HIGH ENERGY DENSITY LITHIUM METAL-BASED ANODE FOR SOLID STATE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- MX · MX
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- PIERSICA INC
- Filing Date
- 2022-09-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-12
AI Technical Summary
Conventional lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes pose safety hazards due to flammability and dendritic growth issues, limiting their energy density and charging speed, which is exacerbated in solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Development of a high energy density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries using a lithium-ion conductor, electronic conductor, mixed ionic/electronic conductors, lithiumphilic coatings, and current collectors, including ceramic, polymer, or hybrid composite frameworks, to enhance safety and performance.
The solution increases energy storage capacity, reduces the risk of damage, enables fast charging, and operates over a wide temperature range, providing a safer and more durable battery solution.
Smart Images

Figure MX434977B0
Abstract
Description
HIGH ENERGY DENSITY LITHIUM METAL-BASED ANODE FOR SOLID STATE LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES BACKGROUND OF THE DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DESCRIPTION The instant description refers to chemistry, specifically to devices that produce electrical current. More particularly, the instant description refers to the manufacture of battery components that have certain improvements in the anode design to increase the overall performance, safety, and reliability of the battery. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED TECHNIQUE A lithium-ion battery, or lithium-ion cell, is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in portable electronics and electric vehicles. Compared to earlier battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries offer faster charging, higher capacity, and greater power density, allowing for greater performance in a smaller, lighter package. While there are many reasons why lithium has become a favored element in battery technology, the most important reasons relate to its elemental structure. Lithium is highly reactive because it readily loses its outermost electron, allowing current to flow easily through a battery. As the lightest metal, lithium is significantly lighter than other metals commonly used in batteries (e.g., lead).This property is important for small objects like phones, but also for cars that require many batteries. Finally, lithium ions and electrons move easily back to positive electrodes (cathodes), allowing for numerous recharge cycles. Innovation in lithium-ion battery technology has helped minimize the form factor of electronic devices while simultaneously increasing their capabilities. Smartphones, smartwatches, wearables, and other modern electronic luxuries simply wouldn't be possible without some of the advancements in lithium-ion battery technology seen in recent decades. Conventional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte. The liquid electrolyte solution in a liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion battery is used to regulate the flow of current during charging and discharging. Current flows through the liquid electrolyte solution between the A lithium-ion battery consists of an anode and a cathode, allowing a battery user to store and then use the electrical energy stored within the battery. More specifically, lithium ions move from the negative electrode (the anode) through an electrolyte to the positive electrode (the cathode) during discharge and vice versa during charging. These lithium-ion batteries typically use a lithium compound as the cathode material and graphite as the anode material. Graphite in its fully lithium-coated state of LiCo is correlated with a maximum capacity of 372 mAh / g. While liquid lithium-ion batteries have high energy density, no memory effect, and low self-discharge, they can pose a safety hazard because they contain flammable electrolytes. If damaged and exposed to air or charged improperly, these batteries can cause explosions and fires. Recalls of removable lithium-ion batteries due to fire hazards are common and costly, and several manufacturers of portable electronics have even been forced to recall expensive electronic devices without removable batteries due to lithium-ion fires. This issue is becoming increasingly concerning due to the incorporation of liquid lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (EVs).During and immediately after an accident, an EV's liquid lithium-ion battery can easily ignite when exposed to water vapor in the air, posing a significant safety concern. This safety issue is becoming increasingly important to address as electric vehicles become more commercially viable and widely adopted. Much of the research and development to address these concerns with liquid lithium-ion batteries has focused on developing batteries with liquid-free anodes. Lithium, in its solid state, has a maximum possible capacity of 3600 mAh / g, or nearly ten times that of LiCo. However, lithium metal is also highly reactive in its solid state and migrates very unevenly. Even in liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries, if coating rates exceed what would normally be considered low critical currents (0.At current rates of 5 mA / cm², lithium can nucleate and form dendritic or mossy structures instead of smooth or flat plates. This is often the reason for the swelling, expansion, and even perforation of liquid lithium-ion batteries. In legacy versions of solid-state lithium-ion foil anode batteries, this current rate is even lower (0.1 mA / cm²). Therefore, while many advances in liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries have decreased the potential for dendritic or moss-like formations, advances in preventing this occurrence are even more important if solid-state lithium-ion anodes were to be produced. A battery with a much higher energy storage capacity would be advantageous if current rates were lower. MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO / / charging and discharging were in the same range as what consumers and manufacturers expect from liquid lithium-ion modem batteries. Therefore, it is evident that there is a recognized unmet need for improvements to enable a high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. The present description is designed to address this need through several improvements to the components and internal structure, including the anode described herein, while also addressing at least some of the issues discussed above. SUMMARY Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present description overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages and satisfies the recognized need for such an anode by introducing several improvements in battery manufacturing, construction, and design to accommodate a lithium-ion anode having a solid electrolyte (i.e., a solid-state lithium-ion anode). These generally include, but are not limited to, a lithium-ion conductor, an