Compositions and methods for dry electrode films having reduced binder content

Abstract

To provide materials and methods for preparing a dry cathode electrode film including reduced binder content.SOLUTION: The cathode electrode film may be a self-supporting film including a single binder. The binder loading may be 3 wt.% or less. In a first aspect, a method for preparing a dry free-standing electrode film for an energy storage device is provided, comprising: nondestructively mixing a cathode active material, porous carbon and optionally conductive carbon so as to form an active material mixture; adding a single fibrillizable binder to the active material mixture; nondestructively mixing to form an electrode film mixture; and calendering the electrode film mixture so as to form a free-standing electrode film.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] Incorporation by reference of any priority application The application was filed on May 14, 2018 and is related to the disclosure of "COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR DRY This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 671,012, entitled "CATHODE FILMS HAVING REDUCED BINDER CONTENT," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. [Background technology]

[0002] FIELD OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates generally to energy storage devices, and more particularly to materials and methods for cathode electrode films having reduced binder content.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art Electrical energy storage cells are widely used to power electronic, electromechanical, electrochemical, and other useful devices. Such cells include batteries, such as primary chemical cells and secondary (rechargeable) cells, fuel cells, and various types of capacitors, including ultracapacitors. Increasing the energy storage capacity of energy storage devices, including capacitors and batteries, would be desirable to increase the usefulness of energy storage in practical applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] overview Specific objects and advantages of the invention are set forth below for purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art. Not all such objects or advantages may be achieved in any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be embodied or practiced in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages set forth herein, without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages that may be set forth or suggested herein.

[0005] In some embodiments, a dry cathode electrode film is provided, which may advantageously be a free-standing electrode film comprising a battery cathode active material and a single fibrillizable binder with a binder loading of less than about 3%.

[0006] In a first aspect, a method of making a dry electrode film for an energy storage device is disclosed, the method including mixing an active material with a porous carbon material to form a dry active material mixture, mixing the dry active material mixture with a dry binder to form a dry electrode film mixture, and calendering the dry electrode film mixture to form a free-standing electrode film having a binder loading of up to about 2% by weight.

[0007] In a second aspect, a dry electrode film for an energy storage device is disclosed, the dry electrode film comprising 90 to about 99 weight percent dry active material and up to about 2 weight percent dry binder, wherein the dry electrode film is self-supporting.

[0008] All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention disclosed herein. These and other embodiments of the invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which refer to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments disclosed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an embodiment of an energy storage device having reduced binder content. [Diagram 2] 1 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a process for preparing an electrode film mixture. [Figure 3A] FIG. 3A-NMC811 is a line graph showing specific capacity data versus voltage for various cathode active material films containing PTFE as the only binder according to Example 3. [Figure 3B]FIG. 3B-NMC111 is a line graph showing specific capacity data versus voltage for various cathode active material films containing PTFE as the only binder according to Example 3. [Figure 3C] FIG. 3C-NMC532 is a line graph showing specific capacity data versus voltage for various cathode active material films containing PTFE as the only binder according to Example 3. [Figure 3D] FIG. 3D-NCA is a line graph showing specific capacity data versus voltage for various cathode active material films containing PTFE as the only binder according to Example 3; [Figure 3E] FIG. 3E-NMC622 is a line graph showing specific capacity data versus voltage for various cathode active material films containing PTFE as the only binder according to Example 3. [Figure 3F] FIG. 3F—Sulfur-carbon composites; [Figure 4] 1 is a line graph of capacity retention versus discharge C-rate showing comparative capacity retention data for a first cell having a dry coated cathode and anode and a second cell having a wet coated cathode and anode according to Example 4. [Diagram 5] 1 is a line graph of capacity retention versus discharge C-rate showing capacity retention data at 2C discharge rate for five cells including NMC111 as the cathode active material according to Example 5. [Figure 6] 1 is a line graph of capacity retention versus cycle number showing cycle performance data for a cell with dry electrodes cycled to 100% depth of discharge (DOD) using constant current charge and discharge rates according to Example 6. [Figure 7A] 1 is a line graph of specific capacity versus cathode voltage at high active loading for Formulation 1 according to Example 7. [Figure 7B] 1 is a line graph of specific capacity versus cathode voltage at high active loading for Formulation 2 according to Example 7. [Figure 7C]1 is a line graph of specific capacity versus cathode voltage at high active loading for Formulation 3 according to Example 7. [Figure 7D] 1 is a line graph of specific capacity versus cathode voltage at high active loading for formulation 4 according to Example 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Various embodiments of materials and methods for active material electrode film mixtures, electrode films, and energy storage devices incorporating the electrode films with reduced binder content and / or reduced damage are described.

[0011] Damaged electrode active materials are believed to initiate a number of processes that result in degradation of the performance of the energy storage device. Typical dry electrode manufacturing techniques generally involve high shear, high pressure and / or high speed processing steps that are performed on all dry electrode binders and active materials. Such high shear processing can damage the electrode active materials and therefore degrade the performance of the device once the raw materials are formed into electrodes in the energy storage device. During the life of the energy storage device, degradation of the device's performance may manifest as reduced storage capacity, reduced capacitance, increased equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the device, self-discharge, pseudocapacitance, and / or gas formation. Less damaged active materials may improve one or more of these characteristics of the operating device.

[0012] One embodiment is a method of manufacturing an electrode that includes at least two steps. First, an active material mixture is prepared. The active material mixture generally includes porous carbon, active material, and additives such as optional conductive additives. The components of the active material mixture are first combined and mixed by a relatively low shear, non-destructive process. Second, an electrode film mixture is prepared. In this process, a binder suitable for providing structure to the dried electrode film is combined with the active material mixture to form the electrode film mixture. The binder may be a fibrillizable binder and may include, consist essentially of, or consist of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). In one embodiment, only a single fibrillizable binder is included. The binder is then mixed with the active material mixture by a relatively low shear, non-destructive process to form the electrode film mixture. Optionally, an electrode film may then be formed from the electrode film mixture, for example, by pressing or calendering. The use of such a process has been found to improve the operating characteristics of the final electrode film.

[0013] The process for forming the electrode film may be compatible with dry electrode manufacturing techniques, and in some embodiments, no solvents are used at any stage in the electrode film fabrication.

[0014] It has been found that the processability of the free-standing dry electrode film depends on the particle size of the constituent materials. It has been found that larger particle sizes allow for reduced binder content and still allow for the formation of a free-standing dry electrode film. In particular, in some embodiments, the average (D 50 ) The particle size may be at least about 10 μm or more, for example, about 10 to 20 μm. In further embodiments, the average cathode active material particle size may be on the order of 1 / 10 of the thickness of the electrode film.

