Polymerized lithium ion battery cells and modules with overmolded heat sinks

摘要

A lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cell includes a prismatic housing that includes four sides formed by side walls coupled to and extending from a bottom portion of the housing. The housing is configured to receive and hold a prismatic Li-ion electrochemical cell element. The housing includes an electrically nonconductive polymeric (e.g., plastic) material. Additionally, a heat sink is overmolded by the polymeric material of the housing, such that the heat sink is retained in an outer portion of the sides of the housing and the heat sink is exposed along the bottom portion of the housing.

主权项

1. A lithium ion (Li-ion) battery cell, comprising:
a prismatic housing having a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, wherein the first and second side walls are coupled to and extend from a base portion of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to receive and hold a prismatic Li-ion electrochemical cell element, and wherein the housing comprises an electrically nonconductive polymeric material; and a heat sink overmolded by the electrically nonconductive polymeric material of the housing such that the heat sink comprises a first leg retained in the first side wall of the housing, a second leg retained in the second side wall of the housing, and a connecting base member extending continuously between the first leg and the second leg, wherein the connecting base member is disposed along the base portion of the housing such that a first face of the connecting base member contacts the base portion of the housing and a second face of the connecting base member faces away from the base portion of the housing.