U.S. patent application number 14/321399 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-23 for hybrid capacitor.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jun Hee BAE, Dong Hyeok CHOI, Bae Kyun KIM, Hak Kwan KIM.
Application Number | 20140313635 14/321399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47174752 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140313635 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Hak Kwan ; et
al. |
October 23, 2014 |
HYBRID CAPACITOR
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a hybrid capacitor that
includes a cathode, an anode, a separator and an electrolyte
solution. The hybrid capacitor includes a first structure including
a cathode containing activated carbon and an anode containing
lithium, and a second structure including activated carbon layers
formed on both surfaces of a current collector.
Inventors: |
KIM; Hak Kwan; (Gyeonggi-Do,
KR) ; CHOI; Dong Hyeok; (Gyeonggi-Do, KR) ;
KIM; Bae Kyun; (Gyeonggi-Do, KR) ; BAE; Jun Hee;
(Gyeonggi-Do, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD. |
Gyeonggi-Do |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO.,
LTD.
Gyeonggi-Do
KR
|
Family ID: |
47174752 |
Appl. No.: |
14/321399 |
Filed: |
July 1, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13448236 |
Apr 16, 2012 |
8792224 |
|
|
14321399 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/502 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/13 20130101;
H01G 11/50 20130101; H01G 11/06 20130101; H01G 11/62 20130101; H01G
11/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/502 |
International
Class: |
H01G 11/06 20060101
H01G011/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0045737 |
Claims
1. A hybrid capacitor that includes a cathode, an anode, a
separator and an electrolyte solution, the hybrid capacitor
comprising: a first structure including a cathode containing
activated carbon and an anode containing lithium; and a second
structure including activated carbon layers formed on both surfaces
of a current collector.
2. A hybrid capacitor that includes a cathode, an anode, a
separator and an electrolyte solution, the hybrid capacitor
comprising: a first structure including a cathode containing
activated carbon and an anode Containing lithium; and second
structures each disposed on both sides of the first structure, the
second structure including activated carbon layers formed on both
surfaces of a current collector.
3. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the cathode
and the anode include a separator provided therebetween.
4. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second structures include a separator provided therebetween.
5. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the cathode
is formed by attaching a conductive material, activated carbon, and
a binder to both surfaces of a current collector.
6. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 5, wherein the current
collector is an aluminum foil.
7. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the anode
includes lithium metal layers formed on both surfaces of a current
collector.
8. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 7, wherein the current
collector is copper foil.
9. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 7, wherein lithium metal
layers further include lithium nitride (Li3N) layers formed on
outer surfaces thereof.
10. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the second
structure is formed by attaching a material containing 5 to 10 wt %
of conductive material, 80.about.90 wt % of activated carbon, and
5.about.10 wt % of binder to both surfaces of the current
collector.
11. The hybrid capacitor according to claim 1, wherein the
electrolyte solution is a mixture of a lithium salt and a
non-lithium salt.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional application of and claims
the benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/448,236, entitled, "HYBRID CAPACITOR," filed on Apr. 16, 2012,
which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 to Korean Patent
Application No. KR 10-2011-0045737, entitled, "HYBRID CAPACITOR,"
filed on May 16, 2011, which are all hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety into this application.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a hybrid capacitor, and
more particularly, to a hybrid capacitor in which a complex
structure of a lithium ion capacitor and an electric double layer
capacitor is implemented in a single cell to thereby improve a
manufacturing efficiency thereof and increase energy density and
power density characteristics thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A secondary battery, such as a lithium ion battery, which is
a representative energy storage device having high energy density,
has recently become prominent and has been used as an important
energy storage device for various mobile electronic devices.
[0006] Among next generation energy storage devices, a device
called an ultracapacitor or a supercapacitor has been prominent as
a next generation energy storage device due to rapid charging and
discharging speed, high stability, and environment-friendly
characteristics.
[0007] The secondary battery has an advantage in that it has high
energy density; however, it has a disadvantage in that it has
limited output characteristics. The supercapacitor has an advantage
in that it has output characteristics significantly higher than
those of the secondary battery; however, it has a disadvantage in
that it has low energy density.
