Metallic anode for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a metal anode comprising (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed over the copper current collector (106); (c) a composite coating (102) disposed over the lithium metal layer (104). The present disclosure discloses a composite coating comprising a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes. The present disclosure also discloses a facile method of manufacturing the metal anode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to the field of lithium-ion batteries, and particularly to an anode for lithium-ion batteries. Background Technology

[0002] Lithium-ion batteries are highly popular in power technology due to their unique advantages over other technologies. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries offer high energy density and are relatively lightweight. Furthermore, they can provide a large amount of current for high-power applications, approximately three times that of other battery types. Lithium-ion batteries have wide applications in many fields, such as portable electronic devices, electric vehicles, and aerospace propulsion. However, to overcome some of the drawbacks of lithium-ion batteries, various technological improvements are needed. These include trends such as overheating, thermal runaway, capacity loss, and high manufacturing costs. Current research focuses on electrode modification, electrolyte selection, and separator structure to improve performance.

[0003] Although various methods exist for forming lithium anodes, improvements are still needed to enhance the formation process, which would make it easier to manufacture lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, enhanced conductivity, and improved electrochemical performance. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal (104) layer disposed above the copper current collector (106); and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer (104), wherein the composite coating (102) comprises a porous mixture of metal oxides and carbon nanotubes.

[0005] In another aspect of the invention, a method for manufacturing a metal anode is provided, the method comprising: a) obtaining a metal precursor; b) grinding the metal precursor to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide; c) bonding carbon nanotubes to the porous mixed metal oxide in the presence of a binder to obtain a composite coating; and d) encapsulating lithium metal-copper-lithium metal with the composite coating.

[0006] In another aspect of the invention, a battery is also provided, comprising: (a) a cathode, (b) a metal anode comprising: (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the copper current collector (106); and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer (104); and (c) an electrolyte.

[0007] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this subject matter will be better understood with reference to the following description and the appended claims. The summary portion of this invention is intended to present a series of concepts in a simplified form. This portion of the invention is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Specific embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the leftmost digit of the reference numeral indicates the first graphic element to which that reference numeral appears. The same numerals are used throughout the drawings to refer to similar features and components.

[0009] Figure 1 A diagram depicts a metal anode manufactured according to an embodiment of this subject.

[0010] Figure 2 A diagram illustrating a lithium-ion battery structure according to an embodiment of this subject matter is provided, the structure including a fabricated metal anode.

[0011] Figure 3 A diagram illustrating a lithium pouch cell structure according to an embodiment of this subject matter is provided, the structure including a fabricated metal anode. Detailed Implementation

[0012] Those skilled in the art will understand that variations and modifications may be made to this disclosure other than those specifically described. It should be understood that this disclosure includes all such variations and modifications. This disclosure also includes all such steps, features, compositions, and compounds mentioned or indicated individually or in whole in the specification, as well as any and all combinations of any or more of these steps or features.

[0013] definition:

[0014] For convenience, certain terms and examples used in this specification are summarized herein before further description of this disclosure. These definitions should be read and understood by those skilled in the art according to the remainder of the invention. The terms used herein have meanings recognized and known to those skilled in the art; however, for convenience and complete understanding, specific terms and their meanings are described below.

[0015] Words such as “a”, “an”, and “the” are used to indicate one or more (i.e., at least one) objects in a grammatical sense.

[0016] The use of the word “comprise” and its variant “comprising” is inclusive and open-ended, meaning that it can include other elements. It should not be interpreted as “consisting only of…”.

[0017] In this specification, unless the context otherwise requires, the word “comprise” and synonyms such as “comprises” and “comprising” will be understood to include the said element or step or a group of elements or steps, but not to exclude any other element or step.

[0018] The word “including” is used to mean “including but not limited to”, and “including” and “including but not limited to” are used interchangeably.

[0019] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. Although similar or equivalent methods and materials to those described herein may be used in practice or testing of this disclosure, preferred methods and materials are described here. All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] Ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented in range format herein. It should be understood that this range format is for convenience and brevity only and should be flexibly interpreted to include not only the values ​​explicitly listed as range limits, but also all individual values ​​or subranges contained within that range, as if each value and subrange were explicitly listed. For example, a temperature range of approximately 20°C to 70°C should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly stated limit between approximately 20°C and approximately 70°C, but also subranges such as 22°C to 45°C to 70°C, etc., and individual quantities within the specified range, including fractions such as 20.5°C, 41.1°C, and 59.9°C.

