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US-20260128304-A1 - HIGH-CAPACITY CATHODES CONTAINING SULFIDE COATINGS

US20260128304A1US 20260128304 A1US20260128304 A1US 20260128304A1US-20260128304-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cathode that includes a sulfide layer on a surface. The cathode surface may include a polymer layer and a metal oxide layer in an arrangement such that the sulfide layer is above the polymer layer, and the polymer layer is above the metal oxide layer. The invention also relates to energy storage devices that include the cathodes. The invention also relates to methods of making the cathodes by applying a composition onto a surface of the cathode to form a sulfide layer on the surface. The formed cathodes may be incorporated as a component of an energy storage device.

Inventors

  • Xiangbo Meng
  • Meetesh Singh

Assignees

  • BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251104

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A cathode comprising: a surface; and a sulfide layer on the surface.
  2. 2 . The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a metal oxide layer, and wherein the sulfide layer is above the metal oxide layer.
  3. 3 . The cathode of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide layer is selected from the group consisting of a lithium (Li) oxide layer, an iron (Fe) oxide layer, a manganese (Mn) oxide layer, a cobalt (Co) oxide layer, a nickel (Ni) oxide layer, LiFePO 4 , Li- and Mn-based oxides, Li 2 Mn 2 O 4 , LiMnO 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 , LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiNi x Co y Al z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.8 Co 0.15 Al 0.05 O 2 , LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 ·LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), xLi 2 MnO 3 ·(1−x)LiMO 2 (where M comprises one or more 3d or 4d transition metals), 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , or combinations thereof.
  4. 4 . The cathode of claim 2 , wherein the metal oxide layer comprises Li- and Mn-based oxides.
  5. 5 . The cathode of claim 2 , wherein the Li- and Mn-based oxides are selected from the group consisting of Li 2 Mn 2 O 4 , LiMnO 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 , LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 ·LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), xLi 2 MnO 3 ·(1−x)LiMO 2 (where M comprises one or more 3d or 4d transition metals), 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , or combinations thereof.
  6. 6 . The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the surface comprises a polymer layer and a metal oxide layer, wherein the sulfide layer is above the polymer layer, and wherein the polymer layer is above the metal oxide layer.
  7. 7 . The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the sulfide layer comprises a metal sulfide.
  8. 8 . The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the sulfide layer is selected from the group consisting of Li 2 S, ZnS, Al 2 S 3 , Ga 2 S 3 , ZrS 2 , or combinations thereof.
  9. 9 . The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the sulfide layer comprises Li 2 S.
  10. 10 . An energy storage device comprising a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises: a surface; and a sulfide layer on the surface.
  11. 11 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a battery.
  12. 12 . The energy storage device of claim 11 , wherein battery is selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal-based battery, a lithium-ion battery, a lithium metal battery, a solid-state battery, or combinations thereof.
  13. 13 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the surface comprises a metal oxide layer, and wherein the sulfide layer is above the metal oxide layer.
  14. 14 . The energy storage device of claim 13 , wherein the metal oxide layer is selected from the group consisting of a lithium (Li) oxide layer, an iron (Fe) oxide layer, a manganese (Mn) oxide layer, a cobalt (Co) oxide layer, a nickel (Ni) oxide layer, LiFePO 4 , Li- and Mn-based oxides, Li 2 Mn 2 O 4 , LiMnO 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 , LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiNi x Co y Al z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.8 Co 0.15 Al 0.05 O 2 , LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 ·LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), xLi 2 MnO 3 ·(1−x)LiMO 2 (where M comprises one or more 3d or 4d transition metals), 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , or combinations thereof.
  15. 15 . The energy storage device of claim 13 , wherein the metal oxide layer comprises Li- and Mn-based oxides.
  16. 16 . The energy storage device of claim 15 , wherein the Li- and Mn-based oxides are selected from the group consisting of Li 2 Mn 2 O 4 , LiMnO 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 , LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , Li 2 MnO 3 ·LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 (where x+y+z=1), xLi 2 MnO 3 ·(1−x)LiMO 2 (where M comprises one or more 3d or 4d transition metals), 0.5Li 2 MnO 3 ·0.5LiNi 0.375 Mn 0.375 Co 0.25 O 2 , or combinations thereof.
  17. 17 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the surface comprises a polymer layer and a metal oxide layer, wherein the sulfide layer is above the polymer layer, and wherein the polymer layer is above the metal oxide layer.