[0008] In the case of the supercapacitor, a lithium pre-doping
technology has been proposed in order overcome the above-mentioned
disadvantage. A lithium ion capacitor (LIC) having three to four
times more energy density as compared to the energy density of the
electric double layer capacitor according to the conventional art
by using the above-mentioned technology has started to be
commercialized.
[0009] A kind of supercapacitors will be simply described. A
general supercapacitor is configured of an electrode structure, a
separator, an electrolyte solution, and the like. The
supercapacitor is driven based on an electrochemical reaction
mechanism that carrier ions in the electrolyte solution are
selectively adsorbed to the electrode by applying power to the
electrode structure. As representative, supercapacitors, a lithium
ion capacitor (LIC), an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC), a
pseudocapacitor, a hybrid capacitor, as non-limiting example, are
currently used.
[0010] The lithium ion capacitor is a supercapacitor that uses a
cathode made of activated carbon and an anode made of graphite, and
uses lithium ions as carrier ions. The electric double layer
capacitor is a supercapacitor that uses an electrode made of
activated carbon and uses an electric double layer charging as a
reaction mechanism. The pseudocapacitor is a supercapacitor which
uses a transition metal oxide or a conductive polymer as an
electrode and uses a pseudo capacitance as a reaction mechanism.
The hybrid capacitor is a supercapacitor having intermediate
characteristics between the electric double layer capacitor and the
pseudocapacitor.
[0011] However, the energy storage devices as described above have
a relatively lower capacitance than a secondary battery. This is
the reason that most of the supercapacitors as described above are
driven by a charging and discharging mechanism using the movement
of carrier ions on the interface between the electrode and the
electrolyte solution and a chemical reaction on the surface of the
electrode. Therefore, in an energy storage device such as a
supercapacitor, a need currently exists for developing a technology
that improves a relatively low capacitance.
[0012] Meanwhile, in both of the lithium ion secondary battery
(LIB) and the lithium ion capacitor (LIC) as described above,
graphite, which is a carbon material, has been mainly used as a
material of an anode. Particularly, in the case of the LIC, in
order to increase energy density, the anode lithiated, so that it
has a potential of 0.1 V or less has been used. Here, as a method
of lithiating the anode, several methods may be used. However, a
method of immersing the anode in an ethylene carbonate (EC) based
electrolyte solution containing lithium salts has been mainly used.
In this case, a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film is formed on
a surface of the graphite. This SEI film passes lithium ions
therethrough and is cointercalated with solvent molecules to
thereby suppress a side effect that graphite layers are peeled off.
Therefore, it has been known that the SEI film is a factor having
an important effect on characteristics of the LIC and the LIB.
[0013] However, since the SEI film is formed at an initial stage,
an initial charging and discharging efficiency and a capacitance of
the graphite having a large irreversible capacitance are inevitably
reduced. In addition, in a propylene carbonate (PC) based
electrolyte solution having excellent low temperature
characteristics, the SEI film is not formed; rather, as is
generated. Therefore, it has been known that low temperature
characteristics of the LIC become poorer than those of the EDLC.
Further, in a process of doping the anode with lithium, it is
difficult to perform uniform doping, a long time is required, and a
performance is unstable, such that there is a limitation in
commercialization. Furthermore, the LIC cannot but basically have
deteriorated power characteristics due to non-polarization
characteristics of the anode, as compared to the EDLC.
[0014] Meanwhile, in order to overcome the disadvantages of the
secondary battery, research into and development for a technology
of systematically combining the EDLC with the existing lithium ion
polymer battery have been conducted. As a result of the research
and development, a complex battery capable of increasing an
instantaneous output arid having increased energy density has been
proposed. However, the complex battery has a complicated structure
in view of a circuit or a manufacturing process thereof and has an
increased mounting space, such that it runs counter to the trend
toward miniaturization of the battery.
[0015] A need for a technology capable of basically solving the
above-mentioned problems gradually increases.
SUMMARY
[0016] Accordingly, embodiments of the invention have been made to
provide a hybrid capacitor having an increased output and
capacitance.
[0017] Further, embodiments of the invention have been made to
provide a hybrid capacitor in which one cell includes an electrode
structure implementing a relative high capacitance and an electrode
structure implementing a relative high output, such that only
advantages of the existing LIC and EDLC are combined with each
other using a complex reaction mechanism through the electrode
structures.