[0021] The term "current collector" refers to the metal used in electrode manufacturing. In this invention, copper is the current collector at the anode end, and aluminum is the current collector at the cathode end. The movement of lithium ions generates free electrons in the anode, thereby generating a charge at the positive (anode) current collector. Current then flows from the current collector back to the current collector through a device that supplies power to the negative (cathode) current collector, thus enhancing the electrochemical performance of the current collector.

[0022] In this disclosure, the phrase "disposed on top" refers to encapsulation. In this disclosure, lithium metal disposed above the copper current collector means that the lithium metal encapsulates the copper current collector and forms a Li-Cu-Li layer of the metal anode. In this disclosure, the phrase "disposed on" means coated on one side. In this invention, a composite coating is disposed on the lithium metal, meaning that the composite coating is coated on one side (outer side) of the lithium metal.

[0023] The term "spray coating formation" refers to the process of coating a material onto a substrate by spraying a coating material onto the substrate surface and then drying it. In this disclosure, a composite coating is layered onto a metal surface by forming a spray coating.

[0024] The term "scalpel coating" refers to a technique that uses a scraper to apply a thin layer of coating material to a surface. In this disclosure, this technique is used for composite coatings on metal surfaces.

[0025] The term "separator" refers to a polymer material that blocks the flow of electrons inside a battery. Polymer separators act as electrical insulators.

[0026] The term "electrolyte" refers to a substance that conducts electricity when in contact with a solvent. The term "non-aqueous electrolyte solution" refers to an electrolyte salt solution dissolved in an organic solvent capable of conducting ions. The term "solid electrolyte" refers to a solid electrolytic material having high ionic conductivity. The term "inorganic solid electrolyte" refers to an inorganic material that can be used as an electrolyte. In this disclosure, the terms "non-aqueous electrolyte solution," "solid electrolyte," and "inorganic solid electrolyte" refer to all electrolytic materials commonly used in lithium-ion batteries.

[0027] The scope of this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described herein, which are for illustrative purposes only. As described herein, functionally equivalent products, compositions, and methods are clearly within the scope of this disclosure.

[0028] Conventional lithium-ion batteries consist of graphite as the anode, lithium metal oxide as the cathode, a lithium salt containing an organic solvent as the electrolyte, and a polymer separator. The conventional graphite electrode is replaced by lithium metal as the anode to achieve high energy density. However, electrochemical cycling with lithium metal as the anode is challenging due to its large volumetric variation and interfacial instability. When lithium metal is used as the anode, lithium ions deposit anywhere at the battery device interface and tend to form a highly dendritic distribution. This leads to cracking of the solid electrolyte interface, resulting in electrochemical hotspots and triggering filamentary growth. This continuous reaction between the lithium metal and the electrolyte leads to severe capacity decay. Therefore, a suitable anode is needed that can suppress dendritic crystal formation in the first stage and subsequently prevent capacity decay. To suppress dendrite formation and enhance lithium-ion mobility, this disclosure provides a metal anode comprising a copper current collector (106); a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide (a binary mixture of mixed metal oxides) and conductive carbon nanotubes.

[0029] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes.

[0030] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, and wherein the lithium metal layer has a thickness in the range of 40 μm to 50 μm.

[0031] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the copper current collector (106); and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, and wherein the lithium metal layer has a thickness in the range of 45 μm to 50 μm. In another embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode as described herein is provided, wherein the lithium metal layer has a thickness of 50 μm.

[0032] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, and wherein the composite coating has a thickness in the range of 5 μm to 20 μm. In another embodiment of this disclosure, the composite coating has a thickness in the range of 10 μm to 20 μm. In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, the composite coating has a thickness of 20 μm.

[0033] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, and wherein the composite coating comprises at least one binder.

[0034] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode as described herein is provided, wherein the composite coating comprises at least one binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and combinations thereof. In another embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode as described herein is provided, wherein the binder is polyvinylidene fluoride.

[0035] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode as described herein is provided, wherein the composite coating has a porosity in the range of 30 to 40% by volume relative to the composite coating.

[0036] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a metal anode is provided, comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) having a thickness in the range of 40 μm to 50 μm; and (c) a composite coating having a thickness in the range of 5 μm to 20 μm, the composite coating comprising a porous mixture of metal oxides and carbon nanotubes disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises at least one binder selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and combinations thereof, and wherein the composite coating has a porosity in the range of 30 to 40 vol% relative to the composite coating.

[0037] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a metal anode is provided, the metal anode comprising: (a) a copper current collector (106); (b) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (c) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, the method comprising (i) obtaining a metal precursor; (ii) grinding the metal precursor to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide; (iii) bonding carbon nanotubes to the porous mixed metal oxide in the presence of an adhesive to obtain a composite coating; and (iv) encapsulating a lithium metal-copper-lithium metal composite coating.