[0015] In one embodiment, electrode films formed using the materials and processes described herein have been found to tolerate lower binder loadings than those formed using conventional dry electrode film formation processes. Thus, in some embodiments, a binder matrix sufficient to provide a free-standing electrode film may have a reduced binder loading compared to typical dry electrode processes. In some embodiments, only a single binder is required to form a free-standing dry electrode film.

[0016] In some embodiments, the active material may only need to be passed through the calender three times to form a free-standing dry film having a target thickness.

[0017] Active materials incorporated into electrode films of energy storage devices may have an intraparticle structure that is important for performance in energy storage. For example, particles of cathode active materials, such as lithium metal oxides such as NMC, may have an intraparticle structure. Such materials may exist as secondary particle aggregates of primary particles. The secondary particle aggregates may be degraded during the manufacture of the electrode film. The degrading is exacerbated by destructive, e.g., high shear, high pressure, and / or high speed, processing, as is commonly used in the manufacture of dry electrode films. In some embodiments, only non-destructive processing steps are used in the manufacture of the electrode film.

[0018] The embodiments allow for the incorporation of non-destructively processed, e.g., undamaged and / or intact, active material particles into the electrode film mixture to provide improved performance. Thus, electrode films incorporating bulk active material with reduced damage are provided. For example, cathode active materials may exhibit improved performance compared to methods in which the active material is damaged during processing.

[0019] As previously mentioned, processing the binder and active material mixture can destroy particles of the active material. The reduction in energy storage performance can result from damage to the cathode active material, for example, by the formation of fissures and / or cracks in the active material or separation of the active material from the binder and / or current collector. The overall performance of the device can be reduced compared to devices incorporating pristine active material. Thus, some embodiments disclosed herein are materials and methods that provide active materials with reduced damage during manufacturing.

[0020] Further disclosed herein for some embodiments is a non-destructive method for the manufacture of dry cathode electrodes. The non-destructive method may be characterized by low shear, low pressure and / or low speed processes. Certain embodiments of the energy storage device may provide a cathode active material with reduced post-process damage. For example, a free-standing electrode film is provided that includes a cathode active material with reduced damage. In some embodiments, the cathode electrode film is a hybrid film that includes a capacitor active material, such as activated carbon, and a battery active material, such as an electrochemically active material. Examples of electrochemically active materials include lithium metal oxide, lithium metal phosphate, lithium sulfide, and the cathode active materials described herein.

[0021] In some embodiments, the materials and methods may also enable the fabrication of free-standing cathode electrode films using only low-shear, non-destructive processing steps. Some binders, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), undergo fibrillation, enabling the fabrication of free-standing films without the use of solvents. To fabricate such films, the bulk binder may need to be physically processed to produce particulates. This produces a matrix that can be fibrillated and is suitable for providing structure to the electrode film. Typically, this binder processing has been performed by milling or blending operations in the presence of the electrode active material under high pressure and high shear forces. The forces applied when processing the binder can change the morphology of the active material and damage the surface of the active material. For example, particles of the active material can be broken, melted, exfoliated, or chemically altered during such processing.

[0022] Electrode films formed using the materials and processes described herein may exhibit improved performance compared to those formed using typical dry electrode film formation processes. For example, the first cycle efficiency of lithium ion batteries comprising at least one electrode prepared using the materials and processes may be improved. For example, the first cycle coulombic efficiency during electrochemical cycling may be improved. In some embodiments, the electrode films have reduced binder loading compared to those produced using typical dry electrode processes while maintaining the mechanical strength of the electrode film.

[0023] definition The terms "battery" and "capacitor" should be given their ordinary and customary meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art. The terms "battery" and "capacitor" are not mutually exclusive. A capacitor or battery may refer to a single electrochemical cell that can operate alone or as a component of a multi-cell system.

[0024] The voltage of an energy storage device is the operating voltage of a single battery or capacitor cell. The voltage may exceed or fall below the rated voltage under load or due to manufacturing tolerances.

[0025] A "free-standing" electrode film is an electrode film that incorporates a binder matrix structure sufficient to support the film or layer and maintain its shape so that the electrode film or layer is free-standing. In some cases, a free-standing electrode film or active layer is one that incorporates such a binder matrix structure. Generally, depending on the method employed, such electrode films have sufficient strength to be used in an energy storage device manufacturing process without external support elements such as current collectors or other films. For example, a "free-standing" electrode film may have sufficient strength to be rolled, handled, and unrolled within the electrode manufacturing process without other support elements. A dry electrode film, such as a cathode electrode film or an anode electrode film, may be free-standing.

[0026] A "solvent-free" electrode film is an electrode film that does not contain any detectable process solvent, process solvent residues, or process solvent impurities. A dry electrode film, such as a cathode electrode film or an anode electrode film, may be solvent-free.

[0027] A "wet" electrode, "wet process" electrode or slurry electrode is an electrode prepared by at least one step involving a slurry of the active material, binder, and any additives. A wet electrode may contain processing solvent, processing solvent residues, and / or processing solvent impurities.

[0028] A "non-destructive" process is one in which the electrode active material, including the surface of the electrode active material, is not substantially modified during the process. Thus, the analytical properties and / or performance of the active material in applications such as incorporation into an energy storage device are the same or nearly the same as those that have not undergone the process. For example, the coating of the active material may be unaffected or substantially unaffected during the process. Non-limiting examples of non-destructive processes are "non-destructive mixing or blending" or jet milling at reduced pressure, increasing the feed rate, decreasing the speed (e.g., blender speed), and / or changing other process parameters such that the shear imparted to the active material remains below a threshold at which the analytical properties and / or performance of the active material when implemented in an energy storage device are adversely affected. One example of an effective non-destructive mixing process is the use of a blade-type mixer with a tip speed of about 10 to about 40 meters / min. A "non-destructive" process can be distinguished from a high shear process that substantially modifies the electrode active material, such as the surface of the electrode active material, and substantially affects the analytical properties and / or performance of the active material. For example, high shear blending or high shear jet milling can have detrimental effects on the surface of the electrode active material. Implementing high shear processes that damage the surface properties of the active material can provide other benefits, such as fibrillation of the binder material or formation of a binder / active material matrix to aid in the formation of an otherwise self-supporting electrode film. Embodiments herein can provide similar benefits while avoiding the detrimental effects of excessive use of high shear processes. In general, the non-destructive processes herein are performed at one or more of a higher feed rate, a lower rate, and / or a lower pressure, resulting in a lower shear process than more destructive processes that substantially modify the electrode active material and thus affect performance.

[0029] The term "binder loading" refers to the mass of the binder relative to the mass of the final electrode film mix. The binder loading may be expressed in terms of a single binder or in terms of a "total binder loading," which is the sum of the masses of all types of binders relative to the mass of the final electrode film mix.

