Sealed battery

Abstract

The present invention is for inhibiting ignition when an abnormality occurs in a battery.　A sealed battery, which is one example of an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: an electrode body (14); a bottomed tubular exterior can (16) that accommodates the electrode body (14); and a sealing body (17) that plugs an opening section of the exterior can (16). The exterior can (16) or the sealing body (17) has provided thereto an exhaust structure for discharging gas by breaking when internal pressure of the exterior can exceeds a predetermined threshold. A sealed battery, which is one example of an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a potassium salt sheet (50) that contains a potassium salt and that is disposed between an end surface of the electrode body and a bottom surface part of the exterior can having the exhaust structure or the sealing body having the exhaust structure.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to sealed batteries, and more particularly to non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries such as lithium ion batteries. [Background technology]

[0002] There have been reports of secondary batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, catching fire due to excessive external impact or exposure to abnormal temperatures. In response to these incidents, technological improvements have been made to prevent battery fires, such as improvements to cathode materials and electrolyte components. However, in recent years, batteries have been applied to applications requiring large capacity, such as in-vehicle and energy storage, and are provided in the form of large-capacity modules in which many batteries are electrically connected. Therefore, further safety measures are desired.

[0003] In large-capacity modules, if one battery catches fire and the surrounding batteries catch fire, it could lead to a major fire accident. Therefore, measures to prevent the spread of fire have been taken, such as placing heat insulating materials between batteries, ensuring large spaces between batteries, and ensuring exhaust spaces. However, taking such measures increases the manufacturing cost of the module and reduces the energy density. In view of this situation, batteries have been proposed that suppress fire by incorporating a fire extinguishing agent in the exterior body (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-033123 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-218078 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-301798 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Although the batteries disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 appear to be able to efficiently suppress fires, the inventors' investigations have revealed that the type and arrangement of the fire extinguishing agent have a significant effect on fire suppression, and that, for example, depending on the arrangement of the fire extinguishing agent, almost no fire suppression effect can be obtained. The technologies of Patent Documents 1 to 3 still have room for improvement in terms of fire suppression. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The sealed battery according to the present disclosure comprises an electrode body, a cylindrical outer can with a bottom that houses the electrode body, and a sealing body that seals the opening of the outer can, and is characterized in that the bottom of the outer can or the sealing body is provided with an exhaust structure for discharging gas when the internal pressure of the outer can exceeds a predetermined threshold, and a potassium salt sheet containing potassium salt is disposed between the end face of the electrode body and the bottom of the outer can with the exhaust structure or the sealing body with the exhaust structure. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The sealed battery according to the present disclosure can suppress ignition in the event of an abnormality, for example, when the battery is subjected to excessive external impact or when the battery is exposed to an abnormal temperature environment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a cylindrical battery according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a sealing body and its vicinity. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical battery according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the bottom surface of the outer can and its vicinity in a cylindrical battery that is another example of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of a sealed battery according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. It is anticipated from the outset that multiple embodiments and modifications described below may be selectively combined.

[0010] In the following, a cylindrical battery 10 in which a wound electrode assembly 14 is housed in a cylindrical outer can 16 with a bottom is exemplified as a sealed battery, but the sealed battery according to the present disclosure is not limited to a cylindrical battery and may be, for example, a prismatic battery equipped with a prismatic outer can with a bottom. Furthermore, the electrode assembly is not limited to a wound electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are wound with a separator interposed therebetween, but may be a stacked electrode assembly in which multiple positive electrodes and multiple negative electrodes are alternately stacked with separators interposed therebetween.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cylindrical battery 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the cylindrical battery 10 includes an electrode assembly 14, a cylindrical outer can 16 with a bottom that houses the electrode assembly 14, and a sealing member 17 that seals the opening of the outer can 16. The electrode assembly 14 includes a positive electrode 11, a negative electrode 12, and a separator 13, and has a wound structure in which the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12 are spirally wound with the separator 13 interposed therebetween. The outer can 16 is a cylindrical metal container with a bottom that is open on one axial side, and the opening of the outer can 16 is closed by a sealing member 17. For ease of explanation, the sealing member 17 side of the battery is referred to as the top, and the bottom surface 16a side of the outer can 16 is referred to as the bottom.

