COMPOSITE LITHIUM METAL ANODES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES WITH REDUCED VOLUMETRIC FLUCTUATION DURING CYCLING AND DENDRITE SUPPRESSION

• US 20170133662A1
• Filed: 11/10/2016
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Original Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University (Stanford University)
• Inventors: CUI, Yi, LIANG, Zheng, LIU, Yayuan, LIN, Dingchang
• Granted Patent: US 11,145,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2004/021 Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area
• 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 4/0483 by methods including the handling of a melt H01M4/0438, take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/134 Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/1395 of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/364 as mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/366 as layered products
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/405 Alloys based on lithium
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/62 Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/622 being polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• 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

A lithium battery includes a cathode, a composite lithium metal anode, and an electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the composite lithium metal anode. The composite lithium metal anode includes a porous matrix and lithium metal disposed within the porous matrix.

Claims

1. A lithium battery comprising:

a cathode;

a composite lithium metal anode; and

an electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the composite lithium metal anode,

wherein the composite lithium metal anode includes a porous matrix and lithium metal disposed within the porous matrix.

2. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix includes a fibrous material.

3. The lithium battery of claim 2, wherein the fibrous material includes carbon fibers or polymeric fibers.

4. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix includes a layered material.

5. The lithium battery of claim 4, wherein the layered material is layered reduced graphene oxide.

6. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix includes a porous film of a Li⁺ conductive material.

7. The lithium battery of claim 6, wherein the Li⁺ conductive material includes Li_xM, wherein M is a Group 14 element, and xis about 5:

1 or less.

8. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix includes carbon or a carbon-based material.

9. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix accounts for no more than about 50% of a total weight of the composite lithium metal anode.

10. The lithium battery of claim 1, wherein the porous matrix has an affinity for lithium metal, such that the porous matrix is characterized as having a contact angle with liquefied lithium metal that is less than 90°

.

11. The lithium battery of claim 10, wherein the porous matrix includes a porous material and a coating applied to the porous material, and the coating has an affinity for lithium metal.

12. A method of manufacturing a composite lithium metal anode, comprising:

providing a porous matrix;

providing liquefied lithium metal; and

infusing the liquefied lithium metal into the porous matrix.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the porous matrix includes carbon or a carbon-based material.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the porous matrix includes a Li⁺ conductive material.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the porous matrix has a surface area of at least about 15 m² g⁻

1.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the porous matrix has a density of about 3 g cm⁻

3 or less.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the porous matrix includes applying a coating to a porous material, and the coating has an affinity for the liquefied lithium metal.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein applying the coating includes applying a coating of M, wherein M is a Group 14 element.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein M is silicon.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein applying the coating includes applying a coating of an oxide of M′

, wherein M′

is a metal different from Li.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein M′

is a transition metal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein M′

is zinc.