Stacks of internally connected surface-mediated cells and methods of operating same

摘要

An energy storage stack of at least two surface-mediated cells (SMCs) internally connected in parallel or in series. The stack includes: (A) At least two SMC cells, each consisting of (i) a cathode comprising a porous cathode current collector and a cathode active material; (ii) a porous anode current collector; and (iii) a porous separator disposed between the cathode and the anode; (B) A lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with all the electrodes, wherein the cathode active material has a specific surface area no less than 100 m2/g in direct physical contact with the electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto; and (C) A lithium source. This new-generation energy storage device exhibits the highest power densities of all energy storage devices, much higher than those of all the lithium ion batteries, lithium ion capacitors, and supercapacitors.

主权项

1. An energy storage stack comprising n surface-mediated cells (SMCs) internally connected in parallel wherein said n is an integer from 2 to 1,000, said stack comprising:
(A) a first SMC consisting of:
a. a first cathode comprising a first cathode current collector and a first cathode active material coated on at least one surface of the first cathode current collector, wherein said cathode active material has a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;b. a first anode being formed of a first anode current collector having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;c. a first porous separator disposed between the first cathode and the first anode;d. a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with said first cathode and first anode; (B) a second SMC consisting of:
a. a second cathode comprising a second cathode current collector and a second cathode active material coated on at least one surface of the second cathode current collector, wherein said second cathode active material has a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;b. a second anode being formed of a second anode current collector having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;c. a second porous separator disposed between the second cathode and the second anode;d. a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with said second cathode and second anode; and (C) only one lithium source implemented at or near one of the anodes or cathodes prior to a first charge or a first discharge cycle of the energy storage stack;wherein said first or second cathode active material has a specific surface area of no less than 100 m2/g being in direct physical contact with said electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto wherein said n SMCs are internally connected in parallel, wherein at least one of the cathode current collectors and at least one of the anode current collectors are porous and the electrolyte in the first SMC is in fluid communication with the electrolyte in the second SMC;and wherein at least 80% of the lithium is stored on surfaces of said anode active materials when the stack is in charged state, or at least 80% of the lithium is stored on surfaces of said cathode active materials when the stack is in discharged state.