Thin film electrolyte for thin film batteries

• US 8,268,488 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sapurast Research LLC
• Original Assignee: Infinite Power Solutions, Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Neudecker, Bernd J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): McConnell, Wyatt
• Application Number:
  US12/358,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20090162755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 429/319
• US Class Current: 429/322
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0036 Reactive sputtering
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/0676 Oxynitrides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 14/3407 Cathode assembly for sputtering apparatus, e.g. Target
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0562 Solid materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0071 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0077 based on zirconium oxide
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a solid-state lithium-ion thin-film electrolyte that, compared to the current state-of-the-art thin-film electrolyte, Lipon, exhibits an equal or larger electrochemical stability window (0-5.5 V vs. Li⁺/Li), an equal or smaller electronic conductivity (10⁻¹⁴ S/cm at 25° C.), the same ideal transference number for Li⁺ ions (t=1.000), and a 10× higher Li⁺ ion conductivity at −40° C. Latter provides thin-film batteries (TFBs) with at least a 5× higher power performance at −40° C. over the current state-of-the-art Lipon TFBs.

Claims

1. A solid-state, inorganic, electrolyte comprising:

a chemical composition described by Li₃(Sc_2-xM_x)(PO_4-yN_z)₃ wherein x≦

2, 0<

z≦

8/3, 2y=3z, and M is selected from the group of Al, Y, and Al_1-aY_a wherein a <

1.

6. The electrolyte of claim 1, wherein said electrolyte has a crystallinity of about 0-100 Å

, and has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 5*10<sup>−

6</sup> S/cm at 25°

C.

7. The electrolyte of claim 1, further comprising at least one element selected from the group of silicon, sulfur, lanthanum, zirconium, magnesium, and calcium.

2. A solid-state, inorganic, electrolyte comprising:

a chemical composition described by Li_8-3.5xP_1.5xZr_1-xO_6-yN_z wherein x≦

0.8, z≦

4, and 2y=3z.

8. The electrolyte of claim 2, wherein said electrolyte has a crystallinity of about 0-100 Å

, and has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 5*10<sup>−

6</sup> S/cm at 25°

C.

9. The electrolyte of claim 2, further comprising at least one element selected from the group of aluminum, silicon, sulfur, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, magnesium, and calcium.

3. A solid-state, inorganic, electrolyte comprising:

a chemical composition described by Li_8-3xLa_xZrO_6-yN_z wherein 0<

x≦

2, z≦

4, and 2y=3z.

10. The electrolyte of claim 3, wherein said electrolyte has a crystallinity of about 0-100 Å

, and has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 5*10<sup>−

6</sup> S/cm at 25°

C.

11. The electrolyte of claim 3, further comprising at least one element selected from the group of aluminum, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, scandium, yttrium, magnesium, and calcium.

4. A solid-state, inorganic, electrolyte comprising:

a chemical composition described by Li_6-0.75xP_1.75xZr_2-2xO_7-yN_z wherein x≦

0.8, z≦

14/3, and 2y=3z.

12. The electrolyte of claim 4, wherein said electrolyte has a crystallinity of about 0-100 Å

, and has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 5*10<sup>−

6</sup> S/cm at 25°

C.

13. The electrolyte of claim 4, further comprising at least one element selected from the group of aluminum, silicon, sulfur, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, magnesium, and calcium.

5. A solid-state, inorganic, electrolyte comprising:

a chemical composition described by Li_3-3xP_1-xAl_xO_4-4x-yN_x+z wherein 0<

x≦

0.6, y<

1.6, and 2y=3z.

14. The electrolyte of claim 5, wherein said electrolyte has a crystallinity of about 0-100 Å

, and has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 5*10<sup>−

6</sup> S/cm at 25°

C.

15. The electrolyte of claim 5, further comprising at least one element selected from the group of silicon, sulfur, scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, zirconium, magnesium, and calcium.

16. The electrolyte of claim 5 further adapted to be substantially kinetically inert with a metallic lithium anode.

17. The electrolyte of claim 5 further adapted to be substantially kinetically inert with a positive cathode charged to a potential of about +3.9V, said potential measured in comparison to a metallic lithium reference electrode.

18. The electrolyte of claim 5 further adapted to be substantially thermally stable at ambient temperatures up to about 150°

C.

19. The electrolyte of claim 5 further adapted to be substantially kinetically inert with metallic lithium at ambient temperatures of up to about 150°

C.

20. The electrolyte of claim 5 further adapted to be substantially kinetically inert with positive cathode materials that are charged to a potential of about +3.9V at ambient temperatures of up to about 150°

C., said potential measured in comparison to a metallic lithium reference electrode.

21. The electrolyte of claim 5 further comprising a thickness of said electrolyte of less than about 5 μ

m.

22. The electrolyte of claim 5 wherein said electrolyte further comprises:

a first electrolyte-electrode interface, and

a second electrolyte-electrode interface,

wherein said first and second electrolyte-electrode interfaces have different chemical compositions.