Electroactive compositions with poly(arylene oxide) and stabilized lithium metal particles

1. An electroactive composition comprising:

an anodic material;

a poly(arylene oxide); and

stabilized lithium metal particles;

wherein the stabilized lithium metal particles:

have a size less than about 200 μm in diameter;

are coated with a lithium salt;

are present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %; and

are dispersed throughout the composition; and

wherein the poly(arylene oxide) comprises a compound according to Formula II:

wherein:

W is cyano or OC(O)R 7 ; and

R 7 is alkyl.

2. The electroactive composition of claim 1 , wherein W is cyano, OC(O)CH 3 , OC(O)CH 2 CH 3 , OC(O)CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , OC(O)CH(CH 3 ) 2 , or OC(O)CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 .

3. The electroactive composition of claim 1 , wherein the anodic material comprises Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , Sn, tin oxide, tin alloys, Se, Si, Si—C, silicon oxide, silicon alloys, Sb, intermetallic compounds, Si, Si—C, an antimony alloy, a composite tin alloy, natural graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, carbon black, petroleum coke, artificial graphite, graphitized meso-carbon microbeads, graphite fibers, graphene, graphene oxide, carbon nanotubes, or amorphous carbon.

4. The electroactive composition of claim 1 , wherein the poly(arylene oxide) is present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt %.

5. A lithium secondary battery comprising:

a cathode comprising a cathodic material;

an anode comprising the electroactive material of claim 1 ; and

a non-aqueous electrolyte.

6. The lithium secondary battery of claim 5 , wherein the cathode is a non-lithiated cathode comprising a non-lithiated cathodic material.

7. The lithium secondary battery of claim 6 , wherein the non-lithiated cathodic material comprises MnO 2 , V 2 O 5 , V 6 O 13 , MoS 2 , FeS 2 , S, FeF 3 , or FeF 2 .

8. A process comprising:

generating a slurry comprising:

an anodic material;

a binder comprising a poly(arylene oxide),

a liquid; and

a stabilized lithium metal particle;

coating the slurry onto a metal substrate; and

drying the slurry to provide an electroactive material;

wherein:

the stabilized lithium metal particles

have a particle size of less than about 200 μm;

are coated with a lithium salt; and

are present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % relative to the anodic material and the binder;

the poly(arylene oxide) comprises a compound according to Formula II:

wherein:

W is cyano or OC(O)R 7 ;

R 7 is alkyl; and

the liquid comprises a hydrocarbon solvent, an aromatic solvent, a sulfone, or a sulfoxide.

9. The process of claim 8 , wherein W is cyano, OC(O)CH 3 , OC(O)CH 2 CH 3 , OC(O)CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 , OC(O)CH(CH 3 ) 2 , or OC(O)CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 .

10. The process of claim 8 , further comprising activating the electroactive material chemically, physically, or thermally.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the activating step comprises compressing the electroactive material to achieve at least about a 10% reduction in the thickness of the electroactive material.

12. The process of claim 10 , wherein the activating step comprises heating the electrode at a temperature of about 100° C. to about 220° C. for a duration of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes.

13. The process of claim 10 , wherein the activating step comprises contacting the electroactive material with a non-aqueous electrolyte.

14. The process of claim 8 , the poly(arylene oxide) is present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt % relative to the anodic material and the stabilized lithium metal particles.

15. An electroactive composition comprising:

an anodic material;

a poly(arylene oxide); and

stabilized lithium metal particles;

wherein the stabilized lithium metal particles:

have a size less than about 200 μm in diameter;

are coated with a lithium salt;

are present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %; and

are dispersed throughout the composition; and

wherein the poly(arylene oxide) comprises a compound according to Formula I:

wherein:

R 1 is alkyl;

R 2 is H or alkyl;

R 3 is SO 3 X or C(O)OY;

R 4 is CH 2 R 6 ;

R 5 is H or alkyl;

R 6 is OC(O)R 7 , cyano, or SO 3 X;

X is Li, Na, K, or methyl;

Y is C(O)R 7 , alkyl, Li, Na, or K; and

R 7 is alkyl.

16. The electroactive composition of claim 15 , wherein R 3 is C(O)OY.

17. The electroactive composition of claim 15 , wherein

R 3 is C(O)OY; and

R 6 is OC(O)R 7 or cyano.

18. An electroactive composition comprising:

an anodic material;

a poly(arylene oxide); and

stabilized lithium metal particles;

wherein the stabilized lithium metal particles:

have a size less than about 200 μm in diameter;

are coated with a lithium salt;

are present in an amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt %; and

are dispersed throughout the composition; and

wherein the poly(arylene oxide) comprises a compound according to Formula III:

wherein:

R 8 is C(O)OY;

Y is C(O)R 7 , alkyl, Li, Na, or K; and

R 7 is alkyl.

19. A lithium secondary battery comprising:

a cathode comprising a cathodic material;

an anode comprising the electroactive material of claim 15 ; and

a non-aqueous electrolyte.

20. A lithium secondary battery comprising:

a cathode comprising a cathodic material;

an anode comprising the electroactive material of claim 18 ; and

a non-aqueous electrolyte.