[0030] Free-standing electrode film with reduced binder content In some embodiments, compositions and methods are described for electrode films characterized by reduced binder content. In general, an active material mixture is prepared by combining a cathode active material, a porous carbon, and an optional conductive additive. The mixing of the active material, the porous carbon, and the optional conductive additive may be by the methods provided herein or any suitable method. The combining may be by a non-destructive process. The non-destructive mixing may be by blending, tumbling, or acoustic mixing. The active material mixture can then be mixed with a binder to form an electrode film mixture. The mixing can be by a non-destructive process. The electrode film mixture can then be calendered to form a free-standing electrode film. The number of calender passes required to produce the dry, free-standing electrode films provided herein can be reduced as compared to typical dry electrode production methods. In some embodiments, dry, free-standing electrode films suitable for use in energy storage devices are produced using 2, 3, 4, or 5 passes through a calender. In further embodiments, dry, free-standing electrode films suitable for use in energy storage devices are produced using 3 passes through a calender.

[0031] In one embodiment, the free-standing dry electrode film may include particles having a predetermined particle size. In some embodiments, it has been found that a larger particle size compared to a typical dry cathode electrode film allows for a reduced binder content of the free-standing dry electrode film. In some embodiments, the cathode active material particles may have, on average, a longest dimension of about 8 μm, about 9 μm, about 10 μm, about 12 μm, about 14 μm, about 16 μm, about 18 μm, about 20 μm, about 25 μm, or any range of values ​​therebetween. In further embodiments, the cathode active material particles may include lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium titanate (LTO), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), or cathode active material. In yet another embodiment, the cathode active material particles may include secondary particles including aggregated primary particles. In some embodiments, a cathode electrode film is provided that includes substantially intact or substantially undamaged secondary particle agglomerates of cathode active material, which may be combined with capacitive active materials in a hybrid electrode film.

[0032] The NMC component of the cathode active material may include various compositions of its components. The NMC may include various ratios of nickel, manganese, and cobalt. Some embodiments provide NMC622, which includes nickel, manganese, and cobalt in a respective molar ratio of about 6:2:2. Some embodiments provide NMC111, which includes nickel, manganese, and cobalt in a respective molar ratio of about 1:1:1. Some embodiments provide NMC532, which includes nickel, manganese, and cobalt in a respective molar ratio of about 5:3:2. Some embodiments provide NMC811, which includes nickel, manganese, and cobalt in a respective molar ratio of about 8:1:1. In some embodiments, the NMC may include about 5-10% by weight lithium, about 15-50% by weight nickel, about 5-20% by weight manganese, and about 5-20% by weight cobalt. Some embodiments provide an NMC that includes about 5-10 wt.% lithium, about 15-50 wt.% nickel, about 5-20 wt.% manganese, about 5-20 wt.% cobalt, about 25-40 wt.% oxygen and trace impurities, the percentages of lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, and oxygen totaling about 100 wt.%.

[0033] The amount of binder material and cathode active material may be adjusted. For example, the cathode electrode film may include about 95% cathode active material and 3% binder, or 95% cathode active material and 2% binder. In another example, the cathode electrode film may include 97% or about 97% cathode active material and 2% or 1.75% or about 2% or about 1.75% binder. In another example, the cathode electrode film may include 98% or about 98% cathode active material and 1.25% or about 1.25% binder. The remaining mass of the electrode may be composed of, for example, porous carbon and / or conductive additives. The electrode film may have the same amount of cathode active material and binder as the electrode film mix from which it is manufactured. In some embodiments, the cathode electrode film comprises about 90% by weight, about 92% by weight, about 94% by weight, about 95% by weight, about 96% by weight, about 97% by weight, about 98% by weight, about 99% by weight or more. In some embodiments, the cathode electrode film may include up to about 8 wt. % of the porous carbon material, including about 7 wt. %, about 5 wt. %, about 3 wt. %, about 2 wt. %, about 1 wt. %, or any value in the range therebetween. In some embodiments, the porous carbon material may be activated carbon. In some embodiments, the cathode electrode film includes up to about 5 wt. % of the conductive additive, including about 1 wt. %, about 2 wt. %, about 3 wt. %, about 4 wt. %, or about 5 wt. %. In some embodiments, the conductive additive may be a conductive carbon, such as carbon black.

[0034] In one embodiment, the cathode electrode film may incorporate a reduced binder loading than films formed using typical dry electrode film formation processes. In some embodiments, only a single binder is required to form a free-standing dry electrode film, with a low binder loading. In certain embodiments, the single binder is PTFE. In various embodiments, the electrode film mixture and / or electrode film may have a binder loading of 1 wt%, 1.5 wt%, 2 wt%, 2.5 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%, or any value in the range therebetween. In certain embodiments, the binder loading is about 1.5 to about 3%. In certain embodiments, the cathode electrode film does not include PVDF.

[0035] Generally, the binder comprises a fibrillizable binder. The fibrillizable binder may comprise, consist essentially of, or consist of PTFE. In some embodiments, the electrode film may comprise an additional binder component. In further embodiments, the binder comprises PTFE and a polyolefin, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO), polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane-coalkylmethylsiloxane, copolymers thereof, and / or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more polyolefins may comprise polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), copolymers thereof, and / or mixtures thereof. The binder may comprise a cellulose, such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). In some embodiments, the binder particles may have a selected size. In some embodiments, the binder particles may be about 50 nm, about 100 nm, about 150 nm, about 200 nm, about 250 nm, about 300 nm, about 350 nm, about 400 nm, about 450 nm, about 500 nm, about 1 μm, about 10 μm, about 50 μm, about 100 μm, or any value in ranges therebetween.

[0036] In some embodiments, the electrode film manufacturing process includes combining a cathode active material, activated carbon, and a conductive carbon additive to form an active material mixture, and then mixing the active material mixture with a binder that includes, consists essentially of, or consists of PTFE to form an electrode film mixture. The active material mixture and PTFE may be mixed together first by selecting a mixing technique that effectively mixes and disperses the two components without damaging the cathode active material. The electrode film mixture is then calendered to form a free-standing electrode film. In certain embodiments, the electrode film produced by the processes disclosed herein comprises a free-standing cathode electrode film. In some embodiments, the electrode film produced by the processes disclosed herein comprises a free-standing negative (anode) electrode film. The processes herein may be beneficial for implementation with cathodes, since the cathode active material is susceptible to particle degradation during processing.

[0037] In some embodiments, the electrode film mixture may be formed by a high shear and / or high pressure process. The high shear and / or high pressure process may be a jet mill. The processing time and / or feed rate generally affect the final particle size of the binder and / or active material. For example, longer times and / or slower feed rates may produce smaller particles.

