Battery cell, battery apparatus, and electrical apparatus

Abstract

A battery cell, a battery apparatus, and an electrical apparatus. The battery cell comprises a casing, an electrode unit, an insulating film, and an insulating member. The casing comprises a first casing wall and a second casing wall which intersect. The electrode unit is accommodated in the casing, the electrode unit comprises an electrode body and a tab, and the tab is led out from the electrode body towards a first end face of the first casing wall. The insulating film is accommodated in the casing and is used for separating the electrode body from the second casing wall. At least part of the insulating member is located between the electrode body and the second casing wall, and the melting point of the insulating member is greater than the melting point of the insulating film.

Description

Battery cells, battery packs and electrical devices

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202422663198.3, filed on November 1, 2024, entitled “Battery Cell, Battery Device and Power Consumption Device”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of battery technology, and in particular to a battery cell, a battery device, and an electrical device. Background Technology

[0004] With the development of new energy technologies, batteries are being used more and more widely, for example in mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric ships, electric toy cars, electric toy ships, electric toy airplanes, and power tools.

[0005] In the development of battery technology, the reliability of individual battery cells directly affects the reliability, cost of use, and user experience of end products. Therefore, how to effectively improve the reliability of individual battery cells is a continuous technical challenge in battery technology. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, this application provides a battery cell, a battery device, and an electrical device, which can effectively improve the reliability of the battery cell.

[0007] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery cell, which includes a casing, electrode units, an insulating film, and an insulating member. The casing includes a first shell wall and a second shell wall that intersect each other. The electrode units are housed within the casing and include an electrode body and a tab, with the tab extending from a first end face of the electrode body toward the first shell wall. The insulating film is housed within the casing and serves to separate the electrode body from the second shell wall. At least a portion of the insulating member is located between the electrode body and the second shell wall, and the melting point of the insulating member is greater than the melting point of the insulating film.

[0008] The above technical solution provides an insulating component with a high melting point between the electrode body and the second shell wall. When the battery cell is heated, the insulating component is less likely to melt. Even if the separator and insulating film are damaged by heat, the insulating component can still insulate the electrode body and the second shell wall, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body and the second shell wall and effectively improving the reliability of the battery cell.

[0009] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the insulating element is attached to at least one of the electrode body, the insulating film, and the second shell wall.

[0010] The above technical solutions can reduce the difficulty of preparing insulating components, simplify the preparation process, and help reduce the overall production cost of battery cells.

[0011] In some embodiments of the first aspect, an insulating element is provided between the electrode unit and the insulating film. The insulating film can provide a certain degree of protection for the insulating element, reducing the risk of the insulating element falling off during the process of installing the electrode unit into the housing. And / or, an insulating element is provided between the insulating film and the second housing wall, which can reduce the interference effect of the insulating element on the assembly of the insulating film and the electrode unit, reduce the difficulty of setting the insulating film, not only improve the flatness of the insulating film covering the surface of the electrode unit, but also reduce the risk of the insulating element damaging the insulating film.

[0012] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the insulating film and the insulating element are integrally formed.

[0013] On the one hand, the manufacturing process is simplified because there is no need for additional connection processes to connect the insulating film and the insulating components. On the other hand, compared to connecting the insulating film and the insulating components through additional connection processes, the integrated structure of the insulating film and the insulating components provides a higher degree of bonding strength.

[0014] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the insulating element protrudes from the first end face along the direction from the electrode body to the first shell wall; and / or, along the direction from the first shell wall to the electrode body, the insulating element protrudes from the second end face of the electrode body opposite to the first shell wall.

[0015] The insulating component protruding from the first end face in the above technical solution increases its coverage area, thereby improving its insulation protection effect at the first end face location and further reducing the overall risk of a short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body and the second shell wall. Similarly, the insulating component protruding from the second end face increases its coverage area, further improving its insulation protection effect at the second end face location and further reducing the overall risk of a short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body and the second shell wall.

[0016] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the insulating member includes a first portion and a second portion, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body along its thickness direction.

[0017] The above technical solution provides targeted insulation protection for the opposite sides of the electrode body along its thickness direction by setting a first part and a second part. On the one hand, the separate setting of the first part and the second part can improve the flexibility of the insulation component setting; on the other hand, it can reduce the amount of insulation component to a certain extent while achieving the insulation effect requirements, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell.

[0018] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the projection of the first portion along the thickness direction and the projection of the second portion along the thickness direction at least partially overlap.

[0019] The above technical solution can improve the overall consistency in the thickness direction of the insulating component and the electrode unit after they are assembled, reduce the risk of battery cell damage caused by uneven internal stress due to electrode unit expansion, and further improve the reliability of battery cells.

[0020] In some embodiments of the first aspect, a first portion covers one surface of the electrode body along the thickness direction. A second portion covers the other surface of the electrode body along the thickness direction.

[0021] The above technical solution can further increase the coverage area of ​​the insulating component, thereby improving the overall insulation and protection effect of the insulating component.

[0022] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode unit and the first housing wall are disposed along a first direction, which intersects the thickness direction of the electrode body. An insulating member is disposed around the electrode body, and the circumferential axis of the insulating member is parallel to the first direction.

[0023] The above technical solution can not only further increase the coverage of the insulating component to improve the overall insulation protection effect of the insulating component, but also improve the overall stability of the insulating component.

[0024] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode body further includes an outer peripheral surface connected between the first end face and the second end face of the electrode body facing away from the first shell wall, and an insulating member covers the outer peripheral surface.

[0025] This can further increase the coverage area of ​​the insulating components, thereby further improving the overall insulation and protection effect of the insulating components.

[0026] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode unit and the first shell wall are disposed along a first direction, which intersects the thickness direction of the electrode body. There are multiple insulating elements, including a first insulating element and a second insulating element. At least a portion of the first insulating element is disposed along the outer periphery of a first end face, and at least a portion of the second insulating element is disposed opposite to the outer periphery of the second end face of the electrode body.

[0027] The above technical solution provides targeted insulation protection for the first and second end faces by setting a first insulating component and a second insulating component. On the one hand, the separate setting of the first and second insulating components can improve the flexibility of the overall setting of the insulating components; on the other hand, it can reduce the amount of overall insulating components to a certain extent while achieving the insulation effect requirements, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell.

[0028] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode unit includes at least one electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a body portion and at least one tab, the electrode body including the body portion of all electrode assemblies. The electrode assembly includes a straight region and two bent regions connected at both ends of the straight region along a second direction, the first direction, the second direction, and the thickness direction being perpendicular to each other. At least a portion of the insulating member is located between the straight region and the second shell wall.

[0029] By providing targeted insulation protection to the flat areas, the amount of insulation material can be reduced to a certain extent while still meeting insulation requirements, which helps to improve the energy density of individual battery cells.

[0030] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode unit includes at least one electrode assembly, the electrode assembly including a body portion and at least one tab, and the electrode body including the body portion of all electrode assemblies. The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrode sheets stacked along the thickness direction. The electrode body also includes a third end face and a fourth end face, the third end face and the fourth end face being disposed opposite to each other along a second direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the thickness direction being perpendicular to each other. The insulating member also includes a third insulating member and a fourth insulating member, at least a portion of the third insulating member being disposed along the edge of the third end face, and at least a portion of the fourth insulating member being disposed along the edge of the fourth end face.

