Dendrite-suppressing ion-conductors from aramid nanofibers withstanding extreme battery conditions

• US 10,651,449 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 05/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Michigan (University of Michigan)
• Inventors: Kotov, Nicholas A., Tung, Siu-On, Ho, Szu-Shen, Rahmani, Samantha
• Primary Examiner(s): Jelsma, Jonathan G
• Application Number:
  US15/120,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20170062786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/403 Manufacturing processes of separators, membranes or diaphragms
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/414 Synthetic resins, e.g. thermoplastics or thermosetting resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/423 Polyamide resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/44 Fibrous material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/454 comprising a non-fibrous layer and a fibrous layer superimposed on one another
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/457 comprising three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Ion conducting membranes based on aramid nanofibers (ANFs) can be prepared using layer-by-layer assembly, sol-gel processing, evaporation, spin coating, doctor blading, or other methods. Porosity is controlled through choice of additives and processing.

Claims

1. A free standing film, comprising alternating layers of aramid nanofibers (ANF) and polyalkylene oxide and having from 5 to 500 alternating layers of ANF and polyalkylene oxide.

2. A free standing film, comprising alternating layers of aramid nanofibers (ANF) and polyalkylene oxide and having at least 10 alternating layers of ANF and PEO.

3. The film according to claim 2, having a thickness of 3 microns or greater.

4. The free standing film of claim 2, further comprising nanoparticles, wherein the ratio of weight of the nanoparticles to the nanofibers is from 1:

2 to 2;

1.

5. The free standing film of claim 4, wherein the ratio is from 1.2:

1 to 1;

1.

6. The film according to claim 2, having a thickness of 500 nm or greater.

11. The free standing film of claim 4, wherein the nanoparticles comprise particles selected from silica, alumina, zirconia, titania, magnesium oxide, and calcium oxide.

12. The free standing film of claim 4, having a thickness in the range from 5 microns to 100 microns.

13. The free standing film of claim 12, wherein the thickness is about 10 microns.

7. An electrode assembly, comprising a cathode, and anode, and an ion conducting membrane (ICM) disposed between the cathode and anode, wherein the ICM comprises aramid nanofibers and polyoxyalkylene oxide, wherein the ICM has the structure (PEO/ANF)_n, where n is from 5 to 500 and where PEO/ANF represents alternating layers of polyethylene oxide and aramid nanofiber.

8. The electrode assembly of claim 7, wherein at least one of the cathode and anode is a lithium metal electrode.

9. A lithium cell comprising an electrode assembly according to claim 7.

10. A lithium battery comprising a plurality of cells according to claim 9.