[0038] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing the metal anode described herein is provided, wherein the metal precursor is selected from the group consisting of SiO2, SnF2, and combinations thereof.

[0039] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing the metal anode described herein is provided, wherein the metal precursor is milled at a temperature ranging from 20°C to 70°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide. In another embodiment of this disclosure, the metal precursor is milled at a temperature ranging from 20°C to 60°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide. In yet another embodiment of this disclosure, the metal precursor is milled at an initial temperature ranging from 20°C to 30°C and a final temperature ranging from 50°C to 60°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide.

[0040] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing the metal anode described herein is provided, wherein a lithium metal-copper-lithium metal composite coating is encapsulated by a process selected from spray coating formation or blade coating.

[0041] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a metal anode is provided, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a metal precursor selected from the group consisting of SiO2, SnF2, and combinations thereof; (b) milling the metal precursor at a temperature in the range of 20°C to 30°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide; (c) incorporating carbon nanotubes into the porous mixed metal oxide in the presence of an adhesive selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and combinations thereof; and (d) encapsulating lithium metal-copper-lithium metal with the composite coating by a process selected from spray coating or blade coating.

[0042] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a method for manufacturing a metal anode is provided, the method comprising: (a) obtaining a metal precursor selected from the group consisting of SiO2, SnF2 and combinations thereof; (b) milling the metal precursor at a temperature in the range of 20°C to 30°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide; (c) bonding carbon nanotubes to the porous mixed metal oxide in the presence of a binder polyvinylidene fluoride to obtain a composite coating; and (d) encapsulating lithium metal-copper-lithium metal with the composite coating by a process selected from spray coating formation or blade coating.

[0043] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating includes a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes; and (c) an electrolyte.

[0044] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery as described herein is provided, wherein the cathode and the metal anode are kept separate by a porous separator.

[0045] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the cathode and the metal anode are kept separate by a porous separator.

[0046] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein a separator prevents electrical contact between the cathode and the anode while allowing ion conduction between the cathode and the anode.

[0047] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the separator comprises a material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, or a ceramic-coated polymer film.

[0048] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the cathode and the metal anode are kept separate by a porous separator selected from polyethylene or polypropylene, and wherein the separator prevents electrical contact between the cathode and the anode while allowing ion conduction between the cathode and the anode.

[0049] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery as described herein is provided, wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of: non-aqueous electrolyte solutions, solid electrolytes, and inorganic solid electrolytes.

[0050] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery as described herein is provided, wherein the cathode is selected from the group consisting of: LiCoO2, LiCo 0.99 Al 0.01 O2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiCo 0.5 Ni 0.5 O2, LiCo 0.7 Ni 0.3 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.2 O2, LiCo 0.82 Ni 0.18 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.15 Al 0.05 O2, LiN 0.4 Co 0.3 Mn 0.3 O2 and LiNi 0.33 Co 0.33 Mn 0.34 O2.

[0051] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, comprising (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, comprising (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer; and (c) an electrolyte, wherein the cathode and the metal anode are kept separate by a porous separator, wherein the separator prevents electrical contact between the cathode and the anode while allowing ion conduction between the cathode and the anode, and wherein the separator comprises a material selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, or a ceramic-coated polymer film, and wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of: non-aqueous electrolyte solutions, solid electrolytes, and inorganic solid electrolytes, and wherein the cathode is selected from the group consisting of: LiCoO2, LiCo... 0.99 Al 0.01 O2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiCo 0.5 Ni 0.5 O2, LiCo 0.7 Ni 0.3 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.2 O2, LiCo 0.82 Ni 0.18 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.15 Al 0.05 O2, LiN 0.4 Co 0.3 Mn 0.3 O2 and LiNi 0.33 Co 0.33 Mn 0.34 O2.

[0052] In one embodiment of this disclosure, a battery is provided, including (a) a cathode; (b) the metal anode, including (i) a copper current collector (106); (ii) a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector; and (iii) a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating includes a porous hybrid metal oxide and carbon nanotubes for electric vehicle and energy storage grid applications.

[0053] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments are also possible.

[0054] Example

[0055] This disclosure will now be explained by working examples, intended to illustrate how the disclosure works, and not to imply any limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Although similar or equivalent methods and materials to those described herein may be used in the practice of the disclosed methods and compositions, exemplary methods, apparatus, and materials are described herein. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the described methods and experimental conditions, as these methods and conditions are applicable.

