# US 2019/0173095 A1 · Tube structure having metal on inner surface thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0173095 A1 - Document ID: US20190173095A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/268,925 - Filed: 2019-02-06 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16 - Assignees: LG Chem, Ltd.; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - Applicants: LG Chem, Ltd.; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology - Inventors: Eunkyung PARK; Jang Wook CHOI; Byung Gon KIM; Minchul JANG; Byoungkuk SON; Junghun CHOI; Donghyeon KANG - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190173095A1 ## CPC - H01M 4/76: Containers for holding the active material, e.g. tubes, capsules - H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys - H01M 4/38: of elements or alloys - H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)} - H01M 4/661: {Metal or alloys, e.g. alloy coatings (H01M4/669 take precedence)} - H01M 4/663: {containing carbon or carbonaceous materials as conductive part, e.g. graphite, carbon fibres} - H01M 4/664: {Ceramic materials} - H01M 4/666: {in the form of mixed materials (H01M4/668 takes precedence)} - H01M 4/765: {Tubular type or pencil type electrodes; tubular or multitubular sheaths or covers of insulating material for said tubular-type electrodes} - H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries - H01M 2220/20: Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. 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 - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A structure, and more specifically a tube-shaped structure having an inner surface and two ends, wherein one or both ends are open and the inner surface is exposed through said one or both open ends, and a metal provide on the inner surface. Also, an electrode active material, such as lithium metal, on the metal included on the inner surface of the tube. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A structure, comprising: a tube having an inner surface forming a cavity and two ends, wherein one or both ends are open; and a metal on the inner surface of the tube. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube has an aspect ratio (a) of a longitudinal section calculated by Equation 1; and wherein the aspect ratio (a) is more than 1: a=L/Dex [Equation 1] in Equation 1, L is a length of the tube and Dex is an outer diameter of the tube. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube exhibits electrical conductivity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The structure of claim 3, wherein the tube exhibits lithium ion conductivity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises carbon. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The structure of claim 5, wherein the carbon is amorphous carbon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube is porous. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the metal is included in an amount of 0.1% by weight to 25% by weight with respect to a total weight of the tube and the metal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the metal is present as a particle that has a particle diameter of 1 nm to 50 nm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube is suitable for supporting an electrode active material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the metal included on the inner surface of the tube is a metal having a lower overvoltage with an electrode active material compared to an electrode current collector; or a metal having a multiphase with an electrode active material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the metal included on the inner surface of the tube is one or more types selected from the group consisting of Au, Zn, Mg, Ag, Al, Pt, In, Co, Ni, Mn, Si and Ca. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The structure of claim 10, wherein the electrode active material is a positive electrode active material or a negative electrode active material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The structure of claim 13, wherein the negative electrode active material comprises a lithium metal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The structure of claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a semiconductor element and an oxide of the semiconductor element, and the oxide of the semiconductor element includes SiOx, wherein 0.3≤x≤1.2, GeOy, wherein 0.2≤y≤1.1, SnOz, wherein 0.3≤z≤1.2 or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 A structure comprising: a tube having an inner surface forming a cavity and two ends, wherein one or both ends are open; a metal on the inner surface of the tube; and lithium metal formed on the metal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The structure of claim 16, wherein the metal is one or more types selected from the group consisting of Au, Zn, Mg, Ag, Al, Pt, In, Co, Ni, Mn, Si and Ca. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The structure of claim 16, wherein the structure further comprises an alloy of the metal and the lithium metal, which is formed at an interface between the metal and the lithium metal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The structure of claim 18, wherein the alloy of the metal and the lithium metal is LixAu, wherein x is a real number of 0