO3, LiNbO3, LiPO3, Li3PO4, LiTi2(PO4)3, LiZr(PO4)3, ZrO2, Al2O3, EtOLi, MtOLi, LiOH, Li2CO3 and / or amorphous phases such as metal alkoxides, metal phosphates.

[0048] In addition to the CAM, the positive electrode layer 5 may further include a solid electrolyte, a binder, and an electronically conductive additive. Examples of the electrolyte may include, but are not limited to, organic liquids, organic polymers, and inorganic solids. Ideally, the electrolyte is an inorganic solid because it has a higher transference number of lithium and higher ionic conductivity than liquids. This is also because inorganic solids are generally rigid and do not exhibit fluidity, which is preferred for constructing the bipolar stacked battery 4 without ionic short circuits.

[0049] Examples of the electrolyte include materials having the following compositions: Li-P-O-N, Li-Si-O, Li-B-Si-O, Li-B-O, Li-C-B-O, Li-Al-Si-O, Li-Ti-Al-P-O, Li-Zr-Al-P-O, Li-La-Zr-O, Li-La-Ta-Zr-O, Li-La-Nb-Zr-O, Li-M-S (M is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn, or a combination thereof), Li-M'-S-O (M' is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn, or a combination thereof), Li-P-S-X (X is F, Cl, Br, or a combination of these), Li-P-S-O-X' (X' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination of these), Li-B-H, Li-B-N-H, Li-B-H-O, Li-B-N-H-O, Li-M''-X'' (M is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta, or a combination thereof; X'' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination of these), Li-M''-X''-O (M'' is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta, or a combination thereof; X'' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination of these).

[0050] Examples of the binder that may be included in the positive electrode layer 2 may include, but are not limited to: butadiene rubber (BR), butyl rubber (IIR), acrylate butadiene rubber (ABR), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The side chains of the binder can be modified by functional groups.

[0051] Furthermore, the positive electrode layer 5 may include an electronically conductive additive. For example, various types of carbon may include, but are not limited to, acetylene black (AB), Ketjen black (KB), VGCF, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, and fullerenes.

[0052] The thickness of the positive electrode layer 5 may not be particularly limited, but when a higher capacity is required, a thicker layer may be preferred. For example, the thickness of the positive electrode layer 2 may be about 0.1 μm to 1 mm, and more preferably 60 μm to 500 μm.

[0053] The negative electrode layer 6 is a layer that can contain at least a negative electrode active material (AAM). Examples of AAM can include, but are not limited to: layered lithium-containing sulfide materials such as TiS2, MoS2, NbS2, TaS2; titanium-containing oxides such as Li4Ti5O12, TixNbyOz, LixTi2(PO4)3; tungsten-containing oxides such as Nb16W5O55, Nb18W16O93; vanadium-containing oxides such as LiVO2; artificial carbon (or hard carbon); graphite; lithium metal alloys such as LixIn, LixSn, LixSi, LixGe, LixAl or metallic lithium.

[0054] In addition to the AAM, the negative electrode layer 6 can further contain a solid electrolyte, a binder, and an electronically conductive additive. Examples of the electrolyte can include, but are not limited to, organic liquids, organic polymers, and inorganic solids. Generally, the electrolyte can be an inorganic solid because it has a higher transference number of lithium compared to liquids and a higher ionic conductivity than organic polymers. This is also because inorganic solids are generally rigid and do not exhibit fluidity, which is preferred for constructing a bipolar stacked battery (4) without ionic short circuits.

