Magnesium-alloy current collectors for lithium-ion batteries, and methods for making and using the same

Abstract

The disclosed technology utilizes magnesium alloys in current collectors for lithium-ion batteries. Some variations provide a lithium-ion battery comprising: a negative electrode; a negative-electrode current collector in contact with the negative electrode; a lithium-containing electrolyte; a separator interposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode, wherein the separator is permeable to lithium ions; a positive electrode (cathode); and a positive-electrode current collector in contact with the positive electrode, wherein the negative-electrode current collector comprises a magnesium alloy foil containing at least 50 atomic percent magnesium. Magnesium alloys may alternatively, or additionally, be utilized as the positive-electrode current collector. The invention provides low-cost, lightweight current-collector materials that can be a drop-in replacement for existing lithium-ion-batteries and production processes, while maintaining mechanical, electrical, and electrochemical battery performance. Experimental data are presented to demonstrate the principles and utility of the invention across a range of magnesium alloys as well as pure magnesium.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.