Graphite Anode With Catalyst For Lithium-Ion Batteries

Graphitic anodes used in present generation lithium-ion batteries are cheap and provide a stable platform for Li-ion storage over low-high current densities over long charge-discharge cycles. However, they are limited to a low Li-storage capacity due to the simple insertion/de-insertion process. This technology relates to a new lithium-ion battery anode with enhanced performance. The technology owner is looking for potential licensees to commercialise this technology.

The battery anode contains a group IV-VI compound, in particular, tin disulfide, as the main active component and a transition metal group VI compound as catalyst. The catalyst can be provided as molybdenum group VI compound or as tungsten group VI compound, such as molybdenum disulfide or tungsten disulfide.

The transition metal oxides/sulfides store lithium through a conversion reaction in which the transition metal oxide/sulfides are broken down to from lithium oxide/sulfide and pure metal. In the reverse process (discharge), lithium oxide/sulfide breaks down in the presence of the transition metal and lithium is released back to the cathode. In another process, anodes based on metals and semimetals such as Si, Sn, Ge, Pb store lithium through an alloying/de-alloying process. In this process, the active elements alloy with lithium and yield high capacities.

During a charging process of a lithium-ion battery, electrons are transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode. The negative electrode, which is the cathode with respect to the charging reaction, takes up positively charged lithium ions and reduces them to lithium atoms, thereby compensating the negative charge of the electrons. Conventionally, the anode and cathode of a battery are defined with respect to the discharging reaction. According to this convention the negative electrode is referred to as the anode in the present specification.

The advantages of this technology are:

(1) Rapid lithium uptake and high electron mobility.

(2) high capacity anode

(3) Lightweight

(4) Improved first cycle coulombic efficiency and overall charge/discharge capacities.

• The anode material is designed for lithium-ion batteries.
• It can be used for portable electronics, electric vehicles and military applications.

Global lithium ion battery market is valued about USD 43.4 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to grow steadily at more than 16% from 2020-2026. The lithium ion battery is the leading choice of electrical energy storage for small portable devices and it has a great potential for large-scale implementation in electric vehicles.

The battery is rechargeable, easy to be synthesized and can be produced quickly. Moreover, it is more efficient than the state of the art.