Microstructured ion-conducting composites and uses thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019326578-A1
Application number	US-201716465013-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 7, 2016
Publication date	Oct 24, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A composite membrane with nanostructured inorganic and organic phases is applied as an ion-selective layer to improve processability, prevent dendrite shorting, and increase power output of lithium-metal anodes through better Li-ion conductivity. Nanoconfinement, as opposed to macroscale confinement, is known to dramatically alter the properties of bulk materials. Control over a ceramic's size, shape, and properties is achieved with polymer templates. This is a new composition of matter and unique approach to composite membrane design.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A composition comprising:
a microporous material having a plurality of void spaces with a porosity from at least 5% (v/v) to 50% (v/v); and an inorganic component occupying the void spaces, wherein the inorganic component is present in at least 5% (w/w), wherein the composition is ionically conductive.

2 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the inorganic component is structured with domains nominally at a length scale of 2-50 nanometers.

3 . The composition of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the inorganic component is structured with domains nominally at a length scale of 0.5-2 nanometers.

4 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein microporous material comprises a linear polymer, a branched polymer, or a network polymer with high fractional free volume.

5 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein microporous material comprises a polymer of intrinsic microporosity.

6 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the porosity of the microporous material is from at least 10% (v/v) to 50% (v/v).

7 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the porosity of the microporous material is about 20% (v/v).

8 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein inorganic component comprises an alkali metal halide, lithium oxy-nitride, Li 2 S, Li 3 PS 4 , Li 7 P 3 S 11 , Li 10 GeP 2 S 12 , Li 10 SiP 2 S 12 , Li 10 SnP 2 S 12 , Li x PO y N z where x is 2y+3z−5, Li 14 ZnGe 4 O 16 , Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4 ) 3 , Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , Na 1+x Zr 2 Si x P 3−x O 12 where 0<x<3, Li 2 OHCl, or an alkali metal-ion conductor, or mixtures thereof.

9 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein inorganic component comprises an alkali metal ion.

10 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the inorganic component is present in at least 10% (w/w).

11 . The composition of any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the inorganic component is present in at least 20% (w/w).

12 . A composition of any one of claims 1 to 11 , prepared by solution casting with the polymer, in-polymer-pore transformation of inorganic precursors, vapor deposition, or chemical transformation with the polymer.

13 . An electrode comprising:
a metallic anode comprising of Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, or an alloy thereof; and a composition of any one of claims 1 to 12 , coated on the metallic anode.

14 . A separator comprising:
a porous support; and a composition of any one of claims 1 to 12 , coated on the porous support.

15 . An electrode-separator laminate comprising:
a metallic anode comprising of Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Zn, Al, Si, Ge, Sn, or an alloy thereof; and a separator of claim 14 , coated on the metallic anode.

16 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
an anode of claim 13 or 15 ; an electrolyte; and a cathode.

17 . The electrochemical cell of claim 16 , further comprising: a separator of claim 14 .

Assignees

• Sepion Tech Inc
• Univ California

Inventors

• Frischmann Peter David
• Helms Brett Anthony

Classifications

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• H01M4/131

  Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx · CPC title

• H01M4/133

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

• H01M10/0569

  characterised by the solvents · CPC title

• H01M2300/0094

  in the form of layered products, e.g. coatings · CPC title