[0018] According to various embodiments of the invention, there is
provided a hybrid capacitor that includes a cathode, an anode, a
separator and an electrolyte solution. The hybrid capacitor,
includes a first structure including a cathode containing activated
carbon and an anode containing lithium, and a second structure
including activated carbon layers formed on both surfaces of a
current collector.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a hybrid capacitor including a first structure including a
cathode containing activated carbon and an anode containing
lithium, and second structures each disposed on both sides of the
first structure, the second structure including activated carbon
layers formed on both surfaces of a current collector.
[0020] According to an embodiment, the cathode and the anode
include a separator provided therebetween.
[0021] According to an embodiment, the first and second structures
include a separator provided therebetween.
[0022] According to an embodiment, the cathode is formed by
attaching a conductive material, activated carbon, and a binder to
both surfaces of a current collector.
[0023] According to an embodiment, the current collector is an
aluminum foil.
[0024] According to an embodiment, the anode includes lithium metal
layers formed on both surfaces of a current collector.
[0025] According to an embodiment, the current collector is a
copper foil.
[0026] According to an embodiment, the lithium metal layers further
include lithium nitride (Li.sub.3N) layers formed on outer surfaces
thereof.
[0027] According to an embodiment, the second structure is formed
by attaching a material containing 5 to 10 wt % of conductive
material, 80.about.90 wt % of activated carbon, and 5.about.10 wt %
of binder to both surfaces of the current collector.
[0028] According to an embodiment, the electrolyte solution is a
mixture of a lithium salt and a non-lithium salt.
[0029] According to another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a hybrid capacitor including a first electrode including
lithium layers formed on both surfaces of a current collector, a
second electrode including activated carbon layers formed on both
surfaces of an aluminum foil, and a third electrode including
activated carbon layers formed on both surfaces of a current
collector. The electrodes are disposed in the order of the third
electrode, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third
electrode.
[0030] According to an embodiment, at least two combinations of the
first and second electrodes are disposed between the two third
electrodes disposed at an outermost portion of the hybrid
capacitor.
[0031] According to an embodiment, the electrodes include
separators provided thereamong.
[0032] According to an embodiment, the first electrode includes
lithium metal layers formed on both surfaces of a current
collector.
[0033] According to an embodiment, the current collector is a
copper foil.
[0034] According to an embodiment, the lithium metal layers further
include lithium nitride (Li.sub.3N) layers formed on outer surfaces
thereof.
[0035] According to an embodiment, the second electrode is formed
by attaching a conductive material, activated carbon, and a binder
to both surfaces of an aluminum foil.
[0036] According to an embodiment, the third electrode is formed by
attaching a material containing 5 to 10 wt % of conductive
material, 80.about.90 wt % of activated carbon, and 5.about.10 % of
binder to both surfaces of the current collector.
[0037] According to an embodiment, the electrolyte solution is a
mixture of a lithium salt and a non-lithium salt.
[0038] According to an embodiment, the lithium salt is at least one
selected from a group consisting of LiPF.sub.6, LiBF.sub.4,
LiSbF.sub.6, LiAsF.sub.6, LiClO.sub.4,
LiN(C.sub.2F.sub.5SO2).sub.2, LiN(CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2, and
CF.sub.3SO.sub.3Li, LiC(CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.3.
[0039] According to at embodiment, the non-lithium salt is at least
one selected from a group consisting of TEABF.sub.4, TEMABF.sub.4,
SBPBF.sub.4, EMIBF.sub.4, DEMEBF.sub.4.
[0040] Various objects, advantages and features of the invention
will become apparent from the following description of embodiments
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0041] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
invention are better understood with regard to the following
Detailed Description, appended Claims, and accompanying Figures. It
is to be noted, however, that the Figures illustrate only various
embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered
limiting of the invention's scope as it may include other effective
embodiments as well.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0045] Advantages and features of the present invention and methods
of accomplishing the same will be apparent by referring to
embodiments described below in detail in connection with the
accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented
in various different forms. The embodiments are provided only for
completing the disclosure of the present invention and for fully
representing the scope of the present invention to those skilled in
the art.
