# US 2013/0156941 A1 · Rechargeable alkaline metal and alkaline earth electrodes having controlled dendritic growth and methods for making and using the same

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- Number: US 2013/0156941 A1
- Document ID: US20130156941A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/474,174
- Filed: 2012-05-17
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-17
- Assignees: Indiana University Research and Technology Corporation
- Inventors: Jian Xie
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130156941A1

## CPC

- H01M 4/1395: of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 10/0566: Liquid materials
- H01M 50/443: Particulate material
- H01M 50/451: comprising layers of only organic material and layers containing inorganic material
- H01M 50/46: Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by their combination with electrodes
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein contact between lithium dendrites extending from the lithium containing electrode with lithium dendrites extending from the lithium dendrite seeding material substantially stops the growth of the contacting lithium dendrites along the major axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 and further comprising:
d) intertangling lithium dendrites extending from the lithium-containing electrode with lithium dendrites extending from the lithium dendrite seeding material; and
e) forming a lithium layer from the intertangled lithium dendrites.

### Claim 4

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein the metal is selected from the group including lithium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and combinations thereof.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the metal cation is weakly bound to the chemically-bound anion.

### Claim 7

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.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising, preventing dendrite growth in the in plane direction of the electrolyte membrane until the electrode dendrite combines with the membrane dendrite.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 wherein the electrolyte membrane is selectively permeable.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the electrolyte membrane includes a layer of functionalized nanocarbon particles.

### Claim 11

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.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the suspension is plurality of functionalized nanocarbon particles.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the carbon substance is selected from the group including carbon black, graphene, graphite, nanographite, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the binding element and the electrolyte polymer membrane have a substantially similar chemical composition.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein application of the suspension is accomplished by a technique selected from the group including hot pressing, spraying, machine blade coating, brush painting, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the suspension is uniformly dispersed.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising maintaining adhesion of the suspension by the binding element.

### Claim 18

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.