Battery cell, battery and electric device

Abstract

The invention provides a battery monomer, a battery and a power utilization device, and the battery monomer comprises a shell which is provided with an opening; the electrode assembly is arranged in the shell, and the electrode assembly comprises a tab; the end cover assembly is arranged to seal the opening, and the end cover assembly comprises an electrode terminal; the adapter is arranged in the shell and is used for electrically connecting the tabs with the electrode terminals; and the insulating part is arranged in the shell, and the insulating part is used for insulating the adapter from the shell. According to the battery monomer, the battery and the power utilization device provided by the invention, the problem of thermal failure of the battery monomer caused by thermal diffusion in the use process of the battery monomer can be relieved, and the safety performance of the battery monomer and the battery applying the battery monomer is improved.

Description

[0001] This application is a divisional application based on application number 202280087343.9, filed on August 5, 2022, by CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), entitled "Battery Cells, Batteries and Electrical Devices". Technical Field

[0002] This application relates to the field of batteries, and in particular to a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0003] Energy conservation and emission reduction are key to the sustainable development of the automotive industry, and electric vehicles, due to their energy-saving and environmentally friendly advantages, have become an important component of this sustainable development. For electric vehicles, battery technology is a crucial factor in their development.

[0004] In existing batteries, when thermal diffusion occurs in a single cell, there is a risk of electrical contact between the adapter used to electrically connect the tab to the electrode terminal and the casing, leading to thermal failure of the single cell and reducing the safety performance of the single cell and the battery used in it. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of the above problems, this application provides a battery cell, a battery, and an electrical device that can alleviate the problem of thermal failure of the battery cell caused by thermal diffusion during the use of the battery cell and improve the safety performance of the battery cell and the battery used in it.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a battery cell, comprising: a housing having an opening; an electrode assembly disposed within the housing, the electrode assembly including tabs; an end cap assembly closing the opening, the end cap assembly including electrode terminals; an adapter disposed within the housing for electrically connecting the tabs and the electrode terminals; and an insulator disposed within the housing for insulating the adapter from the housing.

[0007] In the technical solution of this application embodiment, the battery cell includes a housing, an electrode assembly, an end cap assembly, an adapter, and an insulating component. The electrode assembly is disposed within the housing, and the end cap assembly is configured to close the opening of the housing. The adapter is used to electrically connect the tabs of the electrode assembly to the electrode terminals. Since the insulating component is disposed within the housing and is used to insulate the adapter from the housing, when thermal runaway of the battery causes the electrode assembly within the battery cell to expand and deform, even if the adapter moves towards the housing side, the insulating component can prevent the adapter from making electrical contact with the housing, thereby effectively improving the safety performance of the battery cell and the battery used in it.

[0008] In some embodiments, the housing has an opening in a first direction, the electrode assembly has tabs at both ends in a second direction, and the width of the insulating member is smaller than the width of the adapter in a third direction. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other.

[0009] The battery cell provided in this application embodiment ensures that the width of the insulating component is smaller than the width of the adapter component along a third direction, thus preventing interference with other insulating film layers during assembly after the insulating component is installed between the adapter component and the housing.

[0010] In some embodiments, the orthographic projection of the insulating element on the adapter and the edge of the adapter in a third direction are spaced apart by a distance T, the distance T being 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0011] The battery cell provided in this application embodiment ensures the insulation requirements between the adapter and the casing when the battery cell undergoes thermal diffusion. This is achieved by having a distance T between the orthographic projection of the insulating component on the adapter and the edge of the adapter in a third direction, with the distance T being any value between 0.5mm and 1mm. At the same time, the above arrangement can avoid interference when other insulating film layers are coated on the electrode assembly.

[0012] In some embodiments, the thickness of the insulating element is less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

[0013] The battery cell provided in this application embodiment reduces the space occupied by the insulating component and increases the energy density of the battery cell by making the thickness of the insulating component less than or equal to 0.5 mm, while ensuring the insulation requirements of the battery cell.

[0014] In some embodiments, the adapter has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, the first end being connected to an electrode terminal, the second end extending in a direction away from the end cap assembly and beyond the electrode tab, and an insulating member covering the second end along a second direction.