[0046] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing
figures illustrate the general manner of construction, and
descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may
be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the discussion of the
described embodiments of the invention. Additionally, elements in
the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For
example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may
be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve
understanding of embodiments of the present invention. Like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the
specification.
[0047] Hereinafter, an energy storage device according to various
embodiments of the invention will he described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, a hybrid capacitor according to an
embodiment of the invention is configured to include a first
structure 100 including a cathode 20 containing activated carbon 21
and an anode 10 containing lithium; and a second structure 200
including activated carbon layers formed on both surfaces of a
current collector.
[0050] When the hybrid capacitor is configured as shown in FIG. 1 a
charging and discharging process is performed between the anode 10
and the cathode 20 and between the anode 10 and the second
structure 200 by the same mechanism as that of a lithium ion
capacitor (LIC).
[0051] FIG. 3 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to the FIG.
3 each of the second structures 200 including the activated carbon
layers formed on both surfaces of the current collector is disposed
on both sides of the first structure 100 including the cathode 20
containing the activated carbons and the anode 10 containing the
lithium. In this configuration, a charging and discharging process
is performed between the anode 10 and the cathode 20 and between
the anode 10 and the second structure 200 by the same mechanism as
that of the LIC and he performed between the cathode 20 and the
second structure 200 by the same mechanism as that of an electric
double layer capacitor (EDLC).
[0052] In this configuration, the cathode 20 and the anode 30
and/or the first structure 100 and the second structure 200 include
a separator 30 provided therebetween.
[0053] According to an embodiment, the cathode 20 is formed by
attaching a conductive material, activated carbon, and a binder to
both surfaces of a current collector. Particularly, the current
collector 22 is an aluminum foil.
[0054] According to an embodiment, the anode 10 is mainly made of
graphite, similar to the general LIC according to the conventional
art, and is pre-doped with lithium and then used.
[0055] However, according to another embodiment of the invention,
lithium metal layers 12, 14 are included in the anode 10 in order
to reduce the possibility of short circuit generation due to the
growth of a lithium electrode in the LIC according to the
conventional art. In this configuration, as the current collector
13, a copper foil is used.
[0056] According to an embodiment, the lithium metal layers 12, 14
further include lithium nitride (Li.sub.3N) layers 11, 15 formed on
outer surfaces thereof.
[0057] According to an embodiment, the lithium nitride is also
called transition metal doped lithium nitride. A technology capable
of controlling the number of lithium ion vacancies and the degree
of transition metal substitution has been developed, such that
applicability has increased. The lithium nitride is an excellent
anode material for a rechargeable battery. Since electron
conductivity and ion conductivity of the lithium nitride are
determined by the number of vacancies existing in an internal
structure thereof, the technology capable of controlling the number
of lithium ion vacancies and the degree of transition metal
substitution has been developed, thereby making it possible to
expect a considerable ripple effect.
[0058] Since atomic lithium theoretically has a high capacitance
and an excellent oxidation-reduction property, it has been
recognized as an optimal anode material. However, the atomic
lithium easily decomposes, such that it has low structural
stability. In order to supplement this problem, lithium doped
graphite has been developed.
[0059] Since the lithium nitride has high structural stability and
capacitance, it is regarded as the most prominent material capable
of replacing the lithium doped graphite. Pure lithium nitride has
excellent ion conductivity; however, it has lower electric
conductivity. Therefore, it is preferable to increase electric
conductivity by doping the pure lithium nitride with a specific
transition metal.
[0060] The lithium nitride has a special laminar structure in which
a lithium-only layer is interposed between layers in which lithium
and nitrogen coexist. It was found that transition metal
substitution is selectively generated only in the lithium-only
layer. When lithium ions composing the lithium-only layer are
substituted with the transition metal, lithium ions composing the
lithium-nitrogen layer are removed, such that vacancies occur.
[0061] Since ionic conduction of the lithium nitride is created in
a process in which the lithium ions move to the vacancies, as the
number of vacancies increases, conductivity increases. A
temperature and a time of a synthesis reaction of the transition
metal doped lithium nitride are controlled, thereby making it
possible to control the number of lithium ion vacancies and a
substituted area. When the amount of transition metal is fixed and
a reaction temperature is increased, the lithium ion vacancies are
increased. It means that electric conductivity and ion conductivity
of the doped lithium nitride are controlled by controlling a
reaction temperature or a reaction time in a synthesis process.
