Carbon electrode structures for batteries

Abstract

In certain embodiments, an electrode includes a body of material formed in substantial part of carbon, the body having an exterior surface and an interior located within the exterior surface, and a plurality cavities located in the interior of the body. Each of the cavities is in communication with the exterior of the body and has an interior surface. The cavities can each be sized to accommodate a battery separator located therein and substantially covering the interior surface of the cavity.

1 . An electrode comprising:
 a body of material formed in substantial part of carbon, the body having an exterior surface and an interior located within the exterior surface;   a plurality cavities located in the interior of the body, each of the cavities in communication with the exterior of the body, each of the cavities having an interior surface; and   wherein the cavities each being sized to accommodate a battery separator located therein and substantially covering the interior surface of the cavity while still permitting sufficient room for a second electrode material to be located within the cavity spaced from the interior surface of the cavity by the separator.   
     
     
         2 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the cavities are substantially regularly spaced. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a volume and the cavities comprise at least 50 percent of the volume. 
     
     
         4 . An electrode for a battery comprising a structure having a plurality of engineered cavities and having a composition comprising carbon that is electrochemically active. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the structure consists essentially of electrochemically active material. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the structure is a monolithic structure. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the carbon is formed from a precursor. 
     
     
         8 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the structure is configured to be an electrochemically active component and a current collector. 
     
     
         9 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the carbon is substantially homogeneous throughout the structure. 
     
     
         10 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the carbon is a substantially continuous phase in the structure. 
     
     
         11 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the structure substantially does not include an inactive binder. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the structure is self-supported. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the electrode is an anode. 
     
     
         14 . The electrode of  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises silicon. 
     
     
         15 . A battery comprising:
 a first electrode comprising electrochemically active carbon and having a plurality of pores;   a separator located within the plurality of pores; and   a second electrode located within the plurality of pores, wherein the separator electrically isolates the first electrode from the second electrode.   
     
     
         16 . The battery of  claim 15 , wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery. 
     
     
         17 . The battery of  claim 15 , wherein the first electrode consists essentially of electrochemically active material. 
     
     
         18 . The battery of  claim 15 , wherein the first electrode is a monolithic structure. 
     
     
         19 . The battery of  claim 15 , wherein the second electrode comprises a lithiated intercalation compound. 
     
     
         20 . The battery of  claim 15 , wherein the separator is a deposited layer.