Ionically conductive compounds and related uses

• US 10,388,987 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2018
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BASF SE, Sion Power Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sion Power Corporation
• Inventors: Du, Hui, Kelley, Tracy Earl, Scordilis-Kelley, Chariclea, Schneider, Holger, Leitner, Klaus, Kulisch, Joern, Safont-Sempere, Marina, ter Maat, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Slifka, Sarah A.
• Application Number:
  US16/047,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20180342766A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0562 Solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0068 inorganic
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/434 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/46 Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their combination with electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/497 Ionic conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Articles, compositions, and methods involving ionically conductive compounds are provided. The disclosed ionically conductive compounds may be incorporated into an electrochemical cell (e.g., a lithium-sulfur electrochemical cell, a lithium-ion electrochemical cell, an intercalated-cathode based electrochemical cell) as, for example, a protective layer for an electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and/or any other appropriate component within the electrochemical cell. In certain embodiments, electrode structures and/or methods for making electrode structures including a layer comprising an ionically conductive compound described herein are provided.

Claims

1. A compound of formula (I):

Li_2xS_x+w+5zM_yP_2z 

 

(I)

wherein;

the compound of formula (I) has a cubic structure,

M is selected from the group consisting of Lanthanides, Group 3, Group 4, Group 5, Group 6, Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 12, Group 13, and Group 14 atoms, and combinations thereof,

x is 8-16,

y is 0.1-6,

w is 0.1-15, and

z is 0.1-3.

2. A compound as in claim 1, wherein the compound of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of Li₁₆S₁₅SiP₂, Li₂₀S₁₇SiP₂, Li₂₁S₁₇Si₂P, Li₂₁S_17.5SiP₂, Li₂₂S₁₈SiP₂, Li₂₄S₁₉SiP₂, Li₂₈S₂₁SiP₂, Li₂₄S₁₉GeP₂, Li₂₁SiP₂S_17.5, Li₂₁La_0.5Si_1.5PS_16.75, Li₂₁LaSiPS_16.5, Li₂₁La₂PS₁₆, Li₂₁AlP₂S₁₇, Li₁₇AlP₂S₁₅, Li₁₇Al₂PS₁₄, Li₂₁AlSiPS_16.5, Li₂₁Al_0.5Si_1.5PS_16.75, Li₂₁BP₂S₁₇, Li₂₃Si₂PS₁₇, and Li₂₁GaP₂S₁₇.

3. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is selected from the group consisting of silicon, tin, germanium, zinc, iron, zirconium, aluminum, and combinations thereof.

4. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is silicon.

5. A compound as in claim 1, wherein x is 10 or greater.

6. A compound as in claim 1, wherein x is 10-14.

7. A compound as in claim 1, wherein z is 1 and/or y is 1.

8. A compound as in claim 1, wherein w is equal to y, 1.5y, or 2y.

9. A compound as in claim 1, wherein the compound of formula (I) is crystalline.

10. A compound as in claim 1, wherein the compound has an average ion conductivity of greater than or equal to 10⁻

4 S/cm.

11. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is a tetravalent atom.

12. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is a bivalent atom.

13. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is a tetravelant atom.

14. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is a combination of two or more atoms selected from the groups consisting of Lanthanides, Group 3, Group 4, Group 5, Group 6, Group 7, Group 8, Group 9, Group 12, Group 13, and Group 14 atoms.

15. A compound as in claim 1, wherein the compound is formed from a mixture comprising xLi₂S, yMS_a, and/or zP_bS_c,

wherein:

a is 0-8;

b is 0-2; and

c is 0-8, such that b+c is 1 or greater.

16. A compound as in claim 15, wherein forming the compound comprises heating the mixture to a temperature ranging from 400°

C. to 900°

C. for a duration ranging from 3 hours to 24 hours.

17. A compound as in claim 16, wherein heating the mixture occurs at a pressure of between 0.1 MPa and 0.3 MPa.

18. A compound as in claim 1, wherein M is a trivalent atom.