Composite electrodes for lithium ion battery and method of making

摘要

A method for making a composite electrode for a lithium ion battery comprises the steps of: preparing a slurry containing particles of inorganic electrode material(s) suspended in a solvent; preheating a porous metallic substrate; loading the metallic substrate with the slurry; baking the loaded substrate at a first temperature; curing the baked substrate at a second temperature sufficient to form a desired nanocrystalline material within the pores of the substrate; calendaring the cured composite to reduce internal porosity; and, annealing the calendared composite at a third temperature to produce a self-supporting multiphase electrode. Because of the calendaring step, the resulting electrode is self-supporting, has improved current collecting properties, and improved cycling lifetime. Anodes and cathodes made by the process, and batteries using them, are also disclosed.

主权项

1. An anode for a lithium ion battery comprising:
a first phase comprising a lithium ion storage material; a second phase comprising a solid state lithium ion conductor; and, a third phase comprising a reticulated metal structure, interspersed throughout said first and second phases, said reticulated metal forming a structural reinforcement and a current collector, wherein said metal structure comprises from 5 to 25% of the volume of material, said first and second phases together comprise from 75 to 95% of the volume of the material, and said anode contains no more than 30 vol. % porosity.