FR2727572A1 - RECHARGEABLE NON-AQUEOUS LITHIUM BATTERY HAVING STACKED ELECTROCHEMICAL ELEMENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

Lithium battery consisting of stacked and folded electrochemical cells containing lithium ions, having a continuous, flexible polymer electrolyte film, containing folded lithium ions (8), sandwiched between discrete electrode plates containing lithium a first and a second polarity (1, 4). The discrete electrode plates of the first and second polarity are carried respectively by a first and a second flexible polymer film, conductive of the electric current (2, 6). The assembled polymer films are folded and stacked, connected to current collectors (10, 12) and packed in a lithium battery tray.

Description

Non-aqueous rechargeable lithium battery having cells

  Field of the Invention This invention relates to rechargeable electrochemical batteries, and more particularly non-rechargeable batteries.

  aqueous rechargeable batteries containing lithium ions.

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rechargeable lithium batteries are the result of

  recent progress in the field of electrochemical cells

  ques. The advantageous characteristics of such electrochemical cells are the lightness, the long service life, the relatively high energy densities and the

high specific energies.

  A particular group of nonaqueous batteries containing conventional lithium ions has a positive electrode having a metal oxide compound as the active cathode component, which reacts easily with lithium ions, thereby consuming electrons during discharge and releasing lithium ions and electrons in the charging step. The negative electrode of this type of conventional nonaqueous lithium battery contains elementary lithium in any form, often interposed in any type of carbon. Lithium is ionized at the discharge giving rise to an electron, while, in the charging step, lithium ions are interposed in the carbon to form LixC6, o 0 <x <1, thus consuming electrons. The electrolyte is suitably an organic compound containing a lithium salt, which dissociates

  easily, giving rise to mobile lithium ions.

  The conventional electrolyte of a nonaqueous lithium battery conducts only lithium ions and not electrons. It can be assumed that the larger the contact area between the respective electrode and the appropriate portion of the electrolyte, the higher the current density that the battery is likely to produce. There are known methods for enlarging the contact surfaces of the respective electrode / electrolyte pair in a lithium battery. U.S. Patent 5,352,548, issued October 4, 1994 to Fujimoto et al. describes an electrochemical cell containing lithium ions, in which the positive electrode containing

  lithium cobalt oxide is carried on an aluminum foil

  nium and in which the negative electrode contains a mixture of graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene, or graphite and polyvinylidene fluoride, carried on a thin plate of

  copper. Between the electrodes is placed a film of polypropy-

  porous lene, impregnated with an organic solvent containing a salt

  lithium. The laminated electrode-electrolyte structure

  electrode is rolled into a coil and packed into a cylindrical battery tray having electrical conductors. It should be noted that the negative electrode mixture and the mixture

  both require a binder for maintenance

  provide the particular electrode layer which is structurally stable, coherent and conductive. The smallest radius and the strongly curved surface of the portions close to the central axis of the coil risk inducing a significant mechanical stress on the electrode layers, which would result in a reduction in the effectiveness of such elements.

  electrochemical coiled concentrically.

  The nonaqueous lithium battery described in US 4,830,940, issued May 16, 1989 to Keister et al. has a continuous, bent, substantially rigid, anode (negative electrode) carrying elemental lithium metal, and silver and vanadium oxide pellets containing a binder, serving as a sealed cathode (positive electrode)

  in a separator envelope located between the folds.

  The anode of US 4,830,940 is made of a rigidly folded wire mesh, coated on each of its faces with a

  lithium sheet and enclosed in a polypro- separator

  pylene or polyethylene. The rigidly folded anode structure having cathode pellets between its folds is immersed in an organic liquid electrolyte containing a lithium salt. It should be noted that the active materials, negative (anode) and positive (cathode), are enclosed in sheets

  separator and are not in direct contact with the elect

  trolyte. US 5,300,373, issued April 5, 1994 to D.R. Shackle, describes lithium electrochemical cells folded in accordion and stacked. Shackle's battery is made of an elongated film of an electrode of polarity in continuous contact

  with a solid polymer electrolyte film. Election film

  the electrode and that of the electrolyte in continuous contact are both folded in accordion and segments of the electrode of the second polarity are sandwiched between the folds. The various realizations shown in US 5,300,373 differ

  only by the way the current produced is collected-

  li from the electrodes of the second polarity; however, all the embodiments show folded double layers of the electrode of the first polarity and of

  the electrolyte, the pair having similar widths.