[0031] In the case where the electrode unit includes a stacked electrode assembly, the above technical solution further introduces a third insulating component and a fourth insulating component to provide targeted insulation protection at the third and fourth end face positions, which can improve the overall insulation protection effect of the insulating component.

[0032] In some embodiments of the first aspect, a third insulating member is connected between a first insulating member and a second insulating member, and a fourth insulating member is connected between a first insulating member and a second insulating member.

[0033] Multiple insulating components are interconnected to form a whole, which can further improve the overall stability of the multiple insulating components.

[0034] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first insulating member, the second insulating member, the third insulating member, and the fourth insulating member are integrally formed structures.

[0035] On the one hand, the manufacturing process is simplified because there is no need for additional connecting processes to connect the first, second, third, and fourth insulating components. On the other hand, compared to connecting the first, second, third, and fourth insulating components through additional connecting processes, the integrated structure of the first, second, third, and fourth insulating components provides a higher degree of connection strength.

[0036] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 100°C; or, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell is greater than 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 150°C.

[0037] The above technical solution sets the melting point of the insulating components according to the different volumetric energy densities of the battery cells, which can reduce the overflow of the heat resistance performance of the insulating components while meeting the insulation protection requirements and reducing costs.

[0038] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 150°C; or, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell is greater than 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 200°C. By raising the lower limit of the melting point of the insulating component, the insulation protection effect can be further improved.

[0039] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the electrode unit and the first housing wall are disposed along a first direction, which intersects the thickness direction of the electrode body. A first dimension d1 of the insulating member along the first direction and a second dimension d2 of the electrode body along the first direction satisfy the relationship: 3mm ≤ d1 ≤ d2 + 20mm.

[0040] The above technical solution, by setting the first dimension d1 of the insulating component along the first direction within the above range, can reduce the space occupancy rate of the insulating component while meeting the coverage requirements, thereby improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0041] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the first dimension d1 of the insulating member along the first direction and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body along the first direction satisfy the relationship: 5mm≤d1≤d2+10mm.

[0042] This can further improve the balance between increasing the coverage of insulation components and reducing space occupancy.

[0043] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member along the thickness direction of the electrode body satisfies the relationship: 0.03mm≤d3≤1mm.

[0044] The above technical solution, by setting the third dimension d3 of the insulating component along the thickness direction of the electrode body within the above range, can reduce the space occupancy rate of the insulating component while meeting the insulation protection requirements, thereby improving the energy density of the battery cell.

[0045] In some embodiments of the first aspect, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member along the thickness direction satisfies the relationship: 0.05mm≤d3≤0.2mm.

[0046] It can further improve the insulation protection effect of insulating components and reduce the space occupation rate.

[0047] Secondly, this application provides a battery device that includes a battery cell provided in any of the embodiments of the first aspect.

[0048] Thirdly, this application provides an electrical device that includes a battery cell provided in any embodiment of the first aspect or a battery device provided in any embodiment of the second aspect, wherein the battery cell or battery device is used to store or provide electrical energy.

[0049] 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

[0050] 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:

[0051] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the vehicle structure provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0052] Figure 2 is an exploded structural diagram of a battery device provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0053] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a battery module provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0054] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0055] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the mating structure of an electrode unit and an insulating component of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0056] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the matching structure of the electrode unit and the insulating component of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0057] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the mating structure of the second shell wall, insulating film and insulating component of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0058] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the mating structure of the second shell wall, insulating film and insulating element of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0059] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the mating structure of the second shell wall and the insulating component of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0060] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the matching structure of the electrode unit and the insulating component of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0061] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the matching structure of the electrode unit and the insulating component of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0062] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0063] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0064] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0065] Figure 15 is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0066] Figure 16 is a top view of the battery cell shown in Figure 15.

[0067] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure along AA in Figure 16;

[0068] Figure 18 is a partial enlarged structural diagram of point H in Figure 17.

[0069] The reference numerals in the detailed embodiments are as follows: 1. Vehicle; 2. Battery device; 3. Controller; 4. Motor; 5. Housing; 5a. First housing section; 5b. Second housing section; 5c. Accommodation space; 6. Battery module; 7. Battery cell; 10. Outer shell; 11. First shell wall; 12. Second shell wall; 20. Electrode unit; 21. Electrode body; 211. First end face; 212. Second end face; 213. Third end face; 214. Fourth end face; 22. Tab; 30. Insulating film; 40. Insulating component; 40a. First insulating component; 40b. Second insulating component; 40c. Third insulating component; 40d. Fourth insulating component; 41. First part; 42. Second part; X. First direction; Y. Thickness direction; Z. Second direction. Detailed Implementation

[0070] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0071] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or foregoing drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, rather than to describe a specific order or hierarchy.

[0072] In this application, the reference to "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment that is mutually exclusive with other embodiments.

[0073] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0074] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0075] In the embodiments of this application, the same reference numerals denote the same components, and for the sake of brevity, detailed descriptions of the same components are omitted in different embodiments. It should be understood that the thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of various components in the embodiments of this application shown in the accompanying drawings, as well as the overall thickness, length, width, and other dimensions of the integrated device, are merely illustrative and should not constitute any limitation on this application.

[0076] In this application, "multiple" means two or more (including two).

[0077] In this application, the term "parallel" includes not only the case of absolute parallelism, but also the case of approximate parallelism as commonly understood in engineering; similarly, "perpendicular" includes not only the case of absolute perpendicularity, but also the case of approximate perpendicularity as commonly understood in engineering.

[0078] In this embodiment of the application, the battery cell can be a secondary battery cell, which refers to a battery cell that can be used again after being discharged by recharging to activate the active materials.

[0079] The battery cell can be a lithium-ion battery cell, a sodium-ion battery cell, a sodium-lithium-ion battery cell, a lithium metal battery cell, a sodium metal battery cell, a lithium-sulfur battery cell, a magnesium-ion battery cell, a nickel-metal hydride battery cell, a nickel-cadmium battery cell, a lead-acid battery cell, etc., but the embodiments of this application are not limited to this.

[0080] A single battery cell typically includes an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly consists of a positive electrode and a negative electrode. During the charging and discharging process of a single battery cell, active ions (such as lithium ions) repeatedly insert and extract between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0081] In some embodiments, the positive electrode may be a positive electrode sheet, which may include a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the positive electrode current collector.

[0082] As an example, the positive current collector has two surfaces opposite each other in its own thickness direction, and the positive active material is disposed on either or both of the two opposite surfaces of the positive current collector.

[0083] In some embodiments, the negative electrode may be a negative electrode sheet, and the negative electrode sheet may include a negative electrode current collector.

[0084] As an example, the negative electrode sheet may include a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode active material disposed on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector.

[0085] As an example, the negative electrode current collector has two surfaces opposite each other in its own thickness direction, and the negative electrode active material is disposed on either or both of the two opposite surfaces of the negative electrode current collector.

[0086] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly further includes an isolator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes.

