Aluminum secondary battery having a high-capacity and high energy cathode and manufacturing method
AssigneeGlobal Graphene Group, Inc.
InventorsAruna Zhamu, Bor Z Jang
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Abstract
Provided is an aluminum secondary battery comprising an optional anode current collector, an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode contains aluminum metal or an aluminum metal alloy and the cathode comprises a layer of graphite or carbon material having expanded inter-graphene planar spaces with an inter-planar spacing d002 from 0.43 nm to 2.0 nm as measured by X-ray diffraction. Such an aluminum battery delivers a high energy density, high power density, and long cycle life.
Claims31
An aluminum secondary battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte in ionic contact with said anode and said cathode to support reversible deposition and dissolution of aluminum at said anode, wherein said anode contains aluminum metal or an aluminum metal alloy as an anode active material and said cathode comprises a cathode active layer of a graphite or carbon material subjected to a constrained thermal expansion treatment having expanded inter-graphene planar spaces with an inter-planar spacing d002 from 1.0 nm to 3.0 nm as measured by X-ray diffraction and an optional 0-30% by weight of a conductive additive based on a total weight of the cathode active layer, wherein said constrained thermal expansion treatment is a heat treatment under a constant volume condition or under a uniaxial compression, wherein said conductive additive is selected from a carbon or graphite material having un-expanded inter-graphene planar spaces with an inter-planar spacing d002 from 0.33 nm to 0.36 nm.
A cathode active layer for an aluminum secondary battery, said cathode active layer comprises a graphite or carbon material subjected to a constrained thermal expansion treatment having expanded inter-graphene planar spaces with an inter-planar spacing d002 from 1.0 nm to 3.0 nm as measured by X-ray diffraction, wherein said constrained thermal expansion treatment is a heat treatment under a constant volume condition or under a uniaxial compression, wherein said cathode layer comprises less than 30% by weight of an original graphite having no expanded inter-graphene planar spaces and having an inter-planar spacing d002 from 0.334 nm to 0.34 nm.
A method of manufacturing an aluminum secondary battery, comprising:
- (a) providing an anode containing aluminum or an aluminum alloy;
- (b) providing a cathode containing a carbon or graphite material subjected to a constrained thermal expansion treatment having expanded inter-planar spaces, d002 from 1.0 nm to 3.0 nm, wherein said constrained thermal expansion treatment is a heat treatment under a constant volume condition or under a uniaxial compression;
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- (c) providing an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and dissolution of aluminum at the anode and reversible adsorption/desorption and/or intercalation/de-intercalation of ions at the cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.