Carbon aerogel-based cathodes for lithium-air batteries
AssigneeAspen Aerogels, Inc.
InventorsNicholas A. Zafiropoulos, George Gould
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Abstract
Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof. Embodiments include a cathode material within a lithium-air battery, where the cathode is formed of a binder-free, monolithic, polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes pores that improve the oxygen transport properties of electrolyte solution and improve the formation of lithium peroxide along the surface and/or within the pores of the carbon aerogel. The cathode and underlying carbon aerogel provide optimal properties for use within the lithium-air battery.
Claims13
A nanoporous carbon composition comprising a polyimide-derived carbon aerogel, the nanoporous carbon composition comprising a plurality of interconnected carbon structures defining a plurality of pores, wherein a width of carbon structures of the interconnected carbon structures is from 2 nm to 5 nm, wherein the plurality of pores comprise pores characterized by a pore size distribution with an average pore size of 150 nm or less and a full width at half maximum from 5 nm to 25 nm, the plurality of pores comprising pores surrounding particles of an electrochemically active species, and wherein the nanoporous carbon composition is characterized by:
- a porosity of from 10% to 80%;
- a surface area of at least 20 m2/g;
- a Young's modulus of from 2 GPa to 8 GPa;
- a density of from 0.1 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) to 1.5 g/cm3;
- and
- a pore volume in a range from about 1 to about 4 cubic centimeters/gram (cm3/g).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.