SUPERCAPACITOR-EMULATING FAST-CHARGING BATTERIES AND DEVICES

• US 20180175634A1
• Filed: 04/28/2017
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: StoreDot Ltd.
• Original Assignee: StoreDot Ltd.
• Inventors: ARONOV, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,110,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 10/44 Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• 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 4/386 Silicon or alloys based on silicon
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/387 Tin or alloys based on tin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Methods and supercapacitor-emulating fast-charging batteries are provided. Methods comprise configuring a fast-charging battery to emulate a supercapacitor with given specifications by operating the fast-charging battery only within a partial operation range which is defined according to the given specifications of the supercapacitor and is smaller than 20%, possibly 5% or 1%, of a full operation range of the fast-charging battery. Devices are provided, which comprise control circuitry and a modified fast-charging lithium ion battery having Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material and designed to operate at 5 C at least and within a range of 5% at most around a working point of between 60-80% lithiation of the Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material, wherein the control circuitry is configured to maintain a state of charge (SOC) of the battery within the operation range around the working point.

Claims

1-3. -3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

8-19. -19. (canceled)

21. A device comprising control circuitry and a modified fast-charging lithium ion battery having Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material and designed to operate at 5 C at least and within an operation range of 5% at most around a working point of between 60-80% lithiation of the Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material, wherein the control circuitry is configured to maintain a state of charge (SOC) of the battery within the operation range around the working point,

wherein the anode active material is configured to enable operation of the modified fast-charging lithium ion battery only around the working point and within the operation range,

wherein an anode of the modified fast-charging lithium ion battery comprises mechanical barriers configured to prevent full expansion of the anode material upon lithiation and

wherein the anode material comprises composite anode material particles having shell structures which are smaller than a full expansion volume of cores of the composite anode material particles.

4. The device of claim 21, wherein the mechanical barriers are configured to enable 80% or less of the full expansion of the anode material upon lithiation.

6. The device of claim 21, wherein a cathode of the modified fast-charging lithium ion battery has a capacity of 80% or less than the anode.

7. The device of claim 21, configured to operate at a voltage level of at least 3V, and have a leakage current smaller than 0.1% of a respective maximal continuous current.

22. A fast-charging lithium ion battery having Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material and operating at least at 5 C charging rate, only within an operation range of 5% at most around a working point of between 60-80% lithiation of the Si, Ge and/or Sn-based anode active material,

wherein the battery is modified to enable operation thereof only around the working point and within the operation range, wherein an anode of the battery comprises mechanical barriers configured to prevent full expansion of the anode material upon lithiation,

wherein the mechanical barriers are configured to enable 80% or less of the full expansion of the anode material upon lithiation, and

wherein the anode material comprises composite anode material particles having shell structures which are smaller than a full expansion volume of cores of the composite anode material particles.

20. The fast-charging lithium ion battery of claim 22, wherein a cathode thereof has a capacity of 80% or less than an anode thereof.