IP Library Granted Patent US 12,293,852
Granted Patent B2
US 12,293,852 · App. 17/694,174 · Granted May 6, 2025

Mixed ionic-electronic conductive materials for alkali metal transport during battery cycling, and batteries incorporating same

Inventors: Ju Li (Weston, MA); Andrea Maurano (Somerville, MA); Yuming Chen (Cambridge, MA); Ziqiang Wang (Cambridge, MA); So Yeon Kim (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
H01B1/02H01B1/06H01M4/485H01M4/505H01M4/525H01M10/0565H01M2300/0082H01M2300/0085
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,293,852
App. No.
17/694,174
Granted
May 6, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) in contact with a solid electrolyte includes a material having a bandgap less than 3 eV. The material includes an end-member phase directly connected to an alkali metal by a tie-line in an equilibrium phase diagram. The material is thermodynamically stable with a solid electrolyte. The MIEC includes plurality of open pores, formed within the MIEC, to facilitate motion of the alkali metal to at least one of store the alkali metal in the plurality of open pores or release the alkali metal from the plurality of open pores. The solid electrolyte has an ionic conductivity to ions of the alkali metal greater than 1 mS cm −1 , a thickness less than 100 μm, and comprises at least one of a ceramic or a polymer.

Claims (78)

1. A mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) in contact with a solid electrolyte comprising:

a material having a bandgap less than 3 eV, the material comprising an end-member phase directly connected to an alkali metal by a tie-line in an equilibrium phase diagram, and the material being thermodynamically stable with the solid electrolyte; and

a plurality of open pores, formed within the MIEC, to facilitate motion of the alkali metal to at least one of store the alkali metal in the plurality of open pores or release the alkali metal from the plurality of open pores,

wherein the solid electrolyte has an ionic conductivity to ions of the alkali metal greater than 1 mS cm −1 , a thickness less than 100 μm, and comprises at least one of a ceramic or a polymer.

2. The MIEC of claim 1 , wherein the material excludes any lanthanides.

3. The MIEC of claim 1 , wherein the material excludes any rare earth metals.

4. The MIEC of claim 1 , wherein:

the solid electrolyte comprises the polymer; and

the polymer comprises at least one of, a polyacetal, a polyolefin, a poly (alkylene oxide), a polymethacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, a polyester, a polyamide, a polyimide, a polyarylate, a polyarylsulfone, a polyethersulfone, a polyphenylene sulfide, a polyvinyl chloride, a polysulfone, a polytetrafluoroethylene, a polyetherketone, a polybenzoxazole, a polyphthalide, a polyanhydride, a polyvinyl ether, a polyvinyl thioether, a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl ketone, a polyvinyl halide, a polyvinyl nitrile, a polyvinyl ester, a polysulfonate, a polysulfide, a polythioester, a polysulfonamide, a polyurea, a polyphosphazene, a polysilazane, a polyurethane, an ethylene propylene diene rubber, a fluorinated ethylene propylene, a perfluoroalkoxyethylene, a polychlorotrifluoroethylene, or a polyvinylidene fluoride.

5. The MIEC of claim 1 , wherein:

the solid electrolyte comprises the ceramic; and

the ceramic comprises at least one of:

Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ;

Li 3 OX wherein X is at least one of Cl, Br, or I;

Li 3 SX wherein X is at least one of Cl, Br, or I;

Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4 ) 3 ;

Li 10 MP 2 S 12 wherein M is at least one of Ge, Si, or Sn;

Li 3 PS 4 ;

Li 7 P 3 S 11 ;

Li 3 N;

Li 2 S;

LiBH 4 ;

Li 3 BO 3 ;

Li 2 S—P 2 S 5 ;

Li 2 S—P 2 S 5 -L4SiO 4 ;

Li 2 S—Ga 2 S 3 -GeS 2 ;

Li 2 S—Sb 2 S 3 -GeS 2 ;

Li 3.25 —Ge 0.25 —P 0.75 S 4 ;

(La 1-x Li x )TiO 3 wherein 0<x<1;

Li 6 La 2 CaTa 2 O 12 ;

Li 6 La 2 ANb 2 O 12 wherein A is at least one of Ca, Sr, or Ba;

Li 6 La 3 Zr 1.5 WO 12 ;

Li 6.5 La 3 Zr 1.5 TaO 12 ;

Li 6.625 Al 0.25 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 ;

Li 3 BO 2.5 N 0.5 ;

Li 9 SiAlO 8 ;

Li 1 +x Al x Ge 2-x (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<1;

Li 1 +x Al x Ti 2-x (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<1;

Li 1+x Ti 2-x Al x Si y (PO 4 ) 3-y wherein 0<x<1 and 0≤y<1;

LiAl x Zr 2-x (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<2;

LiTi x Zr 2-x (PO 4 ) 3 wherein 0<x<2;

Li 6 PS 5 X, wherein X is at least one of Cl, Br, or I; or

Li 7 In x Sc 0.666-x Cl 4 wherein 0≤x≤0.666.

6. An anode comprising:

the mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) of claim 1 ,

wherein the MIEC does not reversibly store and release the alkali metal.

7. The anode of claim 6 , wherein:

the MIEC has a thickness of about 0.5 μm to about 67 μm;

the MIEC has a porosity greater than 45%; and

the anode has an areal capacity of about 6+0.5 mAh cm −2 .

8. The anode of claim 6 , further comprising the alkali metal.

9. A battery comprising:

the anode of claim 6 ; and

the solid electrolyte.

10. An anode comprising a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC), the MIEC comprising:

at least one of A x B y , A x B y C z , or A x B y C z D w ; and

a plurality of open pores, formed within the MIEC, to facilitate motion of an alkali metal to at least one of store the alkali metal in the plurality of open pores or release the alkali metal from the plurality of open pores,

wherein:

the MIEC does not reversibly store and release the alkali metal;

the at least one of A x B y , A x B y C z , or A x B y C z D w comprises an end-member phase directly connected to an alkali metal by a tie-line in an equilibrium phase diagram;

A is the alkali metal;

at least one of B, C, or D is at least one of an alkaline earth metal, a group 13 element, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, C, N, Si, Sn, Pb, Bi, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, or Yb; and

x, y, z, and w each have a value of about 1 to about 149.

11. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B, C, and D is each at least one of the alkaline earth metal, the group 13 element, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, C, N, Si, Sn, Pb, Bi, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Ho, Er, or Yb.

12. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is the alkaline earth metal.

13. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is the group 13 element.

14. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is a period 4 transition metal.

15. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is a period 5 transition metal.

16. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is a period 6 transition metal.

17. The anode of claim 10 , wherein B is a lanthanide.

18. The anode of claim 10 , wherein the alkali metal comprises at least one of lithium (Li), sodium (Na), or potassium (K).

19. An anode, comprising:

a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) comprising Ti w AlC y Ni z ; and

a plurality of open pores, formed within the MIEC, to facilitate motion of an alkali metal to at least one of store the alkali metal in the plurality of open pores or release the alkali metal from the plurality of open pores,

wherein x, y, z, and w each have a value less than or equal to 8.

