Nanostructured materials for battery
The present invention relates to nanostructured materials (including nanowires) for use in batteries. Exemplary materials include carbon-comprising, Si-based nanostructures, nanostructured materials disposed on carbon-based substrates, and nanostructures comprising nanoscale scaffolds. The present invention also provides methods of preparing battery electrodes, and batteries, using the nanostructured materials.
1. A battery anode electrode, comprising:
(1) one or more Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns, and wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises crystalline silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises amorphous silicon;
(2) a carbon-based material; and
(3) a conductive polymer
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.
2. A battery anode electrode, comprising:
(1) one or more Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, and wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns,
wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises carbon covalently bonded to the core of the nanostructures;
(2) a carbon-based material; and
(3) a conductive polymer,
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.
3. The battery anode electrode of claim 1 , wherein the carbon-based material is selected from carbon black, graphite, graphene, graphene powder or graphite foil.
4. The battery anode electrode of claim 1 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises any of PVDF, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, poly (ethylene succinate), polypropylene, poly (β-propiolactone), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), carboxymethyl cellulose salt (CMC) and sulfonated fluoropolymers, polyimide, poly (acrylic acid), or combination thereof.
5. A battery comprising an anode electrode as claimed in claim 1 , a cathode electrode and a separator.
6. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the separator comprises a microporous polymer.
7. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the separator comprises any of polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, poly (ethylene succinate), polypropylene, poly (β-propiolactone), and sulfonated fluoropolymers, or combination thereof.
8. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the battery further comprises an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt dissolved in organic solvent.
9. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the battery further comprises an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt mixed with an ionically conducting polymer.
10. The battery of claim 5 , wherein the battery further comprises an electrolyte comprising an alkali metal salt mixed with an ionically conducting inorganic material to form a suspension.
11. A method of preparing a battery anode electrode, the method comprising:
(a) mixing a plurality of Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder with a conductive polymer and a carbon-based material to form a slurry, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns, and wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises crystalline silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises amorphous silicon; and
(b) forming the slurry into the battery anode electrode;
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the carbon-based material is selected from carbon black, graphite, graphene, graphene powder or graphite foil.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises any of PVDF, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, poly (ethylene succinate), polypropylene, poly (β-propiolactone), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), carboxymethyl cellulose salt (CMC) and sulfonated fluoropolymers, polyimide, poly (acrylic acid), or combination thereof.
14. A method of preparing a battery, the method comprising:
(a) mixing a plurality of Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder with a conductive polymer and a carbon-based material to form a slurry, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns, and wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises crystalline silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises amorphous silicon;
(b) forming the slurry into the battery anode electrode; and
(c) disposing a separator material between the anode electrode and a cathode electrode to form the battery,
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the carbon-based material is selected from carbon black, graphite, graphene, graphene powder or graphite foil.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the conductive polymer comprise any of PVDF, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, poly (ethylene succinate), polypropylene, poly (β-propiolactone), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), carboxymethyl cellulose salt (CMC) and sulfonated fluoropolymers, polyimide, poly (acrylic acid), or combination thereof.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the separator comprises a microporous polymer.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the separator comprise any of polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, poly (ethylene succinate), polypropylene, poly (β-propiolactone), and sulfonated fluoropolymers.
19. The battery anode electrode of claim 1 , wherein the one or more Si-based nanostructures are attached to graphite powder.
20. A method of preparing a battery anode electrode, the method comprising:
(a) mixing a plurality of Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder with a conductive polymer and a carbon-based material to form a slurry, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns, and wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises carbon covalently bonded to the core of the nanostructures; and
(b) forming the slurry into the battery anode electrode;
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.
21. A method of preparing a battery, the method comprising:
(a) mixing a plurality of Si-based nanostructures disposed on graphite powder with a conductive polymer and a carbon-based material to form a slurry, wherein the nanostructures have a core-shell structure and comprise any of (i) Si-based nanoparticles having all dimensions less than 50 nm, (ii) Si-based nanowires having a diameter of 20 nm to 100 nm and a length of 0.1 μm to 50 μm, or (iii) a combination thereof, wherein the nanostructures comprise lithium inserted in the nanostructures, wherein the graphite powder is in the form of separate particles having a diameter of 5 microns to 50 microns, and wherein the core of the nanostructures comprises silicon and the shell of the nanostructures comprises carbon covalently bonded to the core of the nanostructures;
(b) forming the slurry into the battery anode electrode; and
(c) disposing a separator material between the anode electrode and a cathode electrode to form the battery,
wherein the battery anode electrode comprises 5 weight % to 30 weight % of the nanostructures disposed on the graphite powder.