Rechargeable alkaline metal and alkaline earth electrodes having controlled dendritic growth and methods for making and using the same
AssigneeIndiana University Research and Technology Corporation
InventorJian Xie
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Abstract
A method of extending the life of a battery, including positioning a dendrite seeding material in an electrolyte solution disposed between a metal-containing electrode and an electrolyte permeable separator membrane, growing metal dendrites from the lithium dendrite seeding material toward the lithium-containing electrode, and contacting metal dendrites extending from the metal containing electrode with metal dendrites extending from the metal dendrite seeding material, wherein the electrolyte contains metal ions.
Claims18
A method of extending the life of a battery, comprising:
- a) positioning a dendrite seeding material in an electrolyte solution disposed between a metal-containing electrode and an electrolyte permeable separator membrane;
- b) growing metal dendrites from the lithium dendrite seeding material toward the lithium-containing electrode;
- and
- c) contacting metal dendrites extending from the metal containing electrode with metal dendrites extending from the metal dendrite seeding material;
- wherein the electrolyte contains metal ions.
A method of producing a dendrite seeding separator material, comprising:
- a) identifying a carbon separator surface;
- b) functionalizing the carbon separator surface with a chemically bound anion-containing structure;
- c) introducing a neutral metal salt to the functionalized carbon separator surface;
- d) reacting the neutral salt to yield a metal cation and an anion;
- and
- e) attracting the metal cation to the chemically-bound anion.
A method for controlling metal dendrite growth in a battery cell comprising:
- a) determining a desired porosimetry value for an electrolyte membrane;
- b) providing the electrolyte membrane with the porosimetry value;
- c) grafting a dendrite seeding material onto the electrolyte membrane;
- d) introducing a metal cation gradient from a metal electrode through the electrolyte membrane;
- e) immobilizing a portion of the metal cations on an electrode facing surface of the electrolyte membrane;
- and
- f) promoting directional dendrite growth on a membrane facing side of an electrode and on an electrode facing side of a membrane.
A method for producing an electrolyte polymer membrane comprising:
- mixing a particulate carbon source with a plurality of solvents to form a suspension;
- identifying a binding element to affect adhesion of suspended carbon particles to a permeable membrane;
- applying the binding element to the permeable membrane to define an adhesive membrane;
- applying the suspension to the adhesive membrane;
- and
- forming an interface between the suspension.
A method for controlling metal dendrite growth in an electrochemical cell comprising:
- a) coating an electrolytically permeable and electrically insulating membrane with a non-reactive metal coating;
- b) functionalizing the non-reactive metal coating to yield a functionalized non-reactive metal coating;
- c) positioning an electrolyte solution between and electrode and the functionalized non-reactive metal coating;
- d) introducing a metal cation gradient from a metal electrode through the electrolytically permeable and electrically insulating membrane;
- e) immobilizing a portion of the metal cations on the functionalized non-reactive metal coating;
- and
- f) promoting directional dendrite growth through the electrolyte solution from the electrode and from the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.