Lithium metal synthesis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020087806-A1
Application number	US-201816134528-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Sep 18, 2018
Publication date	Mar 19, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.

First claim

1 . A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
a cathodic half-cell comprising:
a cathode half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
an anodic half-cell comprising:
an anode half-cell housing;
an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing; and
an ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane having a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within a polymeric matrix, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymer matrix, the ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both; wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.

6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.

11 .- 18 . (canceled)

19 . A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
a cathodic half-cell comprising:
a cathode half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
an anodic half-cell comprising:
an anode half-cell housing;
an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder; and
an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing; and
an ion-permeable membrane comprising:
a polymeric matrix;
a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matrix, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymer matrix; and
an inorganic coating deposited in the polymeric matrix, the inorganic coating being a uniform layer 1 to 10,000 atoms thick;
the ion-permeable membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, the ion-permeable membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both; wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.

21 . The system of claim 19 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.

22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.

23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.

24 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.

25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.

26 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.

27 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.

Assignees

• Uchicago Argonne Llc

Inventors

• Hryn John N
• Ignacio-Deleon Patricia Anne
• Tang Li
• Arenas Daniel Yoav

Classifications

• H01M4/0452

  from solutions · CPC title

• H01M4/1395

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

• H01M10/052

  Li-accumulators · CPC title

• H01M4/134

  Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title

• H01M4/382

  Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence) · CPC title