Material With Core-Shell Structure

• US 20090317637A1
• Filed: 06/20/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UNM Rainforest Innovations (f/k/a STC.UNM) (The University of New Mexico), Toyota Motor Corporation, TRIAD National Security, LLC
• Original Assignee: The University of New Mexico, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Luhrs, Claudia C., Phillips, Jonathan, Richard, Monique N., Fanson, Paul T., Dehne, Aaron, Stamm, Kimber L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/403
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/366 as layered products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/38 of elements or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/254 Polymeric or resinous material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/256 Heavy metal or aluminum or compound thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2995 Silane, siloxane or silicone coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2996 Glass particles or spheres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

Disclosed is a material having a composite particle, the composite particle including an outer shell and a core. The core is made from a lithium alloying material and the outer shell has an inner volume that is greater in size than the core of the lithium alloying material. In some instances, the outer mean diameter of the outer shell is less than 500 nanometers and the core occupies between 5 and 99% of the inner volume. In addition, the outer shell can have an average wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers.

Claims

1. A material comprising:

a composite particle having an outer shell, said outer shell having an inner volume; and

at least two phases within said outer shell occupying said inner volume;

said at least two phases having a solid phase at least partially made from a lithium alloying material and a non-solid phase selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas and combinations thereof;

said inner volume of said outer shell being greater than a volume of said solid phase.

2. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an outer mean diameter of less than 500 nanometers.

3. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an outer mean diameter of less than 200 nanometers.

4. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an outer mean diameter of less than 100 nanometers.

5. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an outer mean diameter of less than 50 nanometers.

6. The material of claim 1, wherein said solid phase occupies between 5 and 99 percent of said inner volume of said outer shell.

7. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an average wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers.

8. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an average wall thickness of less than 50 nanometers.

9. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has an average wall thickness of less than 20 nanometers.

10. The material of claim 1, further comprising a binder, said binder admixed with said material to form an electrode.

11. The material of claim 1, wherein said lithium alloying material contains an element selected from the group consisting of tin, silicon, aluminum, germanium, copper and combinations thereof.

12. The material of claim 1, wherein said outer shell has the shape of a hollow sphere.

13. The material of claim 1, wherein said solid phase is a pre-lithiated lithium alloying material.

14. A material comprising:

a composite particle having an outer shell, said outer shell having an inner volume, an outer mean diameter of less than 500 nanometers and a wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers; and

a solid phase within said outer shell, said solid phase at least partially made from a Li—

X alloy, X being at least one element that alloys with lithium;

said inner volume being generally fully occupied by said solid phase.

15. The material of claim 14, wherein said outer mean diameter of said outer shell is less than 200 nanometers.

16. The material of claim 15, wherein said outer mean diameter of said outer shell is less than 100 nanometers.

17. The material of claim 16, wherein said outer mean diameter of said outer shell is less than 50 nanometers.

18. The material of claim 14, wherein said wall thickness of said outer shell is less than 20 nanometers.

19. The material of claim 14, wherein X is an element selected from the group consisting of tin, silicon, aluminum, germanium, copper and combinations thereof.

20. A material comprising:

a composite particle having an outer shell, said outer shell having an inner volume, an outer mean diameter of less than 500 nanometers and a wall thickness of less than 100 nanometers; and

at least two phases within said outer shell occupying said inner volume;

said at least two phases having a solid phase at least partially made from a lithium alloying material and a non-solid phase selected from the group consisting of liquid, gas and combinations thereof;

said inner volume of said outer shell being greater than a volume of said solid phase.