[0015] When a battery cell undergoes thermal expansion, the electrode assembly expands and deforms, resulting in a larger volume. Since the second end of the insulating member mates with the tab, and the first end connects to the electrode terminal, the expansion and deformation of the electrode assembly will cause deformation of the portion of the adapter connected to it. Specifically, the second end will bend first towards the housing. The battery cell provided in this application, by having the insulating member cover the second end, ensures insulation between the second end and the housing during thermal expansion, thereby guaranteeing the safety performance of the battery cell.

[0016] In some embodiments, the insulating element is stacked with the electrode tab and connected to the electrode tab and the second end.

[0017] In some embodiments, along the second direction, the second end is bent toward the sidewall of the housing to form a stepped surface, the stepped surface being used to support the insulating element.

[0018] In some embodiments, the insulating element is connected to the housing.

[0019] In some embodiments, the battery cell further includes a protective film for insulating the electrode assembly from the housing, and an insulating element disposed between the protective film and the housing and connected to one of the protective film and the housing.

[0020] In some embodiments, the insulating element is attached to the surface of the protective film away from the adapter plate.

[0021] In some embodiments, the protective film includes a bottom surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface that intersect each other. The area of ​​the first sidewall surface is larger than the area of ​​the second sidewall surface. The second sidewall surface faces the electrode tab and the adapter piece. An insulating member is disposed on the second sidewall surface and matches the shape of the second sidewall surface.

[0022] In some embodiments, the melting point of the insulating element is greater than or equal to the melting point of the protective film.

[0023] In some embodiments, the strength of the insulating element is greater than or equal to the strength of the protective film.

[0024] In some embodiments, the insulating element is bonded to one of the protective film and the housing.

[0025] Secondly, this application provides a battery, including the aforementioned battery cell.

[0026] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device, which includes the aforementioned battery.

[0027] The above description is only an overview of the technical solution of this application. In order to better understand the technical means of this application and to implement it in accordance with the contents of the specification, and to make the above and other objects, features and advantages of this application more obvious and understandable, the following are specific embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Various other advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery provided in one embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 This is a side view of a partial structure of a battery cell according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of point A in the middle; Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Enlarged view at point B in the middle; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the fit between the insulating component and the housing according to one embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is an exploded structural diagram of a battery cell according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 11 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a battery cell according to yet another embodiment of this application; Figure 12 yes Figure 11 Enlarged view at point C; Figure 13 This is a diagram showing the open state of the protective film according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 14 This is a diagram showing the folded state of the protective film according to an embodiment of this application.

[0029] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows: 1000 - Vehicles; 100 - Battery; 200 - Controller; 300 - Motor; 10-Box body; 11-First part; 12-Second part; 13-Accommodation space; 20-cell battery; 21-Shell; 211-Opening; 22-Electrode assembly; 221-Taper; 23-End cap assembly; 231-End cap; 232-Electrode terminal; 24-Adapter; 241-First connecting piece; 242-Second connecting piece; 24a-First end; 24b-Second end; 2421-First surface; 2422-Second surface; 2423-Transition surface; 25 - Insulating parts; 26-Protective film; 261-First sidewall; 262-Second sidewall; 263-Bottom wall; X - First direction; Y - Second direction; Z - Third direction. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] It should be noted that, unless otherwise stated, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this application should have the ordinary meaning understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments of this application pertain.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0033] Furthermore, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0034] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0036] Currently, judging from market trends, the application of power batteries is becoming increasingly widespread. Power batteries are not only used in energy storage systems such as hydropower, thermal power, wind power, and solar power plants, but also extensively used in electric vehicles such as electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, and electric cars, as well as in military equipment and aerospace. With the continuous expansion of power battery applications, market demand is also constantly increasing.

[0037] The battery mentioned in the embodiments of this application refers to a single physical module comprising one or more battery cells to provide higher voltage and capacity. For example, the battery mentioned in this application may include a battery module or a battery pack. A battery generally includes a housing for encapsulating one or more battery cells. The housing prevents liquids or other foreign matter from affecting the charging or discharging of the battery cells.

[0038] The battery cell includes a housing, an electrode assembly, a top cover assembly, and an adapter. The adapter is used to electrically connect the tabs of the electrode assembly to the electrode terminals on the top cover assembly.

[0039] The inventors have noticed that when thermal diffusion occurs in a battery cell, the high temperature will cause the original insulation structure inside the battery cell to melt and fail, and the electrode assembly as a whole will expand and move towards the inner wall of the casing. This will cause the adapter used to electrically connect the electrode terminals on the battery cell tabs and end cap assembly to overlap with the casing and form a circuit, resulting in an external short circuit of the electrode assembly, causing thermal failure of the battery cell, and posing a safety hazard to the battery cell and the battery it is used in.

