Hybrid sulfur particles and cathode active materials containing the hybrid particles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017194640-A1
Application number	US-201514983763-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A hybrid particle having a core of a hybrid composite comprising at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium and a coating of at least one self-assembling polymeric layer encapsulating the core is provided. A method for preparing the hybrid particle includes mixing an aqueous solution of a polymer with an aqueous solution of a soluble precursor of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium to form a mixture and adding an acid to the mixture to obtain the hybrid particle. A cathode having an active material of the hybrid particles and a battery containing the cathode are also provided.

First claim

1 . A hybrid particle, comprising:
a core of a hybrid composite comprising at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium; and a coating of at least one self-assembling polymeric layer encapsulating the core.

2 . The hybrid particle of claim 1 , wherein
the core comprises elemental sulfur and elemental selenium, a content of the sulfur is from greater than 50% to less than 100% by weight of the core, and a content of the selenium is from greater than 0% to less than 50% by weight of the core.

3 . The hybrid particle of claim 2 , wherein
the content of the sulfur is from 90% to less than 100% by weight of the core, and the content of the selenium is from greater than 0% to less than 10% by weight of the core.

4 . The hybrid particle of claim 1 , wherein
the core comprises elemental sulfur and elemental tellurium, a content of the sulfur is from greater than 50% to less than 100% by weight of the core, and a content of the tellurium is from greater than 0% to less than 50% by weight of the core.

5 . The hybrid particle of claim 1 wherein a particle size of the core is from 0.01 to 1 micron.

6 . The hybrid particle of claim 2 wherein the selenium is homogenously distributed with the elemental sulfur in the core.

7 . The hybrid particle of claim 4 wherein the tellurium is homogenously distributed with the elemental sulfur in the core.

8 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a layer of at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyaniline, poly(ethylene oxide), carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polymethacrylic acid, [poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)], branched polyethylenimine, and poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride).

9 . The particle of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric layer encapsulating the core comprises:
a first layer closest to the hybrid material core of ionically charged, self-assembling conductive copolymer having at least one hydrophobic region; and at least a second conductive polymer layer having an electrical charge opposite to the first layer adjacent to and ionically bonded with the first layer.

10 . A method for preparing the particle of claim 1 , comprising:
mixing an aqueous solution of a polymer with an aqueous solution of a soluble precursor of at least two elements selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium and tellurium to form a mixture; adding an acid to the mixture to obtain the particle.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a soluble precursor of sulfur is present and the soluble precursor of sulfur is sodium thiosulfate.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a soluble precursor of selenium is present and the soluble precursor of selenium is of formula (I):
Na 2 SeSO 3   (I).

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein a soluble precursor of tellurium is present and the soluble precursor of tellurium is of formula (II):
Na 2 TeSO 3   (II).

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the acid is at least one selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, ascorbic acid, concentrated sulfuric acid, nitric acid, methanesulfonic acid and a mixture thereof.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer is at least one polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyaniline, poly(ethylene oxide), carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, polymethacrylic acid, [poly(2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid)], branched polyethylenimine, and poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride).

16 . A cathode comprising:
a conductive substrate, and an active material comprising the particle of claim 1 .

17 . A battery, comprising:
an anode comprising a metal as an active source of metal ions, and the cathode of claim 16 .

18 . A vehicle, comprising the battery of claim 17 .

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Eng & Mfg North America Inc

Inventors

• Bucur Claudiu B
• Muldoon John
• Osada Naoki
• Jones Mike

Classifications

• H01M4/366 Primary

  as layered products · CPC title

• H01M4/5815

  Sulfides · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• H01M4/0497

  Chemical precipitation · CPC title

• H01M4/602

  Polymers · CPC title