Silicon-carbide reinforced anodes
Compositions for use in an anode of a secondary battery, anodes, and lithium ion batteries are provided which include embedded silicon carbide nanofibers. Methods of production and use are further described.
1. An anode comprising:
an anode composition affixed to a current collector;
wherein the anode composition includes an anode active particulate dispersed in a silicon-carbide reinforced binder;
wherein the anode active particulate includes a plurality of silicon nanocrystals embedded in a silicon-carbide reinforced carbon matrix.
2. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbide reinforced carbon matrix includes SiC nanofibers embedded in a carbon-constituent material;
wherein embedded SiC nanofibers are interior SiC nanofibers and are carried within the carbon-constituent material.
3. The anode of claim 2 , wherein the anode active particulate further includes exterior SiC nanofibers which extend from a surface of the carbon constituent material; and wherein the silicon-carbide reinforced binder includes the exterior SiC nanofibers.
4. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the anode has a specific capacity of about 1,000 to about 3,500 mAh/g.
5. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the anode composition further includes a conducting agent.
6. The anode of claim 3 , wherein the silicon-carbide reinforced binder includes a polymer binder.
7. The anode of claim 3 , wherein the SiC nanofibers have lengths from about 1 nm to about 1,000 nm.
8. A cell comprising:
the anode of claim 1 .
9. A lithium battery comprising:
the anode of claim 1 .
10. An anode comprising:
an anode composition, which includes an anode active particulate dispersed in a silicon-carbide reinforced binder, affixed to a current collector;
wherein the anode active particulate includes a plurality of silicon nanocrystals embedded in a carbon matrix.
11. The anode of claim 10 , wherein the silicon nanocrystals are composed of a silicon metal and/or a silicon alloy.
12. The anode of claim 10 , wherein the carbon matrix includes a carbon-constituent material.
13. A lithium battery comprising the anode of claim 10 .
14. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the anode active particulate has a diameter in the range of about 50 nm to about 50 μm.