electronic conductor, mixed ionic / electronic conductors, lithophilic coatings, current collectors, and improved solders, either separately or in combination. By enabling a solid-state lithium-ion anode, these improvements have the potential to increase the energy storage capacity of a lithium-ion battery from its theoretical maximum in liquid electrolyte form to its more energy-dense solid form.Additionally, these improvements, alone and / or in combination, help reduce the potential for damage, such as fire, resulting from the expansion, swelling, or damage of a lithium-ion battery. These improvements, alone and / or in combination, can provide these benefits without sacrificing charging speed or power delivery to devices. One aspect of a high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is a lithium-ion conductor. The lithium-ion conductor can be manufactured in a variety of forms, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These variations in form can be best understood as separate and distinct types of lithium-ion conductors. In a possibly first preferred embodiment, the lithium-ion conductor may comprise a ceramic shell. The ceramic shell, or skeleton, may be used to support the lithium metal of the lithium-ion conductor. The lithium metal may provide the electronic conductivity, while the solid ceramic shell / skeleton may provide MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO / / volumetric support and lithium-ion conductivity. One means of combining and / or operationally engaging lithium metal with the ceramic frame / skeleton can be through the fusion infusion of lithium metal into a treated ceramic frame. Initially, only a small amount of lithium metal may need to be infused into the pre-cell assembly. In such a case, when only a small amount is infused into the pre-cell assembly of the lithium-ion conductor, all the reversible lithium that gives a cell its capacity can come from the cathode in the final assembly. This can occur through high-voltage insert cathodes such as lithium ferrophosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (ECO), nickel / manganese / cobalt (NMC), and similar cathode varieties, and / or combinations thereof.The higher surface area of the ceramic skeleton allows for faster plating / lithium extraction speeds in solid-state batteries compared to flat lithium foils. From an energy density perspective, a key requirement for ceramic skeletons is the use of low-density ceramics. One proposed example of a lightweight, low-density ceramic is Lii+xAlxTi2-xP30i2 (LATP). This type of lithium-ion conductor with a ceramic skeleton may include additional components, manufacturing methods, and variations, each with its own advantages and trade-offs. These may include the choice of active material and the type of processing applied to the functional material.These distinctions will become more evident to a person skilled in the art from the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the illustrative modalities thereof and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Drawings or Figures. In a second, possibly preferred, embodiment of the high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode conductive aspect described for solid-state lithium-ion batteries, a polymer frame or skeleton may be preferred. A polymer skeleton / frame of the high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode conductive aspect for solid-state lithium-ion batteries may offer the additional benefit of being flexible, whereas a ceramic frame / skeleton might be described as rigid.The requirements for a polymer scaffold / skeleton may include (a) a melting point above the melting point of lithium metal (180°C), (b) high lithium-ion conductivity, and (c) infusion of lithium-conductive material into the structure, such as other conductive polymers with the corresponding lithium salt (e.g., lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide / LiC2F6NO4S2 / LiTFSI) or ceramic particles embedded in the polymer and / or on its surface. This type of lithium-ion conductor with a polymer scaffold / skeleton may include additional components, manufacturing methods, and other features. MA / IZ / ZUZZ / UO / ZZ and additional variations that include various benefits and trade-offs. These may include a fiber mat that may further include polyimide, aramids, and polyimide frames. These distinctions will become more apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the illustrative modalities thereof, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Drawings or Figures. In a third, possibly preferred, embodiment of the high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode conductive aspect described for solid-state lithium-ion batteries, a hybrid composite frame or skeleton may be preferred. In this embodiment of the lithium-ion conductor having a hybrid composite frame / skeleton, there may be additional components, manufacturing methods, and variations that include various benefits and trade-offs. These may include a fiber mat that may further include fumed silica and G4 / LIFTSA, boron nitride / vanadium nitride doping, doping with other nitrides, the like, and / or combinations thereof. These distinctions will become more apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the illustrative embodiments thereof, and Claims when read in light of the accompanying Drawings or Figures. Another aspect of a high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is its electronic conductor. In addition to an infused lithium metal, an electronically conductive component may be required in the anode to improve electronic conductivity and ensure a homogeneous coating during charging. These materials can also play a crucial role in inhibiting lithium dendritic growth. Eutectic mixtures of lithium with other metals can provide a softer lithium-based metal anode with plastic-flow properties. Another aspect of high-energy-density lithium metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries could be the incorporation of mixed ionic / electronic conductors (MIECs) into the battery electrode. In combination with the anode described, MIECs could be a very promising class of solid electrode materials. MIECs differ from solid ionic conductors in that they conduct electrons themselves, in addition to ions. MIECs may be best suited for electrodes where both electronic and ionic conduction are required. However, MIECs may be unsuitable for use as battery separators, where only ionic conductivity (and electronic isolation) is required. Another aspect of high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries could be the use of lithophilic coatings for ceramic and / or polymer skeletons. Lithophilic coatings can be crucial for the use of ceramic or polymer skeletons. Since ceramic and / or polymer skeletons may not have a good interface with lithium metal in its unenhanced state, an enhancement incorporating coatings with lithophilic properties can be critical for the inclusion of such skeletons in high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. The addition of lithophilic coatings to ceramic and / or polymer skeletons can further encourage the reduction of lithium dendritic growth during coating and / or promote a smooth coating process.Lithiophilic coatings on ceramic and / or polymer frameworks can also extend the range of suitable options for ceramic or polymer frameworks to materials that might otherwise react with lithium without the coatings. This could prevent certain ceramics and / or polymers from being used with lithium in their uncoated state. Lithiophilic coatings come in a variety of forms, each of which may involve its own protocol for distribution and adhesion to a ceramic and / or polymer framework surface.The high energy density lithium metal-based anode can be understood either by virtue of the lithophilic properties of the materials used to create a lithophilic framework, or by the addition of lithophilic coatings, such as a fiber mat or polymer mat having lithophilic properties, the fiber mat or polymer fiber mat having one or more cavities through which lithium or other metals can be deposited. Another aspect of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries may be an anode current collector. A current collector is an electronic conductor that transports electrons from the anode to the cathode through an external load, powering the charging device. Traditionally, copper foil is used for anode current collectors. The use of copper foil also provides support for commercially available graphite anodes. The development of a new type of current collector that bonds well with the ceramic and / or polymer skeleton infused with lithium metal may be necessary for a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries. This current collector, as described, transports electrons through the load during battery charging and operation.Another aspect of the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries may be a novel fusion method between the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries, its coatings and components, and the surrounding battery components. Copper current collectors can typically be soldered together to carry electronic current to the bus bars outside the battery cells. As described herein, developing the current collector tabulation soldering method described herein to a ceramic and / or polymer frame / skeleton having lithophilic coatings, in combination with solid lithium metal, may further improve, or even make possible, the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries described herein.Alone or in combination, several aspects and characteristics of high-energy-density lithium metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries can offer advantages over traditional liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries, as well as over existing, available, experimental, and / or proposed solid-state lithium-ion batteries. One benefit of high-energy-density lithium metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries may be their ability to increase the energy density of the anodes above that of currently commercially available graphite-based anodes. Another benefit of high-energy-density lithium metal-based anodes for solid-state lithium-ion batteries may be their ability to provide high operating currents above 0.1–0.5 mA / cm² are currently observed for solid-state batteries, and around 10 mA / cm² can be of significant commercial importance for charging a battery in less than 30 minutes. Another feature of the high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is its ability to provide a safe lithium-metal anode structure with lithophilic interfaces that can result in a high cycle life (e.g., more than 4000 cycles), which can also be of commercial importance for electric vehicles and other durable goods that require the longevity of the installed batteries.Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is its ability to operate over a much wider temperature range (e.g., -60 °C to 150 °C) than even currently available commercial graphite-based anodes (-30 °C to 60 °C). Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is its ability to provide a pre-lithiated anode during manufacturing. Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries is its ability to provide a flexible anode.Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries could be its ability to pass a nail penetration test, which commercial graphite-based anodes cannot. Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries could be its ability to resist combustion because, for example, due to the high ceramic content of the preferred designs of this type of anode, there would be few flammable components in the batteries described. Another feature of a high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries could be the various scalable processes that result in a lithium-based anode that can be mass-produced. These and other features of the high energy density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries will become more apparent to someone skilled in the art from the foregoing Abstract and the following Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Illustrative Modalities thereof and Claims when read in the light of the accompanying Drawings or Figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The high energy density lithium metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries will be best understood by reading the Detailed Description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which similar reference numerals denote a similar structure and refer to similar elements throughout, and in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a section of an illustrative modality of the high energy density lithium metal-based anode for the solid-state lithium-ion battery of the description. Figure 2 is a diagram of the components of a state-of-the-art battery. Figure 3 is a block drawing of a battery. Figure 4 is a flow diagram of an illustrative method for manufacturing the high energy density lithium metal-based anode described. It should be noted that the drawings presented are intended for illustrative purposes only and that, therefore, it is neither desired nor intended to limit the description to any or all of the exact details of the construction shown, except to the extent that they may be considered essential to the claimed description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION In describing the illustrative embodiments of this description, as shown in Figure 14, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. However, this description is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology thus selected, and it should be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate similarly to perform similar functions. Nevertheless, the embodiments of the claims can be incorporated in many different ways and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The examples presented herein are non-limiting and are merely examples among other possible examples.It should be noted that the terms battery, cell, anode, cathode, and separator, in both their singular and plural forms, are used in connection with the