[0012] The cylindrical battery 10 includes, for example, a nonaqueous electrolyte. The nonaqueous electrolyte is housed in an outer can 16 together with the electrode assembly 14. The nonaqueous electrolyte includes a nonaqueous solvent and an electrolyte salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent. Examples of nonaqueous solvents include esters, ethers, nitriles, amides, and mixed solvents of two or more of these. The nonaqueous solvent may contain a halogen-substituted compound in which at least a portion of the hydrogen atoms in these solvents are substituted with halogen atoms such as fluorine. The electrolyte salt may be a lithium salt such as LiPF6. The electrolyte may be an aqueous electrolyte or a solid electrolyte.

[0013] The positive electrode 11, negative electrode 12, and separator 13 that make up the electrode assembly 14 are all long, strip-like bodies that are spirally wound and alternately stacked in the radial direction of the electrode assembly 14. The negative electrode 12 is formed to be slightly larger than the positive electrode 11 in order to prevent lithium deposition. That is, the negative electrode 12 is formed to be longer in the longitudinal direction and width direction (short direction) than the positive electrode 11. The separator 13 is formed to be at least slightly larger than the positive electrode 11, and for example, two separators 13 are arranged to sandwich the positive electrode 11.

[0014] The electrode body 14 includes a positive electrode lead 20 connected to the positive electrode 11 by welding or the like, and a negative electrode lead 21 connected to the negative electrode 12 by welding or the like. In this embodiment, the positive electrode lead 20 is connected to the longitudinal center of the positive electrode 11. The negative electrode lead 21 is connected to a portion of the negative electrode 12 located radially outward from the electrode body 14, for example, to the outermost peripheral surface of the electrode body 14. The wound electrode body 14 has an outer peripheral surface that is curved along the vertical direction (axial direction), and end faces are formed on the top and bottom (both axial ends).

[0015] The outer can 16 has a bottom surface 16a that is substantially circular in bottom view and a substantially cylindrical side surface 16b that is formed along the outer periphery of the bottom surface 16a. The outer can 16 has a groove 22 that supports the sealing body 17, where part of the side surface 16b bulges inward. The groove 22 is preferably formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction of the outer can 16, and supports the sealing body 17 on its top surface. The sealing body 17 is fixed to the top of the outer can 16 by the groove 22 and the opening edge of the outer can 16 that is crimped to the sealing body 17. A gasket 28 is provided between the outer can 16 and the sealing body 17, ensuring the sealing of the interior of the battery and insulating the outer can 16 from the sealing body 17.

[0016] The sealing body 17 has a structure in which, in order from the electrode body 14 side, an internal terminal plate 23, a lower valve body 24, an insulating member 25, an upper valve body 26, and a cap 27 are layered. Each member constituting the sealing body 17 has, for example, a disk or ring shape, and each member except for the insulating member 25 is electrically connected to one another. The lower valve body 24 and the upper valve body 26 are connected at their respective centers, and the insulating member 25 is interposed between their respective outer peripheries. The internal terminal plate 23 has a plurality of through holes. The cap 27 has one or more openings 27a formed therein.

[0017] In this embodiment, the sealing body 17 is provided with an exhaust structure for exhausting gas when the internal pressure of the outer can 16 exceeds a predetermined threshold. When the internal pressure of the outer can 16 increases due to abnormal heat generation caused by, for example, a nail puncture, the lower valve body 24 deforms and pushes the upper valve body 26 toward the cap 27, causing it to break, thereby interrupting the current path between the lower valve body 24 and the upper valve body 26. When the internal pressure increases further, the upper valve body 26 breaks, causing the gas to be exhausted from the opening 27a of the cap 27. In other words, when the internal pressure of the outer can 16 exceeds a predetermined threshold, an exhaust path is formed in the sealing body 17.