[0087] The electrode assembly can be a wound structure, a stacked structure, or a hybrid structure of wound and stacked.

[0088] In some implementations, the electrode assembly is a wound structure. The positive and negative electrode sheets are wound into a wound structure.

[0089] In some implementations, the electrode assembly is a stacked structure.

[0090] As an example, multiple positive and negative electrodes can be set, and multiple positive and multiple negative electrodes can be stacked alternately.

[0091] As an example, multiple positive electrode plates can be provided, and negative electrode plates can be folded to form multiple stacked folded segments, with a positive electrode plate sandwiched between adjacent folded segments.

[0092] As an example, both the positive and negative electrode plates are folded to form multiple stacked folded segments.

[0093] As an example, multiple separators can be provided, each positioned between any adjacent positive or negative electrode plates.

[0094] As an example, the separators can be continuously arranged, either by folding or rolling between any adjacent positive or negative electrode plates.

[0095] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly can be cylindrical, flat, or polygonal, etc.

[0096] In some embodiments, the electrode assembly is provided with tabs that allow current to be drawn from the electrode assembly. The tabs include a positive tab and a negative tab.

[0097] In some embodiments, the battery cell may include a casing. The casing may be a steel casing, an aluminum casing, a plastic casing (such as a polypropylene casing), a composite metal casing (such as a copper-aluminum composite casing), or an aluminum-plastic film, etc. In some embodiments, the casing may be a sealed structure or a non-sealed structure. As an example, when the casing is a non-sealed structure, the casing serves to protect the electrode assembly, and a sealing bag is included between the casing and the electrode assembly to encapsulate the electrode assembly and electrolyte. Specifically, the sealing bag may be a bag-shaped insulating component or an aluminum-plastic film. When the casing is a sealed structure, it is used to encapsulate components such as the electrode assembly and electrolyte.

[0098] As an example, a battery cell can be a cylindrical battery cell, a prismatic battery cell, a pouch battery cell, or a battery cell of other shapes. Prismatic battery cells include prismatic battery cells, blade-shaped battery cells, and multi-prismatic batteries, such as hexagonal prismatic batteries.

[0099] In some embodiments, the housing includes an end cap and a housing, the housing having an opening, and the end cap covering the opening. The housing may have one or more openings. The end cap may also have one or more.

[0100] In some embodiments, at least one electrode terminal is provided on the housing, and the electrode terminal is electrically connected to the tab. The electrode terminal can be directly connected to the tab, or it can be indirectly connected to the tab through a current collector. The electrode terminal can be provided on the end cap or on the housing.

[0101] The battery apparatus mentioned in the embodiments of this application may include one or more battery cell assemblies for providing voltage and capacity. A battery cell assembly may include multiple battery cells connected in series, parallel, or mixed connections via a busbar.

[0102] In some embodiments, a battery cell assembly is typically formed by arranging multiple battery cells.

[0103] As an example, a battery cell assembly can be a battery module, which is formed by arranging and fixing multiple battery cells together to form an independent module. As another example, a battery module can be formed by bundling multiple battery cells together with cable ties.

[0104] In some embodiments, the battery device may be a battery pack, which includes a housing and one or more individual battery cells housed within the housing.

[0105] As an example, the battery cell assembly can be a battery module, which can be housed in a housing by fixing the battery module in the housing.

[0106] As an example, battery cell assemblies can also be housed in a housing by directly fixing multiple battery cells to the housing.

[0107] As an example, the enclosure may include a top cover, a frame, and a bottom plate. The top cover and bottom plate are connected to the frame, creating an enclosed space inside the enclosure to house the individual battery cells.

[0108] In some embodiments, the housing may be part of the vehicle's chassis structure. For example, a portion of the housing may be at least a part of the vehicle's floor, or a portion of the housing may be at least a part of the vehicle's crossbeams and longitudinal beams.

[0109] The technical solutions described in the embodiments of this application are applicable to various electrical devices that use individual battery cells, such as mobile phones, portable devices, laptops, electric vehicles, electric toys, power tools, vehicles, ships, and spacecraft. For example, spacecraft include airplanes, rockets, space shuttles, and spacecraft.

[0110] With the development of new energy technologies, batteries are being used more and more widely, for example in mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles, electric cars, electric airplanes, electric ships, electric toy cars, electric toy ships, electric toy airplanes, and power tools.

[0111] In the development of battery technology, the reliability of individual battery cells directly affects the reliability, cost of use, and user experience of end products. Currently, when a battery cell is heated, the separator of the electrode assembly and the insulating film covering the electrode assembly are easily damaged by heat, which can easily lead to a short circuit when the electrode contacts the casing, seriously affecting the reliability of the battery cell.

[0112] Based on the above considerations, this application provides a battery cell comprising a casing, electrode units, an insulating film, and an insulating element. The casing includes a first shell wall and a second shell wall that intersect each other. The electrode units are housed within the casing and include an electrode body and tabs, with the tabs extending from a first end face of the electrode body toward the first shell wall. The insulating film is housed within the casing and serves to separate the electrode body from the second shell wall. At least a portion of the insulating element is located between the electrode body and the second shell wall, and the melting point of the insulating element is greater than the melting point of the insulating film.

[0113] The above technical solution provides an insulating component with a high melting point between the electrode body and the second shell wall. When the battery cell is heated, the insulating component is less likely to melt. Even if the separator and insulating film are damaged by heat, the insulating component can still insulate the electrode body and the second shell wall, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body and the second shell wall and effectively improving the reliability of the battery cell.

[0114] The battery cell provided in the embodiments of this application is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0115] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0116] Referring again to Figure 1, a battery device 2 is installed inside the vehicle 1. The battery device 2 can be located at the bottom, front, or rear of the vehicle 1. The battery device 2 can be used to power the vehicle 1; for example, the battery device 2 can serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1.

[0117] The vehicle 1 may also include a controller 3 and a motor 4. The controller 3 is used to control the battery device 2 to supply power to the motor 4, for example, for the power needs of the vehicle 1 during starting, navigation and driving.

[0118] In some embodiments of this application, the battery device 2 can not only serve as the operating power source for the vehicle 1, but also as the driving power source for the vehicle 1, replacing or partially replacing fuel or natural gas to provide driving power for the vehicle 1.

[0119] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic diagram of a battery device provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0120] Referring again to Figure 2, the battery device 2 includes a housing 5 and individual battery cells, with the individual battery cells housed within the housing 5.

[0121] The housing 5 is used to house individual battery cells, and the housing 5 can have various structures. In some embodiments, the housing 5 may include a first housing portion 5a and a second housing portion 5b, which overlap each other, and together define a housing space 5c for housing the individual battery cells. The second housing portion 5b may be a hollow structure with one end open, and the first housing portion 5a may be a plate-like structure, with the first housing portion 5a covering the open side of the second housing portion 5b to form a housing 5 with the housing space 5c; alternatively, both the first housing portion 5a and the second housing portion 5b may be hollow structures with one side open, with the open side of the first housing portion 5a covering the open side of the second housing portion 5b to form a housing 5 with the housing space 5c. Of course, the first housing portion 5a and the second housing portion 5b can have various shapes, such as cylinders, cuboids, etc.