[0040] To mitigate the problem of thermal failure of individual battery cells, the applicant discovered that by adding additional insulating components, even if thermal diffusion in a battery cell causes the existing insulation structure inside the battery cell to melt and fail, the newly added insulating components can provide insulation protection between the two, preventing the adapter from overlapping with the casing and forming a circuit.

[0041] Based on the above considerations, in order to solve the problem of thermal failure of battery cells, the inventors, after in-depth research, designed a battery cell. The battery cell includes a housing, an electrode assembly, an end cap assembly, an adapter, and an insulating component. The housing has an opening; the electrode assembly is disposed inside the housing and includes electrode tabs; the end cap assembly is closed and includes electrode terminals; the adapter is disposed inside the housing and is used to electrically connect the electrode tabs and the electrode terminals; the insulating component is disposed inside the housing and is used to insulate the adapter from the housing.

[0042] In such a battery cell, since the insulating component is located inside the casing and is used to insulate the adapter from the casing, when the battery experiences thermal runaway and causes the electrode assembly inside the battery cell to expand and deform, even if the adapter moves towards the side where the casing is located, the insulating component can prevent the adapter from making electrical contact with the casing, thereby effectively improving the safety performance of the battery cell and the battery it is used in.

[0043] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to batteries and electrical devices that use batteries.

[0044] Electrical devices can include vehicles, mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, ships, spacecraft, electric toys, and power tools, etc. Vehicles can be gasoline-powered cars, natural gas-powered cars, or new energy vehicles; new energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. Spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft, etc. Electric toys include stationary or mobile electric toys, such as game consoles, electric car toys, electric ship toys, and electric airplane toys, etc. Power tools include metal cutting power tools, grinding power tools, assembly power tools, and railway power tools, such as electric drills, electric grinders, electric wrenches, electric screwdrivers, electric hammers, impact drills, concrete vibrators, and electric planers, etc. This application does not impose any special limitations on the above-mentioned electrical devices.

[0045] It should be understood that the technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are not limited to the batteries and electrical devices described above, but can also be applied to all batteries including housings and electrical devices using batteries. However, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments are all illustrated using electric vehicles as examples.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle 1000 provided in some embodiments of this application. The vehicle 1000 can be a gasoline-powered vehicle, a natural gas-powered vehicle, or a new energy vehicle. New energy vehicles can be pure electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, or range-extended electric vehicles, etc. A battery 100 is disposed inside the vehicle 1000, and the battery 100 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1000. The battery 100 can be used to power the vehicle 1000; for example, the battery 100 can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000. The vehicle 1000 may also include a controller 200 and a motor 300. The controller 200 is used to control the battery 100 to supply power to the motor 300, for example, to meet the power needs of the vehicle 1000 during startup, navigation, and driving.

[0047] In some embodiments of this application, the battery 100 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1000, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1000, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1000.

[0048] Please refer to Figure 2 as well as Figure 3 The battery 100 includes a housing 10 and a battery cell 20, with the battery cell 20 housed within the housing 10. The housing 10 provides a space for the battery cell 20 and can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 10 may include a first portion 11 and a second portion 12, which overlap each other, together defining a space 13 for accommodating the battery cell 20. The second portion 12 may be a hollow structure with one open end, and the first portion 11 may be a plate-like structure, covering the open side of the second portion 12 so that the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 together define the space 13. Alternatively, both the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 may be hollow structures with one open side, with the open side of the first portion 11 covering the open side of the second portion 12. Of course, the housing 10 formed by the first portion 11 and the second portion 12 can have various shapes, such as a cylinder, a cuboid, etc.

[0049] In battery 100, there can be multiple battery cells 20, which can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner. A mixed connection means that multiple battery cells 20 are connected in both series and parallel configurations. Multiple battery cells 20 can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner, and then the entire assembly of the multiple battery cells 20 is housed within the housing 10. Alternatively, battery 100 can also consist of multiple battery cells 20 first connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a battery module, and then multiple battery modules are connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole, which is also housed within the housing 10. Battery 100 may also include other structures; for example, it may include a busbar component for electrical connection between multiple battery cells.

