# US 2014/0193712 A1 · Alginate-containing compositions for use in battery applications

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- Number: US 2014/0193712 A1
- Document ID: US20140193712A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/150,374
- Filed: 2014-01-08
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-05-03
- Assignees: Georgia Tech Research Corporation; Clemson University
- Inventors: Gleb YUSHIN; Igor LUZINOV; Bogdan ZDYRKO; Oleksandr MAGAZYNSKYY; Igor KOVALENKO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193712A1

## CPC

- H01M 4/622: {being polymers}
- 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 50/409: Separators, membranes or diaphragms characterised by the material
- H01M 50/443: Particulate material
- H01M 50/489: Separators, membranes, diaphragms or spacing elements inside the cells, characterised by their physical properties, e.g. swelling degree, hydrophilicity or shut down properties
- H01M 50/491: Porosity
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A silicon-based anode comprises an alginate-containing binder. The many carboxy groups of alginate bind to a surface of silicon, creating strong, rigid hydrogen bonds that withstand battery cycling. The alginate-containing binder provides good performance to the anode by (1) improving the capacity of the anode in comparison to other commercially-available binders, (2) improving Columbonic efficiency during charging and discharging cycles, and (3) improving stability during charging and discharging cycles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A battery electrode comprising:
a conductive metal substrate; and
an electrode active material comprising active particles, wherein each of the active particles is a silicon-carbon composite, dispersed in a binder coupled to the conductive metal substrate, wherein the binder comprises an alginate material, wherein the electrode active material is substantially homogenously dispersed in the alginate material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the electrode active material further comprises a conductive carbon additive mixed in with the active particles.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the silicon-carbon composites have a three-dimensional dendritic particle structure.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the alginate material comprises a salt of alginic acid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electrode of claim 4, wherein the salt of alginic acid comprises an alkaline salt of alginic acid or an alkaline earth salt of alginic acid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the binder further comprises a polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the binder further comprises a polymer blended with the alginate material.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrode of claim 1, wherein the binder further comprises a polymer grafted with or cross-linked with the alginate material.