[0122] To improve the sealing performance after the first housing part 5a and the second housing part 5b are connected, a sealing element, such as sealant or sealing ring, can also be provided between the first housing part 5a and the second housing part 5b.

[0123] Assuming that the first box section 5a covers the top of the second box section 5b, the first box section 5a can also be called the upper box cover, and the second box section 5b can also be called the lower box.

[0124] In battery device 2, there can be one or more battery cells. If there are multiple battery cells, they can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner. A mixed connection means that multiple battery cells are connected in both series and parallel. Multiple battery cells can be directly connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner, and then the whole assembly of multiple battery cells is housed in housing 5. Alternatively, multiple battery cells can first be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form battery module 6, and then multiple battery modules 6 can be connected in series, parallel, or in a mixed manner to form a whole assembly, which is then housed in housing 5.

[0125] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the battery module shown in Figure 2.

[0126] In some embodiments, continuing to refer to FIG3, there are multiple battery cells 7, which are first connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a battery module 6. The multiple battery modules 6 are then connected in series, parallel, or mixed to form a whole and housed in a housing.

[0127] Multiple battery cells 7 in battery module 6 can be electrically connected through a busbar component to achieve parallel, series, or mixed connection of multiple battery cells 7 in battery module 6.

[0128] Figure 4 is an exploded view of a battery cell according to some embodiments of this application; Figure 5 is a diagram showing the assembly structure of an electrode unit and an insulating component of a battery cell according to some embodiments of this application; and Figure 6 is a diagram showing the assembly structure of an electrode unit and an insulating component of another battery cell according to some embodiments of this application.

[0129] Referring again to Figures 4 to 6, this embodiment of the application provides a battery cell 7, which includes a housing 10, an electrode unit 20, an insulating film 30, and an insulating element 40. The housing 10 includes a first housing wall 11 and a second housing wall 12 that intersect each other. The electrode unit 20 is housed within the housing 10 and includes an electrode body 21 and a tab 22. The tab 22 extends from the electrode body 21 toward a first end face 211 of the first housing wall 11. The insulating film 30 is housed within the housing 10 and serves to separate the electrode body 21 from the second housing wall 12. At least a portion of the insulating element 40 is located between the electrode body 21 and the second housing wall 12, and the melting point of the insulating element 40 is greater than the melting point of the insulating film 30.

[0130] Exemplarily, the housing 10 is a component used to form the internal environment of the battery cell 7. The formed internal environment can be used to house electrode assemblies, electrolyte, and other components. Optionally, the housing 10 can be, but is not limited to, made of metallic or non-metallic materials. For example, metallic materials can be copper, aluminum, or stainless steel; non-metallic materials can be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

[0131] In some examples, housing 10 includes a housing and an end cap, the housing having an opening and the end cap closing onto the opening.

[0132] The housing is a component used to fit with the end cap to form the internal environment of the battery cell 7. This internal environment can accommodate electrode components, electrolyte, and other parts. The housing and end cap can be separate components, with an opening in the housing. The end cap closes the opening to form the internal environment of the battery cell 7. Optionally, the end cap and housing can be integrated. Specifically, the end cap and housing can form a common connection surface before other components are inserted into the housing. When it is necessary to encapsulate the interior of the housing, the end cap closes the housing. The housing can have various shapes and sizes, such as cuboid, cylindrical, hexagonal prism, etc. Specifically, the shape of the housing can be determined according to the specific shape and size of the electrode components. The housing can be made of various materials; for example, the housing can be made of, but is not limited to, metallic or non-metallic materials. For example, metallic materials can be copper, aluminum, or stainless steel; non-metallic materials can be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride, etc.

[0133] An end cap is a component that covers the opening of the housing to isolate the internal environment of the battery cell 7 from the external environment. Optionally, the shape of the end cap can be adapted to the shape of the housing to fit the housing. Optionally, the end cap can be made of a material with a certain hardness and strength (such as aluminum alloy), so that the end cap is not easily deformed when subjected to compression and impact, giving the battery cell 7 higher structural strength and improved reliability. Functional components such as terminal groups can be set on the end cap. The material of the end cap can also be various. For example, the end cap can be made of, but is not limited to, metallic or non-metallic materials. For example, metallic materials can be copper, aluminum, or stainless steel; non-metallic materials can be polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride.

[0134] Optionally, the end cap can be detachably attached to the housing or integrally mounted on the housing. The end cap can be directly connected to the housing or constrained to the housing by other components. As an example, the connection method between the end cap and the housing can be, but is not limited to, welding, riveting, or bonding.

[0135] Electrode terminals, pressure relief mechanisms, or liquid injection holes may be provided on the first shell wall 11. As an example, the first shell wall 11 is an end cap.

[0136] The second shell wall 12 may be at least a portion of the circumferential sidewalls of the outer shell 10. As an example, the shell includes the second shell wall 12, the shell is cuboid in shape, and the second shell wall 12 may be one of the four sidewalls of the shell along its own circumference, or it may be all four sidewalls of the shell along its own circumference, or it may be the entire shell.

[0137] Electrode unit 20 includes at least one electrode assembly, which includes a main body and at least one tab 22. Electrode body 21 includes the main body of all electrode assemblies. The electrode assembly is the component in the battery cell 7 where electrochemical reactions occur. The electrode assembly is mainly formed by winding or stacking positive and negative electrode sheets, and a separator is usually 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, while the portions of the positive and negative electrode sheets without active material each constitute the tab 22. The positive and negative tabs can be located together at one end of the main body or at opposite 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 22 connect to the electrode terminals to form a current loop.

[0138] The insulating film 30 is used to insulate the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12. In some examples, the insulating film 30 covers at least a portion of the outer surface of the electrode body 21.

[0139] Optionally, the insulating film 30 may be, but is not limited to, made of materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, or rubber.

[0140] At least a portion of the insulating member 40 is located between the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12. This can be understood as either a portion of the insulating member 40 being located between the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12, or the entire insulating member 40 being located between the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12.

[0141] The melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than that of the insulating film 30, which makes the heat resistance of the insulating component 40 stronger than that of the insulating film 30. Under high temperature environment, the insulating component 40 is less likely to melt.

[0142] Optionally, the insulating element 40 may be, but is not limited to, a sheet-like structure, a film-like structure, or a block-like structure.

[0143] Optionally, the insulating element 40 may be, but is not limited to, made of materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polyimide, mica, or glass fiber.

[0144] The above technical solution provides an insulating element 40 with a high melting point between the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12. When the battery cell 7 is heated, the insulating element 40 is not easy to melt. Even if the separator and insulating film 30 are damaged by heat, the insulating element 40 can still insulate the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12 and effectively improving the reliability of the battery cell 7.

[0145] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the cooperative structure of the second shell wall 12, insulating film 30 and insulating element 40 of a battery cell 7 provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the cooperative structure of the second shell wall 12, insulating film 30 and insulating element 40 of another battery cell 7 provided in some embodiments of this application. Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the cooperative structure of the second shell wall 12 and insulating element 40 of a battery cell 7 provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0146] Referring again to Figures 7 through 9, in some embodiments, the insulating element 40 is attached to at least one of the electrode body 21, the insulating film 30, and the second shell wall 12.