[0050] Each battery cell 20 can be a secondary battery or a primary battery; it can also be a lithium-sulfur battery, a sodium-ion battery, or a magnesium-ion battery, but is not limited to these. The battery cell 20 can be cylindrical, flat, cuboid, or other shapes.

[0051] Please refer to Figures 3 to 6 As shown, a battery cell refers to the smallest unit that makes up a battery.

[0052] The battery cell 20 includes a housing 21, an electrode assembly 22, an end cap assembly 23, an adapter 24, and an insulator 25. The housing 21 has an opening 211. The electrode assembly 22 is disposed within the housing 21 and includes tabs 221. The end cap assembly 23 closes the opening 211 and includes electrode terminals 232. The adapter 24 is disposed within the housing 21 and is used to electrically connect the tabs 221 and the electrode terminals 232. The insulator 25 is disposed within the housing 21 and is used to insulate the adapter 24 from the housing 21.

[0053] Optionally, the housing 21 is an assembly used to cooperate with the end cap assembly 23 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20, wherein the formed internal environment can be used to accommodate the electrode assembly 22, electrolyte and other components.

[0054] Optionally, the housing 21 and the end cap assembly 23 can be separate components. An opening 211 can be provided on the housing 21, and the end cap assembly 23 can be used to close the opening 211 to form the internal environment of the battery cell 20.

[0055] Optionally, the housing 21 can be of various shapes and sizes, such as cuboid, cylindrical, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing 21 can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode assembly 22.

[0056] Optionally, the material of the housing 21 can be various, such as copper, iron, aluminum, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, plastic, etc. This application embodiment does not impose any special restrictions on this.

[0057] Optionally, the electrode assembly 22 is the component in the battery cell 20 where the electrochemical reaction occurs. The housing 21 may contain one or more electrode assemblies 22. The electrode assembly 22 is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and typically a separator is provided between the positive and negative electrode sheets. The portions of the positive and negative electrode sheets containing active material constitute the main body of the electrode assembly 22, while the portions of the positive and negative electrode sheets without active material each constitute a tab 221. The positive and negative tabs may be located together at one end of the main body or separately at both ends of the main body. During the charging and discharging process of the battery, the positive and negative active materials react with the electrolyte, and the tabs 221 connect to the electrode terminals 232 to form a current loop.

[0058] Optionally, the end cap assembly 23 refers to a component that covers the opening 211 of the housing 21 to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 20 from the external environment. Not limited to this, the shape of the end cap assembly 23 can be adapted to the shape of the housing 21 to fit the housing 21. Optionally, the end cap assembly 23 can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cap assembly 23 is less prone to deformation under pressure and impact, enabling the battery cell 20 to have higher structural strength and improved safety performance.

[0059] Optionally, the end cap assembly 23 includes an end cap 231 and electrode terminals 232 disposed on the end cap 231. When the number of end cap assemblies 23 included in the battery cell 20 is one, the number of electrode terminals 232 included on the end cap assembly 23 is two. When the number of end cap assemblies 23 included in the battery cell 20 is two, the number of electrode terminals 232 included on each end cap assembly 23 is one, and the polarities of the electrode terminals 232 on the two end cap assemblies 23 are opposite.

[0060] Correspondingly, the number of openings 211 in the housing 21 can be one or two. When there are two openings 211, they are arranged opposite to each other. Each opening 211 can be covered by an end cap assembly 23, and each end cap assembly 23 is electrically connected to one of the tabs 221.

[0061] Optionally, the adapter 24 is used to electrically connect the tab 221 of the electrode assembly 22 to the electrode terminal 232 of the end cap assembly 23, and the adapter 24 may be made of metal.

[0062] Optionally, the adapter 24 may include two intersecting parts, one part being electrically connected to the electrode terminal 232 and the other part being electrically connected to the tab 221.

[0063] Optionally, the insulating element 25 is at least partially located between the housing 21 and the adapter 24. Optionally, the insulating element 25 at least covers the end of the adapter 24 opposite to the electrode terminal 232.

[0064] Optionally, the insulating member 25 can be directly connected to the housing 21 and the adapter 24 at their opposite positions. The insulating member 25 can also be connected to the tab 221 and cover at least a portion of the adapter 24. Of course, in some embodiments, when other insulating structures are provided between the housing 21 and the electrode assembly 22, the insulating member 25 can also be connected to these other insulating structures.

[0065] Alternatively, the insulating element can be a sheet-like or film-like structure.

