Pulse plating of lithium material in electrochemical devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024387794-A1
Application number	US-202418623976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 1, 2024
Priority date	Jun 25, 2013
Publication date	Nov 21, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is directed to battery system and operation thereof. In an embodiment, lithium material is plated onto the anode region of a lithium secondary battery cell by a pulsed current. The pulse current may have both positive and negative polarity. One of the polarities causes lithium material to plate onto the anode region, and the opposite polarity causes lithium dendrites to be removed. There are other embodiments as well.

First claim

1 .- 33 . (canceled)

34 . A lithium battery device comprising:
a lithiated cathode region having a first surface and a second surface; a first current collector overlying the first surface of the lithiated cathode region; a solid electrolyte having a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface interfacing the second surface, the solid electrolyte region being characterized by an ionic conductivity of at least 10 −7 S/cm; an anode region having a fifth surface and a sixth surface, the fifth surface interfacing the fourth surface; a second current collector overlaying the sixth surface; wherein the anode region is formed by in-situ application of a plurality of current pulses between the first current collector and the second current collector; wherein the solid electrolyte region comprises a layer of lithium-stuffed garnet solid electrolyte; and wherein the plurality of current pulses are calibrated to promote lithium plating uniformity.

35 . The device of claim 34 , further comprising a dendrite layer within the proximity of the anode region, the plurality of current pulses being configured to remove at least a part of the dendrite layer.

36 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness associated with a state of charge of the lithium battery device.

37 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness being associated with the first pulse current.

38 . The device of claim 34 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness, the variable thickness being associated with a number of life cycles of the lithium battery device.

39 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the anode region is characterized by a variable thickness and further comprises a sensor for monitoring a state of charge.

40 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the plurality of current pulses is characterized by an average net current density of 0.1 mA/cm 2 to 50 mA/cm 2 .

41 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the plurality of current pulses is characterized by substantially square waveforms.

42 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the plurality of current pulses is characterized by sawtooth, rounded waveforms.

43 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the plurality of current pulses comprises a first pulse and a second pulse, wherein the first pulse is characterized by a first amount of charge and a first polarity during a first duration, and the second pulse is characterized by a second amount of charge and a second polarity during a second duration.

44 . The lithium battery device of claim 43 , wherein the first amount of charge is greater than the second amount of charge.

45 . The lithium battery device of claim 43 , wherein each pulse has a magnitude, and wherein the magnitude of the second pulse is substantially zero.

46 . The lithium battery device of claim 43 , wherein the first polarity is opposite from the second polarity.

47 . The lithium battery device of claim 43 , wherein the first pulse is interspersed by rest periods.

48 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the solid electrolyte is characterized by a thickness of less than 50 microns.

49 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the solid electrolyte includes CsPF 6 , HF, or combinations thereof.

50 . The lithium battery device of claim 34 , wherein the anode region is a lithium metal anode.

51 . The lithium battery device of claim 43 , wherein the first pulse causes a formation of a layer of lithium metal anode positioned between the second current collector and the fourth surface.

Assignees

• Quantumscape Battery Inc

Inventors

• Holme Timothy
• Mayer Marie
• Loveness Ghyrn
• Chen Zhebo
• Fasching Rainer

Classifications

• H01M10/0585

  of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators · CPC title

• C25D5/611

  Smooth layers · CPC title

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• C25D3/00

  Electroplating: Baths therefor · CPC title

• H01M4/1395

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