Protective carbon layer for lithium (Li) metal anodes

US11508966B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LYTEN, INC. · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey Bell · Santa Clara, US
• You Li · Sunnyvale, US
• Jesse Baucom · Sunnyvale, US
• John Thorne · Sunnyvale, US
• Qianwen Huang · Walsenburg, US
• Anurag Kumar · Sunnyvale, US
• Jerzy Gazda · Austin, US
• Bruce Lanning · Littleton, US
• Michael W. Stowell · Sunnyvale, US
• Prashanth Jampani Hanumantha · Pittsburgh, US
• James McKinney · Redwood City, US
• George Clayton Gibbs · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 9, 2020
• Grant date: Nov 22, 2022
• Expiry date: May 8, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/10
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.