  The electrode of the first polarity is worn as a continuous layer on a conductive strip; therefore, it can be assumed that it contains a binder and has a thickness

  defined. The solid electrolyte film is also shown

  felt to have a defined thickness. One of the problems often encountered in the folding in accordion of such double-layer structures is that the pressure exerted on the internal folded layer at the level of the strongly curved corners leads to what is commonly called "d-shaped deformations". 'dog bone', causing the outer layer to be

  stretched over the end of the "dog bone". Such distortions

  tions result in cracks, ruptures, crumbling and similar manifestations of mechanical stress, all of which may reduce the performance efficiency and the service life of the stacked battery. Thus, lithium batteries made of conventional stacked electrochemical cells usually have weak areas at the very curved bends of the folds. In addition, in some of the embodiments described in US 5,300,373, issued to Shackle, the segments of the second electrode are only in marginal contact with the current collector, and therefore a small movement during packaging or using stacked items may cause some of the second polarity electrode segments to malfunction. Another difficulty which can be raised by the fact that the continuous electrode of the first polarity has the same width as the solid polymer electrolyte is that the electrode of the second polarity or its current collector can come into direct contact with the electrode. of the

  first polarity, thus putting the folded element in short-

  circuit. There is therefore a need for a non-lithium battery.

  improved rechargeable water base, made of electro-

  folded stacked mics, which solves the above problems.

  Summary of the Invention An improved lithium battery has now been constructed from a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray, the electrochemical cells having a flexible continuous electrolyte film based on a polymer containing mobile lithium ions, discrete electrodes of the first and second polarity carried by flexible continuous films supporting the electrodes of the first and of the second polarity respectively in contact with current collectors of the electrodes of the first and of the second polarity. The assembled films composing the stacked electrochemical elements are constituted by a first continuous electrode support film, flexible, foldable and conducting the electric current, having a first and a second

  face and having a multiplicity of discrete electrode plates

  tes of the first polarity fixed by one of the long sides of each electrode of the first polarity on the first face of the electrode support film at predetermined spaced intervals. The large unfixed opposite side of each of the discrete electrode plates of the first polarity is in contact with the first face of a polymer electrolyte film, continuous, flexible, foldable, containing mobile lithium ions, also included in the folded films. . The polymer electrolyte film containing lithium ions is not conductive of electrons. The third film included in the folded films is a second electrode support film

  continuous, flexible, foldable and conducting electric current

  that, having a multiplicity of discrete electrode plates of the second polarity fixed by means of one of their large

  sides on its first face at virtually the same intervals

  the predetermined spacings that the intervals at which the electrode plates of the first polarity are fixed on the first electrode support film continuous, flexible, foldable and conductive of the electric current. The other long side of each discrete electrode plate of the second polarity is in contact with the second face of the polymer electrolyte film, continuous, flexible, foldable, containing mobile lithium ions, so that each discrete electrode plate of the first polarity corresponds to a discrete electrode plate of the second polarity placed appropriately. The first continuous electrode support film, flexible, foldable and conductive of the electric current, carrying the discrete electrode plates of the first polarity, the second continuous electrode support film, flexible, foldable and conductive of the electric current, carrying the electrode plates of the second polarity, and the polymer electrolyte film, continuous, flexible, foldable, containing mobile lithium ions, located between the first and the second electrode support film

  continuous, flexible, foldable and conductive of electric current

  that, are folded in an accordion so as to form sections

  stacked folded parallels and discrete electrode plates

  tes of the first and second polarity between the folds, and sections of flexible elbows devoid of electrode plates of the first and second polarity, thus forming a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical elements containing lithium. An electrode current collector of the first polarity is placed in contact with the first continuous, flexible, pliable and electrically conductive electrode support film and an electrode current collector of the second polarity is placed in contact with the second continuous electrode support film, flexible, foldable and conductive of the electric current, and the electrochemical elements containing lithium ions, stacked and folded in accordion, are packed in a battery box having

electrical conductors.

