COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PRELITHIATING ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES
An energy storage device can include a cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode. At least one of the electrodes can include an electrode film prepared by a dry process. The electrode film and/or the electrode can comprise a prelithiating material. Processes and apparatuses used for fabricating the electrode and/or electrode film are also described.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A dry method of fabricating a dry electrode film of an energy storage device, comprising:
combining a dry prelithiating material, a dry conductive carbon additive, a dry active material and a dry fibrillizable binder to form a dry electrode film mixture; and
fibrillizing the dry fibrillizable binder in the dry electrode film mixture,
wherein the dry method is a dry fabrication process substantially free of solvents,
wherein the dry electrode film is self-supporting, and
wherein the dry prelithiating material comprises about 0.5-10 wt. % of the dry electrode film.
22 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein combining the dry prelithiating material, the dry conductive carbon additive, the dry active material and the dry fibrillizable binder comprises:
combining the dry prelithiating material, the dry conductive carbon additive, and the dry active material to form a dry mixture; and
combining the dry fibrillizable binder and the dry mixture to form the dry electrode film mixture.
23 . The dry method of claim 22 , wherein combining the dry prelithiating material, the dry conductive carbon additive, and the dry active material to form the dry mixture comprises:
combining the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive to form a first mixture; and
combining the first mixture and the dry active material to form the dry mixture.
24 . The dry method of claim 23 , wherein combining the first mixture and the dry active material further comprises mixing a dry carbon material and a dry conductive carbon material to form the dry mixture.
25 . The dry method of claim 23 , wherein combining the first mixture and the dry active material is performed so that a temperature of the dry mixture is at most about 100° C.
26 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive are combined at a temperature of at most about 200° C.
27 . The dry method of claim 26 , wherein the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive are combined at a temperature of at most about 150° C.
28 . The dry method of claim 27 , wherein the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive are combined at a temperature of at most about 100° C.
29 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive are combined and results in electrical contact between primary particles of the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive.
30 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive are combined without excessive heating.
31 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein a ratio of the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive is within a range of about 10:1 to about 1:1.
32 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein a ratio of the dry prelithiating material and the dry conductive carbon additive is within a range of about 5:1 to about 5:3.
33 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material comprises a lithium cation.
34 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material comprises 0.5-8 wt. % of the dry electrode film.
35 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry prelithiating material is selected from the group consisting of Li 2 O, Li 2 O 2 , Li 2 S, Li 3 N, LiN 3 , LiF, Li 2 FeO 4 , Li 2 NiO 2 , Li 6 CoO 4 , and Li 2 MoO 3 , or combinations thereof.
36 . The dry method of claim 35 , wherein the dry prelithiating material is Li 2 O 2 .
37 . The dry method of claim 21 , wherein the dry active material is a dry cathode active material.
38 . The dry method of claim 21 , further comprising calendering the dry electrode film mixture to form a dry electrode film.
39 . The dry method of claim 38 , further comprising disposing the dry electrode film over a current collector to form an electrode.
40 . The dry method of claim 39 , further comprising:
incorporating the electrode into an energy storage device; and
performing an initial cycling of the energy storage device, thereby oxidizing the dry prelithiating material.