[0018] In the example shown in FIG. 1 , no exhaust structure is provided in outer can 16, and as shown by the arrow, gas generated due to a battery abnormality is exhausted to the outside from the sealing body 17 side. In the event of a battery abnormality, the valve of sealing body 17 breaks first, forming an exhaust path in sealing body 17, so that problems such as an increase in internal pressure and rupture of outer can 16 do not occur. As will be described in detail later, cylindrical battery 10 includes a potassium salt sheet 50 between the upper end surface of electrode body 14 and sealing body 17, which is provided with an exhaust structure. Potassium salt sheet 50 effectively suppresses ignition in the event of a battery abnormality.

[0019] The cylindrical battery 10 includes insulating plates respectively disposed between the upper and lower end surfaces of the electrode assembly 14 and the outer can 16. The cylindrical battery 10 includes an upper insulating plate 18 disposed above the electrode assembly 14 and a lower insulating plate 19 disposed below the electrode assembly 14. The upper insulating plate 18 is disposed between the electrode assembly 14 and the grooved portion 22 of the outer can 16. The lower insulating plate 19 is disposed between the electrode assembly 14 and the bottom surface 16a of the outer can 16. Two upper insulating plates 18 are provided, and a potassium salt sheet 50 is sandwiched between the two upper insulating plates 18.

[0020] The configuration of cylindrical battery 10, particularly potassium salt sheet 50, will be described in detail below with further reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing sealing body 17 and its vicinity.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2 , two upper insulating plates 18 and a potassium salt sheet 50 are disposed between the upper end surface of the electrode assembly 14 and the sealing body 17. In this embodiment, the positive electrode lead 20 is connected to the sealing body 17, and the sealing body 17 functions as a positive electrode terminal. Therefore, the upper insulating plate 18 ensures insulation between the negative electrode 12 and the sealing body 17. Furthermore, the negative electrode lead 21 is connected to the inner surface of the bottom portion 16a of the outer can 16, and the outer can 16 functions as a negative electrode terminal. The peripheral portion of the upper insulating plate 18 is disposed between the electrode assembly 14 and the grooved portion 22 of the outer can 16, and ensures insulation between the positive electrode 11 and the outer can 16.

[0022] The positive electrode 11 has a positive electrode core 30 and a positive electrode mixture layer 31 formed on at least one surface of the positive electrode core 30. The positive electrode core 30 can be made of a foil of a metal, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, that is stable within the potential range of the positive electrode 11, or a film with such a metal disposed on the surface layer. The positive electrode mixture layer 31 contains a positive electrode active material, a conductive agent such as acetylene black, and a binder such as polyvinylidene fluoride, and is preferably formed on both surfaces of the positive electrode core 30. For example, a lithium transition metal composite oxide is used as the positive electrode active material.

[0023] The negative electrode 12 has a negative electrode core 40 and a negative electrode mixture layer 41 formed on at least one surface of the negative electrode core 40. The negative electrode core 40 can be made of a foil of a metal such as copper or a copper alloy that is stable within the potential range of the negative electrode 12, or a film with such a metal disposed on the surface layer. The negative electrode mixture layer 41 contains a negative electrode active material and a binder such as styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), and is preferably formed on both surfaces of the negative electrode core 40. The negative electrode active material can be, for example, graphite or a silicon-containing compound.

[0024] A stop tape 15 is attached to the outermost peripheral surface of the electrode body 14, maintaining the wound structure of the electrode body 14. The stop tape 15 is attached, for example, to both the top and bottom ends of the outermost peripheral surface of the electrode body 14. The exposed surface of the negative electrode core 40 on which the negative electrode mixture layer 41 is not formed may form the outermost peripheral surface of the electrode body 14, or the negative electrode core 40 may abut against the inner peripheral surface of the outer can 16, electrically connecting the negative electrode 12 and the outer can 16. A lower insulating plate 19 is disposed between the lower end surface of the electrode body 14 and the bottom portion 16a of the outer can 16, and ensures insulation between the positive electrode 11 and the outer can 16.

