# US 11,309,540 B1 · Anode structure for a lithium metal battery

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- Number: US 11,309,540 B1
- Document ID: US11309540B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/919,151
- Filed: 2020-07-02
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-18
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Karl M. Brown; Alan A. Ritchie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309540B1

## CPC

- H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/366: {as layered products}
- H01M 4/02: Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M 4/0445: {Forming after manufacture of the electrode, e.g. first charge, cycling}
- H01M 4/045: {Electrochemical coating; Electrochemical impregnation}
- H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/62: Selection of inactive substances as ingredients for active masses, e.g. binders, fillers
- H01M 4/622: {being polymers}
- H01M 4/661: {Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings (H01M4/669 take precedence)}
- H01M 4/664: {Ceramic materials}
- H01M 4/667: {in the form of layers, e.g. coatings}
- H01M 4/80: Porous plates, e.g. sintered carriers
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H01M 50/461: {with adhesive layers between electrodes and separators}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 2004/021: {Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area}
- H01M 2004/027: {Negative electrodes}
- 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

An anode for a lithium metal battery includes a host structure configured to be between an anode current collector and a separator, the host structure having void spaces configured to host metallic lithium during charging, wherein the host structure has a void space of ≥60% and ≤80%. Another anode for a lithium metal battery includes a current collector, a separator, and a host structure between the current collector and the separator, the host structure having void spaces configured to host metallic lithium during charging, wherein the host structure is formed of fibers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An anode for a lithium metal battery, comprising:
a host structure configured to be between an anode current collector and a separator, the host structure having void spaces configured to host metallic lithium during charging, wherein the host structure has a void space of ≥60% and ≤80%, wherein the host structure is a layer of material having columnar voids created through a thickness of the layer, each columnar void having a diameter of between 0.5 μm and 5 μm, inclusive.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The anode of claim 1, further comprising:
a coating of seed material on internal surfaces of the void spaces to promote wetting of the metallic lithium.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The anode of claim 1, wherein the material of the host structure is formed of fibers selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, glass, aramid fibers, porous polyimide and combinations thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The anode of claim 3, wherein the fibers have a coating of seed material to promote wetting of the metallic lithium.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The anode of claim 1, wherein the host structure is formed of a porous foam metal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The anode of claim 5, wherein the porous foam metal is nickel or copper.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A lithium metal battery comprising the anode of claim 1.

### Claim 8

An anode for a lithium metal battery, comprising:
a current collector;
a separator; and
a host structure between the current collector and the separator, the host structure having void spaces configured to host metallic lithium during charging, wherein the host structure is formed of fibers and individual void spaces each have a diameter between 0.5 μm and 5.0 μm, inclusive.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The anode of claim 8, further comprising:
a seed layer comprising a seed material selected to promote electrochemical plating of metallic lithium onto the seed layer, the seed layer deposited on the current collector on a surface facing the host structure.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The anode of claim 9, further comprising:
a first adhesion layer bonding the host structure to the seed layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The anode of claim 9, further comprising:
a first adhesion layer bonding the host structure to the seed layer; and
a second adhesion layer bonding the host structure to the separator.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The anode of claim 11, wherein the first adhesion layer and the second adhesion layer are a polymer electrolyte.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The anode of claim 10, further comprising:
a second adhesion layer bonding the host structure to the separator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The anode of claim 8, wherein the fibers of the host structure are of a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, cellulose, polyvinyl alcohol, glass, aramid fibers, porous polyimide and combinations thereof.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The anode of claim 8, wherein the host structure has a total void space of ≥60% and ≤80%.

### Claim 16 (depends on 8)

The anode of claim 8, further comprising:
a coating of seed material on internal surfaces of the void spaces to promote wetting of the metallic lithium.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

A lithium metal battery comprising the anode of claim 8.