US 12,113,189 B2
Battery including thermally conductive filler material with thermal runaway containment function
Su Jung Han, West Bloomfield, MI (US); David R. Clark, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US); and Ryan P. Hickey, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Aug. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/411,203.
Prior Publication US 2023/0060247 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/653 (2014.01); H01M 10/658 (2014.01); H01M 50/176 (2021.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/289 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/653 (2015.04) [H01M 10/658 (2015.04); H01M 50/176 (2021.01); H01M 50/209 (2021.01); H01M 50/289 (2021.01); H01M 2200/10 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A battery comprising:
a housing having an inner surface that at least partially defines an interior of the housing;
a battery cell stack disposed within the interior of the housing such that a gap exists between the battery cell stack and the inner surface of the housing, the battery cell stack including a plurality of battery cells that each include:
a case;
an electrode assembly sealed within the case; and
a positive electrode tab and a negative electrode tab electrically coupled to the electrode assembly and extending from the electrode assembly outside the case,
wherein at least one of the positive electrode tab or the negative electrode tab extends into the gap between the battery cell stack and the inner surface of the housing; and
a filler material that fills the gap and provides a thermally conductive pathway between the positive electrode tabs and/or the negative electrode tabs of the plurality of battery cells and the inner surface of the housing,
wherein the filler material includes a thermally conductive particulate component distributed throughout a polymeric matrix component,
wherein the thermally conductive particulate component accounts for, by volume, greater than 5% and less than 50% of the filler material, and
wherein the polymeric matrix component is configured to thermally decompose at temperatures greater than an upper operating temperature of the battery cells to form a thermal and physical barrier that inhibits heat transfer between the plurality of battery cells of the battery cell stack.