[0025] The upper insulating plate 18 has a disk shape and an opening 18a formed in its radial center. The opening 18a is a through-hole for passing the positive electrode lead 20 and also serves as a passageway for gas in the event of an abnormality. The positive electrode lead 20 extends through the opening 18a toward the sealing body 17 and is connected to the underside of the internal terminal plate 23 by welding or the like (see FIG. 1). The lower insulating plate 19, like the upper insulating plate 18, has a disk shape and an opening formed in its radial center. The negative electrode lead 21 passes outside the lower insulating plate 19 and extends toward the bottom surface 16a of the outer can 16 and is connected to the inner surface of the bottom surface 16a by welding or the like (see FIG. 1). The opening of the lower insulating plate 19 exposes the negative electrode lead 21 disposed on the bottom surface 16a, allowing the negative electrode lead 21 to be welded to the bottom surface 16a.

[0026] The upper insulating plate 18 is a disk-shaped hard member mainly composed of insulating resin (the same applies to the lower insulating plate 19). An example of the resin constituting the upper insulating plate 18 is polyolefin such as polypropylene, but the resin is not particularly limited and may be a more heat-resistant resin such as phenolic resin. The upper insulating plate 18 may contain a non-conductive filler such as glass fiber. The thickness of the upper insulating plate 18 is, for example, 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm or 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm. The opening 18a has a diameter that is, for example, 30% to 50% of the diameter (outer diameter) of the upper insulating plate 18, and is formed so as to penetrate the radial center of the upper insulating plate 18 in the thickness direction.

[0027] As described above, two upper insulating plates 18 are disposed on the electrode assembly 14. The two upper insulating plates 18 are, for example, hard resin plates having the same shape, dimensions, and composition. The two upper insulating plates 18 sandwich the potassium salt sheet 50 and function as a support that stably holds the potassium salt sheet 50 between the upper end surface of the electrode assembly 14 and the sealing member 17. By forming a sandwich structure in which the potassium salt sheet 50 is sandwiched between the two hard upper insulating plates 18, it is possible to maintain the potassium salt sheet 50 above the electrode assembly 14 even when the internal pressure of the outer can 16 increases and gas is released from the sealing member 17. In this case, the gas and the potassium salt mix effectively, highly suppressing ignition.

[0028] The potassium salt sheet 50 is a sheet containing potassium salt, and is composed of, for example, potassium salt and a binder. The potassium salt effectively functions as a fire extinguishing agent that suppresses fire by mixing with gas emitted from the cylindrical battery 10. Examples of suitable potassium salts include monopotassium citrate, tripotassium citrate, and dipotassium citrate. Among these, at least one selected from tripotassium citrate and dipotassium citrate is preferred.

[0029] The potassium salt sheet 50 can be formed, for example, by rolling a mixed powder of potassium salt and a binder into a sheet using a roller. Alternatively, the potassium salt sheet 50 can be produced by preparing a slurry in which the potassium salt and the binder are dispersed or dissolved, applying the slurry to a predetermined substrate, and then drying the coating. The binder may be the same as the binder used in the mixture layers of the positive electrode 11 and the negative electrode 12, such as polyvinylidene fluoride or SBR. The thickness of the potassium salt sheet 50 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 5.0 mm or 0.5 to 3.0 mm.

[0030] The potassium salt sheet 50 is composed primarily of potassium salt. The potassium salt content is preferably 60% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the potassium salt sheet 50. The potassium salt content is, for example, 60 to 98% by mass, 70 to 97% by mass, or 80 to 95% by mass. Increasing the potassium salt content can efficiently suppress ignition in the event of a battery abnormality. The mass of potassium salt contained in the cylindrical battery 10 is preferably determined taking into account the battery capacity. Generally, as the battery capacity increases, the amount of heat generated in the event of an abnormality increases, so it is preferable to increase the amount of potassium salt added.

