Nanofiber polymer composite cathodes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12261266-B2
Application number	US-202418420356-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2024
Priority date	Sep 30, 2021
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell is described herein. The cathode comprises nanofibers of a cathode active material; particles of the cathode active material; and nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Electrochemical cells comprising a solid-state electrolyte and the cathodes comprising the nanofibers of c-LLZO are also described herein.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell; the cathode comprising: nanofibers of a cathode active material; particles of the cathode active material; and nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix.

2. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the c-LLZO is selected from the group consisting of an Al-doped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , undoped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , Ta-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , and Ga-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 .

3. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material is selected from the group consisting of (a) LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (NMC) wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<z<1, (b) LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO), (c) LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO), (d) LiFePO 4 (LFP), (e) lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), (f) lithium nickel manganese aluminum oxide, (g) lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), (h) Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and (i) Li—S.

4. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric matrix is selected from the group consisting of PAN, PVDF, PMMA, and cellulose.

5. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

6. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

7. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode.

8. The cathode of claim 7 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

9. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

10. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode further comprises particles of a carbon material dispersed in the polymeric matrix.

11. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are interconnected in a three-dimensional network.

12. A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell; the cathode comprising: nanofibers of a cathode active material; nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); particles of the cathode active material; and particles of a carbon material; all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix; wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are interconnected in a three-dimensional network.

13. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the c-LLZO is selected from the group consisting of an Al-doped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , undoped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , Ta-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , and Ga-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 .

14. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the cathode active material is selected from the group consisting of (a) LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (NMC) wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<z<1, (b) LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO), (c) LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO), (d) LiFePO 4 (LFP), (e) lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), (f) lithium nickel manganese aluminum oxide, (g) lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), (h) Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and (i) Li—S.

15. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric matrix is selected from the group consisting of PAN, PVDF, PMMA, and cellulose.

16. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

17. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

18. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode.

19. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

20. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode, and the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Zhang Yuepeng
• Tepavcevic Sanja
• Powers Devon J
• Zapol Peter
• Hryn John N
• Krumdick Gregory K
• Kahvecioglu Ozgenur
• Pupek Krzystof Z
• Counihan Michael John

Classifications

• H01M2300/0082

  Organic polymers · CPC title

• H01M4/525

  of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy · CPC title

• H01M4/505

  of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• H01M2004/021

  Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area · CPC title