Semi-solid electrodes having high rate capability

• US 8,993,159 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2013
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: 24M Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Chiang, Yet-Ming, Duduta, Mihai, Holman, Richard, Limthongkul, Pimpa, Tan, Taison
• Primary Examiner(s): Barcena, Carlos
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nedialkova, Lilia V
• Application Number:
  US13/872,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20140170524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 429/209, 429/50
• US Class Current: 429/209
• 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 8/18 Regenerative fuel cells, e.g. redox flow batteries or secondary fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/188 by recharging of redox couples containing fluids; Redox flow type batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/20 Indirect fuel cells, e.g. fuel cells with redox couple being irreversible H01M8/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/225 Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having high rate capability, and more particularly to devices, systems and methods of producing high capacity and high rate capability batteries having relatively thick semi-solid electrodes. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes an anode, a semi-solid cathode that includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte, and an ion permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode. The semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 μm-2,500 μm, and the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 5 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

an anode;

a semi-solid cathode including a suspension of about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and about 1% to about 8% by volume of a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte; and

an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the semi-solid cathode,

wherein, the semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 μ

m to about 2,000 μ

m,

wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4, and

wherein the semi-solid cathode has a mixing index in the range of about 0.8 to 0.975.

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the semi-solid cathode has an electronic conductivity of at least about 10⁻

4 S/cm.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 8 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

4. The electrochemical cell of claim 3, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 9 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 4, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 10 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 50% to about 75% by volume.

7. The electrochemical cell of claim 6, wherein the active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 60% to about 75% by volume.

8. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the semi-solid cathode suspension has a mixing index in the range of about 0.9 to 0.975.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein the semi-solid cathode suspension has a mixing index in the range of about 0.95 to 0.975.

10. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a semi-solid anode including a suspension of about 40% to about 75% by volume of a first active material and about 0% to about 10% by volume of a first conductive material in a first non-aqueous liquid electrolyte;

a semi-solid cathode including a suspension of about 35% to about 75% by volume of a second active material and about 1% to about 8% by volume of a second conductive material in a second non-aqueous liquid electrolyte; and

an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode,

wherein, the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 250 μ

m to about 2,000 μ

m,

wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4, and

wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a mixing index in the range of about 0.8 to 0.975.

11. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 8 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 9 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 10 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, wherein the first conductive material in the semi-solid anode is about 0.5% to about 2% by volume.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 10, wherein the second active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 50% to about 75% by volume.

16. An electrochemical cell comprising:

an anode;

a semi-solid cathode including a suspension of about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and about 1% to about 8% by volume of a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte; and

an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the anode and the semi-solid cathode,

wherein, the semi-solid cathode has a thickness in the range of about 250 μ

m to about 2,000 μ

m,

wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2, and

wherein the semi-solid cathode has a mixing index in the range of about 0.8 to 0.975.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 8 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 17, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 9 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 10 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

20. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein the semi-solid cathode suspension has a mixing index in the range of about 0.9 to 0.975.

21. The electrochemical cell of claim 20, wherein the semi-solid cathode suspension has a mixing index in the range of about 0.95 to 0.975.

22. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a semi-solid anode including a suspension of about 40% to about 75% by volume of a first active material and about 0% to about 10% by volume of a first conductive material in a first non-aqueous liquid electrolyte;

a semi-solid cathode including a suspension of about 35% to about 75% by volume of a second active material and about 1% to about 8% by volume of a second conductive material in a second non-aqueous liquid electrolyte; and

an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode,

wherein, the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 250 μ

m to about 2,000 μ

m,

wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2, and

wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a mixing index in the range of about 0.8 to 0.975.

23. The electrochemical cell of claim 22, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

24. The electrochemical cell of claim 23, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 8 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

25. The electrochemical cell of claim 22, wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 250 μ

m to about 600 μ

m.

26. The electrochemical cell of claim 25, wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 300 μ

m to about 600 μ

m.

27. The electrochemical cell of claim 26, wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 350 μ

m to about 600 μ

m.

28. The electrochemical cell of claim 27, wherein the semi-solid anode and the semi-solid cathode each have a thickness in the range of about 400 μ

m to about 600 μ

m.

29. The electrochemical cell of claim 22, wherein the first conductive material in the semi-solid anode is about 0.5% to about 2% by volume.

30. The electrochemical cell of claim 22, wherein the second active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 50% to about 75% by volume.