[0056] This disclosure relates to a metal anode for use in lithium metal batteries based on non-aqueous electrolytes or polymer gel electrolytes. The lithium-ion battery can be cylindrical, square, button-shaped, etc. The metal anode of this disclosure includes a copper current collector (106), a lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the current collector, and a composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer, wherein the composite coating includes a porous mixed metal oxide (a binary mixture of mixed metal oxides) and conductive carbon nanotubes. The composite coating may include at least one binder selected from polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), or polyacrylic acid (PAA). This disclosure addresses the problem of dendrite formation and regulates lithium deposition by employing a stable composite coating that encapsulates lithium metal and prevents dendrite formation. The manufactured metal anode is used in a lithium-ion battery structure that further includes a lithium metal oxide and an electrolyte as a cathode.

[0057] Example 1

[0058] Preparation of composite coating

[0059] The composite coating disclosed herein is prepared by the following process. The metal precursors used in this preparation are SiO2 and SnF2. SiO2 is commercially available. SnF2 is obtained by evaporating a solution of SnO in 40% hydrogen fluoride. The metal precursors SiO2 and SnF2 are milled at a weight ratio of 3:1 to obtain a mixed metal oxide. The precursors are continuously milled at an initial temperature in the range of 20°C to 30°C and a final temperature in the range of 50°C to 60°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide with a particle size of less than 1 micrometer. The porosity of the mixed metal oxide is in the range of 30 to 45% by volume.

[0060] Carbon nanotubes are added to a porous mixed metal oxide, with the carbon nanotubes accounting for 2 to 3% of the weight of the mixed metal oxide. The mixture containing the mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes is milled, and then 5% of a binder, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), is added. This results in a homogeneous mixture containing the binder, the mixed metal oxide, and the carbon nanotubes. 50 to 60% by weight of the solvent NMP (N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone) is added to this homogeneous mixture to obtain a composite coating slurry. The presence of carbon nanotubes enhances the surface area and also contributes to improved conductivity. Therefore, such commercially available carbon nanotubes are used in this disclosure.

[0061] The porosity of the composite coating was found to be 30 to 40% by volume. The lithium metal, with a thickness in the range of 40 to 50 micrometers, was impregnated into copper metal on both sides, forming a lithium metal-copper-lithium metal (Li-Cu-Li). This Li-Cu-Li layer was then encapsulated with the composite coating of Example 1. Encapsulation of the composite coating on Li-Cu-Li was accomplished by spray coating or blade coating. The thickness of the composite coating on Li-Cu-Li was 5 to 20 micrometers. The aforementioned metal anode was manufactured in a glove box under an inert atmosphere with an oxygen content of less than 1 ppm. Therefore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the metal anode of this disclosure is obtained, consisting of a lithium metal-copper-lithium structure and a metal anode encapsulated by a composite coating.

[0062] Figure 1 The diagram shows a metal anode, which includes a copper current collector 106, a lithium metal layer 104 disposed above the current collector, and a composite coating 102 disposed on the lithium metal layer.

[0063] Example 3

[0064] Manufacturing lithium-ion batteries using the metal anode of this disclosure

[0065] Figure 2 A lithium-ion battery structure using the metal anode of this disclosure is described. Figure 2 This indicates a lithium battery constructed from the metal anode 208 of this disclosure, as described in Example 2, wherein the anode current collector 210 is located at one end and the electrolyte 206 is located at the other end. Lithium metal / lithium metal oxide is used as the cathode 204, which is further attached to the cathode current collector 202. Figure 3A lithium pouch cell structure having the metal anode of this disclosure is described, as in Example 2 above. For the pouch cell structure, a square or rectangular cathode and anode are sandwiched between separators. For cylindrical cells, a continuous winding of electrodes is sandwiched between separators (gel-coated rolls), while for button-type cells, disc electrodes are sandwiched between separators used for cell assembly. The lithium battery is constructed of a three-layer structure. These three layers include a cathode 304, a separator 302, and a metal anode 308 as in Example 2. An anode (copper) current collector 310 is disposed between the metal anodes, including a composite coating. The cathode 304 is constructed by coating both sides of the cathode (aluminum) current collector 306 with lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide used in this disclosure for manufacturing the cathode is selected from the group consisting of: LiCoO2, LiCo... 0.99 Al0 .01 O2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiCo 0.5 Ni 0.5 O2, LiCo 0.7 Ni 0.3 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.2 O2, LiCo 0.82 Ni 0.18 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.15 Al 0.05 O2, LiN 0.4 Co 0.3 Mn 0.3 O2 and LiNi 0.33 Co 0.33 Mn 0.34 O2. The manufactured cathode has a thickness of approximately 70 micrometers and is further used in the battery construction. The separator 302 used is a polymer material selected from polyethylene and polypropylene. The separator 302 is placed between the metal anode and the manufactured cathode of this disclosure.

