Pre-lithiation of electrode materials in a semi-solid electrode

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020106094-A1
Application number	US-201916654784-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 16, 2019
Priority date	Nov 3, 2014
Publication date	Apr 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to electrochemical cells having pre-lithiated semi-solid electrodes, and particularly to semi-solid electrodes that are pre-lithiated during the mixing of the semi-solid electrode slurry such that a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer is formed in the semi-solid electrode before the electrochemical cell formation. In some embodiments, a semi-solid electrode includes about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material, about 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material, about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte, and lithium (as lithium metal, a lithium-containing material, and/or a lithium metal equivalent) in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material. The lithium metal is configured to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

First claim

1 . A semi-solid electrode, comprising:
about 20% to about 90% by volume of an active material; 0% to about 25% by volume of a conductive material; about 10% to about 70% by volume of a liquid electrolyte; and lithium in an amount sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the active material, wherein the lithium comprises at least one of lithium metal, a lithium-containing material and/or a lithium metal equivalent.

2 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 1 , wherein the lithium amount is sufficient to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the active material prior to an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell that includes the semi-solid electrode.

3 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 1 , wherein the lithium includes at least one of lithium metal powder, lithium salt, lithium foil, and lithium metal deposited on a current collector.

4 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 1 , wherein the semi-solid electrode is an anode.

5 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 1 , having a thickness of greater than about 250 microns.

6 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 4 , wherein the active material is graphite.

7 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 6 , wherein the lithium constitutes about 1% to about 12% by volume thereof.

8 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 4 , wherein the semi-solid anode further comprises about 1% to about 50% by volume of a high capacity material.

9 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 8 , wherein the high capacity material includes at least one of tin, silicon, antimony, aluminum, titanium oxide, and/or an oxide or alloy of tin, silicon, antimony, or aluminum.

10 . The semi-solid electrode of claim 8 , configured such that the lithium intercalates with the high capacity material, the intercalation expanding the semi-solid anode before an initial charging cycle of an electrochemical cell.

11 . A method of preparing a pre-lithiated semi-solid anode, comprising:
combining an active material and a lithium metal or lithium-containing material to form a pre-lithiated anode material; combining an electrolyte with the pre-lithiated anode material to form a semi-solid anode material, and forming the semi-solid anode material into a semi-solid anode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
combining a conductive material with the pre-lithiated anode material.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
combining a high capacity material with the pre-lithiated anode material.

14 . A method of manufacturing an anode, the method comprising:
preparing an anode mixture comprising an active material, a conductive material, an electrolyte, and a lithium metal and/or lithium-containing material; and storing the anode mixture in a dry environment for a duration sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the anode mixture prior to its incorporation into an electrochemical cell.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the storage duration is sufficient to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on substantially all of the surface area of the active material.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the liquid electrolyte constitutes between 10% and 70% of the anode mixture.

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

19 . A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
assembling a cell stack, the assembling including:
preparing an anode mixture comprising an active material, a conductive material, and an electrolyte;
applying the anode mixture onto a lithium-bearing substrate;
placing a separator membrane atop the anode mixture; and
placing a cathode atop the separator membrane; and
storing the cell stack in a dry environment for a duration sufficient to substantially pre-lithiate the anode mixture prior to cycling.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the storage duration is sufficient to form a solid-electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on substantially all of the surface area of the active material.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the active material constitutes between 20% and 90% of the anode mixture.

22 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the anode mixture further comprises a high capacity material.

23 . The method of claim 19 , the assembling further including:
preparing a cathode mixture comprising:
a further active material;
a further conductive material;
a further electrolyte; and
lithium in an amount sufficient to increase the stability of the cathode, and forming the cathode from the cathode mixture.

24 . A battery cell comprising the semi-solid electrode according to claim 5 .

25 . The battery cell according to claim 23 , wherein the semi-solid electrode is an anode, the battery cell further comprising a semi-solid cathode having a thickness of greater than about 250 microns.

Assignees

• 24M Technologies Inc
• Kyocera Corp

Inventors

• Ota Naoki
• Duduta Mihai
• Fukushima Takaaki
• Yu Hiuling Zoe
• Tan Taison
• Mishima Hiromitsu

Classifications

• H01M4/364

  as mixtures · CPC title

• H01M4/133

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

• H01M4/587

  for inserting or intercalating light metals · CPC title

• H01M4/387

  Tin or alloys based on tin · CPC title

• H01M4/134

  Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys · CPC title