Lithium-ion battery incorporating carbon nanostructure materials

• US 7,465,519 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• Inventors: Wang, Ning, Sheng, Ping, Liang, Qi, Tang, Zikang, Chan, Che Ting
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CYNTHIA K
• Application Number:
  US10/933,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20060051674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 429/128
• US Class Current: 429/231.8
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• 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 4/587 for inserting or intercalating light metals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/75 Single-walled

Abstract

A lithium ion battery is disclosed in which the negative electrode material comprises carbon nanostructures having no dimension greater than 2 μm. The battery has a high reversible capacity of the order of 400 mAh/g to 500 mAh/g which can be maintained over a long cycle-life (at least 30 cycles). The carbon nanostructures may be mixed with graphite to improve conductivity. The carbon nanostructues may be synthesized using an AFI template material followed by calcination.

Claims

1. A lithium ion battery wherein the negative electrode material comprises carbon nanotubes having no dimension greater than 2 μ

m, and wherein the negative electrode material comprises a mixture of said carbon nanotubes and graphite.

2. A battery as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carbon nanostructures comprise from 10 wt % to 90 wt % of said mixture.

3. A battery as claimed in claim 2 wherein said carbon nanostructures comprise 50 wt % of said mixture.

4. A battery as claimed in claim 1 wherein said negative electrode material comprises said carbon nanostructures and a binder.

5. A battery as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carbon nanostructures comprises a mixture of approximately 90% amorphous nanocarbon and 10% single-walled carbon nanotubes.

6. A lithium ion battery wherein a negative electrode material comprises carbon nanotubes having no dimension greater than 2 μ

m, and wherein said lithium ion battery comprises a reversible capacity in a range of 400 to 500 mAh/g, and wherein the negative electrode material comprises a mixture of said carbon nanotubes and graphite.

7. A battery as claimed in claim 6 wherein said carbon nanostructures comprise 50 wt % of said mixture.

8. A battery as claimed in claim 6 wherein said negative electrode material comprises said carbon nanostructures and a binder.

9. A battery as claimed in claim 6 wherein the carbon nanostructures comprises a mixture of approximately 90% amorphous nanocarbon and 10% single-walled carbon nanotubes.

10. A battery as claimed in claim 6 wherein the reversible capacity remains unaltered over at least 30 charging cycles.