  In a second embodiment of the present invention, the width of the polymer electrolyte film, continuous, flexible, foldable, containing lithium ions, is lengthened to have continuous, flexible, foldable marginal portions and the marginal portions of the film do not contain no ions

mobile lithium.

Brief description of the drawing

  - Figure 1 schematically shows assembled unfolded films having discrete electrodes of the first and second polarity fixed on the respective faces; - Figure 2 schematically shows a stacked and accordion-folded section of the electrochemical cells containing lithium ions according to the present invention; and - Figure 3 shows a segment of the polymer electrolyte film containing lithium having marginal portions

free of lithium ions.

  We will now describe below the preferred embodiments

  of the invention, illustrated by operational examples.

  Detailed description of favorite achievements

  As it was briefly mentioned above, the current density that a rechargeable lithium ion battery is likely to produce is proportional to the surfaces of

  contact between the face of the positive electrode and the electrolyte

  te, and between the respective face of the negative electrode and

  the electrolyte. In this non-aqueous rechargeable battery

  geable with lithium ions, an elongated solid polymer electrolyte, flexible and containing mobile lithium ions, having an appropriate length and width, is used. The

  the term "mobile lithium ions" should be understood as meaning

  trusting that lithium is present in the polymer electrolyte as a lithium salt or lithium compound capable of being dissociated to provide lithium ions. The lithium compound can be an organic ligand carrying lithium from the polymer included in the electrolyte. The lithium salt can be any lithium salt soluble in the polymer and is

  capable of releasing mobile lithium ions by dissociating

  tion. Another form of the solid polymer electrolyte which can be used to obtain stacked elements containing lithium ions is a microporous polymer film, which has been impregnated

  with an organic liquid containing mobile lithium ions.

  Suitably, a lithium salt is dissolved in the organic liquid in an appropriate concentration before impregnating the microporous polymer film with the organic liquid. The solid polymer electrolyte film may contain a polyethylene oxide, a polypropylene oxide, a polyvinylidene fluoride or any other similar conventional substance in which the appropriate lithium salt has been dissolved before lamination. The lithium salt can be LiPF6, LiBF6, LiAsF6, LiC104, lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF3SO3) or any other similar polymer-soluble lithium compound which is capable of producing lithium ions by dissociation. The microporous polymeric film can be made of polyethylene, polypropylene or any other relatively inert, similar substance, which is then impregnated with an organic liquid containing lithium ions. The organic liquid is commonly ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate or a mixture of the two, or a chemical equivalent, containing any of the lithium compounds listed above or known derivatives thereof. The width and length of the film are dictated by considerations of convenience. The thickness of the film is suitably less than 1 mm, and is usually between 0.04 and 0.4 mm. For the sake of clarity, the continuous, flexible, pliable and lithium ion polymer electrolyte film considered above may be any of the following: a solid polymer film containing a lithium salt dissolved therein or having a ligand carrying mobile lithium ions, a microporous polymer film impregnated with an organic liquid containing a lithium compound capable of producing lithium ions by dissociation, and a laminated mixture in the form of a film of an insulating organic polymer and d 'an organic polymer containing mobile lithium ions. A separate organic polymer separator film can

  also be placed near one side of the electrical film

  polymer trolyte, if desired.

  The negative electrode is usually elementary lithium

  shut up in a conventional form of carbon

  having a small particle size. We use couram-

  ment graphite, petroleum coke, fine charcoal

  and similar substances containing fine free carbon.

  Small carbon particles, designated as

  fine carbon in subsequent discussions, are usual-

  mixed with an organic binder and optionally with a lithium salt, and the mixture is then poured or

  molded into thin square or rectangular plates of dimension

  appropriate. The width of the plate is preferably less than the width of the polymer electrolyte film considered above by an amount which is not less than half the thickness of the plate. Thin sheets of elementary lithium or lithium alloys which have been

  mounted on a continuous carbon carrier strip.

