# US 11,309,535 B2 · Electrodes for batteries

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- Number: US 11,309,535 B2
- Document ID: US11309535B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/023,176
- Filed: 2018-06-29
- Published: 2019-06-20
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-18
- Assignees: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Applicants: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Inventors: Zijian Zheng; Jian Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309535B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/5815: {Sulfides}
- H01M 4/621: {Binders}
- H01M 4/625: {Carbon or graphite}
- H01M 4/66: Selection of materials
- H01M 4/667: {in the form of layers, e.g. coatings}
- H01M 4/747: {Woven material}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Provided herein are a lithium electrode and a sulfur electrode for batteries. The lithium electrode comprises lithium metal and a metal-coated fabric. The fibers of the metal-coated fabric are covered by a metal layer, on which the lithium metal is attached. The sulfur electrode comprises a sulfur composite and a nickel-coated fabric. The fibers of the nickel-coated fabric are covered by a nickel layer, on which the sulfur composite is attached. The lithium electrode can inhibit dendrite formation and the sulfur electrode can speed up the redox kinetics of soluble polysulfides.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrode for a battery comprising:
lithium metal; and
a metal-coated carbon fabric having a three-dimensional porous structure and comprising carbon fibers, a copper layer, and an interfacial polymer layer sandwiched between the carbon fibers and the copper layer, the interfacial polymer layer being an interfacial poly[2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl]trimethyl ammonium chloride (PMETAC) layer for bonding the copper layer to each of the carbon fibers thereby forming the metal-coated carbon fabric;
wherein each of the carbon fibers comprises a diameter in a range of 5 μm to 20 μm,
wherein the copper layer comprises copper nanoparticles for enhancing affinity to the lithium metal and confining deposit of the lithium metal, the copper nanoparticles fully covering a surface of the metal-coated carbon fabric;
wherein the lithium metal is attached to the copper layer;
wherein a portion of the lithium metal has a two-dimensional nanostructure and is in a form of a flake; and
wherein the flake has a lateral dimension in a range of 1 μm to 5 μm and a thickness in a range of 1-100 nm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the copper layer has a thickness in a range of 50 nm to 300 nm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the lithium metal is further present in pores in the carbon fabric.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A lithium metal sulfur battery comprising an anode and a cathode,
the anode comprising the electrode of claim 1; and
the cathode comprising:
a sulfur composite comprising a conductive binder and sulfur; and
a further carbon fabric comprising further carbon fibers, the further carbon fibers being at least partially covered by a nickel layer, wherein the sulfur composite is attached to the nickel layer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The lithium metal sulfur battery of claim 4, wherein the conductive binder is a nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene; and the sulfur composite further comprises carbon black.