high-energy-density lithium-metal-based anode for solid-state lithium-ion batteries described herein, as well as being used to describe other batteries, including, but not limited to, lithium-ion batteries with a liquid electrolyte. While a single battery cell is described herein, a person skilled in the art of battery manufacturing will understand that multiple cells may be used in the design, construction, manufacture, and assembly of a battery, and that multiple batteries may be arranged and / or installed within a complete manufactured good. While the term fiber frame is used consistently throughout this detailed description, it may also be understood to refer to a fibrous battery skeleton. With reference to Figures 1-4, which are provided for illustrative purposes only and not as a limitation, they contain example embodiments of high-energy-density lithium solid-state anodes 111 for solid-state batteries 100. The solid-state lithium-ion battery 100, the liquid-electrolyte battery 200, and the battery 300 may be referred to herein simply as the battery. The high-energy-density lithium metal-based solid-state anode 111, the liquid-electrolyte anode 211, and the anode 311 may be referred to herein simply as the anode.While variations in construction, design, composition, chemistry, and assembly may be relevant to cathode 312, for the sake of clarity and consistency throughout Figures 1-4, any reference to cathode 312 is simply the cathode, and other relevant features may be mentioned in a description related to solid-state battery 100, liquid-electrolyte battery 200, and battery 300. Solid separator 131, porous separator 231, and solid separator 131 may be referred to herein as simply the separator. Solid-state battery 100, liquid-electrolyte battery 200, and battery 300 can be charged via charger 351 and discharged in device 352.As described herein, the solid-state battery 100, the liquid electrolyte battery 200, and the battery 300 may each have a single cell or may have multiple cells connected and / or assembled in multiple layers of anode 311, cathode 312, and separator 331. Lithium, lithium metal, elemental lithium, and lithium ions may be referred to interchangeably in this description, and the description is not limited to a battery having lithium metal as its electrical flow element. Other elements may include, but are not limited to, zinc, sodium, cobalt, nickel, lead, potassium, other metals, salts thereof, similar metals, and / or combinations thereof. In a possibly preferred illustrative embodiment, the solid-state battery 100 may include the following components: a solid-state anode 111 having a solid electrolyte 112 with a fiber frame and shown with a metal ion deposit 120, a solid separator 131, and a cathode 312 having a solid-state cathode current collector 132. In an embodiment of the liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion battery 200, the liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion battery 200 may include the following components: a liquid-electrolyte anode 211 with graphite anode active material 212 and an anode current collector 233, a porous separator 231, and a cathode 312 with a liquid-electrolyte cathode current collector 232. In an embodiment of the battery 300, the battery 300 may include the following components and connections: an anode 311, cathode 312, separator 331, charger 351 and powered device 352. Referring now more specifically to Figure 1, it illustrates an example of a solid-state battery 100. Starting towards the top is the solid-state anode 111, which has a solid separator 131 both above and below it. The solid-state anode 111 can be formed from one or more layers of solid electrolyte 112, each layer of which can be formed from the fiber frame. Generally, the solid-state anode 111 can be understood as the negative or reducing electrode that releases electrons to the external circuit (see Figure 3) and is oxidized during an electrochemical reaction. The cathode 312 can be understood as the positive or oxidizing electrode that acquires electrons from the external circuit (see Figure 3) and is reduced during the electrochemical reaction.In this preferred embodiment, the solid-state anode 111 may be composed of the solid electrolyte 112, which can be understood as a framework of interconnected fibers. The fibers 10 interconnected to the framework in the solid-state anode 111 may have a variety of properties and may be flexible or rigid. In the case of a ceramic fiber framework, the ceramic may be used to provide structure, support for the solid-state anode 111 and the solid-state battery 100, as well as a surface on which lithium or other metals may be deposited. The lithium metal in the metal-ion deposit 120 may provide electronic conductivity for the solid-state battery 100, while the solid ceramic framework / skeleton may provide volumetric support, a surface layer for the metal-ion deposit 120, and lithium-ion conductivity.During the charging and discharging of the solid-state battery 100, the metal-ion deposit 120 can grow in size toward the solid separator 131 or shrink toward the center of the solid-state anode 111. One way to combine, fabricate, and / or operationally engage the metal-ion deposit 120 with the fiber armature of the solid electrolyte 112 is through the fusion infusion of lithium metal into the treated ceramic armature. Initially, only a small amount of lithium metal may need to be infused into the pre-cell assembly of the solid-state anode 111. In such a case, when only a small amount is infused into the pre-cell assembly of the solid-state anode 111, most or even all of the reversible lithium that gives a cell its capacity can come from the cathode 312 in the final assembly.Consequently, during the first charge and during all subsequent charges of the solid-state battery 100, the metal-ion deposit 120 may be detected or observed to be very small or close to the center of the solid-state anode 111. During the charging process of the solid-state battery 100, the metal-ion deposit 120 may be detected or observed to grow in size outwards towards the solid separator 131, even growing to occupy the entire space within the fiber armature of the solid-state anode 111 along the solid electrolyte 112. The deposition of lithium and / or other metals may further occur through the temporary use of high-voltage insert cathodes such as lithium ferrophosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), nickel / manganese / cobalt (NMC), and similar cathode varieties, and / or combinations thereof.The larger surface area of the solid electrolyte 112, which has a ceramic fiber frame, allows for higher operating speeds (lithium plating / extraction) of the solid-state battery 100 compared to a flat lithium foil. However, a flat lithium foil can also be used as an initial form of metal-ion deposition 120 and can also be melt-infused along the center of the solid-state anode 111 within the solid electrolyte 112. MA / t / ZUZZ / UO ZZZ / From an energy density standpoint, an important requirement for ceramic fiber scaffolds of the solid electrolyte 112 may be the use of low-density ceramics. One