  The positive electrode or cathode suitably contains an oxide of a transition metal capable of incorporating lithium ions in its structure. Oxides which can be used as active cathode materials include cobalt oxide, vanadium oxide, manganese oxide, silver vanadate, tungsten oxide, etc. It is preferred that lithium is incorporated into the structure of the transition metal oxide used as the cathode, which is often referred to as a lithinated transition metal oxide compound. The active cathode material is mixed with a suitable organic binder. Optionally, fine carbon is added to increase the conductivity of the mixture. The positive electrode mixture is then poured into thin square or rectangular plates. Preferably, the positive electrode plates have the same shape, the same width and the

  same length as the negative electrode.

  It is unnecessary for the negative electrode plates and the positive electrode plates to be the same thickness, but the thickness of the plates rarely exceeds 2 mm and is dictated by considerations of convenience. Usually, but not necessarily, the electrode containing elemental lithium is thinner than the electrode containing the lithium transition metal oxide compound. It is preferred that the width of the polymer electrolyte film containing lithium ions exceeds the width of the plates at least

  half the thickness of the thinnest electro- plates

of.

  The lithium ion battery, composed of electro-

  stacked chemicals described in the present invention has continuous, flexible, foldable and electrically conductive electrode support films, on which the discrete electrode plates are mounted. The continuous, foldable, flexible, electrically conductive electrode support film can

  be made of a polymer film which contains and carries, incorporates

  in it, fine particles of a conductive substance, such as carbon or fine graphite, titanium nitride

  and zirconium nitride. Such electric polymer films

  only conductors are described in our Application to the United States No. 08/204,439, filed March 2, 1994. However,

  it is also possible to use other films supporting electro-

  continuous, flexible, foldable, electrically conductive

  and corrosion resistant suitable. Electro- plates

  negatives are mounted on one side of a continuous, flexible, pliable and electrically conductive polymer film, fixed with a suitable substance, for example with the binder used in the electrode mixture, at spaced intervals. The spacing of the electrode plates is dictated by the size of the lithium battery to be constructed. Similarly, the positive electrode plates are mounted on one side

  another continuous, flexible, pliable, conductive polymer film

  electricity and usually similar, and are fixed with an adhesive substance such as the binder of the electrode plates, preferably at similar spaced intervals. The width of the flexible flexible and electrically conductive continuous polymer films used in the present invention may be equal to or less than the width of the solid polymer electrolyte film containing lithium; however, the width of the electrically conductive polymer film used to support the electrodes is equal to or may be slightly less than the width of the fixed electrode plates. It should be noted that the electrode plates are fixed on the films of continuous, flexible, foldable and conductive electrodes of the electric current, in a way that allows the electric charge, that is to say the electrons, to circulate. freely between the plates

  electrodes and electrode support films.

  The unfixed side of each discrete negative electrode plate

  is then brought into contact with one side of the electro film

  solid polymer trolyte containing lithium envisaged above

  above, and the unbonded side of each discrete positive electrode plate is brought into contact with the other side of the film of solid polymer electrolyte containing lithium. For the sake of clarity, bringing into contact in the present invention means that the electrode plates are in ionically conductive contact with the respective face of the solid polymer electrolyte film, that is to say that the mobile lithium ions are capable of move from the electrolyte film to the electrode plates, and vice versa. It is appropriate, but not necessary for the implementation of the

  present invention, to use an adhesive coating containing

  nant of lithium ions between the electrode plates in contact with the respective face of the film of solid polymer electrolyte. Suitably, the concentration of lithium ions in the adhesive coating layer is lower than the concentration of lithium ions in the solid polymer electrolyte film. Such adhesive coatings containing lithium ions are described in our US Patent No. 5,437,692

issued August 1, 1995.

