Semi-solid electrodes having high rate capability

• US 9,385,392 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• 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:
  US14/875,076
• Publication Number:
  US 20160056491A1
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 20% to about 75% by volume of an active material and about 0.5% 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 of at least about 250 μ

m, and

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

2. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least about 7 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/2.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least about 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 about 10 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 40% to about 75% by volume.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 5, wherein the active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 50% to about 75% by volume.

7. An electrochemical cell comprising:

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

a semi-solid cathode including a suspension of about 20% to about 75% by volume of a second active material and about 0.5% to about 8% by volume of a 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 cathode has a thickness of at least about 250 μ

m, and

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

8. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the semi-solid anode includes 0% to about 10% by volume of a conductive material.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 8, wherein the conductive material in the semi-solid anode is about 0.5% to about 2% by volume.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the second active material in the semi-solid cathode is about 40% to about 75% by volume.

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

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the semi-solid cathode has a thickness of at least about 300 μ

m.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the semi-solid anode has a thickness of at least about 300 μ

m.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 13, wherein the semi-solid anode has a thickness of at least about 400 μ

m.

15. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode including a suspension of about 20% to about 75% by volume of an active material and a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte; and

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

wherein the cathode has a thickness of at least about 250 μ

m, and

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

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 15, wherein the active material includes an ordered rocksalt compound.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16, wherein the ordered rocksalt compound includes at least one of LiCoO₂, LiCoO₂ doped with Mg, LiNiO₂, Li(Ni, Co, Al)O₂, and Li(Ni, Mn, Co)O₂.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 15, wherein the active material includes an olivine compound.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 18, wherein the olivine compound includes LiMPO₄, wherein M is at least one of Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni.