Patent ID: 6730429
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of operating an electrochemical cell through a plurality of charge-discharge cycles, said electrochemical cell including an intermetallic negative electrode of Cu6-xMxSn5, wherein x is &lE;3 and M is one or more metals including Si and a positive electrode containing Li in which said electrochemical cell Li is shuttled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode during charge and discharge to form a lithiated intermetallic negative electrode during charge comprising the step of controlling the voltage of the electrochemical cell during the charge portion of the charge-discharge cycles so that the potential of the lithiated intermetallic negative electrode in the fully charged electrochemical cell is less than 0.2 V but greater than 0 V versus metallic lithium.