[0038] In some embodiments, the electrode film mixture is subjected to one or more dry electrode processes, such as those described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015 / 0072234. In some embodiments, a dry electrode is provided, the dry electrode being free of process contaminants, such as solvents, the dry electrode being prepared by the methods and materials provided herein.

[0039] In further embodiments, electrodes produced using the materials and methods described herein can be characterized by improved performance. The improved performance can be due, for example, to an increased first cycle efficiency. In some embodiments, the first cycle efficiency of electrodes produced by the materials and methods provided herein is greater than about 85%. In further embodiments, the first cycle efficiency can be about 86%, about 87%, about 88%, about 89%, about 90%, about 91%, about 92%, about 93%, about 94%, about 95%, or any value in between, for example, about 90 to about 92% or about 90 to about 94%.

[0040] The energy storage devices described herein may be characterized by a reduced increase in equivalent series resistance over the life of the device, which may increase the power density of the device over the life of the device. In some embodiments, the energy storage devices described herein may be characterized by a reduced loss in capacity over the life of the device. Further improvements that may be realized in various embodiments include improved storage stability, improved cycling performance, including reduced power delivery and capacity fade during cycling. In some embodiments, the capacity retention is at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90% of the original capacity after 2000 cycles. In further embodiments, the capacity at C-rate 2 is at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, or at least 90% of the capacity at C-rate 0.1. Some embodiments provide dry electrode full cells with a capacity at C-rate 1 that is at least 10%, at least 20%, or at least 30% higher than a wet electrode full cell with substantially the same active material loading.

[0041] The materials and methods provided herein can be implemented in a variety of energy storage devices. The energy storage device may be a capacitor, a lithium ion capacitor (LIC), an ultracapacitor, a battery, or a hybrid energy storage device and / or a hybrid cell that combines two or more of the above aspects. In a preferred embodiment, the device is a battery. The energy storage device may be characterized by an operating voltage. In some embodiments, the energy storage devices described herein may have an operating voltage of about 0 to about 4.5 V. In further embodiments, the operating voltage may be about 2.7 to about 4.2 V, about 3.0 to about 4.2 V, or any value in the range therebetween.

[0042] The energy storage device may include one or more electrodes. The electrode film may be formed from a mixture of one or more binders and one or more active electrode materials. It will be appreciated that the electrode film, in various embodiments, may be used with any of a number of energy storage devices and systems, such as one or more batteries, capacitors, capacitor-battery hybrids, fuel cells, or other energy storage systems or devices and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the electrode films described herein are components of lithium ion capacitors, lithium ion batteries, ultracapacitors, or hybrid energy storage devices combining two or more of the foregoing aspects. This is also fine.

[0043] The energy storage device may be in any suitable configuration, for example, planar, spirally wound, button-shaped, or pouch. The energy storage device may be a component of a system, for example, a power generation system, an uninterruptible power supply system (UPS), a solar power system, an energy recovery system for use in, for example, industrial machinery, and / or transportation. The energy storage device may be used to power a variety of electronic devices and / or automobiles, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), and / or electric vehicles (EVs).

[0044] 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example energy storage device 100 comprising an electrode film with reduced binder content. The energy storage device 100 can be classified as, for example, a capacitor, a battery, a capacitor-battery hybrid, or a fuel cell.

[0045] The device may include a first electrode 102, a second electrode 104, and a separator 106 disposed between the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104. Either or both of the electrodes 102 and 104 may be fabricated according to the materials and processes described herein. The first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104 may be disposed adjacent respective opposing sides of the separator 106. The energy storage device 100 may include an electrolyte 118 that facilitates ionic transfer between the electrodes 102, 104 of the energy storage device 100. For example, the electrolyte 118 may be in contact with the first electrode 102, the second electrode 104, and the separator 106. The electrolyte 118, the first electrode 102, the second electrode 104, and the separator 106 may be contained within an energy storage device housing 120. The first electrode 102, the second electrode 104, and the separator 106, or one or more of these components, may include a porous material. The pores of the porous material can provide containment and / or increased surface area for reaction with the electrolyte 118 within the housing 120. The energy storage device housing 120 can be sealed around the first electrode 102, the second electrode 104, and the separator 106, and physically sealed from the surrounding environment.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first electrode 102 may be an anode ("negative electrode") and the second electrode 104 may be a cathode ("positive electrode"). The separator 106 may be configured to electrically insulate two adjacent electrodes, e.g., the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104, on opposite sides of the separator 106 while allowing ionic communication between the two adjacent electrodes. The separator 106 may include a suitable porous, electrically insulating material. In some embodiments, the separator 106 may include a polymeric material. For example, the separator 106 may include a cellulose material (e.g., paper), a polyethylene (PE) material, a polypropylene (PP) material, and / or a polyethylene and polypropylene material.

[0047] Generally, the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104 each include a current collector and an electrode film. The electrodes 102 and 104 include electrode films 112 and 114, respectively. The electrode films 112 and 114 may have any suitable shape, size, and thickness. For example, the electrode film may have a thickness of about 30 microns (μm) to about 250 microns, e.g., about 50 microns, about 100 microns, about 150 microns, about 200 microns, about 250 microns, or any value in between. The electrode film may include one or more materials or may be manufactured using the processes provided herein. In some embodiments, at least one of the electrode films 112 and 114 may include an electrode film mixture including a binder material and a cathode active material. As shown, the second electrode film 114 includes cathode active material particles 122 and binder material particles 124, and has a reduced binder content. In some embodiments, the active material is a cathode active material. The cathode active material may be, for example, a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a sulfur-carbon composite, or a lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide may be, for example, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium titanate (LTO), lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO), and / or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA). In some embodiments, the cathode active material may be, for example, a layered transition metal oxide (LiCoO2 (LCO), Li(NiMnCo)O2 (NMC), and / or LiNi 0.8 Co 0.15 Al 0.05 O2 (NCA), spinel manganese oxide (LiMn2O4 (LMO) and / or LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5The cathode active material may be composed of sulfur or a sulfur-containing material, such as lithium sulfide (Li2S) or other sulfur-based materials or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the cathode film is composed of a material comprising sulfur or a sulfur active material at a concentration of at least 50% by weight. In some embodiments, a cathode film composed of a material comprising sulfur or a sulfur active material has a capacity of at least 10 mAh / cm 2 In some embodiments, a cathode film constructed from a material containing sulfur or a sulfur active material has an area-normalized specific capacitance (i.e., areal capacitance) of 1 g / cm 3 In some embodiments, the cathode film constructed from a material containing sulfur or a sulfur active material further comprises a binder.

[0048] At least one active material may include one or more carbon materials. The carbon materials may be selected from, for example, graphitic materials, graphite, graphene-containing materials, hard carbon, soft carbon, carbon nanotubes, porous carbon, conductive carbon, or combinations thereof. The activated carbon is obtained from a steam process or an acid / etching process. In some embodiments, the graphitic material may be a surface-treated material. In some embodiments, the porous carbon may include activated carbon. In some embodiments, the porous carbon may include hierarchically structured carbon. In some embodiments, the porous carbon may include structured carbon nanotubes, structured carbon nanowires, and / or structured carbon nanosheets. In some embodiments, the porous carbon may include graphene sheets. In some embodiments, the porous carbon may be surface-treated carbon. In preferred embodiments, the active material includes graphite, consists essentially of graphite, or consists of graphite.

[0049] The first electrode film 112 and / or the second electrode film 114 may also include one or more binders. In some embodiments, the first electrode film 112 and / or the second electrode film 114 may include a single binder. In some embodiments, the binder may include one or more polymers. In some embodiments, the binder may include one or more fibrillizable binder components. The binder components may be fibrillized to provide a large number of fibrils that provide desired mechanical support to one or more other components of the film. In some embodiments, the binder components may include one or more of a variety of suitable fibrillizable polymeric materials.

[0050] In general, the electrode films described herein can be manufactured using a modified dry manufacturing process. For example, some steps may be as described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2005 / 0266298 and 2006 / 0146479. These and other references to external documents herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. A dry manufacturing process may refer to a process that uses no or substantially no solvent in forming the electrode film. For example, the components of the electrode film, including the carbon material and binder, may include dry particles. The dry particles to form the electrode film can be combined to provide a dry particle electrode film mixture. In some embodiments, the electrode film is a dry particle electrode film mixture that is formed by mixing the dry particles and the electrode film. The electrode film may be formed from the dry particle electrode film mixture such that the weight percentages of the components of the electrode film and the weight percentages of the components of the dry particle electrode film mixture are substantially the same. In some embodiments, the electrode film formed from the dry particle electrode film mixture using a dry manufacturing process may be free or substantially free of processing additives such as solvents and solvent residues resulting therefrom. In some embodiments, the resulting electrode film is a free-standing electrode film formed using a drying process from the dry particle mixture. In some embodiments, the resulting electrode film is a free-standing electrode film formed using a drying process from the dry particle mixture. The process for forming the electrode film may include fibrillizing a fibrillizable binder component such that the electrode film comprises a fibrillated binder. In a further embodiment, the free-standing electrode film may be formed in the absence of a current collector. In yet another embodiment, the electrode film may include a fibrillated polymer matrix such that the electrode film is free-standing.

[0051] With continued reference to FIG. 1 , the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104 each include a first current collector 108 in contact with the first electrode film 112 and a second current collector 110 in contact with the second electrode film 114. The first current collector 108 and the second current collector 110 can facilitate electrical coupling between the corresponding electrode film and an external electrical circuit (not shown). The first current collector 108 and / or the second current collector 110 can include one or more conductive materials and have any suitable shape and size selected to facilitate transfer of charge between the corresponding electrode and the external circuit. For example, the current collector can include metallic materials such as materials including aluminum, nickel, copper, rhenium, niobium, tantalum, and precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, osmium, iridium, and alloys and combinations thereof. For example, the first current collector 108 and / or the second current collector 110 can include aluminum foil. The aluminum foil can have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape sized to provide for the transfer of charge between the corresponding electrodes and an external electrical circuit.

[0052] In some embodiments, the energy storage device 100 is a lithium ion battery or hybrid energy storage device with a cathode including an active cathode material. In some embodiments, the lithium ion battery is configured to operate at about 2.5-4.5V or 2.7-4.2V.

[0053] The techniques described herein may be used separately or in combination in energy storage devices to enable operation under selected conditions.

[0054] In some embodiments, the energy storage device 100 may be a lithium ion energy storage device, such as a lithium ion capacitor, a lithium ion battery, or a hybrid lithium ion device. Generally, a lithium ion energy storage device comprises a cathode including a lithium-containing cathode active material and an anode electrode film suitable for interacting with lithium ions.

[0055] In some embodiments, the anode electrode film may include an active material, a binder, and an optional conductive additive. In some embodiments, the conductive additive may include a conductive carbon additive, such as carbon black. In some embodiments, the active material of the anode may include graphitic carbon, synthetic graphite, natural graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, graphene, mesoporous carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, tin, tin oxide, germanium, lithium titanate, mixtures or composites of the foregoing materials. In some embodiments, the anode electrode film may include about 80 to about 98 weight percent active material, including about 90 to about 98 weight percent or about 94 to about 97 weight percent. In some embodiments, the anode electrode film includes up to about 5 weight percent conductive additive, including about 1 to about 3 weight percent. In some embodiments, the anode electrode film includes about 1.5 to 10 weight percent, about 1.5 to 20 weight percent, about 20 to 3 ... The anode electrode film may include up to about 20 wt %, including about 5 wt %, or about 3-5 wt %. In some embodiments, the anode electrode film may include about 4 wt % binder. In some embodiments, the anode film may be free of conductive additives.

[0056] In some embodiments, the electrode film of a lithium ion energy storage device electrode, e.g., an anode electrode film, comprises carbon configured to reversibly intercalate lithium ions. In some embodiments, the lithium intercalated carbon is selected from graphitic carbon, graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, and combinations thereof. For example, the electrode film of the electrode may comprise a binder material, one or more of graphitic carbon, graphite, graphene-containing carbon, hard carbon, and soft carbon, and a conductive facilitating material. In some embodiments, the electrode is mixed with lithium metal and / or lithium ions. The anode electrode film may be a dry, free-standing electrode film.

[0057] Some embodiments include electrodes, such as anodes and / or cathodes, having one or more electrode films that include a polymer binder material. In some embodiments, the binder may include PTFE. In further embodiments, the binder may include PTFE and one or more additional binder components. In some embodiments, the binder may include one or more polyolefins and / or copolymers thereof and PTFE. In some embodiments, the binder may include PTFE and one or more of cellulose, polyolefins, polyethers, precursors of polyethers, polysiloxanes, copolymers thereof, and / or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the binder may include branched polyethers, polyvinyl ethers, copolymers thereof, and the like. The binder may include copolymers of polysiloxanes, copolymers of polysiloxanes, and / or copolymers of polyether precursors. For example, the binder may include poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO), polyethylene-block-poly(ethylene glycol), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), polydimethylsiloxane-coalkylmethylsiloxane, copolymers thereof, and / or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more polyolefins may include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), copolymers thereof, and / or mixtures thereof. The binder may include cellulose, such as carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The mixture of polymers may include an interpenetrating network of the aforementioned polymers or copolymers.