[0031] When the capacity of the cylindrical battery 10 is, for example, 2 to 4 Ah, the mass of the potassium salt contained in the outer can 16 is, for example, 0.5 g or more, and more preferably 1.0 g or more. It is preferable that the entire amount of potassium salt is present in the outer can 16 in the form of a potassium salt sheet 50 placed on the electrode assembly 14. From the viewpoint of preventing ignition, there is no particular upper limit on the mass of the potassium salt, but considering the balance with the battery capacity, a suitable upper limit is 3.0 g. An example of a suitable cylindrical battery 10 has a battery capacity of 2.5 to 3.5 Ah, and the mass of the potassium salt contained in the outer can 16 is 0.5 to 3.0 g.

[0032] The potassium salt sheet 50 is preferably arranged so as to cover substantially the entire upper end surface of the electrode body 14. In other words, the potassium salt sheet 50 is preferably arranged so as to block the exhaust path from the electrode body 14 toward the sealing body 17. In this case, gas generated from the electrode body 14 due to abnormal heat generation caused by an internal short circuit due to, for example, a nail being stuck in it is thought to effectively mix with the potassium salt before being exhausted to the outside through the exhaust structure of the sealing body 17, thereby highly suppressing ignition. Note that the potassium salt sheet 50 does not impede the exhaust of gas, and therefore arranging the potassium salt sheet 50 in this manner does not hinder the smooth exhaust of gas.

[0033] As described above, the potassium salt sheet 50 is sandwiched between two upper insulating plates 18. Openings 18a are formed in the two upper insulating plates 18, and the potassium salt sheet 50 is provided to cover the openings 18a. In other words, between the two upper insulating plates 18, the areas where openings 18a are not formed, such as the peripheral edges of the upper insulating plates 18, have a three-layer structure of upper insulating plate 18 / potassium salt sheet 50 / upper insulating plate 18, but only the potassium salt sheet 50 is present in the areas where openings 18a are formed. In the event of a battery abnormality, gas passes through the openings 18a, so providing the potassium salt sheet 50 in the openings 18a is effective.

[0034] The potassium salt sheet 50 is formed in a disk shape, for example, with a diameter equal to that of the upper insulating plate 18. The two upper insulating plates 18 and the potassium salt sheet 50 are stacked so that their outer peripheries coincide. The two upper insulating plates 18 are arranged so that their openings 18a overlap, and the positive electrode lead 20 that passes through the opening 18a penetrates the potassium salt sheet 50.

[0035] Hereinafter, a cylindrical battery 10x, which is another example of an embodiment, will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the entire cylindrical battery 10x, and Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the bottom surface 16a of the outer can 16 and its vicinity. Below, differences from the above-described embodiment will be described, and overlapping explanations will be omitted.

[0036] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cylindrical battery 10x differs from the cylindrical battery 10 in that it has a marking 16c formed on the bottom surface 16a of the outer can 16 and a potassium salt sheet 50 is disposed between the bottom surface 16a and the lower end surface of the electrode assembly 14. The marking 16c is, for example, a ring-shaped or C-shaped groove formed on the outer surface of the bottom surface 16a. The bottom surface 16a is thinner at the portion where the marking 16c is formed than at other portions, and will rupture preferentially when the internal pressure of the outer can 16 increases. That is, an opening for venting gas is formed in the portion of the bottom surface 16a surrounded by the marking 16c.

[0037] In the cylindrical battery 10x, an exhaust structure is provided on the bottom surface 16a of the outer can 16, and a potassium salt sheet 50 and a lower insulating plate 19 are arranged between the lower end surface of the electrode body 14 and the bottom surface 16a, in that order starting from the bottom surface 16a. The potassium salt sheet 50 is sandwiched between the bottom surface 16a and the lower insulating plate 19 from above and below. In the cylindrical battery 10x, no opening is formed in the cap 27 of the sealing body 17, and the sealing body 17 is not provided with an exhaust structure. In addition, only one upper insulating plate 18 is arranged between the electrode body 14 and the grooved portion 22.

