Fabrication method for lithium-coated anodes generating high-capacity batteries

This technology is a method to protect the lithium in lithium-based negative electrodes from air and moisture during the battery fabrication process.

Unmet Need: High-capacity lithium-coated anodes in batteries

In traditional lithium-ion batteries, the lithium is stored only in the positive electrode and not in the negative electrode, which limits performance. Developing a lithiated negative electrode offers several benefits, such as increasing the energy density of a full battery by 10-500%. However, lithiated anodes are not air or moisture-stable, making them incompatible with standard fabrication processes and highlighting the need for a method to protect lithiated anodes from ambient conditions during the fabrication process.

The Technology: Simple fabrication method to make lithium-coated anodes under ambient conditions

This technology is a method for lithiating anodes that is compatible with ambient air and moisture conditions. A polymer coating containing electron-conducting particles is deposited onto a lithium film, which protects the lithium from air and moisture. The air-stable negative electrode material is then deposited onto the polymer coated lithium film. This anode is then assembled into a battery with the cathode and electrolyte material. Once assembled, the electrolyte material dissolves the protective polymer coating, allowing the lithium to react with the negative electrode resulting in a lithiated anode. As such, this technology offers a simple, scalable method to generate high-capacity lithium batteries that is compatible with the standard battery fabrication process.

This technology has been validated using graphite and silicon nanoparticle anodes.

Applications:

• Lithium-ion batteries
• High energy density batteries to charge power grids
• Rechargeable sodium-ion batteries
• Air-sensitive device fabrication

Advantages:

• Cost-effective
• Simple methodology compatible with standard battery design
• Tunable polymer composition dependent on desired electrolyte material
• Scalable

Lead Inventor:

Yuan Yang, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Cao Z, Zhai H, Du S, Mandal J, Dontigny M, Zaghib K, Yang Y. “Ambient-air stable lithiated anode for rechargeable Li-ion batteries with high energy density” Nano Lett. 2016 Nov 9; 16(11): 7235-7240.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR CU16191, CU17212

• Licensing Contact: Dovina Qu