[0066] The battery cell 20 provided in this embodiment includes a housing 21, an electrode assembly 22, an end cap assembly 23, an adapter 24, and an insulator 25. The electrode assembly 22 is disposed within the housing 21, and the end cap assembly 23 is configured to close the opening 211 of the housing 21. The adapter 24 is used to electrically connect the tabs 221 of the electrode assembly 22 to the electrode terminals 232. Since the insulator 25 is disposed within the housing 21 and is used to insulate the adapter 24 from the housing 21, when thermal runaway of the battery causes the electrode assembly 22 within the battery cell 20 to expand and deform, even if the adapter 24 moves toward the side where the housing 21 is located, the insulator 25 can prevent the adapter 24 from making electrical contact with the housing 21, thereby effectively improving the safety performance of the battery cell 20 and the battery used in it.

[0067] In some alternative embodiments, the housing 21 has an opening 211 in the first direction X, and the electrode assembly 22 has tabs 221 at both ends in the second direction Y. Along the third direction Z, the width of the insulating member 25 is smaller than the width of the adapter 24, and the first direction X, the second direction Y and the third direction Z are arranged to intersect each other.

[0068] Optionally, the first direction X can be the height direction of the shell 21, the second direction Y can be the length direction of the shell 21, and the third direction Z can be the width direction of the shell 21. Optionally, the first direction X, the second direction Y, and the third direction Z can be perpendicular to each other.

[0069] Optionally, the electrode assembly 22 has tabs 221 at both ends in the second direction Y, with the two tabs 221 spaced apart and arranged opposite to each other.

[0070] Optionally, the width of the insulating element 25 in the third direction Z is smaller than the size of the adapter piece 24.

[0071] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment ensures that the width of the insulating member 25 along the third direction Z is smaller than the width of the adapter 24, thereby preventing interference with other insulating film layers during assembly after the insulating member 25 is installed between the adapter 24 and the housing 21.

[0072] In some alternative embodiments, the orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the adapter 24 forms a gap T with the edge of the adapter 24 in the third direction Z, and the value of the gap T ranges from 0.5 mm to 1 mm.

[0073] Optionally, the orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the adapter 24 and the distance T formed between the edges of the adapter 24 in the third direction Z can be understood as the adapter 24 having two opposite edges in the third direction Z, and the vertical distance between the orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the adapter 24 and the opposite edges of the adapter 24.

[0074] Optionally, the spacing T can be any value between 0.5 mm and 1 mm, including the 0.5 mm value.

[0075] Optionally, the spacing T can be in the range of 0.5mm to 0.8mm. For example, the spacing T can be 0.6mm or 0.7mm.

[0076] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has a spacing T between the orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the adapter 24 and the edge of the adapter 24 in the third direction Z, with the spacing T being any value between 0.5mm and 1mm. This ensures the insulation requirement between the adapter 24 and the housing 21 when thermal diffusion occurs in the battery cell 20. At the same time, the above arrangement can avoid interference when other insulating film layers are covered on the electrode assembly 22.

[0077] In some alternative embodiments, the thickness of the insulating element 25 is less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

[0078] Optionally, the thickness of the insulating element 25 can be understood as the thickness of the sheet, or alternatively, the thickness of the insulating element 25 can be understood as the thickness of the insulating element 25 in the second direction Y.

[0079] Optionally, the thickness of the insulating element 25 can be equal to 0.5 mm, or it can be less than 0.5 mm, for example, 0.4 mm, 0.3 mm, etc.

[0080] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment reduces the space occupied by the insulating member 25 and increases the energy density of the battery cell 20 by making the thickness of the insulating member 25 less than or equal to 0.5 mm, while ensuring the insulation requirements of the battery cell 20.

[0081] like Figures 3 to 7As shown, in some optional embodiments, the battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has an adapter 24 with opposite first end 24a and second end 24b. The first end 24a is connected to the electrode terminal 232, and the second end 24b extends in a direction away from the end cap assembly 23 and is disposed beyond the tab 221. An insulating member 25 covers the second end 24b along the second direction Y.

[0082] Optionally, the adapter 24 may include a first connecting piece 241 and a second connecting piece 242 that are arranged intersectingly. The first connecting piece 241 is stacked and electrically connected to the electrode terminal 232. The second connecting piece 242 is stacked and electrically connected to the tab 221. The first end 24a may be located on the first connecting piece 241, and the second end 24b may be located on the second connecting piece 242.

