Interconnected hollow nanostructures containing high capacity active materials for use in rechargeable batteries
First Claim
1. A method for preparing an electrode layer of interconnected hollow nanostructures containing a high capacity electrochemically active material, the method comprising:
- receiving a template comprising template structures;
forming a nanoscale coating of the high capacity material around the template structures; and
at least partially removing and/or shrinking the template to form the electrode layer of the interconnected hollow nanostructures comprising the high capacity active material, wherein forming the nanoscale coating of the high capacity materials around the template comprises;
an initial deposition stage performed at initial process conditions, wherein no substantial shape distortions of the template occur during the initial deposition stage; and
a bulk deposition stage performed at bulk process conditions that are different from the initial process conditions and configured to provide a higher deposition rate of the nanoscale coating during the bulk deposition stage.
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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.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for preparing an electrode layer of interconnected hollow nanostructures containing a high capacity electrochemically active material, the method comprising:
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receiving a template comprising template structures;
forming a nanoscale coating of the high capacity material around the template structures; andat least partially removing and/or shrinking the template to form the electrode layer of the interconnected hollow nanostructures comprising the high capacity active material, wherein forming the nanoscale coating of the high capacity materials around the template comprises; an initial deposition stage performed at initial process conditions, wherein no substantial shape distortions of the template occur during the initial deposition stage; and a bulk deposition stage performed at bulk process conditions that are different from the initial process conditions and configured to provide a higher deposition rate of the nanoscale coating during the bulk deposition stage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification