IP Library Granted Patent US 11,901,543
Granted Patent B2
US 11,901,543 · App. 17/945,790 · Granted Feb 13, 2024

Lower pyrolysis temperature binder for silicon-dominant anodes

Inventors: Monika Chhorng (Irvine, CA); David J. Lee (Irvine, CA); Rahul Kamath (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
H01M4/0471H01M4/0404H01M4/134H01M4/1395H01M4/386H01M4/621H01M4/625H01M2004/027
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,901,543
App. No.
17/945,790
Granted
Feb 13, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for carbon additives for direct coating of silicon-dominant anodes. An example composition for use in directly coated anodes may include a silicon-dominated anode active material, a carbon-based binder, and a carbon-based additive, with the composition being configured for low-temperature pyrolysis. The low-temperature pyrolysis may be conducted at <600° C. An anode may be formed using a direct coating process of the composition on a current collector. The anode active material yields silicon constituting between 86% and 97% of weight of the formed anode after pyrolysis. The carbon-based additive yields carbon constituting between 2% and 6% of weight of the formed anode after pyrolysis.

Claims (43)

1. An anode, the anode comprising:

a current collector; and

an active material layer on the current collector, the active material layer comprising:

a plurality of silicon particles providing the anode with a silicon content of greater than 95% and up to 97% by weight of the anode; and

a pyrolytic carbon structure around the plurality of silicon particles of the active material layer, wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises between 2% and 6% by weight of the anode.

2. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises between 4% and 5% by weight of the anode.

3. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises between 2% and 6% by weight of the anode after pyrolysis below 600° C.

4. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises between 4% and 5% by weight of the anode after pyrolysis below 600° C.

5. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises a glassy carbon.

6. The anode of claim 1 , wherein the pyrolytic carbon structure comprises a glassy carbon from pyrolysis of polyamide-imide (PAI).

7. The anode of claim 6 , wherein an onset of pyrolysis of the PAI occurs below 500° C.

8. The anode of claim 1 , comprising an adhesive layer between the active material layer and the current collector.

9. The anode of claim 1 , wherein:

the current collector comprises copper; and

an interface between the current collector and the active material layer lacks a formation of Cu×Si material.

10. The anode of claim 1 , wherein:

the current collector comprises nickel; and

an interface between the current collector and the active material layer lacks a formation of Ni×Si material.

11. An anode, the anode comprising:

a current collector; and

an active material layer on the current collector, the active material layer comprising:

a plurality of silicon particles providing the anode with a silicon content of at least 86% by weight of the anode; and

a carbon structure around the plurality of silicon particles of the active material layer, wherein the carbon structure comprises between 2% and 6% by weight of the anode.

12. The anode of claim 11 , wherein the carbon structure comprises between 4% and 5% by weight of the anode.

13. The anode of claim 11 , wherein the carbon structure comprises between 4% and 5% by weight of the anode after pyrolysis below 600° C.

14. The anode of claim 11 , wherein:

the active material layer comprises an additive; and

the additive comprises at least one of ECP, ECP600, Super-P, and SLP.

15. A battery, comprising:

an anode;

a cathode; and

a separator between the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode comprises a current collector and an active material layer on the current collector;

wherein the active material layer comprises a silicon content of greater than 94% and up to 97% by weight of the anode;

wherein the active material layer comprises a carbon structure; and

wherein the carbon structure comprises between 4% and 5% of weight of the anode.

16. The battery of claim 15 , wherein the carbon structure comprises glassy carbon from pyrolytic decomposition of polyamide-imide (PAI) below 600° C.

17. The battery of claim 15 , wherein the carbon structure comprises glassy carbon from pyrolytic decomposition of a binder below 600° C.

18. The battery of claim 15 , wherein:

the current collector comprises copper; and

an interface between the current collector and the active material layer lacks a formation of Cu×Si material.

19. The battery of claim 15 , wherein:

the current collector comprises nickel; and

an interface between the current collector and the active material layer lacks a formation of Ni×Si material.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2026
From: ENEVATE CORPORATION
To: MCANDREWS, HELD & MALLOY LTD.
Reel/Frame 075093/0935 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: CHHORNG, MONIKA; LEE, DAVID J.; KAMATH, RAHUL
To: ENEVATE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061111/0100 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16681401 · Nov 12, 2019
Related Publication 20230187604A1 · Jun 15, 2023