Rechargeable positive electrodes
First Claim
1. A positive electrode comprising:
- a) an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, a metal sulfide, a metal polysulfide, and combinations thereof, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mixtures of alkali and alkaline earth metals;
b) an electronically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that electrons move between the electrochemically active material and the electronically conductive material; and
c) an ionically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that ions move between the ionically conductive material and the electrochemically active material, wherein at least about 10% of the electrochemically active material is accessible to electrons and ionic charge carriers, and wherein the ionically conductive material is a solid or gel state material and is not a sulfide or polysulfide.
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Abstract
Disclosed are positive electrodes containing active-sulfur-based composite electrodes. The cells include active-sulfur, an electronic conductor, and an ionic conductor. These materials are provided in a manner allowing at least about 10% of the active-sulfur to be available for electrochemical reaction. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating active-sulfur-based composite electrodes. The method begins with a step of combining the electrode components in a slurry. Next, the slurry is homogenized such that the electrode components are well mixed and free of agglomerates. Thereafter, before the electrode components have settled or separated to any significant degree, the slurry is coated on a substrate to form a thin film. Finally, the coated film is dried to form the electrode in such a manner that the electrode components do not significantly redistribute.
160 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A positive electrode comprising:
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a) an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, a metal sulfide, a metal polysulfide, and combinations thereof, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mixtures of alkali and alkaline earth metals; b) an electronically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that electrons move between the electrochemically active material and the electronically conductive material; and c) an ionically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that ions move between the ionically conductive material and the electrochemically active material, wherein at least about 10% of the electrochemically active material is accessible to electrons and ionic charge carriers, and wherein the ionically conductive material is a solid or gel state material and is not a sulfide or polysulfide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A positive electrode comprising:
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a) an electrochemically active material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, a metal sulfide, a metal polysulfide, and combinations thereof, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and mixtures of alkali and alkaline earth metals; b) an electronically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that electrons move between the electrochemically active material and the electronically conductive material; and c) an ionically conductive material mixed with the electrochemically active material so that ions move between the ionically conductive material and the electrochemically active material, wherein at least about 20% of the electrochemically active material is accessible to electrons and ionic charge carriers, and wherein the ionically conductive material is a solid or gel state material and is not a sulfide or polysulfide. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A battery cell comprising:
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a) a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i) an electrochemically active material, ii) a gel-state or solid-state ionically conductive material, and iii) an electronically conductive material, the mixture having between about 10% and about 100% of the electrochemically active material accessible to electrons and ionic charge carriers; b) a current collector electrically connected to the positive electrode; c) a negative electrode including a metal or metal ion; and d) an electrolyte separator; wherein electrochemically active material is selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of the metal, polysulfides of the metal, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A battery cell comprising:
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a) a positive electrode comprising a mixture of i) an electrochemically active material, ii) a gel-state or solid-state ionically conductive material, and iii) an electronically conductive material, the mixture having between about 20% and about 100% of the electrochemically active material accessible to electrons and ionic charge carriers; b) a current collector electrically connected to the positive electrode; c) a negative electrode including a metal or metal ion; and d) an electrolyte separator; wherein electrochemically active material is selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, sulfides of the metal, polysulfides of the metal, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification