Shape-conformable alkali metal battery having a conductive and deformable quasi-solid polymer electrode

Abstract

Provided is method of preparing an alkali metal cell, the method comprising: (a) combining a quantity of an active material, a quantity of an electrolyte, and a conductive additive to form a deformable and conductive electrode material, wherein the conductive additive, containing conductive filaments, forms a 3D network of electron-conducting pathways and the electrolyte contains an alkali salt and an ion-conducting polymer dissolved or dispersed in a solvent; (b) forming the electrode material into a quasi-solid polymer electrode, wherein the forming includes deforming the electrode materialinto an electrode shape without interrupting the 3D network of electron-conducting pathways such that the electrode maintains an electrical conductivity no less than 10-6 S / cm; (c) forming a second electrode; and (d) forming an alkali metal cell by combining the quasi-solid electrode and the second electrode. The second electrode may also be a quasi-solid polymer electrode.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 608,597, filed May 30, 2017, and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 610,136, filed May 31, 2017, which are incorporated herein by reference. technical field [0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of alkali metal batteries, including rechargeable lithium metal batteries, sodium metal batteries, lithium ion batteries, sodium ion batteries, lithium ion capacitors and sodium ion capacitors. Background technique [0004] Historically, today's most popular rechargeable energy storage device—the lithium-ion battery—was actually derived from rechargeable "lithium metal batteries" using lithium (Li) metal or Li alloys as the anode and Li intercalation compounds as the cathode. developed. Li metal is an ideal anode material due to its light weight (the lightest metal), high electronegativity (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode), and high ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The past two decades have witnessed continuous improvements in Li-ion batteries in terms of energy density, rate capability, and safety, but Li metal batteries with significantly higher energy densities have been largely ignored for some reason.

However, the use of graphite-based anodes in Li-ion batteries has several significant disadvantages: low specific capacity (372 mAh / g theoretical capacity compared to 3,860 mAh / g for Li metal), long Li intercalation time (e.g. Li entry and Low solid-state diffusion coefficients away from graphite and inorganic oxide particles) require long recharge times (e.g. 7 hours for electric vehicle batteries), cannot deliver high pulse power (power density << 1kW / kg), and require the use of pre-lithium cathodes (e.g. lithium cobalt oxide), thus limiting the choice of available cathode materials

[0010] (1) The actual capacity achievable with current cathode materials (such as lithium iron phosphate and lithium transition metal oxides) has been limited to the range of 150-250mAh / g, and in most cases, less than 200mAh / g

[0011] (2) Intercalation and deintercalation of lithium into and out of these commonly used cathodes relies on Li in the -8 to 10 -14 cm 2 / s) in solid particles (resulting in very low power densities (another longstanding problem with today's Li-ion batteries))

[0012] (3) Current cathode materials are electrically and thermally insulating and cannot effectively and efficiently transport electrons and heat

Conversely, thicker samples tend to become extremely brittle or have poor structural integrity and will also require the use of large amounts of binder resin

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