20. A battery comprising:

the anode of claim 19 ; and

a solid electrolyte, coupled to a portion of the MIEC, the solid electrolyte comprising polyethylene oxide (PEO).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: LI, JU; CHEN, YUMING; WANG, ZIQIANG; KIM, SO YEON
To: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 060227/0511 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2022
From: MAURANO, ANDREA
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 060227/0535 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 16499656
Provisional Application 62734564 · Sep 21, 2018
Related Publication 20220208410A1 · Jun 30, 2022
References Cited (64)
US 4436796A · Huggins · 1984 [cited by examiner]
US 10700377B2 · Thomas-Alyea et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20080179104A1 · Zhang et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090176090A1 · So et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100203351A1 · Nayfeh · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110061942A1 · DiGiovanni · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120210823A1 · Lee et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130059074A1 · Xu et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160344016A1 · Biswal et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180126456A1 · So et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200328423A1 · Li et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20220052374A1 · Maurano et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 103602843A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011038773A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2017116599A2 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
Armstrong et al., “The breakdown of β-alumina ceramic electrolyte.” Electrochimica acta 19.5 (1974): 187-192. [cited by applicant]
Basak et al. “Towards optimization of experimental parameters for studying Li—O2 battery discharge products in TEM using in situ EELS.” Ultramicroscopy 188 (2018): 52-58. [cited by applicant]
Chen et al. “Li metal deposition and stripping in a solid-state battery via Coble creep.” Nature 578.7794 (2020): 251-255. [cited by applicant]
Chen et al., “Nitrogen-doped carbon for sodium-ion battery anode by self-etching and graphitization of bimetallic MOF-based composite.” Chem 3.1 (2017): 152-163. [cited by applicant]
Egerton et al., “Radiation damage in the TEM and SEM.” Micron 35.6 (2004): 399-409. [cited by applicant]
Esawi et al., “Effect of carbon nanotube (CNT) content on the mechanical properties of CNT-reinforced aluminium composites.” Composites Science and Technology 70.16 (2010): 2237-2241. [cited by applicant]
Fu et al. “Toward garnet electrolyte-based Li metal batteries: an ultrathin, highly effective, artificial solid-state electrolyte/metallic Li interface. Sci. Adv. 3, e1601659 (2017).” (2017): 59. (12 pages). [cited by applicant]
Han et al. “Negating interfacial impedance in garnet-based solid-state Li metal batteries.” Nature materials 16.5 (2017): 572-579. [cited by applicant]
He et al., “High dislocation density-induced large ductility in deformed and partitioned steels.” Science 357.6355 (2017): 1029-1032. [cited by applicant]
Herring, “Diffusional viscosity of a polycrystalline solid.” Journal of applied physics 21.5 (1950): 437-445. [cited by applicant]
Huang et al., “Nanowire liquid pumps.” Nature nanotechnology 8.4 (2013): 277. 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Patent Application No. PCT/US2019/052422 mailed Dec. 11, 2019, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion issued by the International Searching Authority in regards to International Patent Application No. PCT/US16/21781, mailed Jun. 27, 2016, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Jin et al., “3D lithium metal embedded within lithiophilic porous matrix for stable lithium metal batteries.” Nano Energy 37 (2017): 177-186. [cited by applicant]
Kushima et al., “Liquid cell transmission electron microscopy observation of lithium metal growth and dissolution: Root growth, dead lithium and lithium flotsams.” Nano Energy 32 (2017): 271-279. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Atomic structure of sensitive battery materials and interfaces revealed by cryo-electron microscopy.” Science 358.6362 (2017): 506-510. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Developing high-performance lithium metal anode in liquid electrolytes: challenges and Progress.” Advanced Materials 30.17 (2018): 1706375. [cited by applicant]
Li et al., “Mastering the interface for advanced all-solid-state lithium rechargeable batteries.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113.47 (2016): 13313-13317. [cited by applicant]
Liang et al., “Composite lithium metal anode by melt infusion of lithium into a 3D conducting scaffold with lithiophilic coating.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113.11 (2016): 2862-2867. [cited by applicant]
