Silicon-carbide reinforced solid-state electrolytes
Solid state compositions for use in an anode of a secondary battery, anodes, and lithium ion batteries are provided which include silicon carbide nanofibers, preferably carried in and reinforcing both an anode active material and a solid electrolyte. Methods of production and use are further described.
1. A composition for use in an anode of a secondary battery comprising:
an anode active material carried in a solid electrolytic matrix;
the solid electrolytic matrix comprising a plurality of SiC nanofibers and a solid electrolyte.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the SiC nanofibers are further disposed in the anode active material.
3. The composition of claim 2 , wherein individual SiC nanofibers include internal SiC segments disposed in the anode active material and external SiC segments disposed in the solid electrolytic matrix.
4. The composition of claim 3 , wherein the external SiC segments have lengths from about 1 nm to about 1,000 nm.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the anode active material comprises a silicon-carbide reinforced reduced carbon matrix carrying a plurality of silicon nanocrystals.
6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the anode active material has a composition that includes about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % carbon as the carbon matrix, about 5 wt. % to about 75 wt. % silicon metal as the silicon nanocrystals, and about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt. % silicon-carbide as the SiC nanofibers.
7. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a lithium thiophosphate.
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the lithium thiophosphate is an argyrodite.
9. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a lithium phosphate; lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide; NASICON-type phosphate; LISICON-type germanium oxide; lithium lanthanum titanium oxide; or lithium phosphorous oxynitride.
10. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a polymer.
11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the polymer includes a polyethylene oxide.
12. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolytic matrix further includes a solvent.
13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the solvent is a liquid electrolyte.
14. An anode comprising the composition of claim 1 affixed to a current collector.
15. A battery comprising the anode of claim 14 .