[0038] The potassium salt sheet 50 is preferably arranged so as to cover substantially the entire lower end surface of the electrode assembly 14. That is, similar to the cylindrical battery 10, the potassium salt sheet 50 is preferably arranged so as to block the exhaust path from the electrode assembly 14 toward the bottom surface portion 16a. Furthermore, an opening 19a is formed in the lower insulating plate 19, but the potassium salt sheet 50 is formed in a disk shape without an opening and is arranged so as to block the opening 19a. The potassium salt sheet 50 has, for example, the same diameter as the lower insulating plate 19, and is stacked so that the outer peripheries of the respective plates coincide.

[0039] The preferred thickness, composition, etc. of the potassium salt sheet 50 of the cylindrical battery 10x are the same as those of the potassium salt sheet 50 of the cylindrical battery 10. The potassium salt sheet 50 may also be sandwiched between two lower insulating plates 19. The potassium salt sheet 50 of the cylindrical batteries 10, 10x is not limited to a sheet containing potassium salt and a binder, and may be, for example, a sheet in which a gallium salt is added to a resin such as polyolefin that constitutes the insulating plate, or a sheet in which potassium salt is coated on the surface of an insulating plate. Experimental Examples

[0040] The present disclosure will be further explained below with reference to experimental examples, but the present disclosure is not limited to these experimental examples.

[0041] <Experimental Example 1> [Preparation of positive electrode] Lithium nickel cobalt oxide was used as the positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material, graphite, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were mixed in a solids mass ratio of 90.3:4.7:5, and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as a dispersion medium to prepare a positive electrode mixture slurry. Next, the positive electrode mixture slurry was applied to a positive electrode core made of aluminum foil with a thickness of 20 μm, the coating was dried, and then the positive electrode mixture slurry was compressed using a roll press to a mixture layer density of 3.5 g / cc. The positive electrode was then cut to the specified electrode size to prepare a positive electrode. An aluminum lead was welded to the exposed core portion, which was the non-coated portion of the positive electrode mixture slurry.

[0042] [Negative Electrode Fabrication] Artificial graphite was used as the negative electrode active material. The negative electrode active material, carboxymethyl cellulose, and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were mixed in a solids mass ratio of 96:2:2, and water was used as the dispersion medium to prepare a negative electrode mixture slurry. Next, the negative electrode mixture slurry was applied to a negative electrode core made of copper foil with a thickness of 15 μm. The coating was then dried, and the negative electrode mixture slurry was compressed using a roll press to a mixture layer density of 1.5 g / cc. The negative electrode was then cut to the specified electrode size to fabricate a negative electrode. A nickel lead was welded to the exposed core portion, which was the non-coated portion of the negative electrode mixture slurry.

[0043] [Preparation of electrode body] The positive electrode and the negative electrode were spirally wound around a 4 mm diameter core with a winding machine, with a separator made of a microporous polyolefin film sandwiched between them, and an insulating stop tape was attached to the end of the winding.The core was then removed to obtain a wound electrode assembly.

[0044] [Preparation of non-aqueous electrolyte] Ethylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, and dimethyl carbonate were mixed in a volume ratio of 20:20:60 (at 1 atmosphere and 25°C). LiPF6 was added to the mixed solvent to a concentration of 1 M to prepare a non-aqueous electrolyte solution.

[0045] [Cylindrical battery fabrication] The electrode assembly was housed in a cylindrical outer can with a bottom, 65 mm high and 18 mm diameter, and an upper insulating plate was placed on top of the electrode assembly. A potassium salt sheet and an upper insulating plate were placed on top of the insulating plate, sandwiching the potassium salt sheet between the two insulating plates to form a sandwich structure. A lower insulating plate was also placed between the lower end surface of the electrode assembly and the bottom of the outer can. The potassium salt sheet was a 500 μm-thick sheet made from a mixture of 1 g of tripotassium citrate and 0.05 g of SBR. The upper insulating plate was a 500 μm-thick polypropylene resin plate with an opening for the positive electrode lead. As shown in Figure 1, the potassium salt sheet was placed to cover the opening of the upper insulating plate and completely cover the upper end surface of the electrode assembly.