Lin et al., “Layered reduced graphene oxide with nanoscale interlayer gaps as a stable host for lithium metal anodes.” Nature nanotechnology 11.7 (2016): 626-632. [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “Lithium-coated polymeric matrix as a minimum volume-change and dendrite-free lithium metal anode.” Nature communications 7 (2016): 10992. 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “Sequential self-folding of polymer sheets.” Science Advances 3.3 (2017): e1602417. 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “Significance of interfaces in solid-state cells with porous electrodes of mixed ionic-electronic conductors.” Solid State Ionics 107.1-2 (1998): 105-110. [cited by applicant]
Liu et al., “Transforming from planar to three-dimensional lithium with flowable interphase for solid lithium metal batteries.” Science advances 3.10 (2017): eaao0713. 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Lu et al., “High-performance anode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.” Electrochemical Energy Reviews 1.1 (2018): 35-53. [cited by applicant]
Lv et al., “Application of the soluble salt-assisted route to scalable synthesis of ZnO nanopowder with repeated photocatalytic activity.” Nanotechnology 23.6 (2012): 065402. 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Mali et al., “6Li and 7Li diffusion coefficients in solid lithium measured by the NMR pulsed field gradient technique.” Journal of Physics F: Metal Physics 18.3 (1988): 403. 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Malis et al., “EELS log-ratio technique for specimen-thickness measurement in the TEM.” Journal of electron microscopy technique 8.2 (1988): 193-200. [cited by applicant]
Manthiram et al., “Lithium battery chemistries enabled by solid-state electrolytes.” Nature Reviews Materials 2.4 (2017): 16103, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Nitta et al., “High-capacity anode materials for lithium-ion batteries: choice of elements and structures for active particles.” Particle & Particle Systems Characterization 31.3 (2014): 317-336. [cited by applicant]
Porz et al., “Mechanism of lithium metal penetration through inorganic solid electrolytes.” Advanced Energy Materials 7.20 (2017): 1701003. 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Richards et al., “Interface stability in solid-state batteries.” Chemistry of Materials 28.1 (2016): 266-273. [cited by applicant]
Saito et al., Physical properties of carbon nanotubes—7.5 Coiled Carbon Nanotubes. World scientific, 1998. pp. 130-135. [cited by applicant]
Shen et al., “Load transfer issues in the tensile and compressive behavior of multiwall carbon nanotubes.” Materials Science and Engineering: A 429.1-2 (2006): 66-73. [cited by applicant]
Sun et al., “Liquid-like pseudoelasticity of sub-10-nm crystalline silver particles.” Nature materials 13.11 (2014): 1007-1012. [cited by applicant]
Suo et al., “Fluorine-donating electrolytes enable highly reversible 5-V-class Li metal batteries.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115.6 (2018): 1156-1161. [cited by applicant]
Wang et al., Selective targeting of gold nanorods at the mitochondria of cancer cells: implications for cancer therapy. Nano letters 11.2 (2011): 772-780. [cited by applicant]
Xie et al., “In situ study of the initiation of hydrogen bubbles at the aluminium metal/oxide interface.” Nature materials 14.9 (2015): 899-903. [cited by applicant]
Yang et al. “Continuous plating/stripping behavior of solid-state lithium metal anode in a 3D ion-conductive framework.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115.15 (2018): 3770-3775. [cited by applicant]
Yang et al., “Liquid-like, self-healing aluminum oxide during deformation at room temperature.” Nano letters 18.4 (2018): 2492-2497. [cited by applicant]
Yang et al., “Protected Lithium-Metal Anodes in Batteries: From Liquid to Solid.” Advanced materials 29.36 (2017): 1701169. 28 pages. [cited by applicant]
Yuan et al., “Understanding materials challenges for rechargeable ion batteries with in situ transmission electron microscopy.” Nature communications 8.1 (2017): 1-14. [cited by applicant]
Zhang et al., “High-capacity, low-tortuosity, and channel-guided lithium metal anode.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 114.14 (2017): 3584-3589. [cited by applicant]
Zhang et al., “Li2O-reinforced Cu nanoclusters as porous structure for dendrite-free and long-lifespan lithium metal anode.” ACS applied materials & interfaces 8.40 (2016): 26801-26808. [cited by applicant]
Zhang et al., “Lithiophilic sites in doped graphene guide uniform lithium nucleation for dendrite-free lithium metal anodes.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 56.27 (2017): 7764-7768. [cited by applicant]
Zhao et al., “Air-stable and freestanding lithium alloy/graphene foil as an alternative to lithium metal anodes.” Nature nanotechnology 12.10 (2017): 993-999. [cited by applicant]
Zheng et al. “Beam-assisted large elongation of in situ formed Li2O nanowires.” Scientific reports 2.1 (2012): 1-4. [cited by applicant]
Zhu et al. “High rate and stable solid-state lithium metal batteries enabled by electronic and ionic mixed conducting network interlayers.” ACS applied materials & interfaces 11.18 (2019): 16578-16585. [cited by applicant]
Zhu et al., “Ultra-strength materials.” Progress in Materials Science 55.7 (2010): 710-757. [cited by applicant]