[0083] Optionally, the second connecting piece 242 has two opposite sides in the first direction X, one side of which is connected to the first connecting piece 241, and the other side forms a second end 24b.

[0084] Optionally, the second end 24b extending in a direction away from the end cap assembly 23 and beyond the tab 221 can be understood as the second end 24b extending in a first direction X in a direction away from the end cap assembly 23 and beyond the tab 221.

[0085] Optionally, the insulation member 25 covering the second end 24b can be understood as the insulation member 25 covering the second end 24b in the second direction Y.

[0086] When the battery cell 20 undergoes thermal expansion, the electrode assembly 22 expands and deforms, resulting in a larger volume. The side with the second end 24b of the insulating member 25 mates with the tab 221, while the side with the first end 24a connects to the electrode terminal 232. When the electrode assembly 22 expands and deforms, it will cause the portion of the adapter 24 connected to it to deform. That is, the second end 24b will bend towards the side where the housing 21 is located first. The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, by having the insulating member 25 cover the second end 24b, can insulate the second end 24b from the housing 21 when the battery cell 20 undergoes thermal expansion, thereby ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 20.

[0087] In some alternative embodiments, the insulating element 25 is stacked with the tab 221 and connected to the tab 221 and the second end 24b.

[0088] Optionally, the tab 221 can be bent and the bent portion can be stacked on the surface of the insulator 25 facing the sidewall of the housing 21.

[0089] Optionally, the insulating element 25 and the tab 221 can be connected to each other by means of bonding or other methods.

[0090] Optionally, the insulating element 25 and the second end 24b can be connected to each other by means of bonding or other methods.

[0091] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, by stacking the insulating member 25 and the tab 221 and connecting them to the tab 221 and the second end 24b, can not only ensure the installation and fixing requirements of the insulating member 25, but also cover the second end 24b, avoiding the risk of short circuit caused by contact between the adapter piece 24 and the housing 21 when the battery cell 20 is thermally diffused.

[0092] like Figures 3 to 8 As shown, in some optional embodiments, the battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has its second end 24b bent toward the side wall of the housing 21 along the second direction Y to form a stepped surface, and the stepped surface is used to support the insulating member 25.

[0093] Optionally, the second end 24b can be bent along the second direction Y towards the side wall of the housing 21.

[0094] Optionally, the surface of the second end 24b facing the sidewall in the first direction X is flush with the surface of the tab 221 facing the sidewall in the first direction X.

[0095] Optionally, the stepped surface may include a first surface 2421, a second surface 2422, and a transition surface 2423 connecting the first surface 2421 and the second surface 2422. The second surface 2422 is used to support the insulating member 25. Along the second direction Y, the vertical distance between the second surface 2422 and the side wall of the housing 21 is less than the vertical distance between the first surface 2411 and the side wall of the housing.

[0096] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, through the above-mentioned arrangement, allows the insulating member 25 to be extended along the plane when connected to the tab 221 and the second end 24b, without the need for bending. This not only ensures the connection requirements between the insulating member 25 and the tab 221 and the second end 24b, but also optimizes the insulation effect.

[0097] The embodiments described above are illustrative examples of the interconnection between the insulating member 25, the tab 221, and the second end 24b. This is an optional implementation method, but is not limited to the above-described manner.

[0098] like Figure 9 As shown, in some alternative embodiments, the insulating element 25 may also be connected to the housing 21.

[0099] Optionally, the insulating element 25 and the housing 21 can be connected by means of bonding or other methods.

[0100] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment connects the insulating member 25 to the housing 21. When the battery cell 20 undergoes heat diffusion, even if the adapter 24 moves toward the housing 21, the insulating member 25 is bonded to the housing 21. Therefore, the adapter 24 can be separated from the housing 21 and insulated, thus ensuring the safety performance of the battery cell 20.

[0101] like Figures 10 to 14 As shown, in some optional embodiments, the battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment further includes a protective film 26, which is used to insulate the electrode assembly 22 from the housing 21. An insulating member 25 is disposed between the protective film 26 and the housing 21 and is connected to one of the protective film 26 and the housing 21.

[0102] Optionally, the protective film 26 can be a box-shaped structure with an opening, the opening of the protective film 26 being disposed on the same side as the opening 211 of the housing 21.

[0103] Optionally, the protective film 26 has an open form and a folded form. In the open form, it is a flat structure, and in the folded form, it is a box-shaped structure.