  The assembled films are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, in which the mark 1 represents the negative electrode plates fixed on the support film for negative electrodes 2, the mark 4 represents the positive electrode plates fixed on the support film for positive electrodes 6 The sides not attached opposite the electrode plates

  are in contact with the corresponding side of the electro film

  solid polymer trolyte containing lithium 8. As a variant, as considered above, the film of solid polymer electrolyte is replaced by a microporous polymer film impregnated

  an organic liquid containing lithium ions. Facultati-

  A layer of adhesive coating 9 containing lithium ions is applied between the electrode plate and the face of the polymer electrolyte film. The films are assembled in such a way that a set of electrodes of a first polarity corresponds to another set of the electrodes of the polarity

  opposite, thus constituting a series of electrochemical elements

  ques separated composed of a pair of electrode plates of opposite polarities and an electrolyte film sandwiched between the electrode plates. The length of the electrode plates is suitably slightly less than the length of the lithium battery tray to be used. The space between two adjacent electrode plates is such that it allows the films to be folded with the discrete electrode plates located between them without forming gathers

or bulges in the movies.

  The assembled films, having discrete positive and negative electrode plates arranged between them at spaced intervals, are then folded in an accordion fashion to constitute several electrochemical elements based on lithium ions stacked in a manner shown schematically in FIG. 2. Identical references in FIG. 2 represent identical elements of FIG. 1. The electro-

  chemicals stacked as shown have parallel sections

  and flexible bend sections, the latter being referenced at 10 and 12, on each side of the stack of elements. The flexible elbow sections are devoid of electrode plates. The current produced by the stacked electrochemical cells is suitably collected by elongated tabs of metal sheets 14 and 16, placed between the parallel sections in a conventional manner; 14 represents the current collector of the first polarity and 16 represents the current collector

  of the second polarity. Metallic current collectors

  They can also be used to recharge the lithium battery. It is also possible to use other known methods for electrically connecting the current collectors to their films supporting electrodes conducting

respective current.

  Stacked electrochemical cells constructed of folded elongated films and discrete positive electrode plates

  and negatives arranged between them are packed in a reci-

  pient or conventional tank to form a battery at

  lithium. The metallic current collectors are connected

  dice in the usual way to external conductive wires

  laughers to draw electric current when the battery is discharged and to recharge the battery when necessary. Electrochemical cells based on lithium ions stacked and packed in a container are protected from atmospheric humidity and corrosion in a way

well known.

  In another embodiment of the present invention, the width of the solid polymer electrolyte film is increased by a polymer strip fixed on one, and preferably on both edges, of the polymer electrolyte film containing lithium. The polymer strip fixed on the polymer electrolyte film does not contain mobile lithium ions, nor is it electrically conductive; therefore, it can act as a separator between the edges of the discrete positive and negative electrode plates inside the stacked folds of the lithium ion battery.

  of the present invention. Figure 3 shows schematically-

  ment a section of the polymer electrolyte film 8 having polymeric bands 18 fixed on each of its two edges

parallel.

  As envisaged above, the lithium polymer solid electrolyte film used as the central film of the lithium-based stacked electrochemical cells can be replaced by a microporous polymer film impregnated with an organic liquid containing lithium ions. In the second embodiment of the invention, the portions bordering the edges of the microporous polymer film along the length of the microporous polymer are not impregnated with the organic liquid containing the lithium ions; therefore, the edge portions will be devoid of lithium ions and may serve as a separator between the edges of the electrode plates

  discrete positive and negative located in the folds.

  The assembled folded films forming the electro-

  stacked chemicals are then packed into a suitable container or bin, equipped with conventional electrical connection means to provide a lithium ion battery with positive and negative conductors. The conductors are designed to allow the battery to be

  charged and supply current when discharged.

EXAMPLE 1

  A film based on copolymerized polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)

  commercially available risé, having LiPF6 dissolved in the polymer in a molar concentration of 1 before film formation and the usual plasticizers, was cut into an appropriate length to assemble 33 15/10 cm plies stacked in an ion battery lithium. The width of the PVDF-based polymer film was 10 cm and the film thickness was 60 µm. A mixture containing 90% by weight of petroleum coke, 5% by weight of LiPF6 and 5% by weight of a polyvinylidene fluoride serving as binder was extruded into plates having dimensions of 95 × 140 mm and a thickness of 450 mm. ; these plates were to be used as anode plates in the

stacked lithium battery.

