# US 2014/0154577 A1 · Lithium ion batteries using discrete carbon nanotubes, methods for production thereof and products obtained therefrom

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- Number: US 2014/0154577 A1
- Document ID: US20140154577A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/128,392
- Filed: 2012-06-21
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-23
- Assignees: Molecular Rebar Design, LLC
- Inventors: Clive P. Bosnyak; Kurt W. Swogger
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154577A1

## CPC

- H01M 4/366: {as layered products}
- H01M 4/0416: {involving impregnation with a solution, dispersion, paste or dry powder (H01M4/0438 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/131: Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
- H01M 4/133: Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
- H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/1391: of electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
- H01M 4/1393: of electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
- H01M 4/1395: of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/505: of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
- H01M 4/525: of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
- H01M 4/587: for inserting or intercalating light metals
- H01M 4/625: {Carbon or graphite}
- H01M 6/00: Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- B82Y 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- H01M 2004/027: {Negative electrodes}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- Y10S 977/742: Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
- Y10S 977/948: Energy storage/generating using nanostructure, e.g. fuel cell, battery
- 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
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

Compositions, and methods of obtaining them, useful for lithium ion batteries comprising discrete oxidized carbon nanotubes having attached to their surface lithium ion active materials in the form of nanometer sized crystals or layers. The composition can further comprise graphene or oxygenated graphene.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-7. (canceled)

### Claim 8

A process for the production of discrete carbon nanotubes having crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials attached to their surface, comprising the steps of:
a) selecting carbon nanotubes of aspect ratio 10 to 500 and oxidation level 1% to 15% percent by weight;
b) mixing the carbon nanotubes with a high boiling point liquid;
c) adding reagents in correct balance to synthesize a lithium salt;
d) reacting the mixture at a temperature to form the lithium salt while sonicating the mixture;
e) separating the solid discrete carbon nanotube salts from the liquid; and
f) drying and annealing the solid discrete carbon nanotube salts under an inert atmosphere at sufficient temperature to obtain an olivine crystal structure.

### Claim 9

A process for the production of discrete carbon nanotubes having crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials attached to their surface, comprising the steps of:
selecting carbon nanotubes of aspect ratio 10 to 500 and oxidation level of 1% to 15% by weight;
b) mixing the carbon nanotubes and a lithium salt in a liquid with surfactant;
c) sonicating the liquid carbon nanotube/lithium salt mixture;
d) separating the solid salts from the liquid; and
e) drying and annealing the solid discrete carbon nanotubes with attached lithium salts under an inert atmosphere at sufficient temperature to obtain an olivine crystal structure.

### Claim at position 4

10-13. (canceled)

### Claim 14

A composition useful for lithium ion batteries comprising:
discrete carbon nanotubes having crystals or layers of lithium ion active material attached to their surface, wherein the discrete carbon nanotubes have an aspect ratio of 10 to 500 and oxidation levels from 1% to 15% by weight of the carbon nanotube.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The composition of claim 14, wherein the crystals or layers of lithium ion active material comprise a lithium metal salt and an element selected from the group consisting of: iron, manganese, cobalt, copper, nickel, vanadium, titanium, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The composition of claim 15, wherein the lithium metal salt has an olivine crystal structure.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The composition of claim 13, wherein the crystals or layers of lithium ion active material comprise tin, silicon, copper, antimony, aluminum, germanium, titanium, or mixtures thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The composition of claim 13, further comprising graphene or oxygenated graphene.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The composition of claim 18, wherein the weight ratio of grapheme to carbon nanotube is in the range of 0.1:99.9 to 99.9:0.1.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The composition of claim 13, wherein the carbon nanotubes are in a weight ratio of carbon nanotubes to lithium salts of 0.1% to 10%.

### Claim 21 (depends on 13)

The composition of claim 13, comprising oxidized carbon nanotubes having crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials attached to their surface, wherein the carbon nanotubes are uniformly dispersed without clustering on a dimension scale less than 1 micrometer.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The composition of claim 13, comprising uniformly dispersible oxidized carbon nanotubes having crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials attached to their surface.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The composition of claim 22, wherein the crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials are chemically attached to the surface of the dispersible oxidized carbon nanotubes.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The composition of claim 22, wherein the crystals or layers of lithium ion active materials are chemically attached to the surface of the dispersible oxidized carbon nanotubes.