IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,261,266
Granted Patent B2
US 12,261,266 · App. 18/420,356 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Nanofiber polymer composite cathodes

Inventors: Yuepeng Zhang (Naperville, IL); Sanja Tepavcevic (Chicago, IL); Devon J. Powers (Lemont, IL); Peter Zapol (Hinsdale, IL); John N. Hryn (Hawthorn Woods, IL); Gregory K. Krumdick (Homer Glen, IL); Ozgenur Kahvecioglu (Naperville, IL); Krzystof Z. Pupek (Plainfield, IL); Michael John Counihan (Downers Grove, IL)
Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
H01M10/056H01M2004/021H01M2004/028H01M4/505H01M4/525H01M2300/0077H01M2300/0082H01M2300/0091
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,261,266
App. No.
18/420,356
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell is described herein. The cathode comprises nanofibers of a cathode active material; particles of the cathode active material; and nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix. Electrochemical cells comprising a solid-state electrolyte and the cathodes comprising the nanofibers of c-LLZO are also described herein.

Claims (20)

1. A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell; the cathode comprising: nanofibers of a cathode active material; particles of the cathode active material; and nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix.

2. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the c-LLZO is selected from the group consisting of an Al-doped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , undoped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , Ta-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , and Ga-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 .

3. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material is selected from the group consisting of (a) LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (NMC) wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<z<1, (b) LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO), (c) LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO), (d) LiFePO 4 (LFP), (e) lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), (f) lithium nickel manganese aluminum oxide, (g) lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), (h) Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and (i) Li—S.

4. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric matrix is selected from the group consisting of PAN, PVDF, PMMA, and cellulose.

5. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

6. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

7. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode.

8. The cathode of claim 7 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

9. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

10. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode further comprises particles of a carbon material dispersed in the polymeric matrix.

11. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are interconnected in a three-dimensional network.

12. A cathode for a multilayer solid-state electrochemical cell; the cathode comprising: nanofibers of a cathode active material; nanofibers of a cubic phase lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (c-LLZO); particles of the cathode active material; and particles of a carbon material; all of which are dispersed in a polymeric matrix; wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are interconnected in a three-dimensional network.

13. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the c-LLZO is selected from the group consisting of an Al-doped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , undoped cubic phase Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , Ta-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 , and Ga-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 .

14. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the cathode active material is selected from the group consisting of (a) LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (NMC) wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, and 0<z<1, (b) LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO), (c) LiMn 2 O 4 (LMO), (d) LiFePO 4 (LFP), (e) lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), (f) lithium nickel manganese aluminum oxide, (g) lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), (h) Li 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 , and (i) Li—S.

15. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric matrix is selected from the group consisting of PAN, PVDF, PMMA, and cellulose.

16. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

17. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO have a fiber diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm.

18. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode.

19. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

20. The cathode of claim 12 , wherein the nanofibers of c-LLZO are substantially evenly dispersed through the cathode, and the nanofibers of the cathode active material are asymmetrically dispersed within the cathode such that the concentration of the cathode active material is higher near one surface of the cathode and lower at an opposite surface of the cathode.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 24, 2024
From: UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
To: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 067822/0164 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: ZHANG, YUEPENG; TEPAVCEVIC, SANJA; POWERS, DEVON J.; ZAPOL, PETER; HRYN, JOHN N.; KRUMDICK, GREGORY K.; KAHVECIOGLU, OZGENUR; PUPEK, KRZYSTOF Z.; COUNIHAN, MICHAEL
To: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
Reel/Frame 066249/0286 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17490956 · Sep 30, 2021
Related Publication 20240213521A1 · Jun 27, 2024
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