Open structures in substrates for electrodes

US8637185B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Amprius, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Eugene Berdichevsky · Oakland, US
• Song Han · Foster City, US
• Yi Cui · Stanford, US
• Rainer Fasching · Mill Valley, US
• Ghyrn E. Loveness · Menlo Park, US
• William S. DelHagen · San Francisco, US
• Mark C. Platshon · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 11, 2010
• Grant date: Jan 28, 2014
• Expiry date: May 5, 2031

Classification

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

Abstract

Provided are conductive substrates having open structures and fractional void volumes of at least about 25% or, more specifically, or at least about 50% for use in lithium ion batteries. Nanostructured active materials are deposited over such substrates to form battery electrodes. The fractional void volume may help to accommodate swelling of some active materials during cycling. In certain embodiments, overall outer dimensions of the electrode remain substantially the same during cycling, while internal open spaces of the conductive substrate provide space for any volumetric changes in the nanostructured active materials. In specific embodiments, a nanoscale layer of silicon is deposited over a metallic mesh to form a negative electrode. In another embodiment, a conductive substrate is a perforated sheet with multiple openings, such that a nanostructured active material is deposited into the openings but not on the external surfaces of the sheet.