Process for prelithiation of carbon based anodes for lithium batteries
AssigneeValence Technology, Inc.
InventorsIb I. Olsen, Rene Koksbang
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Abstract
A method of increasing the amount of alkali metal that is available during charge/discharge of an electrochemical cell that employs carbon based intercalation anodes is provided. The method comprises of prealkaliation of the carbon anode. By subjecting the anode carbon to the prealkaliation process prior to packaging the electrochemical cell, substantially all the alkali metal (e.g., lithium) which is originally present in the cathode will be available for migration between the anode and cathode during charge/discharge.
Claims42
A method for fabricating an electrochemical cell which comprises the steps of:
- (a) preparing a carbon anode in a process comprising of:
- (i) providing a carbon material that is capable of intercalating lithium metal;
- and
- (ii) prelithiating the carbon material with lithium metal;
- (b) providing a cathode that comprises a lithiated compound;
- and
- (c) forming a solvent-containing electrolyte that is interposed between said anode and said cathode.
An electrochemical cell fabricated by a process comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a carbon anode in a process comprising of:
- (i) providing a carbon material that is capable of intercalating lithium metal;
- and
- (ii) prelithiating said carbon material with lithium metal;
- (b) providing a cathode that comprises a lithiated compound;
- and
- (c) forming a solvent-containing electrolyte that is interposed between said anode and said cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.