[0058] The binder may include various suitable ratios of polymer components. For example, PTFE may comprise up to about 100% by weight, about 20 to about 80% by weight, about 30 to about 70% by weight, or about 30 to about 50% by weight of the binder, for example, about 20 to about 95% by weight, about 20 to about 90% by weight. In further embodiments, the binder may include PTFE, CMC, and PVDF as binders. In a particular embodiment, the electrode film may include 2% by weight PTFE, 1% by weight CMC, and 1% by weight PVDF. For example, the mass of PTFE in the binder mixture may be 50% of the total binder content of the electrode film and 2% of the total mass of the electrode film.

[0059] In further embodiments, the energy storage device 100 is filled with a suitable lithium-containing electrolyte. For example, the device 100 may include a lithium salt and a solvent, such as a non-aqueous or organic solvent. Generally, the lithium salt includes a redox stable anion. In some embodiments, the anion may be monovalent. In some embodiments, the lithium salt may be lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiN(SO2CF3)2), trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFA) or lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4). The electrolyte may be selected from lithium (LiSO3CF3), and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the electrolyte may include a quaternary ammonium cation and anion selected from the group consisting of hexafluorophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, and iodide. In some embodiments, the salt concentration may be about 0.1 moles per liter (M) to about 5M, about 0.2 to about 3M, or about 0.3 to about 2M. In further embodiments, the salt concentration of the electrolyte may be about 0.7 to about 1M. In certain embodiments, the salt concentration of the electrolyte may be about 0.2M, about 0.3M, about 0.4M, about 0.5M, about 0.6M, about 0.7M, about 0.8M, 0.9M, about 1M, about 1.1M, about 1.2M, or any value in the range therebetween.

[0060] In some embodiments, the energy storage device may include a solvent. The solvent may be in a liquid phase under the nominal operating conditions of the device. The solvent need not dissolve all components of the electrolyte, and may incompletely dissolve any components. In further embodiments, the solvent may be an organic solvent. In some embodiments, the solvent may include one or more functional groups selected from carbonates, ethers, and / or esters. In some embodiments, the solvent may include a carbonate. In further embodiments, the carbonate may be selected from cyclic carbonates, such as, for example, ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), vinylene carbonate (VC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), and combinations thereof, or acyclic carbonates, such as, for example, dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, the electrolyte may include LiPF6 and one or more carbonates.

[0061] In some embodiments, the active material comprises a treated carbon material, where the treated carbon material has a reduced number of hydrogen-containing, nitrogen-containing and / or oxygen-containing functional groups, as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0098464. For example, the treated carbon particles may include a reduction in one or more functional groups on one or more surfaces of the treated carbon, e.g., about 10 to about 60%, including about 20 to about 50%, of the one or more functional groups compared to an untreated carbon surface. The treated carbon may include hydrogen-containing, nitrogen-containing and / or oxygen-containing functional groups that are reduced in number. In some embodiments, the treated carbon material includes less than about 1%, including less than about 0.5%, of hydrogen-containing functional groups. In some embodiments, the treated carbon material includes less than about 0.5%, including less than about 0.1%, of nitrogen-containing functional groups. In some embodiments, the treated carbon material includes less than about 5%, including less than about 3%, of oxygen-containing functional groups. In a further embodiment, the treated carbon material contains about 30% fewer hydrogen-containing functional groups than the untreated carbon material.

[0062] In some embodiments, a method for manufacturing an energy storage device is provided. FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a method 200 for preparing an electrode film mixture for use in an energy storage device. In step 202, an active material, a porous carbon, and an optional conductive additive are combined to form an active material mixture. In step 204, the active material mixture is mixed with a binder in a low shear process to form an electrode film mixture. In step 206, the electrode film mixture is calendered to form a free-standing electrode film. Generally, step 206 provides a binder matrix within the electrode film such that the electrode film is free-standing. In step 208, the free-standing electrode film is optionally laminated to a current collector. In some embodiments, each step of method 200 is a solvent-free drying process step. EXAMPLES

[0063] Comparative Example 1 Activated carbon was mixed with dry PVDF powder in a mass ratio of 4:2, and the mixture was blended for 10 minutes. The resulting mixed powder was ground in a jet mill. NMC622, additional activated carbon and carbon Carbon black was added and the resulting mixture was blended to a uniform tap density. The powder was mixed with the jet milled activated carbon / PVDF mixture and the resulting mixture was blended for 5 minutes. Finally, PTFE was added and the mixture was blended for 10 minutes. The final electrode film consisted of 88:5:2:2:3 NMC622:activated carbon:carbon black:PVDF:PTFE. Thus, the active material loading was 88% and the total binder loading was 5%.

[0064] Comparative Example 2 Activated carbon was mixed with dry PVDF powder in a mass ratio of 4:2 and the mixture was blended for 10 minutes. The resulting mixed powder was ground in a jet mill. NMC811, additional activated carbon, and carbon black were added and the resulting mixture was blended to a uniform tap density. The powder was mixed with the jet milled activated carbon / PVDF mixture and the resulting mixture was blended for 5 minutes. Finally, PTFE was added, the mixture was blended for 10 minutes, and pressed in a two-roll calender mill to form a free-standing film. The final electrode film consisted of NMC811:activated carbon:carbon black:PVDF:PTFE in the ratio 92:3.3:1.5:1.7:1.5. Thus, the active material loading was 92% and the total binder loading was 3.2%. The cathode film was laminated to carbon-coated aluminum foil with a loading mass of 16.6 mg / cm. 2 A dry coated electrode with a capacity of 1.0 μm and a thickness of 53 microns was obtained. The electrode was evaluated against a lithium metal counter electrode in a CR2032 coin cell. The first charge and discharge specific capacities are measured to be about 224 mAh / g and 202 mAh / g, respectively.

[0065] Example 1 NMC622 (Umicore), activated carbon (YP-17D, Kuraray) and conductive carbon (carbon black, Ketjenblack ECP600JD, Lion Corp.) were combined and the mixture was blended at 3800 rpm for 30-45 minutes. PTFE was then added and the resulting mixture was blended at 3800 rpm with high shear for an additional 20-25 minutes. The final electrode film consisted of 94:2:1:3 NMC622:activated carbon:conductive carbon:PTFE. Thus, the active material loading was 94% and the total binder loading was 3%.

[0066] Example 2 A second electrode film was fabricated according to the method of Example 1, except that the final electrode film was composed of 95:2:1:2 NMC622:activated carbon:conductive carbon:PTFE, thus resulting in an active material loading of 95% and a total binder loading of 2%.

[0067] The data for the two electrode films of Examples 1 and 2 are shown in Table 1. The charge capacity, discharge capacity and efficiency are for the cathode half-cells of Examples 1 and 2. In Table 1, the Gurley number is the time (in seconds) for 100 cc of air to pass through 1 square inch of film when subjected to a standard constant pressure of 60 pounds per square inch.