proposed example of a lightweight, low-density ceramic is LiI+XAl1xTi2-xP3O12 (LATP). In this embodiment of the solid-state anode 111 having a solid electrolyte 112 comprising ceramic, there may be additional components, manufacturing methods, and other variations that include various advantages and trade-offs. These may include the choice of active material and the type of processing of the functional material. In a potentially preferred embodiment of a ceramic version of the solid electrolyte 112, coating materials with particular metal-attracting qualities may provide an added benefit by promoting a uniform and even coating along the internal fiber scaffold.These may include engineering the solid-state anode 111 having solid electrolyte 112 to measure approximately 80–90 pm in total thickness per layer, approximately 5 cm x 5 cm in total length and width along the solid separator 131, with internal fiber scaffold porosity percentages greater than 70%, having individual and / or average fiber diameters of less than 0.35 pm, having individual and / or average fiber lengths of more than 1 mm, having a coating thickness of approximately 10 nm, and having coating material comprising oxides, nitrides, polymers, or ceramics. Oxide coating materials for the fibers within the solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and not limitation, include niobium, Al₂O₃ + ZnO (AZO), aluminum, indium, zinc, bismuth, magnesium, silicon, gold, iodine, and sulfur oxides, similar materials, and / or combinations thereof.Nitride coating materials for the fibers within the solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include boron, vanadium nitrides, and similar materials and combinations thereof. Polymer coating materials for the fibers within the solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include succinonitrile (SCN). Ceramic coating materials for the fibers within the solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include chloroborates (CB), lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), and similar materials, and / or combinations thereof. By applying one or more coatings to a ceramic fiber structure of the solid electrolyte 112, the ceramic, which may not readily bond to lithium or other metals, can be encouraged to bond to lithium, thereby acting as an electrolyte over which solid metals, including lithium ions, can move freely during charging and discharging. In a second possibly preferred embodiment of the lithium conductive aspect of the anode 111 of the solid-state battery 100, a polymer shell in the solid electrolyte 112 is preferred. MA / iz / zuzz / uo r zz / The polymer frame of the solid electrolyte 112 within the solid-state anode 111 can offer the added advantage of being flexible, whereas the previous ceramic fiber frame of the solid electrolyte 112 within the solid-state anode 111 can be described as rigid. This can offer several advantages and trade-offs, both at the level of the individual cell or the layer of the solid-state battery 100, but it also offers several advantages and trade-offs to the powered device 352, which has the solid-state battery 100 installed.The requirements for the polymer framework and the materials deposited thereon of the solid-state anode 111 may include (a) a melting point above the melting point of lithium metal (180°C), (b) the non-conductivity of lithium ions, and (c) the infusion of lithium-conductive material into the solid electrolyte structure 112, such as other conductive polymers with the corresponding lithium salt (e.g., lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide / LiC2F6NO4S2 / LiTFSI) or ceramic particles embedded in the polymer and / or on its surface. In this embodiment of the solid-state anode 111 having a polymer framework of solid electrolyte 112, there may be additional components, manufacturing methods, and other variations that include various advantages and trade-offs. These may include a fiber mat extending along the solid-state anode 111 and the solid electrolyte 112, which may further include aramids and polyimide frames.Furthermore, although not all ceramic fiber scaffold coatings are applicable to a polymer or polymer fiber scaffold, and although not all properties and characteristics of a ceramic fiber scaffold are directly applicable to a polymer or polymer fiber scaffold, some may be. These may include engineering a solid-state anode 111 having a solid electrolyte 112 to measure approximately 80–90 µm in total thickness per layer, approximately 5 cm x 5 cm in total length and width along the solid separator 131, with internal fiber scaffold porosity percentages greater than 70%, having individual and / or average fiber diameters of less than 0.35 µm, having individual and / or average fiber lengths of more than 1 mm, having a coating thickness of approximately 10 nm, and having a coating material comprising oxides, nitrides, polymers, or ceramics.Oxide coating materials for fibers within solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and not limitation, include niobium, Al₂O₃ + ZnO (AZO), aluminum, indium, zinc, bismuth, magnesium, silicon, gold, iodine, and sulfur oxides, and similar materials and / or combinations thereof. Nitride coating materials for fibers within solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include boron, vanadium nitrides, and similar materials and combinations thereof. Polymeric coating materials for fibers within solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include succinonitrile (SCN). Ceramic coating materials for fibers within solid electrolyte 112, by way of example and without limitation, include chloroborates (CB), lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON), and similar materials and / or combinations thereof.By using one or more coatings on a ceramic fiber structure of the solid electrolyte 112, the ceramic, which may not readily bond to lithium, or other metals, can be encouraged to bond to lithium, thereby acting as an electrolyte over which solid metals, including lithium ions, can move freely during charging and discharging. In a potentially preferred embodiment of a ceramic fiber scaffold or a polymer fiber scaffold of a solid-state anode 111 and solid electrolyte 112, the initial lithium deposits can be important for several reasons. These can initially form in the metal ion deposit 120 in a very small, almost negligible amount, but grow in size, weight, and volume, and may even occupy all the empty space within the solid-state anode 111 and solid electrolyte 112. This can be achieved through various means, although a potentially preferred process for initially depositing the metal near the center of the solid-state anode 111 on the surface of the solid electrolyte 112, and its fibers, may be through lithium foil fusion infusion. Additionally, the fabrication of the fibers themselves, whether ceramic or polymeric, can offer several important improvements in the structure, formation, and overall properties of the solid electrolyte 112, the solid-state anode 111, and the solid-state battery 100. These techniques may have little or no known application in the battery