Compositions Including Nano-Particles and a Nano-Structured Support Matrix and Methods of preparation as reversible high capacity anodes in energy storage systems

• US 20100310941A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Original Assignee: University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education
• Inventors: WANG, Wei, KUMTA, Prashant Nagesh
• Granted Patent: US 10,366,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.95
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/04 mainly consisting of carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
• 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 4/131 Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• 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

The present invention relates to compositions including nano-particles and a nano-structured support matrix, methods of their preparation and applications thereof. The compositions of the present invention are particularly suitable for use as anode material for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries. The nano-structured support matrix can include nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and mixtures thereof. The composition can further include a substrate on which the nano-structured support matrix is formed. The substrate can include a current collector material.

Claims

1. An anode nano-scale composition, comprising:

a nano-structured support matrix; and

nano-particles selected from the group consisting of metallic, metalloid, and non-metallic nano-particles, and mixtures thereof,

wherein an interfacial bonding is formed between the nano-structured support matrix and the nano-particles.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is selected from the group consisting of nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and mixtures thereof.

3. The composition of claim 2, wherein the nanotubes comprise B, C₃N₄, BN, TiN, TiC, SiC, Si₃N₄, WN, MoN, Mo₂N, VN, CrN, B₄C, BC₃, TiB₂, Mo₂B, WC, MoC, VC, non-oxides of transition metals, transition metal silicides and mixtures thereof.

4. The composition of claim 2, wherein the nanowires and nanorods comprise oxide nanowires and nanorods of transition metals and semiconductors of Group IV, Group IIIA, Group IIIB, and Group II elements, and mixtures thereof.

5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the nanowires and nanorods comprise ZnO, SnO₂, In₂O₃, CdO, SiO₂, CuO, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, Cu, Zn, GaN, BN, Si₃N₄, TiN, TiC, TiB₂, GaAs, GaP, InP, AIP, transition metal silicides and mixtures thereof.

6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-particles comprise Al, Si, Sn, Sb, Ge, Pb, Bi, Mg, Zn, Cd, In, Ca, As, Pt, Ag, Au, Hg, Cr, Ga and mixtures thereof.

7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is carbon nanotubes.

8. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-particles are silicon-containing nano-particles.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-particles are doped.

10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is doped.

11. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a substrate, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is formed on the substrate.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises a current collector material.

19. An electrode comprising the anode nano-scale composition of claim 11.

21. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery comprising the anode nano-scale composition of claim 1.

13. A method of preparing an anode nano-particle composition, comprising,

providing a substrate;

growing a nano-structured support matrix on the substrate; and

depositing nano-particles on the surface of the nano-structured support matrix, the nano-particles selected from the group consisting of metallic, metalloid, and non-metallic nano-particles, and mixtures thereof.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is selected from the group consisting of nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, and mixtures thereof.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the nano-structured support matrix is vertically aligned with and perpendicular to the substrate.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein an interfacial bond is formed between the nano-structured support matrix and the nano-particles.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising applying a coating to a structure formed by the deposition step, the coating comprising a material selected from the group consisting of carbon, metal, oxide, nitride, sulfide and mixtures thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the substrate comprises a current collector material.

20. An electrode comprising the anode nano-scale composition of claim 13.

22. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery comprising the anode nano-scale composition of claim 13.