US Patent 8440350 Lithium-ion battery electrodes with shape-memory-alloy current collecting substrates

Lithium-ion battery electrode constructions use an array of nanowires (or of other long thin shapes) of active electrode material anchored at one end to a surface of a metal current collector sheet in an electrode assembly or construction. This form of active electrode material permits good contact with a liquid lithium-ion containing electrolyte that infiltrates the closely-spaced thin shapes. Stresses arising from volume changes in the long shapes with lithiation and de-lithiation of the active material is mitigated by strategic placement of shape memory apply forms between attachment surfaces of the active electrode material and other members of the electrode assembly.