Composite electrodes and methods of making the same

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• and
• a conjugated polymer possessing polar functionality to effectively anchor the single-walled carbon nanotubes to the surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the conjugated polymer comprises poly[3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene] (PPBT);
• and
• wherein the charge-providing material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of monodispersed Fe3O4 spheres, silicon nanoparticles, metallic oxide, magnetite, and a combination thereof.

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• and
• a polymer binding the single-walled carbon nanotubes to the charge-providing material;
• wherein the polymer is poly[3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene] (PPBT).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound by a second polymer to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles;
• and
• wherein the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the composite electrode presents a Coulombic efficiency of 99% or greater;
• and
• wherein:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• or
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises magnetite and silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the composite electrode presents a Specific Capacity of 500 mAh/g or greater;
• and
• wherein:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• or
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises magnetite and silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the composite electrode presents a stable capacity retention of 75% or greater after 100 cycles;
• and
• wherein:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• or
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises magnetite and silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the composite electrode initial Specific Capacity changes by 5% or less after 200 cycles or more;
• and
• wherein:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• or
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises magnetite and silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

A composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes bound to a surface of the charge-providing material;
• wherein the composite electrode undergoes a volume change of 40% or less after 100 cycles;
• and
• wherein:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• or
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to the surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises magnetite and silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).

In a composite electrode comprising:

• a charge-providing material;
• and
• single-walled carbon nanotubes;
• wherein the improvement to the composite electrode is selected from the group consisting of:
• the charge-providing material comprises magnetite;
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to a surface of the charge-providing material by a second polymer, the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles, and the first polymer is carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC);
• the charge-providing material is bound by a first polymer to a charge-conducting material, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are bound to a surface of the charge-providing material by poly[3-(potassium-4-butanoate) thiophene] (PPBT), and the charge-providing material comprises silicon nanoparticles;
• and
• a combination thereof.