Rechargeable electrochemical system using transition metal promoter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018048042-A1
Application number	US-201615552912-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Feb 26, 2015
Publication date	Feb 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrochemical system can include transition metal nanoparticles as a promoter for an electrode. The transition metal nanoparticles can include molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr), and/or the oxides thereof, which can lower recharge potentials and enhance the efficiency. These promoters promote especially the generation of oxygen and this for several cycles of usage of the electrochemical system which is, as a result, rechargeable.

First claim

1 . A metal-air electrochemical system comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein the second electrode includes a promoter including a transition- metal-containing species.

2 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode includes lithium (Li).

3 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode includes oxygen.

4 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the transition-metal-containing species is molybdenum (Mo)-containing species.

5 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter is in form of nanoparticles.

6 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter further includes a metal selected from a group consisting of Ru, Ir, Pt, Au, Cr, and Ni.

7 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter includes a transition metal oxide.

8 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter includes a molybdenum oxide.

9 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter includes a lithiated molybdenum oxide.

10 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter includes a Mo metal, a molybdenum oxide, a lithiated molybdenum oxide, a molybdenum sulfide, or any combination thereof.

11 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter further comprises carbon.

12 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is pre-filled with Li2O2.

13 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein Li2O2 is formed during discharge.

14 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is non-aqueous.

15 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical system includes a conductive support.

16 . The electrochemical system of claim 15 , wherein the conductive support includes Au or Al.

17 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode further includes a binder.

18 . The electrochemical system of claim 17 , wherein the binder is an ionomer.

19 . The electrochemical system of claim 1 , wherein the promoter is partially dissolved in the electrolyte.

20 .- 66 . (canceled)

67 . A method of generating oxygen, comprising:
providing a first electrode and a second electrode; and an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein the second electrode includes a promoter including a Cr-containing species; applying an oxygen-generating voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode; lithiating the Cr-continaing species to a lithiated Cr-containing species; and delithiating the lithiated Cr-containing species to the Cr-containing species.

68 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising generating oxygen by repeating the lithiating the Cr-continaing species and the delithiating the lithiated Cr-containing species.

69 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the first electrode includes Li.

70 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the second electrode includes oxygen.

71 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter is in form of nanoparticles.

72 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter further includes a metal selected from a group consisting of Ru, Ir, Pt, Au, Mo, and Ni.

73 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter includes a chromium metal oxide.

74 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter includes a lithiated chromium oxide.

75 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter includes a Cr metal, a chromium oxide, a lithiated chromium oxide, or any combination thereof.

76 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the promoter further comprises carbon.

77 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising pre-filling the second electrode with Li2O2.

78 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising forming Li2O2 during discharge.

79 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , wherein the electrolyte is non-aqueous.

80 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising providing a conductive support.

81 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 80 , wherein the conductive support includes Au or Al.

82 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising providing a binder.

83 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 82 , wherein the binder is an ionomer.

84 . The method of generating oxygen of claim 67 , further comprising selecting the promoter and the electrolyte such that the promoter is partially dissolved in the electrolyte.

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology
• Toyota Motors Europe R&D

Inventors

• Shao Horn Yang
• Yao Koffi Pierre Claver
• Barde Fanny

Classifications

• H01M12/08 Primary

  composed of a half-cell of a fuel-cell type and a half-cell of the secondary-cell type · CPC title

• H01M4/8673

  Electrically conductive fillers · CPC title

• H01M8/184

  Regeneration by electrochemical means · CPC title

• H01M4/8668

  Binders · CPC title

• H01M8/225

  Fuel cells in which the fuel is based on materials comprising particulate active material in the form of a suspension, a dispersion, a fluidised bed or a paste · CPC title