technology industry, but they can have significant applications in materials science and the nonwoven materials industry. One such process may involve sol-gel processes, which can preferentially occur prior to the deposition of metal ions 120. In this chemical procedure, a sol (a colloidal solution) can be formed, which then gradually evolves into a two-phase, gel-like system containing both a liquid and a solid phase, the morphologies of which range from discrete particles to continuous polymer networks.In the case of colloids, the volume fraction of the particles can be so low that it may be necessary to initially remove a significant amount of fluid for the gel properties to be recognized. One such means of fluid removal is simply to allow sedimentation to occur and then discard the remaining liquid. Centrifugation can also be used to accelerate the phase separation process. Removal of the remaining liquid phase (solvent) requires a drying process and can result in a significant amount of shrinkage. MA / IZ / ZUZZ / UO / ZZ / densification. The rate at which the solvent can be removed is ultimately determined by the porosity distribution in the gel. The final microstructure of the component can be significantly influenced by the changes imposed on the structural template during this processing phase. A heat treatment, or baking process, is often necessary to promote further polycondensation and improve mechanical properties and structural stability through final sintering, densification, and grain growth. One of the clear advantages of using this methodology over more traditional processing techniques is that densification is often achieved at a much lower temperature.The precursor sol can be deposited onto a substrate to form a film (e.g., by dip coating, spin coating, or electrocentrifugation), melted into a suitable container of the desired shape (e.g., to obtain monolithic ceramics, glasses, fibers, membranes, aerogels), or used to synthesize powders (e.g., microspheres, nanospheres). This technique, in combination with electrocentrifugation, is known to create a paper-like material with open cavities that can be well-suited for depositing metals, specifically lithium ions. Additional processes that can further enhance this space-filling and open-cavity characteristic of the solid electrolyte 112, through the use of various compositions of the ceramics and polymers described, may include coprecipitation, evaporation, self-assembly, and the use of nanoparticles. In a ceramic or polymeric embodiment of the solid electrolyte 112, the material comprising the fibrous structure with open cavities and the fibrous structure with a lithophilic coating can be considered an active material, comprising the solid-state anode 111. In other words, the active material of the solid-state anode 111 can be the solid electrolyte 112, which is the active material through which lithium ions migrate, aggregating in the metal-ion reservoir 120. Whatever active material is fabricated to create the solid-state anode 111 can be processed into a functional material having these properties and acting as the solid electrolyte 112 of the solid-state battery 100. A first step in this process can be the synthesis of a fiber mat including substances such as LATP, chloroborates, and sulfide ceramics.The sol-gel stages, or other processes for forming the open-cavity structure of the solid electrolyte 112, can be improved by reducing the required firing temperature through the implementation of allovalent substitutions. Other improvements may include maximizing density through the use of flow additives (e.g., Li2O, MgO, ZnO, U3PO4, U3BO3, B2O3, LiBO2, Al2O3, Ta, Nb, Y, Al, Si, Mg, Ca, YSZ, 15). MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO / / NiO, Fe2U3, similar materials, and / or combinations thereof). To achieve the processing of the functional material of the solid electrolyte 112, the active material of a pre-assembled solid electrolyte 112 may be required to obtain a robust functional laminate, sheets, or mats for use as a solid-state anode 111. Additives may be added to the slurry to process a green laminate during the rapid sintering process. These slurry additives may include, but are not limited to, resins, oils, and dispersants (e.g., PAA, glucose, PVP, ethylene glycol, oleic acid, ultrasonic horn, similar materials, and / or combinations thereof). Sintering the green material using methods known to those skilled in the art can be a lengthy process (>10 hours) and may need to be carried out at high temperatures (>1250 °C).These traditional requirements can entail high operating costs, difficulty in scaling up, and undesirable lithium loss through evaporation during sintering. Lithium loss at these times and temperatures may need to be counteracted by using additional lithium salts during synthesis, further increasing costs. Instead, methods that allow for scalable application in an open atmosphere and avoid lithium loss or consumption should be adopted. The resulting sintered green laminate must contain cavities for post-sintering fusion infusion of lithium metal, which can occur at room temperature. These cavities can be constructed using sacrificial plastic / carbon beads or by electrocentrifugation on fiber mats, as previously described.The resulting solid electrolyte 112 can then be suitable for lithium deposition along with metal ion deposition 120. Alternative measures to promote these properties in the solid electrolyte 112, thereby creating an optimal solid-state anode 111, may include, but are not limited to, reactive sintering of the starting materials, sintering within an electric field, microwave sintering, spark plasma sintering (SPS), cold sintering using solvent evaporation and CSP salts, and flash sintering using high currents. Alternatively, or in combination with these solid electrolyte 112 development techniques, porous sheets can be fabricated using sacrificial beads, which are various plastics or carbons with low vaporization temperatures that can be removed and / or destroyed by leaving openings in the fiber mat, or by developing a ceramic fiber mat using electrocentrifugation.Other means considered that apply specifically to polymer fiber versions of solid electrolyte 112 include the use of polymers that have the melting point of lithium metal (180°C). These polymers typically do not conduct lithium ions, and therefore would meet a requirement of 16. MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO / / structural function into which additional lithium-conducting material can be infused, such as other conducting polymers (with the corresponding lithium salt, such as LiTFSI) or ceramic particles. For example, by way of example and not limitation, a fiber mat comprising polyimide (with a melting point of 450 °C) can be infused with molten lithium and used as a coating. Other examples include aramids and polyamide frames. Another example of a suitable formation for solid electrolyte 112 could be a hybrid composite structure having properties of both polymer fiber and ceramic fiber. A hybrid composite fiber mat could include fumed silica and G4 / LITFSA