[0147] For example, attachment means adhesion, coating, or spraying.

[0148] In some examples, as shown in Figures 4 to 11, the insulating element 40 is attached to the side surface of the electrode body 21 facing the insulating film 30.

[0149] In some examples, as shown in Figure 12, the insulating element 40 is attached to the surface of the insulating film 30 facing the second shell wall 12.

[0150] In some examples, as shown in Figure 13, the insulating element 40 is attached to the surface of the insulating film 30 facing the electrode body 21.

[0151] In some examples, as shown in Figure 14, the insulating element 40 is attached to the surface of the second shell wall 12 facing the electrode body 21.

[0152] The above technical solution can reduce the difficulty of preparing the insulating component 40, simplify the preparation process, and help reduce the overall production cost of the battery cell 7.

[0153] In some embodiments, an insulating element 40 is provided between the electrode unit 20 and the insulating film 30.

[0154] For example, the insulating member 40 is connected to the side surface of the electrode unit 20 facing the insulating film 30 and is located between the electrode unit 20 and the insulating film 30. The insulating member 40 can be directly connected to the side surface of the electrode unit 20 facing the insulating film 30, or it can be constrained to the side surface of the electrode unit 20 facing the insulating film 30 by other components.

[0155] The insulating film 30 of the above technical solution can provide a certain degree of protection for the insulating component 40, reducing the risk of the insulating component 40 falling off during the process of the electrode unit 20 being installed into the housing 10.

[0156] In some embodiments, an insulating element 40 is provided between the insulating film 30 and the second shell wall 12.

[0157] For example, the insulating member 40 is connected to the side surface of the second housing wall 12 facing the insulating film 30 and is located between the insulating film 30 and the second housing wall 12. The insulating member 40 can be directly connected to the side surface of the second housing wall 12 facing the insulating film 30, or it can be constrained to the side surface of the second housing wall 12 facing the insulating film 30 by other components.

[0158] The above technical solution can reduce the interference of the insulating component 40 on the assembly of the insulating film 30 and the electrode unit 20, reduce the difficulty of setting the insulating film 30, improve the flatness of the insulating film 30 on the surface of the electrode unit 20, and reduce the risk of the insulating component 40 damaging the insulating film 30.

[0159] In some embodiments, the insulating film 30 and the insulating element 40 are integrally formed structures.

[0160] For example, the insulating film 30 and the insulating element 40 are prepared simultaneously using a composite material of two or more insulating materials with different melting points.

[0161] On the one hand, the manufacturing process is simplified because there is no need to connect the insulating film 30 and the insulating component 40 through an additional connection process. On the other hand, compared with connecting the insulating film 30 and the insulating component 40 through an additional connection process, the integral structure of the insulating film 30 and the insulating component 40 has a higher connection strength.

[0162] In some embodiments, the insulating member 40 protrudes from the first end face 211 along the direction from the electrode body 21 to the first shell wall 11.

[0163] It should be noted that the diaphragm is prone to shrinkage under high temperature conditions. The tab 22 is led out from the first end face 211, and the free end of the diaphragm is located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212. This makes the larger risk area of ​​the electrode overlapping with the second shell wall 12 located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212.

[0164] Thus, the insulating component 40 of the above technical solution protrudes from the first end face 211, which can increase the coverage area of ​​the insulating component 40, thereby improving the insulation protection effect of the insulating component 40 at the position of the first end face 211, and further reducing the overall risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12.

[0165] In some embodiments, along the direction from the first shell wall 11 to the electrode body 21, the insulating member 40 protrudes from the second end face 212 of the electrode body 21 facing away from the first shell wall 11.

[0166] The insulating element 40 protrudes from the second end face 212, which can increase the coverage area of ​​the insulating element 40, thereby improving the insulation protection effect of the insulating element 40 at the position of the second end face 212, and further reducing the overall risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12.

[0167] In some embodiments, the insulating member 40 includes a first part 41 and a second part 42, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y.

[0168] It should be noted that the opposing surfaces of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y refer to the large surfaces of the electrode body 21, which are often in contact with the second shell wall 12. Furthermore, during the cycling process of the battery cell 7, the expansion of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y is relatively large, resulting in a tighter contact with the second shell wall 12. Therefore, in high-temperature environments, the risk of overlap between the two sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y and the second shell wall 12 is relatively high.

[0169] The above technical solution provides targeted insulation protection for the opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y by setting the first part 41 and the second part 42. On the one hand, the separate setting of the first part 41 and the second part 42 can improve the flexibility of the setting of the insulating component 40; on the other hand, it can reduce the amount of insulating component 40 to a certain extent while achieving the insulation effect requirements, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0170] The material, shape, and size of the first part 41 and the second part 42 may be the same or different. In some examples, the material, shape, and size of the first part 41 and the second part 42 are the same, which helps to simplify the manufacturing process of the insulating part 40 and reduce costs.

[0171] In some embodiments, the projection of the first portion 41 along the thickness direction Y and the projection of the second portion 42 along the thickness direction Y at least partially overlap.

[0172] For example, the projection of the first part 41 along the thickness direction Y and the projection of the second part 42 along the thickness direction Y may overlap, or the projection of the first part 41 along the thickness direction Y and the projection of the second part 42 along the thickness direction Y may overlap.

[0173] The above technical solution can improve the overall consistency of the insulation component 40 and the electrode unit 20 in the thickness direction Y after they are combined, reduce the risk of damage to the battery cell 7 due to uneven internal stress caused by the expansion of the electrode unit 20, and further improve the reliability of the battery cell 7.

[0174] In some embodiments, the first portion 41 covers one side surface of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y. The second portion 42 covers the other side surface of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y.

[0175] For example, the first portion 41 covering one side surface of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y means that the first portion 41 covers the entire surface of one side of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y. The second portion 42 covering the other side surface of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y means that the second portion 42 covers the entire surface of the other side of the electrode body 21 along the thickness direction Y.

[0176] The above technical solution can further increase the coverage area of ​​the insulating component 40, thereby improving the overall insulation and protection effect of the insulating component 40.

[0177] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the matching structure of the electrode unit and the insulating component of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0178] Referring again to FIG10, in some embodiments, the electrode unit 20 and the first shell wall 11 are disposed along a first direction X, which intersects the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21. An insulating member 40 is disposed around the electrode body 21, and the surrounding axis of the insulating member 40 is parallel to the first direction X.

[0179] The insulating member 40 is disposed around the electrode body 21, that is, the insulating member 40 is annular and sleeved on the outer periphery of the electrode body 21. This allows the insulating member 40 to be located not only on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y, but also on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along the second direction Z. The first direction X, the second direction Z, and the thickness direction Y are all perpendicular to each other.

[0180] The above technical solution can not only further increase the coverage of the insulating component 40 to improve the overall insulation and protection effect of the insulating component 40, but also improve the overall stability of the insulating component 40.

[0181] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of the assembly structure of the electrode unit and the insulating component of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0182] Referring again to FIG11, in some embodiments, the electrode body 21 further includes an outer peripheral surface, which is connected between the first end face 211 and the second end face 212 of the electrode body 21 facing away from the first shell wall 11, and the insulating member 40 covers the outer peripheral surface.

