Pre-lithiation of electrode materials in a semi-solid electrode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11804595-B2
Application number	US-201916654784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2019
Priority date	Nov 3, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having pre-lithiated semi-solid electrodes, and particularly to semi-solid electrodes that are pre-lithiated during the mixing of the semi-solid electrode slurry such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is formed in the semi-solid electrode before the electrochemical cell formation. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode includes about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material, about 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte, and lithium (as lithium metal, a lithium-containing material, and/or a lithium metal equivalent) in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material. The lithium metal is configured to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a pre-lithiated semi-solid anode, comprising:
mixing an active material, a lithium metal or lithium-containing material, and an electrolyte to form a pre-lithiated semi-solid anode material such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer at least partially forms during the mixing, the lithium metal or lithium-containing material having a solid phase, the lithium metal or lithium-containing material in an amount sufficient to provide a buffer for active lithium ions during cycling; and
forming the pre-lithiated semi-solid anode material into a pre-lithiated semi-solid anode.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
combining a conductive material with the pre-lithiated anode material.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
combining a high capacity material with the pre-lithiated anode material.

4. A method of manufacturing an anode, the method comprising:
mixing an active material, a conductive material, an electrolyte, and a lithium metal and/or lithium-containing material to form an anode mixture such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer at least partially forms during the mixing, the lithium metal and/or lithium-containing material having a solid phase, the lithium metal and/or lithium-containing material in an amount sufficient to provide a buffer for active lithium ions during cycling; and
storing the anode mixture in a dry environment for a duration sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the anode mixture prior to its incorporation into an electrochemical cell.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the storage duration is sufficient to form the SEI layer on substantially all of the surface area of the active material.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the liquid electrolyte constitutes between 10% and 70% of the anode mixture.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

9. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
assembling a cell stack, the assembling including:
mixing an anode mixture comprising an active material, a conductive material, an electrolyte, and a lithium-bearing material having a solid phase, such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer at least partially forms during the mixing, the lithium bearing material in an amount sufficient to provide a buffer for active lithium ions during cycling;
placing a separator membrane atop the anode mixture; and
placing a cathode atop the separator membrane; and

storing the cell stack in a dry environment for a duration sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the anode mixture prior to cycling.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the storage duration is sufficient to form the SEI layer on substantially all of the surface area of the active material.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

13. The method of claim 9 , the assembling further including:
preparing a cathode mixture comprising:
a further active material;
a further conductive material;
a further electrolyte; and
lithium in an amount sufficient to increase the stability of the cathode, and forming the cathode from the cathode mixture.

Assignees

• 24M Tech Inc
• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Ota Naoki
• Duduta Mihai
• Fukushima Takaaki
• Yu Hiuling Zoe
• Tan Taison
• Mishima Hiromitsu

Classifications

• H01M4/382 Primary

  Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M4/049

  Manufacturing of an active layer by chemical means · CPC title

• H01M4/133

  Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx · CPC title

• H01M4/1393

  of electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx · CPC title

• H01M4/364

  as mixtures · CPC title