[0046] Next, a groove was formed in the top of the outer can, and the electrolyte was poured into the outer can. A seal was then attached to the opening of the outer can via a gasket. The edge of the opening of the outer can was then crimped against the seal to produce a cylindrical battery (capacity 3 Ah) in which the opening of the outer can was sealed with the seal. The positive electrode lead was welded to the internal terminal plate of the seal, and the negative electrode lead was welded to the bottom of the outer can. The seal had the exhaust structure shown in Figure 1.

[0047] <Experimental Example 2> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0048] <Experimental Example 3> An outer can with an exhaust structure (engravings on the bottom surface) as shown in Figure 3 was used as the outer can. A sealing body without an exhaust structure was used as the sealing body. A lower insulating plate (500 μm thick) made of polypropylene was placed on the bottom surface of the outer can with the engravings formed, and a potassium salt sheet and the lower insulating plate were placed on top of that in that order, creating a sandwich structure in which the potassium salt sheet was sandwiched between the two insulating plates. An upper insulating plate made of polypropylene was placed on top of the electrode body. A cylindrical battery was fabricated with the rest of the configuration being the same as in Experimental Example 1.

[0049] <Experimental Example 4> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 3, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0050] <Experimental Example 5> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 3, except that the mass of tripotassium citrate contained in the potassium salt sheet was changed to 0.5 g.

[0051] <Experimental Example 6> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 3, except that the mass of tripotassium citrate contained in the potassium salt sheet was changed to 3.0 g.

[0052] <Experimental Example 7> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that an outer can having the vent structure (stamped on the bottom surface) shown in Fig. 3 was used as the outer can, and a sealing body without an vent structure was used as the sealing body. That is, a potassium salt sheet sandwiched between two upper insulating plates was placed on top of the electrode body.

[0053] <Experimental Example 8> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 7, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0054] <Experimental Example 9> A polypropylene lower insulating plate was placed on the bottom of the outer can without markings, and a potassium salt sheet and the lower insulating plate were placed on top of that, creating a sandwich structure with the potassium salt sheet sandwiched between the two insulating plates. An polypropylene upper insulating plate was placed on top of the electrode assembly. A cylindrical battery was fabricated with the same configuration as in Experimental Example 1.

[0055] <Experimental Example 10> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 9, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0056] <Experimental Example 11> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that the electrode body was inserted into an outer can with a potassium salt sheet wrapped around the outer periphery of the electrode body, and a single-layer upper insulating plate was used instead of the sandwich structure of upper insulating plate / potassium salt sheet / upper insulating plate.

[0057] <Experimental Example 12> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 11, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0058] <Experimental Example 13> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that the electrode body was inserted into an outer can with a potassium salt sheet filled in the center (winding center) of the electrode body, and a single-layer upper insulating plate was used instead of the sandwich structure of upper insulating plate / potassium salt sheet / upper insulating plate.

[0059] <Experimental Example 14> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 13, except that dipotassium citrate was used instead of tripotassium citrate as the potassium salt constituting the potassium salt sheet.

[0060] <Experimental Example 15> A cylindrical battery was fabricated in the same manner as in Experimental Example 1, except that a single-layer upper insulating plate was used instead of the sandwich structure of upper insulating plate / potassium salt sheet / upper insulating plate.

[0061] [Nail penetration test] Each cylindrical battery in the Examples and Comparative Examples was tested using a pressure-resistant nail penetration test device equipped with a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor according to the following procedure. The test results are shown in Table 1. The test results are the average of the test results obtained three times for each battery. (1) In an environment of 25°C, the battery was charged at a constant current of 0.3 C until the battery voltage reached 4.2 V, and then continued to be charged at a constant voltage until the current value reached 0.05 C. (2) In an environment of 25°C, the tip of a round nail with a diameter of 3 mm was brought into contact with the center of the side of the battery charged in (1), and the round nail was thrust in the diameter direction of the battery at a speed of 10 mm / sec. The thrusting of the round nail was stopped when the nail had completely penetrated the battery. (3) The maximum temperature of the gas emitted from the battery and the maximum pressure inside the device were measured. At this time, the presence or absence of ignition was confirmed visually.