[0183] The term "insulating element 40 covering the outer peripheral surface" means that the insulating element 40 is ring-shaped and sleeved around the outer periphery of the electrode body 21, covering the entire outer peripheral surface of the electrode body 21. This further increases the coverage area of ​​the insulating element 40, thereby further improving the overall insulation and protection effect of the insulating element 40.

[0184] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application, and Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of yet another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0185] Referring again to Figures 12 and 13, in some embodiments, the electrode unit 20 and the first shell wall 11 are disposed along a first direction X, which intersects with the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21. There are multiple insulating members 40, including a first insulating member 40a and a second insulating member 40b. At least a portion of the first insulating member 40a is disposed along the outer periphery of the first end face 211, and at least a portion of the second insulating member 40b is disposed opposite to the outer periphery of the second end face 212 of the first shell wall 11.

[0186] For example, the number of insulating elements 40 may be, but is not limited to, two, three, four or more. Specifically, the number of first insulating elements 40a may be, but is not limited to, one, two, three or more, and the number of second insulating elements 40b may be, but is not limited to, one, two, three or more.

[0187] As described above, the diaphragm is prone to shrinkage under high temperature conditions. The tab 22 is led out from the first end face 211, and the free end of the diaphragm is located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212, so that the larger risk area of ​​the electrode overlapping with the second shell wall 12 is located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212.

[0188] The above technical solution provides targeted insulation protection for the first end face 211 and the second end face 212 by setting the first insulating component 40a and the second insulating component 40b. On the one hand, the separate setting of the first insulating component 40a and the second insulating component 40b can improve the flexibility of the overall setting of the insulating component 40. On the other hand, it can reduce the amount of the overall insulating component 40 to a certain extent while achieving the insulation effect requirements, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0189] It should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" in the first insulating member 40a and the second insulating member 40b are only used to distinguish the different locations of the insulating members 40. That is, the first insulating member 40a can be understood as the insulating member 40 disposed along the outer periphery of the first end face 211, and the second insulating member 40b can be understood as the insulating member 40 disposed along the outer periphery of the second end face 212.

[0190] The structural details of the first insulating member 40a and the second insulating member 40b are the same as those of the aforementioned insulating member 40.

[0191] In some embodiments, along the direction from the electrode body 21 to the first shell wall 11, the first insulating member 40a protrudes from the first end face 211.

[0192] In some embodiments, along the direction from the first shell wall 11 to the electrode body 21, the second insulating member 40b protrudes from the second end face 212 of the electrode body 21 facing away from the first shell wall 11.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first insulating member 40a includes a first portion 41 and a second portion 42, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y.

[0194] In some embodiments, the second insulating member 40b includes a first portion 41 and a second portion 42, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y.

[0195] In some embodiments, a first insulating member 40a is disposed around the electrode body 21, and the surrounding axis of the first insulating member 40a is parallel to the first direction X.

[0196] In some embodiments, the second insulating member 40b is disposed around the electrode body 21, and the surrounding axis of the second insulating member 40b is parallel to the first direction X.

[0197] In some embodiments, the electrode unit 20 includes at least one electrode assembly, which includes a main body and at least one tab 22. The electrode body 21 includes the main body of the entire electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a straight region and two bent regions, which are connected at both ends of the straight region along a second direction Z. The first direction X, the second direction Z, and the thickness direction Y are perpendicular to each other. At least a portion of the insulating member 40 is located between the straight region and the second shell wall 12.

[0198] For example, in a wound electrode assembly, the free ends of the diaphragm are located at two opposite end faces of the electrode assembly in the first direction X. That is, when the electrode unit 20 includes a wound electrode assembly, the free ends of the diaphragm are located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212, respectively. The diaphragm is prone to shrinkage under high temperature conditions, resulting in a larger risk area for the electrode sheet to overlap with the second shell wall 12 located at the first end face 211 and the second end face 212.

[0199] Thus, when the electrode unit 20 includes a wound electrode assembly, targeted insulation protection is provided at the positions of the first end face 211 and the second end face 212. This can reduce the amount of overall insulation component 40 to a certain extent while achieving the required insulation effect, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0200] Furthermore, during the cycling process of the battery cell 7, the expansion of the flat area along its own thickness direction Y is relatively large, making the contact between the flat area and the second shell wall 12 more tight. Therefore, under high temperature conditions, the risk of overlap between the two sides of the flat area along its own thickness direction Y and the second shell wall 12 is relatively high.

[0201] In this way, by specifically insulating the flat area with insulating component 40, the amount of insulating component 40 can be reduced to a certain extent while achieving the required insulation effect, which helps to improve the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0202] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of another battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application.

[0203] Referring again to FIG. 14, in some embodiments, electrode unit 20 includes at least one electrode assembly, which includes a main body and at least one tab 22. Electrode body 21 includes the main body of all electrode assemblies. Electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrode sheets stacked along the thickness direction Y. Electrode body 21 also includes a third end face 213 and a fourth end face 214, which are disposed opposite to each other along a second direction Z, and the first direction X, the second direction Z, and the thickness direction Y are perpendicular to each other. Insulating member 40 also includes a third insulating member 40c and a fourth insulating member 40d, at least a portion of the third insulating member 40c is disposed along the edge of the third end face 213, and at least a portion of the fourth insulating member 40d is disposed along the edge of the fourth end face 214.

[0204] For example, the number of third insulating members 40c may be, but is not limited to, one, two, three or more, and the number of fourth insulating members 40d may be, but is not limited to, one, two, three or more.

[0205] The electrode assembly comprises multiple electrodes stacked along the thickness direction Y; that is, the electrode assembly is a stacked electrode assembly. In the stacked electrode assembly, the free ends of the diaphragm are located not only at two opposite end faces of the electrode assembly in the first direction X, but also at two opposite end faces of the electrode assembly in the second direction Z.

[0206] In other words, when the electrode unit 20 includes a stacked electrode assembly, the free ends of the diaphragm are located at the first end face 211, the second end face 212, the third end face 213, and the fourth end face 214, respectively. The diaphragm is prone to shrinkage under high-temperature conditions, resulting in a larger risk area for the electrode to overlap with the second shell wall 12 located at the first end face 211, the second end face 212, the third end face 213, and the fourth end face 214 of the electrode assembly.

[0207] Thus, in the case where the electrode unit 20 includes a stacked electrode assembly, the above technical solution further introduces a third insulating member 40c and a fourth insulating member 40d to provide insulation protection for the third end face 213 and the fourth end face 214 respectively, which can improve the overall insulation protection effect of the insulating member 40.

[0208] It should be noted that the terms "third" and "fourth" in the third insulating member 40c and the fourth insulating member 40d are only used to distinguish the different locations of the insulating members 40. That is to say, the third insulating member 40c can be understood as the insulating member 40 provided along the outer periphery of the third end face 213, and the fourth insulating member 40d can be understood as the insulating member 40 provided along the outer periphery of the fourth end face 214.

[0209] The structural details of the third insulating element 40c and the fourth insulating element 40d are the same as those of the aforementioned insulating element 40.

