Controlled prelithiation of negative electrodes for a lithium ion cell with a lithium foil, apparatuses for the process, and resulting electrodes

Abstract

Prelithiated negative electrodes are prepared under controlled conditions. Lithium foils are laminated onto active material layers using sufficient pressure such that heat is generated upon initiation of reaction of between lithium and the active material. The reaction proceeds to completion with the laminated assembly maintained under solvent-free, temperature controlled conditions for up to about 24 hours. The prelithiated negative electrode active material has a voltage against lithium metal of not more than about 1V at a value of lithium uptake of 10% of capacity, and irreversible capacity loss associated with the active material has been eliminated. Roll-to-roll processes and apparatus are described for safe manufacture of hundreds of meters of the prelithiated negative electrodes which can be taken up in roll form to be cut and assembled with other components to form lithium ion cells.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.