Method of making silicon-carbide reinforced solid electrolyte battery materials
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 method comprising:
admixing an anode active particulate that includes a reduced carbon matrix carrying a plurality of silicon nanocrystals with a solid electrolyte;
wherein the anode active particulate further includes a plurality of SiC nanofibers.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reduced carbon matrix carries the SiC nanofibers.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein individual SiC nanofibers have internal SiC segments disposed in the reduced carbon matrix and external SiC segments extending from a surface of the anode active particulate; wherein the external SiC segments intersperse with the solid electrolyte.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte includes a lithium thiophosphate, lithium phosphate; lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide; NASICON-type phosphate; LISICON-type germanium oxide; lithium lanthanum titanium oxide; or lithium phosphorous oxynitride.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte includes a polymer.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the anode active particulate and the polymer are admixed at a temperature greater than a melting point of the polymer.