[0062] [Table 1]

[0063] As shown in Table 1, the batteries of Experimental Examples 1 to 4 were less likely to ignite in the nail penetration test and were able to significantly suppress increases in the pressure and temperature of the discharged gas compared to the batteries of Experimental Examples 7 to 10. In the batteries of Experimental Examples 1 to 4, a potassium salt sheet was placed in the exhaust path from the electrode body toward the sealing body or the bottom of the outer can so as to cover the end face of the electrode body, which is the source of gas generation, which is thought to effectively mix the gas and potassium salt, making the gas less likely to ignite.

[0064] The batteries of Experimental Examples 7 to 10 showed no particular effect in the nail penetration test compared to the battery of Experimental Example 15, which did not use a potassium salt sheet. Furthermore, the batteries of Experimental Examples 11 and 12, in which a potassium salt sheet was arranged to cover the outer surface of the electrode body, and the batteries of Experimental Examples 13 and 14, in which a potassium salt sheet was arranged at the center of the winding of the electrode body, showed results similar to that of the battery of Experimental Example 15. In other words, it can be seen that the arrangement of the potassium salt sheet has a significant effect on ignition suppression, and that the arrangements of Experimental Examples 7 to 14 did not provide any ignition suppression effect.

[0065] In the battery of Experimental Example 5, the amount of potassium salt added was reduced by 50% compared to the battery of Experimental Example 4, but a significant ignition suppression effect was also obtained in this case. However, since some ignition (short-lasting flames) was observed, it can be said that when the battery capacity is about 3 Ah, the amount of potassium salt added is preferably 1.0 g rather than 0.5 g. Note that there was not much difference in the ignition suppression effect between the battery of Experimental Example 6, in which 3.0 g of potassium salt was added, and the batteries of Experimental Examples 7 to 10. As mentioned above, it is preferable to determine the amount of potassium salt added taking into account the balance with the battery capacity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10, 10x cylindrical battery, 11 positive electrode, 12 negative electrode, 13 separator, 14 electrode body, 15 winding tape, 16 outer can, 16a bottom portion, 16b side portion, 16c marking, 17 sealing body, 18 upper insulating plate, 18a, 19a, 27a openings, 19 lower insulating plate, 20 positive electrode lead, 21 negative electrode lead, 22 grooved portion, 23 internal terminal plate, 24 lower valve body, 25 insulating member, 26 upper valve body, 27 cap, 28 gasket, 30 positive electrode core, 31 positive electrode mixture layer, 40 negative electrode core, 41 negative electrode mixture layer, 50 potassium salt sheet

Claims

1. An electrode body; a cylindrical outer can with a bottom that houses the electrode assembly; a sealing body that seals the opening of the outer can; Equipped with a bottom surface of the outer can or the sealing body is provided with an exhaust structure for exhausting gas when the internal pressure of the outer can exceeds a predetermined threshold; a potassium salt sheet including a potassium salt and a binder, the potassium salt sheet being disposed between an end surface of the electrode assembly and the bottom surface of the exterior can provided with the exhaust structure or the sealing body provided with the exhaust structure; The potassium salt is at least one selected from tripotassium citrate and dipotassium citrate.

2. the exhaust structure is provided on the sealing body, 2. The sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein the potassium salt sheet and two insulating plates sandwiching the potassium salt sheet are disposed between one end face of the electrode body and the sealing body.

3. the exhaust structure is provided on a bottom surface of the outer can, 2. The sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein the potassium salt sheet and an insulating plate are overlappingly arranged between the other end face of the electrode body and the bottom surface of the outer can, in that order from the bottom surface side.

4. The battery capacity is 2 to 4 Ah, 4. The sealed battery according to claim 1, wherein the mass of the potassium salt contained in the outer can is 0.5 to 3.0 g.

Images