[0104] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, by providing a protective film 26, enables the electrode assembly 22 to be insulated from the housing 21, forming a double protection with the insulating component 25.

[0105] In some alternative embodiments, the battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has an insulating member 25 connected to the protective film 26 on the surface away from the adapter piece 24.

[0106] Optionally, the electrode assembly 22 and the adapter 24 may be located inside the protective film 26, and the insulating member 25 may be located outside the protective film 26 and between the protective film 26 and the housing 21.

[0107] Optionally, along the first direction X, the orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the protective film 26 covers the orthographic projection of the second end 24b on the protective film 26.

[0108] Optionally, the insulating element 25 and the protective film 26 can be connected to each other by means of bonding or other methods.

[0109] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, by connecting the insulating member 25 between the protective film 26 and the housing 21, can not only ensure the connection requirements between the insulating member 25 and the protective film 26, but also, by setting the above, when the protective film 26 is damaged by the adapter piece 24, the insulating member 25 can provide insulation protection again, avoiding the risk of short circuit caused by the adapter piece 24 contacting the housing 21 when the battery cell 20 is thermally diffused.

[0110] In some optional embodiments, the battery cell 20 provided in this application includes a protective film 26 comprising a bottom surface 263, a first sidewall 261, and a second sidewall 262 that are arranged intersecting each other. The area of ​​the first sidewall 261 is larger than the area of ​​the second sidewall 262. The second sidewall 262 is disposed facing the tab 221 and the adapter piece 24. An insulating member 25 is disposed on the second sidewall 262 and matches the shape of the second sidewall 262.

[0111] Optionally, the first sidewalls 261 are arranged in pairs, spaced apart and opposite to each other in the third direction Z, and the second sidewalls 262 are arranged in pairs, spaced apart and opposite to each other in the second direction Y. The paired second sidewalls 262 are located between the paired first sidewalls 261, and the bottom surface 263 is located at the same end of the first sidewalls 261 and the second sidewalls 262 in the first direction X and is connected to the paired first sidewalls 261 and the paired second sidewalls 262.

[0112] Optionally, a protective film 26 may be adhered to the surface of the second sidewall 262 facing the housing 21.

[0113] Optionally, the insulating element 25 can be pre-attached to the protective film 26 when the protective film 26 is in an open state. When the protective film 26 is folded into a folded state, the insulating element 25 can be folded along with the protective film 26 to a position opposite to the adapter piece 24.

[0114] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment, by making the protective film 26 adopt the above form and defining the matching relationship between the insulating member 25 and the protective film 26, can ensure the positional correspondence requirements between the insulating member 25 and the adapter 24, and at the same time, can make the insulating member 25 first connected to the protective film 26, which is conducive to the connection between the two and the shapes can match each other, which is conducive to the assembly into the housing 21.

[0115] In some alternative embodiments, the melting point of the insulating element 25 is greater than or equal to the melting point of the protective film 26.

[0116] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has a melting point of the insulating component 25 that is greater than that of the protective film 26. This makes the heat resistance of the insulating component 25 greater than that of the protective film 26. When the heat diffusion of the battery cell 20 causes the protective film 26 to melt, the insulating component 25 can still provide insulation protection, preventing the adapter 24 from overlapping with the shell 21.

[0117] In some optional embodiments, the strength of the insulating component 25 of the battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment is greater than or equal to the strength of the protective film 26.

[0118] Optionally, the strength of the insulating element 25 is greater than or equal to the strength of the protective film 26. This can be understood as the ability of the insulating element 25 to resist permanent deformation and fracture under external force being greater than or equal to the ability of the protective film 26 to resist permanent deformation and fracture under external force.

[0119] Optionally, the hardness of the material of the insulating element 25 can be greater than the hardness of the protective film 26. Of course, the thickness of the insulating element 25 can also be greater than the thickness of the protective film 26, both of which can achieve the strength of the insulating element 25 being greater than the strength of the protective film 26.

[0120] The battery cell 20 provided in this application embodiment has a strength of the insulating member 25 that is greater than the strength of the protective film 26. This means that when the battery cell 20 undergoes thermal diffusion and the electrode assembly 22 deforms, even if the adapter 24 punctures the protective film 26, the insulating member 25 can still provide protection, thus preventing damage to the battery cell 20.

[0121] In some alternative embodiments, the battery cell 20, the insulating member 25, the protective film 26, and the housing 21 provided in this application are bonded together.