doped with boron / vanadium (or other nitrides) on the surface. Furthermore, the structure and surface composition of the solid electrolyte 112 may be coating alternatives that can offer, alone or in combination, additional benefits for the deposition, mobility, and smooth plating of the metal ion deposit 120. These may include CVD / PVD / PECVD and / or ALD vapor deposition in combination with AZO coating, the use of L, L13N, Li3PO4, LLZO, LigAlSiOs, Li3OCl, LiCFUOH, or the use of metals that alloy well with lithium, including, but not limited to, aluminum, indium, zinc, magnesium, silicon, and / or gold. The solution coating can also be used on the solid electrolyte 112, or form a critical component thereof, which can be developed by using a sulfur-based solution coating method with solutions of, for example, polysulfides, dissolved sulfur-doped argyrodite ZnO LiOPSsBr, L12S3 or L13S4 dissolved in DEGDME.Additionally, polymeric coatings can be used to cover the surface of the solid electrolyte 112. These coatings may include SN / FEC with additives and salts (e.g., CsPF₂, CsTFSI, L₁NO₃, LiF, CUF₂), elastomers such as SHP, and even adhesives such as polydopamine and / or polysiloxanes. These various coatings of the solid electrolyte 112 can offer several advantages, including reducing lithium dendritic growth during plating in the metal ion deposition 120 and in the solid electrolyte 112, expanding the range of possible solid electrolyte 112 composition options for various applications, and preventing reactions between various materials commonly used in the construction of the solid-state anode 111 and lithium or other metals. Alternatively, the description herein contemplates that the metal ion deposit 120 may be replaced by an anodic current collector placed on the solid-state anode 111 within the solid electrolyte 112. These may include sheets or coatings on which metals, specifically lithium, can be deposited. Illustrative materials for an anodic current collector 17 placed on the solid-state anode 111 within the solid electrolyte 112 may include, but are not limited to, vanadium nitride, lithium-aluminum alloy(s), liquid metals including gallium, indium, and tin, similar materials, and / or combinations thereof. With reference now specifically to Figure 2, which illustrates an example of a cross-sectional view of a cell of the liquid electrolyte lithium-ion battery 200, a traditional lithium-ion battery, such as the liquid electrolyte lithium-ion battery 200, generally includes a liquid electrolyte anode 211 with graphite anode active material 212 and anode current collector 233, a porous separator 231, and a cathode 312 with a liquid electrolyte cathode current collector 232. Known variants of liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries can achieve capacities of 275 Wh / kg and are rechargeable, but they have the serious shortcomings mentioned in the Background section. If sufficient open space is achieved while maintaining the structure, the smooth lithium coating, and other considerations described herein, the 100 solid-state battery can achieve substantially higher capacities while also providing additional benefits such as durability, safety, fast charging, and other previously mentioned advantages. For example, the 275 Wh / kg capacity of the 200 liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion battery can be compared to the 100 solid-state battery described herein, which, in various forms and combinations, has achieved capacities exceeding 635 Wh / kg. With reference now specifically to Figure 3, which illustrates a simple block diagram for battery 300 having anode 311, cathode 312, separator 331, charger 351, and powered device 352. When cathode 312 is in conductive contact with charger 351, a circuit is formed with anode 311, thereby charging battery 300. Alternatively, when cathode 312 is in conductive contact with powered device 352, a circuit is formed with anode 311, and powered device 351 is supplied. Each of the charging and supplying processes occurs through any known form of electrochemical process between anode 311 and cathode 312.In addition to the various features, components, manufacturing methods, and improvements of the solid-state anode 111 of the solid-state battery 100, as described herein, parts and features of battery 300 may be required to fully manufacture and use the solid-state battery 100. Furthermore, various improvements to parts of battery 300, known and developed in the art of battery manufacturing, including the manufacture of the solid-state battery 100, may further enhance the benefits, as described herein, of the solid-state anode 111. MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO lt mere replacement of the solid state anode 111 with the anode 311 may not be sufficient, and an expert in the technique of battery design and manufacturing can implement and adapt the characteristics of the solid state anode 111 in the battery 300 to take full advantage of the description in the present description. With reference now specifically to Figure 4, which illustrates a flow diagram of an illustrative method for manufacturing the solid-state anode 111 of the solid-state battery 100, starting in the first stage of the method 401, the fibrous scaffold is converted into the solid-state anode 111, which is an active material. Optionally, additional layers of fibrous scaffold can be assembled to form the solid-state anode 111 in the second (optional) stage 402, and the fibrous scaffold layers can be fused together in the third (optional) stage 403. A lithophilic coating can be applied to the solid-state anode 111 in the fourth stage of the method 404. In the fifth stage of the method 405, a lithium deposit can be infused into the solid-state anode 111 to form a metal-ion deposit 120.To form the solid-state battery 100, the solid-state anode 111, the solid separator 131, and the solid-state cathode 312 can be brought into contact with each other in the sixth step of method 406, and then tabulation soldering can be used to connect the solid-state anode 111 and the solid-state cathode 312. The steps of the method described in Figure 4 can be rearranged, repeated, and / or rearranged as a person skilled in the art wishes to achieve the desired effects. With regard to the above description, then, it should be realized that the optimal dimensional relationships, to include variations in size, materials, shape, position, function and manner of operation, assembly, type of anode / cathode / battery container, type of connection(s), and use, are intended to be covered in the present description.This description contemplates that the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode, or solid-state anode 111, for solid-state lithium-ion batteries (solid-state battery 100), and the various parts and components described herein, may include a variety of overall sizes and corresponding sizes for and of various parts, including, but not limited to: the solid-state anode 111, the solid electrolyte 112, the metal-ion reservoir 120, the solid separator 131, the cathode 312, the cathode current collector 132, and similar