[0068] [Table 1]

[0069] Example 3 Additional cathode electrode films were fabricated according to the method of Example 1, but containing various cathode active materials. PTFE was the only binder in each electrode film. Figures 3A-3F show the capacity vs. voltage data for the various cathode electrode films as follows: Figure 3A-NMC811, Figure 3B-NMC111, Figure 3C-NMC532, Figure 3D-NCA, Figure 3E-NMC622, and Figure 3F-sulfur-carbon composite. As shown in Figures 3A-3E, each NMC dry-coated electrode exhibited a discharge profile with a stable voltage plateau at the end of the discharge process, resulting in a corresponding design specific capacity driven by the active material (NCA specific charge capacity is about 219 mAh / g, and specific discharge capacity is about 195-200 mAh / g; NMC622 specific charge capacity is about 200 mAh / g, and specific discharge capacity is about 175 mAh / g; NMC811 specific capacity is about 195-210 mAh / g), indicating that in each case, almost all of the active material particles were available.

[0070] Example 4 Two cells were prepared, the first cell electrode made by dry process and the second cell with electrode made by wet process. The cathodes of both cells had the same concentration of active materials, containing NMC111 as cathode active material and graphite as anode active material. A constant current of 0.1 C was applied to charge the cells to 100% SOC before discharging. Discharge was performed at various C-rates. Under low constant current discharge, a cell discharge capacity of 105 mAh was obtained for both coated electrode types, which was used as a standard to normalize the cell capacity. The electrode loading was 5 mAh / cm for each cell. 2 (Cathode is 36mg / cm 2 ) with cut-off voltages of 4.2 V and 2.8 V for charge and discharge, respectively. A comparison of the capacity retention data of dry-coated and wet-coated cells is shown in Figure 4. The electrode film of the dry process showed better capacity at high discharge rates (up to 1C as measured).

[0071] Example 5 Five additional cells were fabricated, each containing a cathode electrode film of NMC111 fabricated by the dry process. Each cell contained a dry-coated NMC111 (94 wt. % loading) cathode and graphite (96 wt. % loading) anode electrode in a pouch cell configuration. The electrode loading of NMC111 was 27 mg / cm. 2 (area capacity 4mAh / cm 2 ). The cells were charged to 4.2 V and discharged to 2.8 V at a constant current followed by a constant voltage of 4.2 V. Figure 5 shows the rate performance data. The capacity retention of each of the five cells incorporating the dry-coated electrodes was greater than 90% at a discharge rate of 2C.

[0072] As shown in Figure 5, higher rate performance was found for the dry-coated electrodes. The high energy density and power capability is due to the low charge transfer and contact resistance in the dry-coated electrodes.

[0073] Example 6 The cells with electrodes prepared by the dry process were cycled at constant current charge and discharge rates of 0.5C / 1C, respectively, to a depth of discharge (DOD) of 100%. The cycling performance was measured on NMC111 / graphite cells with dry coated electrodes in the pouch cell configuration. The electrode loading was 4 mAh / cm. 2 The cutoff voltages were 4.2 V and 2.7 V for charge and discharge, respectively. Figure 6 shows that after 2000 cycles, the cell had over 85% (almost 90%) of its initial capacity.

[0074] Example 7 The dry cathode films with low binder content of Formulations 1-4 are shown in Table 2. The voltage vs. capacity of the cathode half-cells made from Formulations 1-4 were measured as shown in Figures 7A-7D. Their discharge capacities and efficiencies are shown in Table 2. Formulations 1-3 were prepared by mixing NMC811, activated carbon, and carbon black at high speed blending for about 10 minutes to produce a dense powder mixture. PTFE binder was added to the dense powder mixture and blended at medium speed for an additional 10 minutes. Formulation 4 was prepared by a process similar to Formulations 1-3, except that the film was prepared with NMC622, and the activated carbon and carbon black were non-destructively mixed using a resonant acoustic mixer.

[0075] [Table 2]

[0076] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and modifications of the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Thus, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by reference to the appended claims.

[0077] Properties, materials, features or groups described with reference to a particular aspect, embodiment or example should be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere herein, to the extent compatible. All features disclosed herein (including any contemporaneously filed claims, abstract and drawings) and / or all steps of any method or process so disclosed may be combined in any combination, except at least some combinations where such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. Protection is not limited to the details of the foregoing embodiments. Protection extends to any novel or any novel combination of features disclosed herein (including any contemporaneously filed claims, abstract and drawings) or any novel or any novel combination of steps of any method or process disclosed.

[0078] Moreover, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations may also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation may also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Further, although features may be described as acting in a particular combination, one or more features from a claimed combination may, in some cases, be excluded from the combination and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or a variation of the subcombination.

[0079] Furthermore, although operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequence, or all operations performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations not shown or described may be incorporated into the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations may be performed before, after, simultaneously with, or between the operations described. Furthermore, operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps performed in the illustrated and / or disclosed processes may differ from those shown. Depending on the embodiment, certain steps described above may be omitted, and other steps may be added. Furthermore, features and attributes of certain disclosed embodiments may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which are within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the above implementations should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the components and systems described may generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged in multiple products. For example, any of the components of the energy storage systems described herein may be provided separately or integrated together (e.g., packaged together or mounted together) to comprise an energy storage system.

[0080] For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features have been described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with a particular embodiment. Thus, for example, one skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a way that achieves one advantage or group of advantages set forth herein, without necessarily achieving other advantages that may be described or suggested herein.

[0081] Conditional language such as "can," "may," "could," or "may," unless otherwise specified or understood within the context in which it is used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include certain features, elements, and / or steps, but other embodiments do not. Thus, such conditional language generally conveys that the features, elements, and / or steps are somehow required by one or more embodiments, or that the one or more embodiments include or may include those features, elements, and / or steps, with or without user input or prompting. It is not intended to imply that logic for determining whether or not a particular embodiment is implemented is necessarily included.

[0082] The conjunctive phrase "at least one of X, Y, and Z," unless otherwise noted, is understood in the context in which it is generally used to convey that an item, term, etc. can be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive phrases are generally not intended to imply that a particular embodiment requires the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.

[0083] As used herein, language of degree, such as the terms "approximately," "about," "generally," and "substantially," refers to a value, amount, or characteristic that is close to that value, amount, or characteristic to perform a desired function or achieve a desired result.

[0084] The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosure of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere herein, but may be defined by the claims presented in this section or elsewhere herein, or presented in the future. The language of the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the language used in the claims, and not limited to the examples described herein or in the prosecution of the application. Those examples should be construed as non-exclusive.

[0085] Embodiment Various exemplary embodiments are provided below.

[0086] 1. A manufacturing method for producing a dry electrode film for an energy storage device, comprising: mixing an active material with a porous carbon material to form a dry active material mixture; mixing the dry active material mixture with a dry binder to form a dry electrode film mixture; The dry electrode film mixture is calendered to form a free-standing dry electrode film having a binder loading of up to about 2% by weight.

