Title: Systems and methods of preparing lithium sulfur electrode using sacrificial template

Abstract

Embodiments described herein relate generally to lithium sulfur batteries and methods of producing the same. As described herein, preventing coarsening of sulfur during the well-known melt-diffusion processing of cathodes allows a high areal capacity of 10.7 mAh/cm2 at current density of 3.4 mA/cm2 (C-rate of 1/5 h−1). The addition of a lithium salt, such as LiTFSI, prior to melt-diffusion can prevent coarsening of molten sulfur and allows creation of a sulfur electrode with a high concentration of triple-phase junctions for electrochemical reaction. In some embodiments, approximately 60-70% utilization of the theoretical capacity of sulfur is reached at a high loading (e.g., greater than 7.5 mg S/cm2). The electrodes are prepared in lean-electrolyte environment of 3 mlelectrolyte/gsulfur (˜70 vol % of electrolyte in the electrode) for high areal capacity in Li—S batteries.

Inventors:

Chen, Xinwei; Luo, Jiayan; Chiang, Yet -Ming

Issue Date:

Tue Jun 11 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:

Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1568465

Patent Number(s):

10319989

Application Number:

15/905,017

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

Patent Classifications (CPCs):

H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

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H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01M - PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY

H01M10/052 - Li-accumulators
H01M2300/0028 - characterised by the solvent
H01M2300/0065 - Solid electrolytes
H01M2300/0068 - inorganic
H01M4/0483 - {by methods including the handling of a melt
H01M4/136 - Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
H01M4/1397 - of electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
H01M4/38 - of elements or alloys
H01M4/625 - {Carbon or graphite}

Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02E - REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

Y02E60/10 - Energy storage

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DOE Contract Number:  

AC02-06CH11357

Resource Type:

Patent

Resource Relation:

Patent File Date: 02/26/2018

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English