Lithium metal dispersion in electrodes

• US 20050130043A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Original Assignee: FMC Corporation
• Inventors: Lain, Michael, Jarvis, Christine, Gao, Yuan, Yakovleva, Marina, Engel, John
• Application Number:
  US10/900,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20050130043A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.950
• 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 4/043 involving compressing or compaction
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0435 Rolling or calendering
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0471 involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/13 Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/133 Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1393 of electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1395 of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Electrodes, such as anodes and cathodes, can include a host material that is prelithiated or undergoes lithiation upon electrolyte introduction into a battery. Lithiation of the host material can occur by the agitation of lithium metal and a host material, the agitation of a lithium metal powder and a host material at a temperature greater than room temperature, the application of pressure to a lithium metal and host material mixture, contact of the host material with molten lithium metal, the lamination of lithium foil or lithium mesh onto an electrode containing the host material, or by lamination of lithium metal or mesh onto an electrode at elevated temperatures.

Claims

1. A method for prelithiating a host material, comprising:

dispersing the host material in a lithium metal to form a mixture of host material and lithium metal; and

agitating the mixture of host material and lithium metal to promote lithiation of the host material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lithium metal is lithium metal powder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lithium metal powder comprises a stabilized lithium metal powder.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the lithium metal powder and the host material are dispersed in a non-aqueous solution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the non-aqueous solution comprises a hydrocarbon solvent.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the agitating is performed at a temperature of about 180°

C. or less.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lithium metal comprises molten lithium metal.

8. A method for prelithiating a host material, comprising:

combining the host material with a lithium metal powder to form a mixture; and

manipulating the mixture to promote lithiation of the host material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the mixture comprises agitating the mixture to promote lithiation of the host material.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the agitating is performed at a temperature of 180°

C. or less.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the agitating is performed at a temperature between about 40°

C. and about 150°

C.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the mixture comprises heating the mixture to a temperature between about 40°

C. and about 150°

C.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the mixture comprises applying pressure to the mixture to lithiate the host material.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the application of pressure to the mixture occurs at a temperature of about 180°

C. or less.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the manipulation of the mixture comprises:

using the mixture to form an electrode; and

pressing the electrode to lithiate the host material.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing a second pressing of the electrode.

17. An electrode, comprising:

a current collector; and

a prelithiated host material in contact with the current collector.

18. The electrode of claim 17, wherein the prelithiated host material comprises a host material prelithiated with a lithium metal powder.

19. A rechargeable lithium ion cell, comprising:

a positive electrode;

a negative electrode comprising a prelithiated host material; and

a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

20. The rechargeable lithium ion cell of claim 19, wherein the prelithiated host material comprises a prelithiated host material formed from a host material and lithium metal powder.

21. A battery comprising the rechargeable lithium ion cell of claim 19.

22. The battery of claim 21, wherein the battery is a battery used with a device selected from the group consisting of portable electronic devices, cellular phone devices, camcorder devices, digital recording devices, laptop computer devices, electric vehicle devices, and hybrid vehicle devices.

23. A method for forming an electrode, comprising:

lithiating a host material; and

forming an electrode from the lithiated host material.

24. A method for forming a battery, comprising:

forming an electrode from a host material;

lithiating the electrode; and

using the lithiated electrode as a negative electrode in the formation of a battery.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein lithiating the electrode comprises:

applying a lithium metal to the electrode formed from the host material; and

promoting the lithiation of the host material.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein applying a lithium metal to the electrode comprises applying a lithium mesh to the electrode.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein promoting the lithiation of the host material comprises applying force to the lithium mesh and host material of the electrode to initiate lithiation of the host material.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein promoting the lithiation of the host material comprises applying an electrolyte to the lithium mesh and host material of the electrode to initiate lithiation of the host material.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein promoting the lithiation of the host material comprises heating the lithium mesh and host material of the electrode to initiate lithiation of the host material.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein applying a lithium metal to the electrode comprises applying a lithium foil to the electrode.