CARBON AEROGEL-BASED ELECTRODE MATERIALS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF
Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.
1 . A carbon composition comprising:
a framework of interconnected carbon structures defining a corresponding network of pores;
a silicon-based material; and
wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a specific surface area attributable to micropores, wherein an upper specific micropore surface area is less than about 92 m 2 /g.
2 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , characterized by a total specific surface area is less than 575 m 2 /g.
3 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein a content of the silicon-based material in the carbon composition is from 9 % to 64%.
4 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , characterized by a specific pore volume of from 1.5 to 3.6 cubic centimeter (cm 3 )/gram (g).
5 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , characterized by an average specific pore volume of from 1.15 cm 3 /g to 5.34 cm 3 /g.
6 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the carbon composition is a monolithic carbon composition free of a binder material.
7 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the carbon composition is a particulate carbon.
8 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the framework of interconnected carbon structures further comprises a network of carbon fibrils, wherein at least some of the carbon fibrils of the network have a fibril width of from 2 nm to 10 nm.
9 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the framework of interconnected carbon structures further comprises a network of carbon fibrils, wherein at least some of the carbon fibrils of the network have a fibril width of from 2 nm to 5 nm.
10 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , further comprising a porosity of from 10 volume (vol.) % to 70 vol. %.
11 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , wherein the full width at half max of the maximum pore size peak is from 5 nm to 50 nm.
12 . The carbon composition of claim 1 , having a Young’s Modulus is from 0.27 GPa to 8.26 GPa and a density is from 0.3 g/cc to 0.74 g/cc.
13 . An energy storage system comprising at least one electrode that includes the carbon composition of claim 1 .
14 . The energy storage system of claim 13 , further comprising an additive disposed within at least a portion of pores of the at least one electrode, the additive reducing an electrical resistance of the at least one electrode.
15 . A carbon composition comprising:
a framework of interconnected carbon structures defining a corresponding network of pores; and
an electroactive species; and
wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a specific surface area attributable to micropores less than 62 m 2 /g.
16 . The carbon composition of claim 15 , wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a total specific surface area is of less than 255 m 2 /g.
17 . The carbon composition of claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises silicon.
18 . The carbon composition of claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises graphite.
19 . The carbon composition of claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises lithium.
20 . An energy storage system comprising at least one electrode that includes the carbon composition of claim 15 .
21 . The energy storage system of claim 20 , further comprising an additive disposed within at least a portion of pores of the at least one electrode, the additive reducing an electrical resistance of the at least one electrode.