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Lithium-oxygen electrochemical cells and batteries

a lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell and battery technology, applied in the direction of fuel cells, primary cells, electrochemical generators, etc., can solve the problems of many obstacles in the utilization of devices as rechargeable cells, system generally exhibits a limited number of recharge cycles, and metals are not suitable for use as anodes, so as to facilitate the reversible interconversion

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-05-05
UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]A rechargeable lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell of the present invention comprises a lithium-containing anode, an oxygen-permeable cathode in fluid communication with an oxygen source (e.g., ambient air), and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a lithium salt in a non-aqueous liquid between the anode and the cathode. The cathode comprises an oxygen-permeable support bearing carbon nanotubes having at least one open end and a nanoparticulate catalyst in contact with the carbon nanotubes. The catalyst is adapted to facilitate the reversible interconversion between oxygen gas and an oxygen anion (e.g., oxide ion, peroxide ion, or both), during charge and discharge of the cell.
[0014]Batteries of the invention comprise two or more electrochemical cells connected in series, in parallel, or both.

Problems solved by technology

However, such systems generally exhibit a limited number of recharge cycles.
Theoretical data show that Li and Ca possess very high energy densities of 13172 and 4560 Ah / kg, respectively, but these metals are not suitable to be used as anodes when aqueous electrolytes are utilized.
While high values of energy density have been realized for the Li—O2 cell as a primary power source, the utilization of the device as a rechargeable cell have been hindered by many obstacles.

Method used

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  • Lithium-oxygen electrochemical cells and batteries

Examples

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example 1

[0034]Carbon nanotubes containing a nanoparticulate cobalt catalyst (Co-CNTs) were prepared via thermal decomposition of low density polyethylene (LDPE) containing about 20 percent by weight (wt %) cobalt acetate (CoAc; Co(C2H4O2)2) catalyst in a sealed autoclave (made up of Haynes 230 alloy) under a nitrogen atmosphere. The autoclave was heated at about 700° C. to about 750° C. for about 2 to 3 hours followed by gradual cooling. The mixture of LDPE and catalyst in the autoclave generated about 50 pounds-per-square inch (psi) of pressure upon heating up to about 680° C., which increased to about 1000 psi at about 700° C. A chemical reaction took place under the autogenic pressure generated in the autoclave during the thermolysis of LDPE in the presence of CoAc, leading to the growth of Co-CNTs in about 40% yield.

[0035]Panel (a) of FIG. 1 shows a SEM of these carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The dark dots at the tip of the carbon-nanotubes in the SEM are the Co catalyst that was converted to...

example 2

[0037]The coated cathode described in Example 1 was evaluated in a lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell with a lithium metal foil as the anode, and an electrolyte consisting of 1.2M LiPF6 in a 3:7 (w / w) mixture of ethylene carbonate (EC) and ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC), between the anode and the cathode. The cells were assembled in helium-filled glove box. After bringing the lithium-air cell out of the glove box, it was purged with oxygen, and then filled with O2 at about 20 psi pressures. FIG. 2 depicts the electrochemical voltage profiles that were obtained by galvanostatically cycling the cells between about 1.5 V (discharge) and 4.7 V (charge). The observed current density was about 35 mA / g, at a C / 20 rate. Panel (a) shows the first cycle, while Panel (b) shows the second and third cycles. The observed discharge capacity was about 300 mAh / g, and the observed charge capacity was about 800 mAh / g. The average discharge voltage was about 2.5 V, and the average charge voltage was abou...

example 3

[0038]A charge-discharge cycling evaluation was also carried out on cells of the same construction described in Example 2. The cell was galvanostatically discharged and charged between 1.5 V and 4.7 V, respectively. The observed current density was about 75 mA / g at a C / 4 rate, as shown in FIG. 3. The date in FIG. 3 were obtained using a cathode analogous to the one described in Example 2 with C / 4 fast cycling rate; the figure depicts discharge and charge cycle numbers two and three.

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Abstract

A lithium-oxygen electrochemical cell of the invention comprises a lithium-containing anode, an oxygen-permeable cathode, a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a lithium salt in a non-aqueous liquid between the anode and the cathode, and a source of gaseous oxygen in fluid communication with the cathode; the cathode comprising an oxygen-permeable support bearing carbon nanotubes having at least one open end. In some embodiments, the cell is rechargeable and the cathode includes a nanoparticulate catalyst in contact with the carbon nanotubes; wherein the catalyst is adapted to facilitate the reversible interconversion between oxygen gas and an oxygen anion e.g., oxide ion, peroxide ion, or a combination thereof, during charge and discharge of the cell.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 360,027, filed on Jun. 30, 2010, and of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61 / 280,025, filed on Oct. 29, 2009, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.CONTRACTUAL ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION[0002]The United States Government has rights in this invention pursuant to Contract No. DE-ACO2-06CH11357 between the United States Government and UChicago Argonne, LLC representing Argonne National Laboratory.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to energy storage devices, notably electrochemical cells and batteries and, more particularly, lithium-oxygen electrochemical cells. The present invention provides electrochemical cells and batteries that include a carbon nanotube-based cathode.BACKGROUND[0004]Metal-oxygen (e.g., metal-air) batteries combine a metal anode, similar to that used in conventional primary batteries, and an oxyge...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H01M12/06B82Y30/00
CPCB82Y30/00H01M4/131H01M4/133H01M4/136Y02E60/122H01M4/485H01M4/5825H01M4/587H01M4/625H01M4/366Y02E60/10
Inventor JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER S.POL, VILAS G.ZHANG, ZHENGCHENG
Owner UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
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