Semi-solid electrodes having high rate capability

• US 9,831,519 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• 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): Stagg, Miriam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nedialkova, Lilia V
• Application Number:
  US15/174,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20170033390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• 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 cathode; and

a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode,

wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is a slurry electrode that includes about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte,

wherein the conductive material includes at least one of graphite, carbon powder, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black, carbon fibers, carbon microfibers, carbon nanotubes, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi walled carbon nanotubes, fullerene carbons, graphene sheets, and aggregate of graphene sheets,

wherein at least one of the anode and 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.

2. 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.

3. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell has an area specific capacity of at least 9 mAh/cm² at a C-rate of C/4.

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

5. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the active material is about 45% to about 75% by volume.

6. The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is about 0.5% to about 8% by volume.

7. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode,

wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode is a slurry electrode and includes about 35% to about 75% by volume of an active material and a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte,

wherein the slurry electrode has a thickness of at least 300 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 slurry electrode having the thickness of at least 300 μ

m is the cathode.

9. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the liquid electrolyte is non-aqueous.

10. The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the conductive material includes at least one of graphite, carbon powder, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black, carbon fibers, carbon microfibers, carbon nanotubes, single walled carbon nanotubes, multi walled carbon nanotubes fullerene carbons, graphene sheets, and an aggregate of graphene sheets.

11. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

an anode;

a slurry cathode including (a) about 20% to about 75% by volume of an active material, and (b) a conductive material in a liquid electrolyte; and

a separator 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.

12. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the active material in the cathode includes an ordered rocksalt compound.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12, 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.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the active material in the cathode includes an olivine compound.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14, wherein the olivine compound includes LiMPO₄, wherein M is at least one of Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni.

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the conductive material in the cathode is about 0.5% to about 8% by volume.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the cathode has a thickness of at least 300 μ

m.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 11, wherein the cathode has a thickness in a range of about 250 μ

m to about 2,000 μ

m.