  A fine lithium cobalt and oxide (LixCoO2, in which 0 <x <1), having an average particle size of about pm, was mixed with 5% by weight of polyvinylidene fluoride and the plastic mixture was then sheet extruded

  rectangular 95 x 140 mm having a thickness of 200 µm.

  The plates containing the lithinated cobalt oxide had to be

  used as cathode plates in electro-

  stacked chemicals making up the lithium battery described above. A polyethylene containing conventional plasticizers was mixed with fine carbon having an average particle size of 0.5 mm to contain 45% by volume of carbon,

  and the resulting dough was rolled to a thickness of 20 µm.

  The width of the polyethylene film containing the carbon was 10 cm. A length corresponding to the length of the polyvinylidene fluoride electrolyte film considered above was cut from the polyethylene film containing

  carbon and anode plates were fixed longitudinally

  Lely on one side of the film with ethylene carbonate, the plates being spaced to form intervals of 1 cm between them. A second polyethylene film having a similar length was used as the positive electrode support film and the positive electrode plates containing the lithinated cobalt oxide were fixed on one of its faces with ethylene carbonate of a similarly, the positive electrode plates being spaced at the same intervals as the negative electrode plates. The free rectangular faces of the positive and negative electrode plates were then coated with a paste of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate containing LiPF6 in a molar concentration of 0.5. The films were assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the coated sides of the electrode plates being brought into contact with suitable faces of the polyvinylidene film, thus forming sections of electrochemical elements constituted by positive and negative electrode plates in contact with appropriate faces of a continuous film based on polyvinylidene fluoride containing lithium ions and the electrode plates being supported on polyethylene films containing carbon. The assembled films were folded in an accordion in a zigzag pattern as shown in Figure 2 to have 33 folds. A 20 mm thick copper foil was placed between the plies of the polymer film supporting the negative electrode plates and an aluminum foil of the same thickness was placed between the plies of the polymer film supporting the positive electrodes as shown schematically in Figure 2. The total thickness of the folded films carrying the electrode plates was about 25 mm. The assembled folded films stacked were packaged and sealed in a known manner and enclosed in a

  protective tray with suitable electrical conductors.

  The lithium battery made of electrochemical cells

  folded stacked as described above was loaded in app

  as for its terminals a voltage of 4.2 volts until reaching a stable battery voltage of 4.0 volts. The fully charged lithium battery was found to provide

  average discharge voltage of 3.2 volts. The specific energy

  that produced by the lithium battery was measured as

  being 103 watts.hour / kg and it was found that the energy density

  lithium battery made in accordance with this

  invention was 237 watt hours / liter.

Example 2

  A 25 mm wide microporous polyethylene based polymer film, sold under the name "Cellgard", was impregnated with an organic liquid containing ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate in a 1: 1 ratio and LiClO4 in a molar concentration of 1. A length was cut from this impregnated microporous film to make ten folds, each fold

  receiving 24 mm x 24 mm electrode plates.

  iO0 The petroleum coke anode mixture consisted of fine coke particles, 5% by weight of lithium perchlorate and a binder based on polyvinylidene fluoride, and was extruded in a similar manner to that described in Example 1; the cathode mixture contained a lithiated cobalt oxide as in example 1, and the electrode plates of the lithium battery of example 2 had the dimensions of a square of 24 mm × 24 mm. The thickness of the negative electrode plates based on petroleum coke was 450 mm and that of the positive electrode plate based on

  LiCoO2 was 200 µm respectively, as in Example 1.

  The electrode plates were fixed on polyethylene films loaded with 45% by volume of carbon and 25 mm in width, in a manner similar to that described in Example 1, thus providing a set of negative electrode plates supported on a polymer film containing conductive carbon and another set of positive electrode plates supported on another polymer film containing conductive carbon. The microporous polymer film containing lithium ions and the films carrying the electrode plates

  were assembled and folded, as represented respectively-

  Figures 1 and 2. The lithium battery consisting of ten folded and stacked electrochemical cells was

  sealed and packaged as described in Example 1.

  The lithium battery composed of ten square cells of 25

  mm stacked side was then loaded as in the example

  ple 1. It was found that the fully charged battery

  was an open circuit voltage of 3.8 volts. The average discharge voltage was 3.12 volts. The set of folded electrochemical cells stacked based on lithium ions gave a specific energy at the rate of 85 watts.hour / kg and an energy density at the rate of 200 watts. hour / liter.

  In the foregoing, the principles, the

  preferred tions and modes of operation of the present invention. However, the invention should not be considered

  as being limited to the particular realizations envisaged

  aged. Instead, the embodiments described above should be considered as illustrative rather than restrictive, and it should be noted that those skilled in the art can make variations in their embodiments without departing

  of the scope of the present invention.

Claims (15)

Claims   1.- Lithium battery, consisting of a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery box, the stacked electrochemical cells having a continuous, flexible, folded polymer electrolyte containing mobile lithium ions, electrodes first and second polarity, and current collectors of the first and second electrodes   polarity, characterized in that the electrochemical elements   stacked cues are composed of films made up of:   (i) a first electrode support film (2) continuous, flexible   ble, foldable and conductive of the electric current, having a first and a second face, a multiplicity of discrete electrode plates of a first polarity (1), each electrode plate of the first polarity having large opposite sides, a plate length and a first plate width, one of the long sides of each of said discrete electrode plates of the first polarity (1) being conductively attached to said first face of said continuous electrode support film (2), flexible, pliable and conductor of electric current at intervals spaced predetermined by said length of plate, (ii) a continuous polymeric electrolyte film (8), flexible, pliable, containing mobile lithium ions and having a first and a second face, a film width and a pair of film edges, said continuous, flexible, pliable polymer electrolyte film being conductive of lithium ions and not conductive of electric current ic, (iii) a second electrode support film (6) continuous, flexible, foldable, conductor of the electric current and having a first and a second face, a multiplicity of discrete electrode plates (4) of a second polarity, each second polarity electrode plate having long opposite sides, a plate length which is similar to the plate length of said first polarity electrode plates, and a second plate width, one of the large sides of each of said discrete electrode plates of the second polarity being conductively attached to said first face of said second electrode support film (6) continuous, flexible, pliable and conductive of electric current at said predetermined spaced intervals, the other of said long sides facing said discrete electrode plates of the first polarity being in contact with said first face of said electrolyte film p continuous, flexible, foldable polymer containing lithium ions mobile at said predetermined spaced intervals, and the other of said long sides facing said discrete electrode plates of the second polarity being in contact with said second face of said electrolyte film continuous, flexible, foldable polymer containing lithium ions which are mobile at said predetermined spaced intervals, said long side of each of said discrete electrode plates of the first polarity being in contact with said first side of said polymer electrolyte film corresponding to the respective long sides of the one of said discrete electrode plates of the second polarity in contact with said second face of said polymer electrolyte film; said assembled films being accordion-folded so that they comprise stacked parallel sections enveloping said discrete electrode plates of the first and second polarity, and flexible elbow sections devoid of these discrete electrode plates of the first and of the second polarity, thereby providing a multiplicity of electrochemical cells containing lithium folded and stacked; an electrode current collector of the first polarity (14) in electrical contact with said first electrode support film which is continuous, flexible, pliable and conductor of electrical current; a second polarity electrode current collector (16) in electrical contact with said second electrode support film which is continuous, flexible, foldable and conductive of the   electric current, and a battery tray having conduc-   electrical sensors containing said stack of electro- accordion folded chemicals.   2.- lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1, characterized in that it has discrete electrode plates of a first polarity containing carbon with a particle size less than 1 mm, a salt containing mobile lithium ions, said carbon being capable of intercalating said mobile lithium ions, and an organic binder.  3.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1, characterized in that it has discrete electrode plates of the second polarity comprising a compound of a oxide of a lithinated transition metal, said transition metal being chosen from the group comprising manganese, vanadium, cobalt, nickel, tungsten and alloys of silver and vanadium, said metal oxide compound being capable of incorporating ions into its structure lithium, and an organic binder.   4. Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1,   characterized in that said width of said electro- film   continuous, flexible, foldable polymer lyte containing mobile lithium ions, is greater than the largest of the   first and second plate width.   5. Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1, characterized in that said first plate width is the same as said second plate width and that said width of said continuous, flexible, pliable polymer electrolyte film containing mobile lithium ions is greater   to said first plate width.   6.- Lithium battery consisting of a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1, characterized in that said continuous polymer electrolyte film, flexible, foldable and containing mobile lithium ions , comprises an organic polymer compound containing a lithium salt dissolved in the polymer in a first concentration, said lithium salt being capable of provide mobile lithium ions.   7.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 6, characterized in that said polymer electrolyte film, continuous, flexible, foldable and containing lithium ions movable, has a strip of polymer film attached to one of said edges of film, said strip of polymer film essentially comprising said organic polymer compound contained in said polymer electrolyte film, said strip of film   polymer increasing said film width.   8.- Lithium battery consisting of a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1, characterized in that said continuous polymer electrolyte film, flexible, foldable and containing mobile lithium ions , comprises a continuous, flexible, pliable microporous polymer film impregnated with an organic liquid containing mobile lithium ions, said lithium ions being contained in said organic liquid in a second concentration.  9.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 8, characterized in that said continuous microporous polymer film, flexible, pliable and impregnated, has marginal portions made of continuous, flexible, pliable and non-impregnated microporous polymer film and in that said marginal portions increase said film width microporous polymer.   10.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 6, characterized in that it has an adhesive coating layer containing lithium ions between one of said sides of said continuous, flexible, pliable polymer electrolyte film containing mobile lithium ions, and the other of the long opposite sides of at least one of said discrete electrode plates, and in that the concentration of lithium ions in said adhesive coating layer is less than said first concentration of lithium salt dissolved in said continuous, flexible, pliable polymer electrolyte film,   and containing mobile lithium ions.   11.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 8, characterized in that it has an adhesive coating layer containing lithium ions between one of said sides of said microporous, continuous, flexible and pliable polymer film impregnated with an organic liquid containing mobile lithium ions, and the other of the large opposite sides of at least one   discrete electrode plates, and in that the concentration   tion of lithium ions in said adhesive coating layer is less than said second concentration of lithium ions contained in said impregnating organic liquid   said continuous, flexible and foldable microporous polymer film.   12. A lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1,   characterized in that said first electro- support film   continuous, flexible, foldable and current-carrying   electric, includes electrically conductive particles   these chosen from the group comprising carbon having a particle size of less than 1 mm, graphite, titanium nitride and zirconium nitride, embedded in a   continuous, flexible and foldable polymer film.   13.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1,   characterized in that said second electrical support film   continuous, flexible, foldable and current conducting trodes   electric, includes electrically conductive particles   these chosen from the group comprising carbon having a particle size of less than 1 mm, graphite, titanium nitride and zirconium nitride, embedded in a   continuous, flexible and foldable polymer film.   14.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1,   characterized in that said first electro- support film   continuous, flexible, pliable and conductive of electric current, comprises an elongated metal sheet, said metal being chosen from the group comprising aluminum, aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys, and in that said elongated metal sheet is adhered to one side of a continuous polymer film, flexible and foldable.   15.- Lithium battery constituted by a multiplicity of stacked electrochemical cells containing lithium packed in a battery tray according to claim 1,   characterized in that said second electrical support film   s continuous, flexible, foldable and conductive of electric current, comprises an elongated metal sheet, said metal being chosen from the group comprising aluminum,   aluminum alloys, copper and copper alloys, and in that said elongated metal sheet is adherently mounted on one side of a flexible and pliable continuous polymer film.