[0210] In some embodiments, along the second direction Z, the third insulating member 40c protrudes from the third end face 213.

[0211] In some embodiments, along the second direction Z, the fourth insulating member 40d protrudes from the fourth end face 214.

[0212] In some embodiments, the third insulating member 40c includes a first part 41 and a second part 42, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y.

[0213] In some embodiments, the fourth insulating member 40d includes a first portion 41 and a second portion 42, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body 21 along its thickness direction Y.

[0214] In some embodiments, a third insulating member 40c is disposed around the electrode body 21, and the surrounding axis of the third insulating member 40c is parallel to the second direction Z.

[0215] In some embodiments, a third insulating member 40c is disposed around the electrode body 21, and the surrounding axis of the third insulating member 40c is parallel to the second direction Z.

[0216] In some embodiments, a third insulating member 40c is connected between a first insulating member 40a and a second insulating member 40b, and a fourth insulating member 40d is connected between the first insulating member 40a and the second insulating member 40b. In other words, the multiple insulating members 40 are interconnected as a whole, which can further improve the overall stability of the multiple insulating members 40.

[0217] For example, the third insulating member 40c can be directly connected between the first insulating member 40a and the second insulating member 40b, or it can be limited between the first insulating member 40a and the second insulating member 40b by other components.

[0218] In some embodiments, the first insulating member 40a, the second insulating member 40b, the third insulating member 40c, and the fourth insulating member 40d are integrally formed structures.

[0219] On the one hand, the manufacturing process is simplified by eliminating the need for additional connecting processes to join the first insulating component 40a, the second insulating component 40b, the third insulating component 40c, and the fourth insulating component 40d. On the other hand, compared to connecting the first insulating component 40a, the second insulating component 40b, the third insulating component 40c, and the fourth insulating component 40d, which have an integrated structure, exhibit higher connection strength compared to using additional connecting processes.

[0220] In some embodiments, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 100°C. Alternatively, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is greater than 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 150°C.

[0221] For example, when the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is less than or equal to 390Wh / L, the melting point of the insulating component 40 may be, but is not limited to, 100℃, 120℃, 140℃, 160℃, 180℃, 200℃, 250℃, 300℃, 350℃, 400℃, 450℃, 500℃, etc.

[0222] When the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is greater than 390Wh / L, the melting point of the insulating component 40 can be, but is not limited to, 150℃, 190℃, 200℃, 220℃, 260℃, 280℃, 300℃, 320℃, 360℃, 380℃, 400℃, 450℃, 500℃, 550℃, 600℃, 700℃, 800℃, etc.

[0223] Understandably, the higher the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7, the higher the temperature after thermal runaway occurs, and the greater the requirement for the melting point of the insulating component 40. Conversely, the lower the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7, the lower the temperature after thermal runaway occurs, and the smaller the requirement for the melting point of the insulating component 40.

[0224] The above technical solution sets the melting point of the insulating component 40 according to the different volumetric energy densities of the battery cell 7, which can reduce the overflow of the heat resistance performance of the insulating component 40 while meeting the insulation protection requirements, and also reduce costs.

[0225] In some embodiments, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 150°C. Alternatively, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is greater than 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 200°C. By raising the lower limit of the melting point of the insulating component 40, the insulation protection effect can be further improved.

[0226] Figure 15 is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of a battery cell provided in some embodiments of this application; Figure 16 is a top view of the battery cell shown in Figure 15; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional structural schematic diagram along AA in Figure 16; and Figure 18 is a partially enlarged structural schematic diagram at H in Figure 17.

[0227] Referring again to Figures 15 to 18, in some embodiments, the electrode unit 20 and the first shell wall 11 are disposed along a first direction X, which intersects the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21. The first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body 21 along the first direction X satisfy the relationship: 3mm ≤ d1 ≤ d2 + 20mm.

[0228] For example, the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X can be understood as the width of the insulating member 40, and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body 21 along the first direction X can be understood as the height of the electrode body 21.

[0229] As an example, the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X can be, but is not limited to, 3mm, 6mm, 10mm, 15mm, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 40mm, 50mm, 60mm, 70mm, 80mm, 90mm, 100mm, etc.

[0230] It is understandable that the larger the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X, the larger the coverage area of ​​the insulating member 40, and the easier it is to install. At the same time, the larger the dimension of the insulating member 40 extending beyond the electrode body 21 in the first direction X, the larger the space occupied by the insulating member 40 inside the battery cell 7. Conversely, the smaller the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X, the smaller the coverage area of ​​the insulating member 40, and the more difficult it is to install. At the same time, the smaller the dimension of the insulating member 40 extending beyond the electrode body 21 in the first direction X, the smaller the space occupied by the insulating member 40 inside the battery cell 7.

[0231] The above technical solution, by setting the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X within the above range, can reduce the space occupancy rate of the insulating member 40 while meeting the requirements of the coverage area of ​​the insulating member 40, so as to improve the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0232] In some embodiments, the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body 21 along the first direction X satisfy the relationship: 5mm ≤ d1 ≤ d2 + 10mm. This can further improve the balance between increasing the coverage area of ​​the insulating member 40 and reducing its space occupancy.

[0233] As an example, the first dimension d1 of the insulating member 40 along the first direction X can be, but is not limited to, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 12mm, 14mm, 16mm, 18mm, 20mm, 22mm, 24mm, 26mm, 28mm, 35mm, 45mm, 55mm, 65mm, 70mm, etc.

[0234] In some embodiments, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21 satisfies the relationship: 0.03mm≤d3≤1mm.

[0235] For example, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21 can be understood as the thickness of the insulating member 40.

[0236] As an example, the third dimension d3 of the insulating element 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21 can be, but is not limited to, 0.03mm, 0.06mm, 0.08mm, 0.1mm, 0.15mm, 0.2mm, 0.25mm, 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.8mm, or 1mm.

[0237] Understandably, the larger the third dimension d3 of the insulating component 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21, the higher the reliability of the insulating component 40 and the stronger the insulation protection effect. At the same time, the insulating component 40 occupies more internal space in the battery cell 7. Conversely, the smaller the third dimension d3 of the insulating component 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21, the lower the reliability of the insulating component 40 and the weaker the insulation protection effect. At the same time, the insulating component 40 occupies less internal space in the battery cell 7.

[0238] The above technical solution sets the third dimension d3 of the insulating component 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21 within the above range, which can reduce the space occupancy rate of the insulating component 40 while meeting the insulation protection effect requirements, thereby improving the energy density of the battery cell 7.

[0239] In some embodiments, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member 40 along the thickness direction Y satisfies the relationship: 0.05mm ≤ d3 ≤ 0.2mm. This achieves a balance between improving the insulation protection effect of the insulating member 40 and reducing its space occupancy.

[0240] As an example, the third dimension d3 of the insulating member 40 along the thickness direction Y of the electrode body 21 can be, but is not limited to, 0.05mm, 0.06mm, 0.07mm, 0.08mm, 0.09mm, 0.1mm, 0.11mm, 0.12mm, 0.13mm, 0.14mm, 0.15mm, 0.16mm, 0.17mm, 0.18mm, 0.19mm, or 0.2mm.

