High temperature Li-ion battery cells utilizing boron nitride aerogels and boron nitride nanotubes
View Patent ↗This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to Li-ion batteries. In one aspect an electrolyte structure for use in a battery comprises an electrolyte and an interconnected boron nitride structure disposed in the electrolyte.
1. An electrolyte structure for use in a battery comprising:
a polymer electrolyte comprising a polymer mixed with a lithium salt; and
an interconnected boron nitride mesh structure incorporated in the electrolyte and comprising a plurality of boron nitride nanotubes.
2. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises one of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
3. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solid-state ion conducting structure.
4. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of titanium dioxide nanoparticles disposed in the electrolyte.
5. The electrolyte structure of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of titanium dioxide nanoparticles has a volume fraction of about 5% to 30% in the electrolyte structure.
6. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein boron nitride nanotubes of the plurality of boron nitride nanotubes have a length of about 30 nanometers to 1 micron and have a diameter of about 1 nanometers to 20 nanometers.
7. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein the interconnected boron nitride mesh structure has a thickness of about 250 nanometers to 1.5 microns.
8. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of boron nitride nanotubes comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN).
9. The electrolyte structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is operationally stable up to 190° C.
10. A battery comprising:
an anode;
a cathode; and
an electrolyte structure, the electrolyte structure being in contact with the cathode and with the anode, the electrolyte structure comprising:
a polymer electrolyte comprising a polymer mixed with a lithium salt; and
an interconnected boron nitride mesh structure incorporated in the electrolyte and comprising a plurality of boron nitride nanotubes.
11. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the battery is operable up to temperatures of about 190° C.
12. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the anode comprises lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 ) or graphite.
13. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the cathode comprises lithium-rich manganese oxide or lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO 2 ).
14. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the interconnected boron nitride mesh structure contacts the anode and the cathode.
15. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of poly(propylene oxide) (PPO), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA).
16. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a solid-state ion conducting structure.
17. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of boron nitride nanotubes comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN).
18. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one of germanium-based nanoparticles, cobalt-iron oxide based nanoparticles, or molybdenum-based nanoparticles.