[0066] The composite coating disclosed herein is a porous layer that improves conductivity by allowing lithium ions to move in and out for intercalation, while also suppressing dendrite formation, and a reaction occurs on the lithium metal electrode. Furthermore, a separator is used to prevent electrical contact between the cathode and anode, while allowing ion conduction between them.

[0067] The lithium battery of this disclosure is obtained by fixing three layers, including an anode, a separator, and a cathode, into a casing filled with electrolyte. The electrolyte may be a solid or liquid electrolyte.

[0068] Lithium-ion batteries incorporating the metal anode of this disclosure provide an enhanced battery setup. This metal anode, comprising a copper current collector, a composite coating, and a lithium metal layer, will exhibit improved conductivity, thereby enhancing battery characteristics. More specifically, it improves overall battery performance and battery life by increasing the number of charge / discharge cycles.

[0069] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain examples and implementations, other implementations are also possible.

[0070] Advantages of this disclosure:

[0071] This disclosure provides a metal anode comprising a copper current collector, lithium metal, and a composite coating. The composite coating is a binary mixture of a porous mixed metal oxide and conductive carbon nanotubes. The metal anode of this disclosure suppresses dendritic crystal growth of lithium ions at the metal anode and exhibits enhanced conductivity. The metal anode of this disclosure helps prevent short circuits. The metal anode exhibits high energy density and can be used in portable electronic devices and electric vehicles. In vehicles, lithium-ion batteries incorporating the metal anode of this disclosure exhibit enhanced performance, durability, availability, and ease of assembly. This metal anode reduces battery weight, lowers cost, and is easy to handle.

Claims

1. A metal anode, comprising: (a) Copper current collector (106); (b) A lithium metal layer (104) disposed above the copper current collector (106); and (c) A composite coating (102) disposed on the lithium metal layer (104), The composite coating (102) comprises a porous mixed metal oxide and carbon nanotubes, wherein the porous mixed metal oxide is obtained by means of a metal precursor comprising SiO2 and SnF2.

2. The metal anode of claim 1, wherein the lithium metal layer (104) has a thickness in the range of 40 μm to 50 μm.

3. The metal anode of claim 1, wherein the composite coating (102) has a thickness in the range of 5 μm to 20 μm.

4. The metal anode of claim 1, wherein the composite coating (102) comprises at least one adhesive.

5. The metal anode of claim 4, wherein the at least one binder is selected from the group consisting of: polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and combinations thereof.

6. The metal anode of claim 1, wherein the composite coating (102) has a porosity in the range of 30 to 40% by volume relative to the composite coating (102).

7. A method for manufacturing a metal anode as claimed in claim 1, the method comprising: A metal precursor is obtained, wherein the metal precursor comprises SiO2 and SnF2; The metal precursor is ground to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide; Carbon nanotubes are bonded to the porous mixed metal oxide in the presence of an adhesive to obtain a composite coating; as well as The composite coating is used to encapsulate lithium metal-copper-lithium metal (Li-Cu-Li).

8. The method of manufacturing the metal anode as claimed in claim 7, wherein the grinding of the metal precursor is performed at a temperature in the range of 20°C to 70°C to obtain a porous mixed metal oxide.

9. The method of manufacturing the metal anode as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lithium metal-copper-lithium metal is encapsulated with the composite coating by a process selected from spray coating formation or blade coating.

10. A battery, comprising: cathode; Metal anode as described in any one of claims 1 to 6; and Electrolytes.

11. The battery of claim 10, wherein the cathode and the metal anode are kept separate by a porous separator.

12. The battery of claim 11, wherein the porous separator prevents electrical contact between the cathode and the anode while allowing ion conduction between the cathode and the anode.

13. The battery of claim 12, wherein the porous separator comprises a material selected from polyethylene-coated polymer film, polypropylene-coated polymer film, or ceramic-coated polymer film.

14. The battery of claim 10, wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of: non-aqueous electrolyte solutions and solid electrolytes.

15. The battery of claim 14, wherein the solid electrolyte comprises an inorganic solid electrolyte.

16. The battery of claim 10, wherein the cathode is selected from the group consisting of: LiCoO2, LiCo... 0.99 Al 0.01 O2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiCo 0.5 Ni 0.5 O2, LiCo 0.7 Ni 0.3 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.2 O2, LiCo 0.82 Ni 0.18 O2, LiCo 0.8 Ni 0.15 Al 0.05 O2, LiN 0.4 Co 0.3 Mn 0.3 O2 and LiNi 0.33 Co 0.33 Mn 0.34 O2.

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