US 8,507,135 B2 · Electrically conductive nanocomposite material comprising sacrificial nanoparticles and open porous nanocomposites produced thereof

Abstract

Nanocomposites of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer and electronically active material, in particular PEDOT and LiFePO4, were found to be significantly better compared to bare and carbon coated LiFePO4 in carbon black and graphite filled non conducting binder. The conductive polymer containing composite outperformed the other two samples. The performance of PEDOT composite was especially better in the high current regime with capacity retention of 82% after 200 cycles. Further improvement can be obtained if the porosity of the nanocomposites is enhanced. Hence an electrode produced from a composite made of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer, electronically active material, and sacrificial polymer, wherein the sacrificial polymer has been removed leaving pores has improved electrolyte and ion diffusion properties allowing the production of thicker electrodes.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries, the electrode comprising:

(a) an intermediate nanocomposite that includes an open porous material, wherein the open porous material includes
(i) a homogeneously distributed nanoparticulate electronically active material;
(ii) a nanoparticulate electronically conductive binder material;
and
(iii) sacrificial nanoparticles,
wherein an average particle size of the nanoparticles of the electronically active material and an average particle size of the nanoparticulate electronically conductive binder material do not differ more than +100%/−50% or wherein both average particle sizes are in the range of 5 to 500 nm, or wherein the average particle size of the nanoparticles of the electronically active material and the average particle size of the nanoparticulate electronically conductive binder material do not differ more than +100%/−50% and both average particle sizes are in a range of 5 to 500 nm, and
wherein the sacrificial nanoparticles have a size in a range of 200 to 500 nm.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electrically conductive nanocomposite material comprising sacrificial nanoparticles and open porous nanocomposites produced thereof

Life of this patent

Electrically conductive nanocomposite material comprising sacrificial nanoparticles and open porous nanocomposites produced thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23