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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12272818-B2
Application number	US-202318372308-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2023
Priority date	Nov 3, 2014
Publication date	Apr 8, 2025
Grant date	Apr 8, 2025

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 having a solid phase, and an electrolyte to form a pre-lithiated semi-solid anode material such that the pre-lithiated semi-solid anode material is charged during the mixing, 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. The method of claim 1 , wherein a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer forms on the semi-solid anode material at least partially during the mixing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the active material is in a range of about 20% to about 90% by volume of the semi-solid anode material; and
the conductive material is in range of about 0% to about 25% by volume of the semi-solid anode material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal or lithium containing material comprises about 1% to about 12% by volume of the semi-solid anode material.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the semi-solid anode further comprises about 1% to about 50% by volume of a high capacity material.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the high capacity material includes at least one of tin, silicon, antimony, aluminum, titanium oxide, and/or an oxide or alloy of tin, silicon, antimony, or aluminum.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein lithium from the lithium metal or lithium containing material intercalates with the high capacity material, the intercalation expanding the semi-solid anode before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell in which the semi-solid anode is included.

10. 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 having a solid phase to form an anode mixture such that the pre-lithiated semi-solid anode material is charged during the mixing, 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.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer forms on the semi-solid anode material at least partially during the mixing.

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

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

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

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

16. 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 the semi-solid anode material is charged with lithium 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.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the storage duration is sufficient to form the SEI layer on substantially all of the surface area of the active material.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

20. The method of claim 16 , 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

• H01M4/387

  Tin or alloys based on tin · CPC title

• H01M4/1395

  of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title

• H01M4/0495

  Chemical alloying · CPC title

• H01M4/133

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

• H01M4/386

  Silicon or alloys based on silicon · CPC title