SOLID-STATE RECHARGEABLE MAGNESIUM BATTERY
Embodiments of a solid-state electrolyte comprising magnesium borohydride, polyethylene oxide, and optionally a Group IIA or transition metal oxide are disclosed. The solid-state electrolyte may be a thin film comprising a dispersion of magnesium borohydride and magnesium oxide nanoparticles in polyethylene oxide. Rechargeable magnesium batteries including the disclosed solid-state electrolyte may have a coulombic efficiency ≧95% and exhibit cycling stability for at least 50 cycles.
GRAPHENE-SULFUR NANOCOMPOSITES FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM-SULFUR BATTERY ELECTRODES
Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries having a cathode that includes a graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can exhibit improved characteristics. The graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can be characterized by graphene sheets with particles of sulfur adsorbed to the graphene sheets. The sulfur particles have an average diameter less than 50 nm.
Graphene-Sulfur Nanocomposites for Rechargeable Lithium-Sulfur Battery Electrodes
Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries having a cathode that includes a graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can exhibit improved characteristics. The graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can be characterized by graphene sheets with particles of sulfur adsorbed to the graphene sheets. The sulfur particles have an average diameter less than 50 nm.
All-Vanadium Pure Sulfate Redox Flow Battery Electrolytes and Cell Stack Designs
HIGH EFFICIENCY ELECTROLYTES FOR HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY SYSTEMS
This invention is the design of a high efficiency electrolyte that enables the stable cycling of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2, or LCO) layered cathode under high voltages (e.g. 4.5 V vs. Li/Li+). Due to the structural instability of LCO cathode materials under high voltages ( > 4.2 V), commercial Li-ion batteries (LIBs) using LCO cathode typically has a low cut-off charge voltage. The practical reversible capacity of LCO is only limited to ~140 mAh g-1. Nevertheless, in this new electrolyte, the LCO cathode could deliver a very high capacity about 190 mAh g-1 (at 0.1C) and realize excellent cycling stability under a charge cut-off voltage of 4.5 V, along with a cell Coulombic efficiency (CE) over 99.8%. In sharp contrast, in the conventional carbonate electrolyte (1 M LiPF6 in EC/EMC, 3:7 wt), the LCO cathode has a fast capacity fading (66% capacity retention after only 50 cycles) and a low cell CE about 97.5%. Therefore, this new electrolyte could significantly improve the energy densities and cycle lives of batteries with LCO cathodes.
Nanocomposite protective coatings for battery anodes
Modified surfaces on metal anodes for batteries can help resist formation of malfunction-inducing surface defects. The modification can include application of a protective nanocomposite coating that can inhibit formation of surface defects. such as dendrites, on the anode during charge/discharge cycles. For example, for anodes having a metal (M′), the protective coating can be characterized by products of chemical or electrochemical dissociation of a nanocomposite containing a polymer and an exfoliated compound (Ma′Mb″Xc). The metal, M′, comprises Li, Na, or Zn. The exfoliated compound comprises M′ among lamella of Mb″Xc, wherein M″ is Fe, Mo, Ta, W, or V, and X is S, O, or Se.
SCAFFOLDED CURRENT COLLECTOR FOR METAL ANODE, METHOD OF MAKING, AND BATTERY USING (iEdison No. 0685901-22-0149)
Adopting porous current collector is one of the most effective approaches to suppress the dendrite growth in alkaline metal batteries. In this invention, a flexible, lightweight, porous, and electronically conductive metal@polymer composite material was successfully developed as the current collector for rechargeable alkaline metal batteries. This material is comprised of an electrospun polyimide (PI) polymer matrix coated with electrically conductive copper (Cu) film. To achieve a durable, uniform, and firm Cu coating on the electrospun PI matrix, a unique synthesis route was designed. PI matrix was first etched with potassium hydroxide solution to introduce potassium ions (K+) into the polymer backbone of PI. The K+ was substituted by silver ions (Ag+) via ion exchange, which were subsequently reduced to silver (Ag) nanoparticles on the surface of PI to yield the Ag@PI composite. Thereafter, the Ag@PI composite was plated with a Cu electroless plating solution, where Ag nanoparticles serve as the seed for Cu to deposit. The final electrically conductive Cu@PI composite material with three dimensional (3D) porous structure was thus obtained. The Cu@PI composite material exhibits good flexibility, low density, high porosity as well as excellent electronic conductivity, making it a highly attractive material for being used as the current collector in alkaline metal based batteries.
SEASONAL ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES BASED ON RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES
The present invention reports a method for constructing a temperature activated rechargeable battery and apply the device for seasonal electrical energy storage. The battery consists of a metal anode, a metal cathode, a molten salt electrolyte, and a porous separator (Figure 1). The battery operates at an elevated temperature during charging and discharging, at which the molten salt electrolyte is in a liquid state. During idling, the battery will be kept at ambient temperature, and capacity loss due to self-discharge is minimized by freezing the electrolytes.
METHOD FOR ACTIVATING SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FOR USE IN SOLID-STATE POLYMER BATTERY (iEdison No. 0685901-23-0093)
This invention discloses a facile activation method to enable the operation of polymer-based solid-state batteries at room temperature (RT), including: 1) applying a heat treatment to cell components and/or whole cell at the temperatures of 40-150 degrees C. 2) applying a pressure of 20-200 psi to cell components and/or whole cell for > 15 min. 3) applying an ultrasound treatment to cell components and/or whole cell for