| 摘要 |
<p>An apparatus and method for improving the performance of rechargeable thin-film electrochemical cells is disclosed. The pressure apparatus maintains an electrochemical cell or a grouping of electrochemical cells in a state of compression during charge and discharge cycling of the cells. The pressure apparatus may be implemented external to a cell or grouping of cells, or internally within one or more cells. An elastomeric or metallic spring element may be incorporated into the structure of an electrochemical cell to place the cell in a state of compression. An external pressure apparatus may include one or more bands and a pair of thrust plates which cooperate to maintain a grouping of cells in compression during cell cycling. One or both of the thrust plates may include a number of individual springs, such as coil, wave, or Belleville springs. The band may incorporate an integral spring, such as a wave or sine-shaped spring, that produces a tensile force in the band which pulls the thrusts plates and cells together. Elastomeric or metallic flat springs may be inserted between all or selected cells to generate compressive forces within a grouping of cells. An enclosure containing the grouping of cells may be gas-pressurized to place the cells in compression.</p> |
