Interconnected hollow nanostructures containing high capacity active materials for use in rechargeable batteries
First Claim
1. An electrode layer for use in a rechargeable battery, the electrode layer comprising:
- interconnected hollow nanostructures having shells around internal cavities, wherein the shells comprise a high capacity electrochemically active material,a conductive substrate underlying the interconnected hollow nanostructures, wherein at least some of the interconnected hollow nanostructures are interconnected at points above the conductive substrate; and
wherein the internal cavities provide free space for the high capacity active material to swell into during cycling of the rechargeable battery.
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Abstract
Provided are electrode layers for use in rechargeable batteries, such as lithium ion batteries, and related fabrication techniques. These electrode layers have interconnected hollow nanostructures that contain high capacity electrochemically active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. In certain embodiments, a fabrication technique involves forming a nanoscale coating around multiple template structures and at least partially removing and/or shrinking these structures to form hollow cavities. These cavities provide space for the active materials of the nanostructures to swell into during battery cycling. This design helps to reduce the risk of pulverization and to maintain electrical contacts among the nanostructures. It also provides a very high surface area available ionic communication with the electrolyte. The nanostructures have nanoscale shells but may be substantially larger in other dimensions. Nanostructures can be interconnected during forming the nanoscale coating, when the coating formed around two nearby template structures overlap.
157 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrode layer for use in a rechargeable battery, the electrode layer comprising:
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interconnected hollow nanostructures having shells around internal cavities, wherein the shells comprise a high capacity electrochemically active material, a conductive substrate underlying the interconnected hollow nanostructures, wherein at least some of the interconnected hollow nanostructures are interconnected at points above the conductive substrate; and wherein the internal cavities provide free space for the high capacity active material to swell into during cycling of the rechargeable battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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10. A lithium ion battery comprising:
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an electrode layer comprising; interconnected hollow nanostructures having shells around internal cavities, wherein the shells comprise a high capacity electrochemically active material, a conductive substrate underlying the interconnected hollow nanostructures, wherein at least some of the interconnected hollow nanostructures are interconnected at points above the conductive substrate; and wherein the internal cavities provide free space for the high capacity active material to swell into during cycling of the rechargeable battery.
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Specification