[0062] Since the lithium nitride has the characteristics as
described above, it may be used as an anode material of the hybrid
capacitor, instead of the lithium doped graphite according to the
conventional art. According to an embodiment of the invention, the
lithium nitride is used, thereby making it possible to solve a
short circuit problem due to the growth of the lithium electrode
according to the related art. Furthermore, it is possible to solve
problems, such as an inefficiency and a limitation in reliability
due to the lithium pre-doping process that has been necessarily
performed in order to implement the lithium doped graphite
according to the related art.
[0063] According to an embodiment, the second structure 200 is
funned by attaching a material containing 5 to 10 wt % of
conductive material, 80.about.90 wt % of activated carbon, and
5.about.10 wt % of binder to both surfaces of the current
collector.
[0064] According to an embodiment, the second structure 200 serves
to increase energy density and improve of output characteristics
within a cell. However, in the case of the hybrid capacitor
according to an embodiment of the invention, the increase in energy
density is accomplished by the lithium metal layer or the lithium
nitride and improvement in output characteristics is accomplished
by the electrode containing the activated carbon. Meanwhile, the
second structure 200 is introduced, thereby making it possible to
reduce the entire resistance of the cell and allow a process of
storing and discharging an electrical energy generated by a
physicochemical mechanism between electrodes to be efficiently
performed.
[0065] Therefore, according to an embodiment, the second structure
200 is formed to have a higher content of conductive material and a
thinner thickness than those of the general electrode made of the
activated carbon, thereby making it possible to accomplish an
object of reducing the entire resistance of the cell.
[0066] According to an embodiment, a mixture of lithium salts and
non-lithium salts is used as an electrolyte solution.
[0067] According to an embodiment, more specifically, at least one
of lithium salts, such as LiPF.sub.6, LiBF.sub.4, LiSbF.sub.6,
LiAsF.sub.6, LiClO.sub.4, LiN(C.sub.2F.sub.5SO2).sub.2,
LiN(CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.2, CF.sub.3SO.sub.3Li,
LiC(CF.sub.3SO.sub.2).sub.3, as non-limiting examples, and at least
one of non-lithium salts for the EDLC, such as TEABF.sub.4,
TEMABF.sub.4, SBPBF.sub.4, EMIBF.sub.4, DEMEBF.sub.4, as
non-limiting examples, are mixed with each other in a non-aqueous
solvent for a supercapacitor or a secondary battery, making it
possible to maximize a capacitance increase effect due to
adsorption and desorption of other element ions in addition to
intercalation and deintercalation effects of the lithium ions. In
addition, a generation amount of a hydrogen fluoride (HF) by
hydrolysis is smaller as compared to the existing single lithium
salt electrolyte solution, thereby making it possible to increase a
lifespan of the supercapacitor.
[0068] In a preparatory experiment, since the lithium salt has the
highest ion conductivity, the LiPF6 currently used most as the
lithium salt was mixed with each of the three non-lithium salts for
the EDLC and capacitances thereof were measured. As a result of the
measurement, it was shown that all of three mixtures have a higher
capacitance as compared to a single salt.
[0069] FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a hybrid capacitor
according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0070] A hybrid capacitor according to another embodiment of the
invention includes a first electrode 10 including lithium layers
formed on both surfaces of a current collector 13, a second
electrode 20 including activated carbon layers 21 formed on both
surfaces of an aluminum foil 22, and a third electrode 200
including activated carbon layers formed on both surfaces of a
current collector. According to an embodiment, the electrodes are
disposed in the order of the third electrode 200, the first
electrode 10, the second electrode 20, and the third electrode
200.
[0071] According to an embodiment, in this configuration, at least
two combinations of the first and second electrodes 10, 20 are
disposed between the two third electrodes 200 disposed at an
outermost portion of the hybrid capacitor, thereby making it
possible to increase energy density of a cell. As a result, the
energy density of the cell may be simply controlled by the number
of first and second electrodes 10, 20. In addition, in this
configuration, the electrodes include separators 30 provided
thereamong.