  18. 18 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the sulfide layer comprises a metal sulfide.
  19. 19 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the sulfide layer is selected from the group consisting of Li 2 S, ZnS, Al 2 S 3 , Ga 2 S 3 , ZrS 2 , or combinations thereof.
  20. 20 . The energy storage device of claim 10 , wherein the sulfide layer comprises Li 2 S.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/716,100, filed on Nov. 4, 2024. The entirety of the aforementioned application is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND A need exists for the development of cathodes and energy storage devices with enhanced electrochemical properties. Numerous embodiments of the present disclosure aim to address the aforementioned need. SUMMARY In some embodiments, the present disclosure pertains to a cathode that includes a sulfide layer on a surface. In some embodiments, the cathode surface includes a polymer layer and a metal oxide layer. In some embodiments, the sulfide layer is above the polymer layer, and the polymer layer is above the metal oxide layer. Additional embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to energy storage devices that include the cathodes of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the energy storage devices of the present disclosure also include an anode and an electrolyte. Further embodiments of the present disclosure pertain to methods of making the cathodes of the present disclosure by applying a composition onto a surface of the cathode to form a sulfide layer on the surface. In some embodiments, the application method is repeated multiple times to form multiple sulfide layers on the surface. In some embodiments, the application method occurs by atomic layer deposition (ALD). In some embodiments, the methods of the present disclosure also include a step of incorporating the cathode as a component of an energy storage device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A provides an illustration of a cathode of the present disclosure. FIG. 1B provides an illustration of an energy storage device of the present disclosure. FIGS. 1C-1D illustrate methods of making a cathode of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2A-2C provide scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images for the uncoated and Li2S-coated 0.5Li2MnO3·0.5LiNi0.375Mn0.375Co0.25O2 (LMR-NMC) cathodes (i.e., B-LMR and Li2S-LMR, respectively). FIG. 2D provides an elemental mapping of the Li2S-coated LMR-NMC. FIGS. 3A-3D show electrochemical performance of B-LMR and Li2S-LMR cathodes tested at 0.5 C (1 C=250 mAh/g) in the voltage window of 2.0-4.8 V. FIGS. 3A-3B show charge-discharge profiles of B-LMR (FIG. 3A) and Li2S-LMR cathodes (FIG. 3B). FIGS. 3C-3D show cyclability (FIG. 3C) and Coulombic efficiency (FIG. 3D) of B-LMR and Li2SLMR cathodes. FIGS. 4A-4D show electrochemical performance of B-LMR and Li2S-LMR cathodes tested at 0.5 C (1 C=250 mAh/g) in the voltage window of 2.0-4.9 V. FIGS. 4A-4B show charge-discharge profiles of B-LMR (FIG. 4A) and Li2S-LMR cathodes (FIG. 4B). FIGS. 4C-4D show cyclability (FIG. 4C) and coulombic efficiency (FIG. 4D) of B-LMR and Li2SLMR cathodes. FIGS. 5A-5D show electrochemical performance of B-LMR and Li2S-LMR cathodes tested at 0.5 C (1 C=250 mAh/g) in the voltage window of 2.0-4.7 V. FIGS. 5A-5B show charge-discharge profiles of B-LMR (FIG. 5A) and Li2S-LMR cathodes (FIG. 5B). FIGS. 5C-5D show cyclability (FIG. 5C) and coulombic efficiency (FIG. 5D) of B-LMR and Li2SLMR cathodes. FIGS. 6A-6D show electrochemical performance of B-LMR, Li2S-LMR, and Li2S-P-LMR cathodes tested at 0.5 C (1 C=250 mAh/g) in the voltage window of 2.0-4.6 V. FIGS. 6A-6C show charge-discharge profiles of B-LMR (FIG. 6A), Li2S-LMR (FIG. 6B), and Li2S-P-LMR cathodes (FIG. 6C). FIG. 6D shows cyclability of B-LMR, Li2S-LMR, and Li2S-P-LMR cathodes. FIG. 7 shows cyclability of B-LMR, Li2S-P-LMR, and Li2S-P-400-LMR cathodes tested at 0.5 C (1 C=250 mAh/g) in the voltage window of 2.0-4.7 V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are illustrative and explanatory, and are not restrictive of the subject matter, as claimed. In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural, the word “a” or “an” means “at least one”, and the use of “or” means “and/or”, unless specifically stated otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the term “including”, as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included”, is not limiting. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements or components comprising one unit and elements or components that include more than one unit unless specifically stated otherwise. The section headings used herein are for organizational purposes and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described. All documents, or portions of documents, cited in this application, including, but not limited to, patents, patent applications, articles, books, and treatises, are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for any purpose. In the event that one or more of the incorporated literature and similar materials defines a term in a manner that contradicts the definition of that term in this application, this application controls. A need exists for the development of