Composite materials for battery applications
A process for producing nanocomposite materials for use in batteries includes electroactive materials are incorporated within a nanosheet host material. The process may include treatment at high temperatures and doping to obtain desirable properties.
1. A process comprising:
contacting in a fluidized bed reactor, a gaseous electroactive material precursor with a powdered, exfoliated graphene to form a nanocomposite material;
wherein:
the powdered, exfoliated graphene comprises a plurality of layers;
the nanocomposite material comprises either:
an electroactive material intercalated between individual layers of the plurality of layers; or
an electroactive material both intercalated between individual layers of the plurality of layers and deposited on one or more surfaces of the individual layers of the plurality of layers; and
the electroactive material comprises Sn, Pb, Al, Au, Pt, Zn, Cd, Ag, Mg, or Mo.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises an oxide of Sn, Pb, Al, Au, Pt, Zn, Cd, Ag, Mg, or Mo.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises Sn.
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the contacting comprises depositing the gaseous electroactive material precursor via chemical vapor deposition.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material precursor includes a tin-containing compound.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the tin-containing compound is monobutyltin trichloride, methyltin trichloride, isobutyltin trichloride, butyl dichlorotin acetate, butyldichlorotin dicetate, diisobutyltin dichloride, methyltin trichloride, dimethyltin dichloride, dibutyltin dichloride, di-t-butyltin dichloride, or tin tetrachoride.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises a film.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises particles.
9. The process of claim 1 , further comprising heating the nanocomposite material to a temperature between 500° C. to 1500° C.
10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the heating comprises heating the nanocomposite material in the presence of a reactive gas comprising hydrogen, ammonia, a phosphorus containing gas, or a boron-containing gas.