[0122] Optionally, the insulating element 25 can be bonded to the protective film 26, or the insulating element 25 can be bonded to the housing 21.

[0123] The battery cell 20 provided in this embodiment of the application, through the above-mentioned arrangement, facilitates the fixation of the position of the insulating member 25, and at the same time ensures the stability of the connection between the insulating member 25 and one of the protective film 26 and the housing 21.

[0124] Secondly, embodiments of this application also provide a battery, including the aforementioned battery cell 20.

[0125] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device that includes the aforementioned battery. The electrical device can be any of the aforementioned devices or systems that utilize a battery.

[0126] like Figures 3 to 8As shown, the battery cell 20 provided in this embodiment includes a housing 21, an electrode assembly 22, an end cap assembly 23, an adapter 24, a protective film 26, and an insulating component 25. The housing 21 is square and has an opening 211 in the first direction X. The electrode assembly 22 is disposed inside the housing 21 and includes two tabs 221, which are spaced apart and opposite to each other in the second direction Y. The end cap assembly 23 closes the opening 211 and includes two electrode terminals 232, one of which is a positive electrode terminal 232 and the other is a negative electrode terminal 232. The adapter 24 is disposed inside the housing 21. There are two adapters 24, each adapter 24 is connected between one of the tabs 221 and the electrode terminal 232, and is used to electrically connect the tabs 221 and the electrode terminal 232. A protective film 26 is disposed between the electrode assembly 22 and the housing 21. The protective film 26 is used to insulate the electrode assembly 22 from the housing 21. An insulating member 25 is disposed between the protective film 26 and the housing 21 and is connected to the protective film 26. The orthographic projection of the insulating member 25 on the adapter 24 and the edge of the adapter 24 in the third direction Z form a distance T. The distance T ranges from 0.5mm to 1mm. The thickness of the insulating member 25 is less than or equal to 0.5mm.

[0127] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of this application. In particular, as long as there is no structural conflict, the various technical features mentioned in the embodiments can be combined in any way. This application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery cell, characterized in that, include: The shell has an opening; An electrode assembly is disposed within the housing, the electrode assembly including tabs; An end cap assembly is provided to close the opening, and the end cap assembly includes electrode terminals; An adapter is disposed within the housing and is used to electrically connect the tabs and the electrode terminals; An insulating component is disposed within the housing, the insulating component being used to insulate the adapter from the housing; The housing has the opening in the first direction, and the electrode assembly has the tabs at both ends in the second direction. In the third direction, the width of the insulating member is smaller than the width of the adapter. The first direction, the second direction, and the third direction intersect each other. The battery cell also includes a protective film for insulating the electrode assembly from the housing.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, characterized in that, The orthographic projection of the insulating component on the adapter and the two opposite edges of the adapter in the third direction form a distance T, the distance T being in the range of 0.5mm to 1mm.

3. The battery cell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The thickness of the insulating component is less than or equal to 0.5 mm.

4. The battery cell according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The adapter has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is connected to the electrode terminal, and the second end extends in a direction away from the end cap assembly and beyond the electrode tab. Along the second direction, the insulating member covers the second end.

5. The battery cell according to claim 4, characterized in that, The insulating element is stacked with the electrode tab and connected to the electrode tab and the second end.

6. The battery cell according to claim 5, characterized in that, Along the second direction, the second end is bent toward the side wall of the housing to form a stepped surface, which is used to support the insulating component.

7. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The insulating component is connected to the housing.

8. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The insulating element is disposed between the protective film and the housing and is connected to one of the protective film and the housing.

9. The battery cell according to claim 8, characterized in that, The insulating element is connected to the surface of the protective film opposite to the adapter.

10. The battery cell according to claim 9, characterized in that, The protective film includes a bottom surface, a first sidewall surface, and a second sidewall surface that intersect each other. The area of ​​the first sidewall surface is larger than the area of ​​the second sidewall surface. The second sidewall surface faces the electrode tab and the adapter. The insulating element is disposed on the second sidewall surface and matches the shape of the second sidewall surface.

11. The battery cell according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that, The melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to the melting point of the protective film.

12. The battery cell according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that, The strength of the insulating component is greater than or equal to the strength of the protective film.

13. The battery cell according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that, The insulating component is bonded to one of the protective film and the housing.

14. A battery, characterized in that, Includes the battery cell as described in any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. An electrical appliance, characterized in that, Includes the battery as described in claim 14.

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