Hybrid anode compositions for lithium ion batteries

An exfoliated graphite-based hybrid composition for use as an electrochemical cell electrode, said composition comprising:

• a) micron- or nanometer-scaled particles or coating which are capable of absorbing and desorbing at least one of alkali or alkaline metal ions wherein the particles or coating are amorphous or comprise nano crystallites wherein said particles have a dimension less than 5 μm or said coating has a thickness less than 5 μm;
• b) exfoliated graphite worms that are substantially interconnected to form a porous, conductive graphite network comprising pores, wherein at least one of said particles or coating resides in a pore of said network or attached to a worm of said network and the exfoliated graphite worm amount is in the range of 5% to 90% by weight and the amount of particles or coating is in the range of 95% to 10% by weight;
• wherein the particles or coating comprises an active material selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and cadmium (Cd);
• (ii) alloys or intermetallic compounds of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, or Cd with other elements, wherein said alloys or compounds are stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric;
• (iii) oxides, carbides, nitrides, sulfides, phosphides, selenides, and tellurides of Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, Fe, or Cd, and their mixtures or composites;
• (iv) salts and hydroxides of Sn;
• and
• (v) combinations thereof and wherein the composition provides a specific capacity of no less than 1,000 mAh per gram.

A lithium secondary battery comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode comprising a hybrid composition which is capable of absorbing and desorbing lithium ions, and a non-aqueous electrolyte disposed between said negative electrode and said positive electrode;

• wherein said hybrid composition provides a specific capacity of no less than 1,000 mAh per gram of the negative electrode;
• said composition comprising:
• a) micron- or nanometer-scaled particles or coating which are capable of absorbing and desorbing at least one of alkali or alkaline metal ions wherein said particles have a dimension less than 5 μm or said coating has a thickness less than 5 μm;
• and
• b) exfoliated graphite worms that are substantially interconnected to form a porous, conductive graphite network comprising pores, wherein at least one of said particles or coating resides in a pore of said network or attached to a worm of said network and the exfoliated graphite worm amount is in the range of 5% to 90% by weight and the amount of particles or coating is in the range of 95% to 10% by weight;
• wherein the particles or coating comprises an active material selected from the group consisting of:
• (i) silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and cadmium (Cd);
• (ii) alloys or intermetallic compounds of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, or Cd with other elements, wherein said alloys or compounds are stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric;
• (iii) oxides, carbides, nitrides, sulfides, phosphides, selenides, and tellurides of Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, Fe, or Cd, and their mixtures or composites;
• (iv) salts and hydroxides of Sn;
• and
• (v) combinations thereof.