Carbon Aerogel-Based Cathodes for Lithium-Air Batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023387509-A1
Application number	US-202318166655-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 9, 2023
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Nov 30, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof. Embodiments include a cathode material within a lithium-air battery, where the cathode is formed of a binder-free, monolithic, polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes pores that improve the oxygen transport properties of electrolyte solution and improve the formation of lithium peroxide along the surface and/or within the pores of the carbon aerogel. The cathode and underlying carbon aerogel provide optimal properties for use within the lithium-air battery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A nanoporous carbon composition comprising a plurality of interconnected carbon structures defining a plurality of pores, wherein the plurality of pores comprise pores characterized by a pore size distribution with an average pore size of 150 nm or less and a full width at half maximum of 50 nm or less, the plurality of pores comprising pores surrounding particles of an electrochemically active species.

2 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemically active species comprises silicon.

3 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemically active species is lithium, lithium peroxide, or both.

4 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein a width of carbon structures of the interconnected carbon structures is from 2 nm to 5 nm.

5 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst species, a scavenger species, or both within the nanoporous carbon composition, wherein the catalyst species and the scavenger species reduce side reactions producing H 2 O, CO 2 , or both.

6 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein tine nanoporous carbon composition comprises a carbon aerogel.

7 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 6 , wherein the carbon aerogel further comprises MoS 2 nanoflakes.

8 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores comprise pores characterized by a pore size distribution with a full width at half maximum from 5 nm to 25 nm.

9 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , further comprising a surface modification layer on at least a portion of an interior surface of pores of the plurality of pores, wherein the surface modification layer favors formation and confinement of Li 2 O 2 .

10 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 9 , wherein the surface modification layer comprises a hydrophobic layer.

11 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 9 , wherein the surface modification layer comprises a hydrophobic silica aerogel.

12 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , further characterized by a Young's modulus of from 2 GPa to 8 GPa and a density of from 0.1 cubic centimeter (cm 3 )/gram (g) to 1.5 cm 3 /g.

13 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises material in the thrill of a monolithic structure.

14 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises material in the form of a powder.

15 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , further comprising a porosity of from 10% to 80%.

16 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores define a pore volume of at least 0.3 cubic centimeters (cm 3 )/gram (g).

17 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , characterized by a surface area of at east 20 m2/g.

18 . The nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the interconnected carbon structures have a fibrillar morphology.

19 . An energy storage system comprising an electrode formed from the nanoporous carbon composition of claim 1 .

20 . The energy storage system of claim 19 , wherein the energy storage system comprises a collector-less battery electrode that includes a tab in direct contact with the nanoporous carbon composition, a metal lead in direct contact with a surface of the nanoporous carbon composition, or both.

Assignees

• Aspen Aerogels Inc

Inventors

• Zafiropoulos Nicholas A
• Gould George

Classifications

• H01M4/96 Primary

  Carbon-based electrodes · CPC title

• H01M2004/8689

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M4/8647

  consisting of more than one material, e.g. consisting of composites · CPC title

• C01B32/15

  Nano-sized carbon materials · CPC title