[0055] Some examples of the electrolyte can include, but are not limited to, materials having the following compositions: materials with compositions of Li-P-O-N, Li-Si-O, Li-B-Si-O; Li-B-O, Li-C-B-O, Li-Al-Si-O, Li-Ti-Al-P-O, Li-Zr-Al-P-O, Li-La-Zr-O, Li-La-Ta-Zr-O, Li-La-Nb-Zr-O, Li-M-S (M is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn or a combination thereof), Li-M'-S-O (M' is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn or a combination thereof), Li-P-S-X (X is F, Cl, Br or a combination thereof), Li-P-S-O-X' (X' is F, Cl, Br or a combination of these), Li-B-H, Li-B-N-H, Li-B-H-O, Li-B-N-H-O, Li-M''-X'' (M'' is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta or a combination of these; X'' is F, Cl, Br or a combination of these), Li-M''-X''-O (M'' is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta or a combination of these; X'' is F, Cl, Br or a combination of these).

[0056] Examples of the binder that can be included in the negative electrode layer 3 can include, but are not limited to: butadiene rubber (BR), butyl rubber (IIR), acrylate butadiene rubber (ABR), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The side chains of the binder can be modified by functional groups.

[0057] In addition, the negative electrode layer 6 may include an electronically conductive additive. For example, various types of carbon may include but are not limited to acetylene black (AB), Ketjen black (KB), VGCF, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanohorns, and fullerenes.

[0058] The thickness of the negative electrode layer 3 may not be particularly limited. However, when higher capacity is required, a thicker layer may be necessary. For example, the thickness of the negative electrode layer 3 may be about 0.1 μm to 1 mm, more preferably 60 μm to 800 μm.

[0059] The separator 7 may be an electronic insulator but an ion conductor. The electrolyte may be an organic liquid, an organic polymer, or an inorganic solid. If an organic-based electrolyte (liquid or polymer) is selected, the separator 7 may be a porous membrane having a polymer such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and combinations thereof. The membrane may be impregnated with an organic-based electrolyte.

[0060] The separator 7 may be composed of an inorganic solid because the transference number of lithium is higher and the ionic conductivity is higher than that of an organic polymer compared with a liquid. This is also because an inorganic solid is generally rigid and does not exhibit fluidity, which is preferable for constructing the bipolar stacked battery 4 without ionic short circuit.

[0061] Examples of the electrolyte may include but are not limited to organic liquids, organic polymers, and inorganic solids. Generally, an inorganic solid may be used as the electrolyte because the transference number of lithium is higher and the ionic conductivity is higher than that of an organic polymer compared with a liquid. This is also because an inorganic solid is generally rigid and does not exhibit fluidity, which is preferable for constructing the bipolar stacked battery (4) without ionic short circuit.

[0062] Some examples of electrolytes include, but are not limited to, materials having the following compositions: Li-P-O-N, Li-Si-O, Li-B-Si-O, Li-B-O, Li-C-B-O, Li-Al-Si-O, Li-Ti-Al-P-O, Li-Zr-Al-P-O, Li-La-Zr-O, Li-La-Ta-Zr-O, Li-La-Nb-Zr-O, Li-M-S (where M is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn, or a combination thereof), Li-M'-S-O (where M' is B, Al, Si, P, Zn, Ge, Zr, Sn, or a combination thereof), Li-P-S-X (where X is F, Cl, Br, or a combination thereof), Li-P-S-O-X' (where X' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination thereof), Li-B-H, Li-B-N-H, Li-B-H-O, Li-B-N-H-O, Li-M''-X'' (where M'' is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta, or a combination thereof; X'' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination thereof), Li-M''-X''-O (where M'' is In, Zr, Sc, Ga, Nb, Ta, or a combination thereof; X'' is F, Cl, Br, or a combination thereof).

[0063] In addition to the solid electrolyte materials described above, the solid electrolyte layer may include a binder. Examples of the binder may include, but are not limited to: butadiene rubber (BR), isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (ABR), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The side chains of the binder can be modified by functional groups.

[0064] The thickness of the separator 7 may not be particularly limited, but when a higher capacity is required, a thinner layer can be used. For example, the thickness of the separator 7 can be about 0.1 um to 1 mm, and more preferably 0.1 um to 50 um.

[0065] The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled in the relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments. Therefore, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but rather to the full scope consistent with the language of the claims, where, unless specifically stated otherwise, an element recited in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents of the elements of the various embodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or later become known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Furthermore, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public.

