Use of expanded graphite in lithium/sulphur batteries

US9577243B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Sion Power Corporation · US

Inventors

• Ruediger Schmidt · Paderborn, DE
• Alexander Panchenko · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Bastian Ewald · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Philip Hanefeld · Cranford, US
• Sorin Ivanovici · Ludwigshafen, DE
• Helmut Moehwald · Annweiler am Trifels, DE
• Igor P. Kovalev · Tucson, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 26, 2011
• Grant date: Feb 21, 2017
• Expiry date: Oct 24, 2033

Classification

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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a solid composite for use in the cathode of a lithium-sulphur electric current producing cell wherein the solid composite comprises 1 to 75 wt.-% of expanded graphite, 25 to 99 wt.-% of sulphur, 0 to 50 wt.-% of one or more further conductive agents other than expanded graphite, and 0 to 50 wt.-% one or more binder, based on the total amount of the solid composite, a lithium-sulphur electric current producing cell comprising (i) a cathode comprising the solid composite, (ii) an anode and (iii) an electrolyte interposed between said cathode and said anode, and a process for preparing the solid composite comprising the steps (I) preparing a slurry comprising sulphur, expanded graphite, and optionally further components in a liquid medium by dispersing the sulphur, the expanded graphite, and optionally the further components in the liquid medium; (II) casting the slurry provided in step (I) on a substrate or placing the slurry provided in step (I) into a mold; and (III) removing some or all of the liquid medium from the slurry cast in step (II) to form a solid composite.