Nanoparticles having polythionate cores
AssigneeConamix Inc.
InventorsJay J. Farmer, Stephen Burkhardt
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Abstract
This application relates to nanoparticles having improved electroactive cores comprising polythionate molecules (e.g. compounds with a structure −O3S—(S)n—SO3−) encapsulated in shells, such as those that may be used as electrode materials for secondary batteries or other energy storage devices, and methods of making same.
Claims37
A core-shell nanoparticle comprising:
- a shell defining an internal volume;
- and
- a sulfur-based core with a composition different from the shell and disposed within the internal volume defined by the shell;
- wherein the core comprises polythionate.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polythionates comprise less than about 25 wt. % of the core, less than about 20 wt. %, less than about 15 wt. %, or less than about 10 wt. %.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the polythionates comprise about 1 to about 10 wt. % of the core.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core further comprises one or more conductive additives.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell comprises a polymer.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell comprises an inorganic material.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell comprises a composite of one or more polymers with at least one conductive additive.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a dimension of the nanoparticle is between about 20 and about 1,000 nm.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sulfur-based core occupies only a portion of the internal volume defined by the shell.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell has a thickness of between about 5 and about 50 nm.
The core-shell nanoparticle of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell comprises two or more layers.
A core-shell nanoparticle comprising:
- a shell defining an internal volume;
- and
- a core comprising a composite of lithium thiosulfate and lithium sulfide disposed within the internal volume defined by the shell.
An electrode for an energy storage device, the electrode comprising:
- a core-shell nanoparticle comprising:
- a shell defining an internal volume;
- and
- a sulfur-based core with a composition different from the shell and disposed within the internal volume defined by the shell;
- wherein the sulfur-based core comprises polythionate.
An energy storage device comprising:
- an anode;
- a cathode comprising:
- a core shell nanoparticle comprising a shell defining an internal volume;
- and
- a sulfur-based core comprising polythionate disposed within the internal volume defined by the shell;
- a separator;
- and
- an electrolyte.
A battery comprising:
- an anode;
- a cathode comprising lithium polythionate;
- a separator;
- and
- an electrolyte.
A method of producing a sulfur-based core comprising polythionate for a core-shell nanoparticle, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing sodium thiosulfate to an acid solution;
- reacting the sodium thiosulfate in the acid solution to precipitate a sulfur-based core material;
- and
- controlling the reaction by at least one of introducing an oxidizing agent to the acid solution, adjusting a pH of the acid solution, varying an environmental condition, adding a surfactant to the acid solution, varying a mixing protocol, or washing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.