parts and / or combinations thereof. In fact, these various parts and components of the solid-state battery 100 may vary in size, shape, etc., during standard operation of the solid-state battery 100.The description of the high-energy-density lithium metal-based solid-state anode 111 for the solid-state battery 100 in the aforementioned description mentions 19 benefits for electric vehicles and other electronic devices, but the invention is not so limited. The high-energy-density lithium metal anode for the solid-state lithium-ion batteries described herein may have applications for powering other vehicles, computers, businesses, homes, industrial facilities, consumer and portable electronics, hospitals, factories, warehouses, government facilities, data centers, emergency backups, aerospace, space travel, robotics, drones, etc., and / or combinations thereof. The chemical formulas, metals, and atomic and molecular compositions (the described formulas) provided herein are for illustrative purposes only.A person skilled in the art would know that variations of the described formulas can offer offsets to the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode 111 described for the solid-state battery 100 and can be substituted to achieve similar advantages to the high-energy-density lithium metal-based anode for the solid-state lithium-ion batteries described. Furthermore, it is envisaged that due to variations in materials and manufacturing techniques, including but not limited to polymers, alloys, metals, assembly, tabs, solders, atmospheric composition, and the like, and their combinations, a variety of considerations may need to be taken into account with regard to battery manufacturing.However, although the inventor has considered several methods of manufacturing and assembling a battery to achieve the result(s) of increased electrical storage capacity per mass (energy density), by providing high operating currents, by increasing the durability and longevity of a battery, by increasing the range in which a battery can operate reliably, providing a safer battery, and a more efficient means of production, the description is not limited to the specific components, benefits recited and described herein, and / or the manufacturing methods recited herein. The preceding description and drawings comprise illustrative modalities. By describing the illustrative modalities in this way, those skilled in the art should bear in mind that the descriptions in the present description are only examples, and that other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of this description. The mere fact of enumerating or numbering the steps of a method in a particular order does not constitute any limitation on the order of the steps of that method. Many modifications and other modalities will occur to a person skilled in the art to whom this description belongs, having benefited from the teachings presented in the preceding descriptions and associated drawings. Although specific terms may be employed in the present description, they are used only in a 20 MA / IZ / ¿U¿¿ / UO lt generic and descriptive sense and not for the purpose of limitation. Accordingly, the present description is not limited to the specific modalities illustrated herein, but is limited only by the following claims.
Claims
1. A battery, the battery comprising: at least one cathode having a current collector; at least one anode, the at least one anode having a lithophilic fiber scaffold; at least one separator in contact with said at least one cathode and said at least one anode; and a fusion-infused lithium sheet disposed in the fiber scaffold; wherein the fiber scaffold together with the fusion-infused lithium sheet forms a solid electrolyte capable of receiving a lithium metal deposit.
2. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithophilic fiber frame comprises a ceramic fiber mat.
3. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the fusion-infused lithium sheet acts as a current collector within said anode.
4. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithophilic fiber frame comprises a polymer mat.
5. The battery according to claim 4, wherein the polymer mat is formed by electrocentrifugation.
6. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one separator is solid.
7. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithophilic fiber frame further comprises a fibrous material having a lithophilic surface coating deposited thereon.
8. The battery according to claim 7, wherein the lithophilic surface coating is at least one coating from a group of coatings, the group of coatings consisting of oxides, nitrides, polymers, and ceramics. MA / IZ / ZUZZ / UO / ZZ t 9. The battery according to claim 8, wherein the oxides are at least one oxide from a group of oxides, the group of oxides consisting of niobium oxide, Al2O3+ ZnO (AZO), aluminum oxide, indium oxide, zinc oxide, bismuth oxide, magnesium oxide, silicon oxide, gold oxide, iodine oxide, and sulfur oxide.
10. The battery according to claim 7, wherein a volume of at least 70% of the lithophilic fiber frame comprises an open cavity, the open cavity being capable of receiving solid lithium-ion lithium metal.
11. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithophilic fiber frame is formed from at least one material from a group of materials, the group of materials consisting of a ceramic fiber and a polymeric fiber.
12. The battery according to claim 11, wherein the at least one material comprises a fiber bundle, the fiber bundle having a diameter less than 0.5 pm, a length greater than 1 mm, a lithophilic coating thickness of approximately 10 nm, and arranged to achieve a porosity greater than 70%, a mat thickness of approximately 86 pm, and a separator contact area of approximately 5 cm by 5 cm.
13. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a solid-state lithium-ion battery and said at least one anode and said at least one cathode do not contain liquid electrolyte.
14. The battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithophilic fiber frame is a solid.
15. An anode comprising: a conductive fiber framework; and an active material deposited on said conductive framework, the active material having lithophilic properties capable of receiving 30% solid lithium metal by mass.
16. A battery comprising: MA / iz / ζυζζ / υο r zz / at least one anode according to claim 1; at least one cathode; and a solid separator in contact with said at least one anode according to claim 1 and said at least one cathode.
17. The battery according to claim 16, wherein the anode further comprises a fusion-infused lithium sheet disposed in said active material.
18. The battery according to claim 17, wherein the active material is a ceramic fiber frame.
19. The battery according to claim 17, wherein the active material is a polymer fiber frame.
20. The battery according to claim 17, wherein the active material is at least one active material from a group of active materials, the group of active materials consisting of a ceramic fiber scaffold and a polymer fiber scaffold, each of the active materials having a lithophilic coating.