[0072] Further, according to an embodiment, the first electrode 10
includes lithium metal layers 12, 14 formed on both surfaces of a
current collector 13. According to an embodiment, the current
collector 13 is a copper foil.
[0073] In addition, according to an embodiment, the lithium metal
layers 12, 14 further include lithium nitride (Li.sub.3N) layers
11, 15 formed on outer surfaces thereof. Since the reason has been
described above, an overlapped description will be omitted.
[0074] In the hybrid capacitor according to the various embodiments
of the invention configured as described above, a charging and
discharging process is performed between the first and second
electrodes 10, 20 and between the first and third electrodes 10,
200 by the same mechanism as that of the LIC, and is performed
between the second and third electrodes 20, 200 by the same
mechanism as that of an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC)
according to the conventional art. Reaction mechanisms of the LIC
and the EDLC are already known technologies. Therefore, a detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0075] According to an embodiment, the anode 10 of the first
structure 100 described above corresponds to the first electrode
10, the cathode 20 thereof corresponds to the second electrode 20,
and the second structure 200 corresponds to the third electrode
200.
[0076] With the above-mentioned configuration and operating
principle, it is possible to implement a novel hybrid capacitor in
which only advantages of the LIC and the EDLC are combined with
each other.
[0077] With the hybrid capacitor according to an embodiment of the
invention, characteristics of an LIC and characteristics of an EDLC
are implemented in a single cell, thereby making it possible to
increase energy density and improve output characteristics.
[0078] In addition, it is possible to solve a short circuit problem
due to the gradual growth of the lithium ions in the anode as well
as problems such as a reduction in process efficiency, an increase
in cost, and a limitation in securing reliability due to lithium
pre-doping that has existed in the LIC according to the
conventional art.
[0079] Further, the hybrid capacitor, according to various
embodiments, includes the electrode having a high content of
conductive material and a thin thickness, thereby making it
possible to improve the output characteristics simultaneously with
reducing the entire resistance of the cell. Furthermore, the number
of the electrodes within the hybrid capacitor are increased or
decreased as needed, thereby making it possible to easily set
required energy density.
[0080] Terms used herein are provided to explain embodiments, not
limiting the present invention. Throughout this specification, the
singular form includes the plural form unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. When terms "comprises" and/or "comprising"
used herein do not preclude existence and addition of another
component, step, operation and/or device, in addition to the
above-mentioned component, step, operation and/or device.
[0081] Embodiments of the present invention may suitably comprise,
consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be
practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. For example,
it can be recognized by those skilled in the art that certain steps
can be combined into a single step.
[0082] The terms and words used in the present specification and
claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical
meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be interpreted as
having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the
present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor
can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe the
best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention.
[0083] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like
in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for
distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for
describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to
be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under
appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the
invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation
sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described
herein. Similarly, if a method is described herein as comprising a
series of steps, the order of such steps as presented herein is not
necessarily the only order in which such steps may be performed,
and certain of the stated steps may possibly be omitted and/or
certain other steps not described herein may possibly be added to
the method.
[0084] The singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural
referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0085] As used herein and in the appended claims, the words
"comprise," "has," and "include" and all grammatical variations
thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning
that does not exclude additional elements or steps.
[0086] As used herein, the terms "left," "right," "front," "back,"
"top," "bottom," "over," "under," and the like in the description
and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and
not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is
to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under
appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the
invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation
in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described
herein. The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined as directly
or indirectly connected in an electrical or non-electrical manner.
Objects described herein as being "adjacent to" each other may be
in physical contact with each other, in close proximity to each
other, or in the same general region or area as each other, as
appropriate for the context in which the phrase is used,
Occurrences of the phrase "according to an embodiment" herein do
not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
[0087] Ranges may be expressed herein as from about one particular
value, and/or to about another particular value. When such a range
is expressed, it is to be understood that another embodiment is
from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value,
along with all combinations within said range.
[0088] Although the present invention has been described in detail,
it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and
alterations can be made hereupon without departing from the
principle and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the
present invention should be determined by the following claims and
their appropriate legal equivalents.
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