Claims

1. A current collector for a bipolar battery, comprising: Conductive area; as well as An insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region.

2. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive region and the insulating region are formed to prevent ion conduction.

3. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the current collector is 1 um to 50 um.

4. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein: The conductive area is formed of one of metal foil and metal mesh, and the metal foil and the metal mesh are formed of one of Cu, Ni, Cr, Au, Pt, Ag, Au, Al, Fe, Ti, Zn, Co or stainless steel.

5. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein The conductive area is made of a composite material, and the composite material is made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material.

6. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The conductive material is formed of at least one of Cu, Ni, Cr, Au, Pt, Ag, Au, Al, Fe, Ti, Zn, Co and stainless steel, and carbon.

7. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The non-conductive material is formed of at least one of the following: polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyamide (PA); polyimide (PI); polyamide-imide (PAI); polycarbonate (PC); polyoxymethylene (POM); polyetheretherketone (PEEK); polyetherimide (PEI); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyphenylene oxide (PPO); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

8. The current collector according to claim 7, wherein: The non-conductive material includes an inorganic material.

9. The current collector according to claim 8, wherein: The inorganic material includes at least one of the following: SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, MgCO3, MgSO4, CaCO3, CaSO4, S, P2S5, TiS2 and ZnS.

10. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The composite material made of a mixture of the conductive material and the non-conductive material includes a non-conductive material having voids, wherein the voids are filled with a conductive material.

11. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The composite material made of a mixture of the conductive material and the non-conductive material includes a non-conductive material having a conductive material randomly dispersed within the non-conductive material.

12. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The conductive material is in a form that provides anisotropic conductivity to enhance conductivity in a thickness direction of the current collector while suppressing in-plane conductivity.

13. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The conductive material is in the form of at least one of: a spherical shape or a needle-like shape.

14. The current collector according to claim 5, wherein: The conductive material is carbon nanotube or carbon nanofiber.

15. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein The conductivity of the insulating area is less than 10 -8 S / cm.

16. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein The insulating region is formed by at least one of the following: polyacrylic acid (PAA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA); acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS); polyamide (PA); polyimide (PI); polyamide-imide (PAI); polycarbonate (PC); polyoxymethylene (POM); polyetheretherketone (PEEK); polyetherimide (PEI); polyethylene (PE); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyphenylene oxide (PPO); polyphenylene sulfide (PPS); polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF); polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

17. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein The insulating region is formed of an inorganic material, wherein the inorganic material is at least one of the following: SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, ZnO, TiO2, Fe2O3, Na2CO3, Na2SO4, MgCO3, MgSO4, CaCO3, CaSO4, S, P2S5, TiS2 and ZnS.

18. The current collector according to claim 1, wherein The height difference between the conductive region and the insulating region is defined as a difference Δh, wherein the difference Δh ranges from 0 um to 20 um.

19. A current collector for a bipolar battery, comprising: A conductive region having a thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm, the conductive region being formed of a composite material made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material, the conductive material being in a form that provides anisotropic conductivity to enhance conductivity in a thickness direction of the current collector while suppressing in-plane conductivity; as well as an insulating region, the insulating region being formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region; The conductive region and the insulating region are formed to prevent ion conduction.

20. A current collector for a bipolar battery, comprising: A conductive region having a thickness of 1 um to 50 um, the conductive region being formed of a composite material made of a mixture of a conductive material and a non-conductive material, the conductive material being formed to provide anisotropic conductivity to enhance conductivity in a thickness direction of the current collector while suppressing in-plane conductivity; as well as An insulating region, the insulating region is formed around the conductive region to shield the conductive region, and the conductivity of the insulating region is lower than 10 -8 S / cm; The height difference between the conductive region and the insulating region is defined as a difference Δh, wherein the difference Δh ranges from 0 μm to 20 μm.

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