[0241] According to some embodiments of this application, this application also provides a battery device including a battery cell 7 of any of the above schemes.

[0242] According to some embodiments of this application, this application also provides an electrical device, including a battery cell 7 or a battery device of any of the above schemes, wherein the battery cell 7 or the battery device is used to store or provide electrical energy.

[0243] Unless otherwise specified, all embodiments and optional embodiments of this application can be combined to form new technical solutions. All technical features and optional technical features of this application can be combined to form new technical solutions.

[0244] To better understand the battery cell 7 provided in the embodiments of this application, based on the same inventive concept, embodiments of the battery cell 7 in practical applications are provided here for illustration.

[0245] This application provides a battery cell 7, which includes a housing 10, an electrode unit 20, an insulating film 30, and an insulating member 40. The housing 10 includes a first housing wall 11 and a second housing wall 12 that intersect each other. The electrode unit 20 is housed within the housing 10 and includes an electrode body 21 and a tab 22. The tab 22 extends from the electrode body 21 toward a first end face 211 of the first housing wall 11. The insulating film 30 is housed within the housing 10 and serves to separate the electrode body 21 from the second housing wall 12. At least a portion of the insulating member 40 is located between the electrode body 21 and the second housing wall 12. The insulating member 40 is attached to at least one of the electrode body 21, the insulating film 30, and the second housing wall 12. The insulating member 40 is disposed at least along the outer periphery of the first end face 211, and the melting point of the insulating member 40 is greater than the melting point of the insulating film 30.

[0246] Specifically, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is less than or equal to 390Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 150℃. Alternatively, the volumetric energy density of the battery cell 7 is greater than 390Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component 40 is greater than or equal to 200℃.

[0247] The above technical solution provides an insulating element 40 with a high melting point between the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12. When the battery cell 7 is heated, the insulating element 40 is not easy to melt. Even if the separator and insulating film 30 are damaged by heat, the insulating element 40 can still insulate the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12, thereby reducing the risk of short circuit caused by the overlap of the electrode body 21 and the second shell wall 12 and effectively improving the reliability of the battery cell 7.

[0248] 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 single battery cell, comprising: The outer shell includes a first shell wall and a second shell wall that intersect each other; An electrode unit is housed within the housing. The electrode unit includes an electrode body and a tab, with the tab extending from the electrode body toward a first end face of the first housing wall. An insulating film is housed within the housing and serves to separate the electrode body from the second housing wall; An insulating element, at least a portion of which is located between the electrode body and the second shell wall, wherein the melting point of the insulating element is greater than the melting point of the insulating film.

2. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein, The insulating element is attached to at least one of the electrode body, the insulating film, and the second shell wall.

3. The battery cell according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The insulating element is provided between the electrode unit and the insulating film, and / or the insulating element is provided between the insulating film and the second shell wall.

4. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein, The insulating film and the insulating component are integrally formed.

5. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein, Along the direction from the electrode body to the first shell wall, the insulating element protrudes from the first end face; and / or, Along the direction from the first shell wall toward the electrode body, the insulating member protrudes from the second end face of the electrode body opposite to the first shell wall.

6. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein, The insulating component includes a first part and a second part, which are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the electrode body along its thickness direction.

7. The battery cell according to claim 6, wherein, The projections of the first portion along the thickness direction and the projections of the second portion along the thickness direction at least partially overlap.

8. The battery cell according to claim 6, wherein, The first portion covers one side surface of the electrode body along the thickness direction; The second part covers the other side surface of the electrode body along the thickness direction.

9. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein, The electrode unit and the first shell wall are arranged along a first direction, which intersects with the thickness direction of the electrode body; The insulating element is disposed around the electrode body, and the circumferential axis of the insulating element is parallel to the first direction.

10. The battery cell according to claim 9, wherein, The electrode body further includes an outer peripheral surface, which is connected between the first end face and the second end face of the electrode body facing away from the first shell wall, and the insulating member covers the outer peripheral surface.

11. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein, The electrode unit and the first shell wall are arranged along a first direction, which intersects with the thickness direction of the electrode body; The number of insulating elements is multiple, including a first insulating element and a second insulating element. At least a portion of the first insulating element is disposed along the outer periphery of the first end face, and at least a portion of the second insulating element is disposed on the outer periphery of the second end face of the electrode body facing away from the first shell wall.

12. The battery cell according to claim 11, wherein, The electrode unit includes at least one electrode assembly, the electrode assembly includes a main body and at least one of the tabs, and the electrode body includes the main body of all the electrode assemblies; The electrode assembly includes a straight region and two bent regions, the two bent regions being connected to both ends of the straight region along a second direction, the first direction, the second direction, and the thickness direction being perpendicular to each other; At least a portion of the insulating element is located between the flat region and the second shell wall.

13. The battery cell according to claim 11, wherein, The electrode unit includes at least one electrode assembly, the electrode assembly includes a main body and at least one of the tabs, and the electrode body includes the main body of all the electrode assemblies; The electrode assembly includes a plurality of electrode sheets stacked along the thickness direction; The electrode body further includes a third end face and a fourth end face, the third end face and the fourth end face are arranged opposite to each other along the second direction, and the first direction, the second direction and the thickness direction are perpendicular to each other; The insulating element further includes a third insulating element and a fourth insulating element, wherein at least a portion of the third insulating element is disposed along the edge of the third end face, and at least a portion of the fourth insulating element is disposed along the edge of the fourth end face.

14. The battery cell according to claim 13, wherein, The third insulating element is connected between the first insulating element and the second insulating element, and the fourth insulating element is connected between the first insulating element and the second insulating element.

15. The battery cell according to claim 13, wherein, The first insulating component, the second insulating component, the third insulating component, and the fourth insulating component are integrally formed.

16. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein, The volumetric energy density of the battery cell is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 100°C; or, The volumetric energy density of the battery cell is greater than 390Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 150℃.

17. The battery cell according to claim 16, wherein, The volumetric energy density of the battery cell is less than or equal to 390 Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 150°C; or, The volumetric energy density of the battery cell is greater than 390Wh / L, and the melting point of the insulating component is greater than or equal to 200℃.

18. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-17, wherein, The electrode unit and the first shell wall are arranged along a first direction, which intersects with the thickness direction of the electrode body; The first dimension d1 of the insulating component along the first direction and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body along the first direction satisfy the relationship: 3mm≤d1≤d2+20mm.

19. The battery cell according to claim 18, wherein, The first dimension d1 of the insulating component along the first direction and the second dimension d2 of the electrode body along the first direction satisfy the relationship: 5mm≤d1≤d2+10mm.

20. The battery cell according to any one of claims 1-19, wherein, The third dimension d3 of the insulating element along the thickness direction of the electrode body satisfies the relationship: 0.03mm≤d3≤1mm.

21. The battery cell according to claim 20, wherein, The third dimension d3 of the insulating element along the thickness direction satisfies the relationship: 0.05mm≤d3≤0.2mm.

22. A battery device comprising a plurality of battery cells as described in any one of claims 1-21.

23. An electrical device comprising a battery cell as claimed in any one of claims 1-21 or a battery device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the battery cell or the battery device is used to store or provide electrical energy.

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