[0087] 2. The method of producing a dry electrode film of the first embodiment, wherein calendering the dry electrode film mixture includes up to three passes through a calender.

[0088] 3. The method for producing a dry electrode film of the first or second embodiment, wherein at least one of mixing the active material with the porous carbon material and mixing the dry active material mixture with a dry binder is performed by a non-destructive mixing process.

[0089] 4. In the method for producing a dry electrode film according to the third embodiment, the non-destructive mixing process is a resonant acoustic mixing process. A method for producing a dry electrode film.

[0090] 5. The method for producing a dry electrode film according to the third embodiment, wherein the non-destructive mixing process is performed by a blade-type mixer having a tip speed of about 10 to about 40 meters / minute.

[0091] 6. The method for producing a dry electrode film of the first or second embodiment, wherein at least one of mixing the active material with the porous carbon material and mixing the dry active material mixture with a dry binder is performed by a high shear process.

[0092] 7. The method for producing a dry electrode film of the sixth embodiment, wherein the high shear process comprises a jet mill process.

[0093] 8. A dry electrode film for an energy storage device, comprising: about 90 to about 99 weight percent dry active material; and up to about 2% by weight of a dry binder; The dry electrode film is self-supporting.

[0094] 9. The dry electrode film of the eighth embodiment, comprising about 95 to about 98% by weight of the dry active material.

[0095] 10. The dry electrode film of the eighth or ninth embodiment, wherein the dry active material is D 50 A dry electrode film comprising dry active material particles having a particle size of at least about 10 μm.

[0096] 11. The dry electrode film of the tenth embodiment, wherein the dry active material particles are D 50 A dry electrode film having a particle size of about 10 to about 20 μm.

[0097] 12. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to eleventh embodiments, wherein the dry active material is selected from at least one of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a sulfur-carbon composite, a lithium metal oxide, and a sulfur-containing material.

[0098] 13. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to twelfth embodiments, wherein the electrode film comprises about 1 to about 2 wt. % of the dry binder.

[0099] 14. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to thirteenth embodiments, wherein the dry binder consists essentially of a single dry binder.

[0100] 15. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to fourteenth embodiments, wherein the dry binder comprises a dry fibrillizable binder.

[0101] 16. The dry electrode film of the fifteenth embodiment, wherein the dry fibrillizable binder comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

[0102] 17. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to sixteenth embodiments, wherein the dry electrode film further comprises up to about 8 wt. % of a porous carbon material.

[0103] 18. The dry electrode film of the seventeenth embodiment, wherein the porous carbon material comprises activated carbon.

[0104] 19. The dry electrode film of any one of the eighth to eighteenth embodiments, wherein the dry electrode film further comprises up to about 5% by weight of a conductive additive.

[0105] 20. The dry electrode film of the nineteenth embodiment, wherein the conductive additive comprises a conductive carbon material.

[0106] 21. The dry electrode film of the twentieth embodiment, wherein the conductive carbon material comprises carbon black.

[0107] 22. An electrode having a dry electrode film according to any one of the eighth to twenty-first embodiments. An electrode that is in contact with a current collector.

[0108] 23. A lithium-ion battery comprising the electrode of the 22nd embodiment.

[0109] 24. The lithium ion battery of the twenty-third embodiment, wherein the first cycle device efficiency is at least about 90%.

[0110] 25. The lithium ion battery of the twenty-fourth embodiment, wherein the first cycle device efficiency is about 90% to about 94%.

Claims

1. A dry electrode film for an energy storage device, comprising: 90% to 99% by weight of dry active material; and up to 2% by weight of a dry binder; A free-standing, dry electrode film.

2. A dry electrode film as described in claim 1, comprising 95% to 98% by weight of the dry active material.

3. The dry electrode film of claim 1, wherein the dry active material comprises dry active material particles having a D 50 particle size of at least 10 μm.

4. The dry electrode film of claim 3, wherein the dry active material particles have a D 50 particle size of 10 μm to 20 μm.

5. The dry electrode film of claim 1, wherein the dry active material is selected from at least one of a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a sulfur-carbon composite, a lithium metal oxide, and a sulfur-containing material.

6. The dry electrode film of claim 1, comprising 1% to 2% by weight of the dry binder.

7. The dry electrode film of claim 1, wherein the dry binder essentially consists of a single dry binder.

8. The dry electrode film of claim 1, wherein the dry binder comprises a dry fibrillizable binder.

9. The dry electrode film of claim 8, wherein the dry fibrillizable binder comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

10. The dry electrode film of claim 1, further comprising a porous carbon material.

11. The dry electrode film of claim 10, wherein the dry electrode film contains up to 8 weight percent porous carbon material.

12. The dry electrode film described in claim 10, wherein the dry electrode film contains 1 wt % to 7 wt % porous carbon material.

13. The dry electrode film of claim 10, wherein the porous carbon material includes activated carbon.

14. The dry electrode film of claim 1, further comprising a conductive additive.

15. The dry electrode film of claim 14, wherein the dry electrode film comprises up to 5% by weight of a conductive additive.

16. The dry electrode film of claim 14, wherein the conductive additive comprises a conductive carbon material.

17. The dry electrode film of claim 16, wherein the conductive carbon material comprises carbon black.

18. The dry electrode film of claim 1, wherein the dry electrode film is substantially free of processing solvent residues.

19. An electrode having a dry electrode film described in any one of claims 1 to 7, in contact with a current collector.

20. An energy storage device comprising the electrode described in claim 19.

21. The energy storage device of claim 20, having a first cycle device efficiency of at least 90%.

22. The energy storage device of claim 20, having a first cycle device efficiency of 90% to 94%.

23. The energy storage device of claim 20, which is a battery.

24. A method for producing a dry electrode film according to any one of claims 1 to 7 for producing an energy storage device, comprising: mixing the dry active material with the dry binder to form a dry electrode film mixture; and calendering the dry electrode film mixture to form the dry electrode film.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein calendaring the dry electrode film mixture includes up to three passes through a calendar.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising mixing the dry active material with a porous carbon material to form a dry active material mixture.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein mixing the dry active material with the dry binder comprises mixing the dry active material mixture with the dry binder.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of mixing the dry active material with the porous carbon material and mixing the dry active material mixture with the dry binder is performed by a non-destructive mixing process.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the non-destructive mixing process is a resonant acoustic mixing process.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the non-destructive mixing process is performed by a blade-type mixer having a tip speed of 10 m / min to 40 m / min.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of mixing the dry active material with the porous carbon material and mixing the dry active material mixture with a dry binder is performed by a high shear process.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the high shear process comprises a jet mill process.

Images