COMPOSITE ANODE MATERIAL MADE OF IONIC-CONDUCTING ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MATERIAL

• US 20180212239A1
• Filed: 10/25/2017
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: StoreDot Ltd.
• Original Assignee: StoreDot Ltd.
• Inventors: Jacob, David, Remizov, Sergey, Shadmi, Nitzan, Farran, Hani, Aronov, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 10,505,181 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 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• 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: H01M 4/485 of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/602 Polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/624 Electric conductive fillers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/625 Carbon or graphite
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Core-shell particles, composite anode material, anodes made therefrom, lithium ion cells and methods are provided, which enable production of fast charging lithium ion batteries. The composite anode material has core-shell particles which are configured to receive and release lithium ions at their cores and to have shells that are configured to allow for core expansion upon lithiation. The cores of the core-shell particles are connected to the respective shells by conductive material such as carbon fibers, which may form a network throughout the anode material and possibly interconnect cores of many core-shell particles to enhance the electrical conductivity of the anode. Ionic conductive material and possibly mechanical elements may be incorporated in the core-shell particles to enhance ionic conductivity and mechanical robustness toward expansion and contraction of the cores during lithiation and de-lithiation.

Claims

1. Composite anode material comprising:

core-shell particles comprising a core configured to receive and release lithium ions, and shells configured to allow for core expansion upon lithiation, wherein the core-shell particles comprise a single core per shell, and

electrically conductive material, comprising conductive carbon fibers and/or CNTs (carbon nanotubes), which interconnects the cores of the core-shell particles,

wherein the shells of the core-shell particles are made of ionic-conducting, electrically insulating material.

2. The composite anode material of claim 1, wherein at least some of the electrically conductive material reaches a surface of an anode made of the composite anode material.

3. The composite anode material of claim 1, wherein the core-shell particles further comprise ionic conductive material connecting the cores to the respective shells.

4. The composite anode material of claim 1, wherein the shells of the core-shell particles are made of a brittle, ionic conductive material embedded in a flexible electrically conductive material.

5. The composite anode material of claim 4, wherein the flexible electrically conductive material is configured to expand with the cores upon lithiation thereof.

6. The composite anode material of claim 1, wherein the cores are made of at least one of:

Sn, Si, Ge, Pb, P, Sb, Bi, Al, Ga, Zn, Ag, Mg, As, In, Cd and Au, and/or mixtures and/or alloys thereof.

7. The composite anode material of claim 6, wherein the cores are made of at least one of:

Sn, Si, Ge, Pb, P, Al and Mg, and/or mixtures and/or alloys thereof.

8. The composite anode material of claim 7, wherein the cores are made of Si and/or Ge, and/or mixtures and/or alloys thereof.

9. The composite anode material of claim 1, wherein the shells further comprise a carbon coating.

10. An anode made of the composite anode material of claim 1.

11. The anode of claim 10, comprising in a range of 50-95 wt % of the core-shell particles, 1-40 wt % of the electrically conductive material and 1-40 wt % of binder material.

12. A lithium ion cell comprising the anode of claim 10.

13. A method of making an anode for a lithium ion cell comprising:

producing core-shell particles to receive and release lithium ions at their cores and to allow for core expansion within their shells upon lithiation, wherein the core-shell particles comprise a single core per shell, and

interconnecting the cores of the core-shell particles by electrically conductive material comprising conductive carbon fibers and/or CNTs,

wherein the shells of the core-shell particles are made of ionic conducting material which is an electrically insulating material.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising preparing composite anode material from the core-shell particles and forming an anode therefrom.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting the cores of at least some of the core-shell particles with the respective shells by the electrically conductive material.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising connecting the cores of the core-shell particles to the respective shells by ionic conductive material.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising making the shells of the core-shell particles from ionic conducting material which is an electrically insulating material.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising making the shells of the core-shell particles of a brittle, ionic conductive material embedded in a flexible electrically conductive material.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising configuring the flexible electrically conductive material to expand with the cores upon lithiation thereof.