Sulfurized carbon cathodes
AssigneeWilliam Marsh Rice University
InventorsJames M. Tour, Rodrigo Villegas Salvatierra, Gladys Anahi Lopez Silva, Abdul-Rahman O. Raji
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Abstract
Alkali metal-sulfur cells and batteries with cathode layers that store alkali metal charge carriers (e.g., lithium ions) in agglomerates of sulfurized carbon. The cathode layers lack costly and environmentally unfriendly nickel and cobalt. The cathode layers are composites that include agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles in a conductive binder and interconnected by sp2-bonded carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes or nanoribbons, that extend within the agglomerates and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.
Claims28
An energy-storage device comprising:
- (a) an anode;
- and
- (b) a cathode, the cathode including:
- (i) distinct agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles, wherein
- (A) the sulfurized-carbon particles comprise carbon atoms with adjacent sulfur atoms, and
- (B) a majority of the carbon atoms with the adjacent sulfur atoms are bonded to the adjacent sulfur atoms via carbon-sulfur bonds;
- and
- (ii) carbon nanomaterial extending within the agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.
A method of making an electrode for an energy-storage device, the method comprising combining sulfurized-carbon particles with carbon nanomaterial to form agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles, wherein:
- (a) the agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles comprise carbon atoms with adjacent sulfur atoms,
- (b) a majority of the carbon atoms with the adjacent sulfur atoms are bonded to the adjacent sulfur atoms via carbon-sulfur bonds, and
- (c) the carbon nanomaterial extends within the agglomerates of sulfurized-carbon particles and between the sulfurized-carbon particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.