All-Solid-State Cathode Materials, Cathodes, Batteries And Methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016248082-A1
Application number	US-201415026195-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	Aug 25, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of methods of making an all-solid-state electrode material for a rechargeable battery comprising in a first mixing step, mixing one of a transition metal phosphide, a transition metal oxide, and a transition metal sulfide with sulfur to produce a first mixture, in a first heat-treating step, heating the first mixture to a temperature ranging between about 250 degrees C. and about 450 degrees C. to produce a heat-treated second mixture comprising an active material and a glass former/electrolyte precursor, in a second mixing step, mixing the second mixture with a glass/electrolyte modifier to produce a third mixture, and permitting the third mixture to react to produce the cathode material, the cathode material comprising the active material and a solid state electrolyte. Electrode materials, electrodes, and batteries made using the foregoing and similar methods are also described.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of making an all-solid-state electrode material for a rechargeable battery, comprising:
mixing one of a transition metal phosphide, a transition metal oxide, and a transition metal sulfide with sulfur to produce a first mixture; in a first heat-treating step, heating the first mixture to a temperature ranging between 250 degrees Celsius and 450 degrees Celsius to produce a heat-treated second mixture comprising an active material and a glass former/electrolyte precursor; mixing the second mixture with a glass/electrolyte modifier to produce a third mixture, and reacting the third mixture to produce the electrode material, the electrode material comprising the active material and a solid state electrolyte.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transition metal phosphide is iron phosphide.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the active material comprises at least one of iron pyrite; a phase of iron sulfide comprising at least one of FeS 2 , FeS and Fe 7 S 8 ; MoS; MoS 2 ; MoS 3 ; MoO; NiS; NiS 2 ; NiS 3 ; NiO; FeO; and V 2 S 5 .

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the first heat-treating step ranges between 300 degrees C. and 400 degrees C.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the first heat-treating step ranges between 325 degrees C. and 375 degrees C.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the glass former/electrolyte precursor comprises at least one of phosphorus sulfide; P 2 S 5 , P 2 O 5 , and P 4 S x , where x≦10; iodine; chlorine; bromine; and lithium sulfide.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a dopant to the second mixture.

8 . The method of 7 , wherein the dopant comprises at least one of germanium disulfide, lithium iodide, titanium sulfide and lithium titanium sulfide.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid state electrolyte is a glass-ceramic lithium conductor.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the glass-ceramic lithium conductor comprises Li 10 GeP 2 S 12 .

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding carbon powder to the third mixture.

12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising a second heat-treating step to increase the conductivity of the solid state electrolyte.

13 . The method of claim 1 , the step of mixing one of a transition metal phosphide, a transition metal oxide, and a transition metal sulfide with sulfur comprising mixing Fe 2 P with S, where a ratio of Fe 2 P to S is 2 to 9.

14 . The method of claim 1 , the step of mixing one of a transition metal phosphide, a transition metal oxide, and a transition metal sulfide with sulfur comprising mixing Fe 2 P with S, where a ratio of Fe 2 P to S is 2 to 13.

15 . An all-solid-state composite electrode material, comprising:
a first active material comprising at least one of a transition metal sulfide, lithium sulfide, and elemental sulfur; a solid-state electrolyte; and a second active material comprising titanium sulfide.

16 . The electrode material of claim 15 , wherein the transition metal sulfide comprises a phase of iron sulfide comprising at least one of FeS 2 , FeS and Fe 7 S 8 .

17 . The electrode material of claim 15 , wherein the titanium sulfide includes particles having a diameter of less than 2 microns.

18 . The electrode material of claim 15 , wherein the titanium sulfide is lithiated.

19 . The electrode material of claim 18 , wherein the lithiated titanium sulfide is formed in-situ.

20 . The electrode material of claim 15 , containing about 2 to 40% titanium sulfide by mass.

21 . The electrode material of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the titanium sulfide and the transition metal sulfide is formed in-situ.

22 . An all-solid-state composite electrode material, comprising:
an active material comprising at least one of a transition metal sulfide, lithium sulfide, and elemental sulfur; and a solid-state electrolyte and titanium sulfide.

23 . The electrode material of claim 22 , wherein the transition metal sulfide comprises a phase of iron sulfide comprising at least one of FeS 2 , FeS and Fe 7 S 8 .

24 . The electrode material of claim 22 , wherein the titanium sulfide includes particles having a diameter of less than 2 microns.

25 . The electrode material of claim 22 , wherein the titanium sulfide is lithiated.

26 . The electrode material of claim 25 , wherein the lithiated titanium sulfide is formed in-situ.

27 . The electrode material of claim 22 , containing about 2 to 40% titanium sulfide by mass.

28 . The electrode material of claim 22 , wherein at least one of the titanium sulfide and the transition metal sulfide is formed in-situ.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Yersak Thomas A
• Evans Tyler
• Lee Se-Hee
• Whiteley Justin Michael

Classifications

• H01M10/0562

  Solid materials · CPC title

• H01M4/136

  Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy · CPC title

• C01B17/22

  Alkali metal sulfides or polysulfides · CPC title

• H01M4/364 Primary

  as mixtures · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title