US2015076742A1PendingUtilityA1

Carbon and carbon precursors in nanofibers

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Assignee: UNIV CORNELLPriority: Mar 14, 2013Filed: Aug 12, 2014Published: Mar 19, 2015
Est. expiryMar 14, 2033(~6.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Yong Lak JooKyoung Woo KimYong Seok Kim
D01D 5/003H01M 4/587H01M 10/0525D01D 5/0069D01D 1/02D01F 1/02D01F 9/20D04H 1/728D01F 9/12D01D 5/0015D01F 9/328D10B 2321/06Y02E60/10
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Claims

Abstract

Provided herein are nanofibers comprising carbon precursors, nanofibers comprising carbon matrices, and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are high performance lithium ion battery anodic nanofibers comprising non-aggregated silicon domains in a continuous carbon matrix.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for preparing a silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber, the process comprising:
 a. providing a fluid stock comprising polyvinylalcohol, a plurality of silicon nanoparticles, and a nanostructured carbon;   b. electrospinning the fluid stock, producing a nanofiber comprising the polyvinylalcohol, the silicon nanoparticles, and the nanostructured carbon; and   c. thermally treating the nanofiber producing the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the electrospinning is gas-assisted. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the electrospinning is coaxially gas-assisted. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stock is aqueous. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid stock is aqueous. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured carbon comprises high aspect ratio nanostructured carbon, the aspect ratio thereof being at least 10. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured carbon comprises carbon black, graphene, or carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the nanostructured carbon comprises graphene or carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the nanostructured carbon comprises graphene or carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of silicon nanoparticles have an average diameter of less than 100 nm. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the nanostructured carbon and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of at least 1:10. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the nanostructured carbon and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the nanostructured carbon and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the nanostructured carbon and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the silicon nanoparticles and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of at least 1:10. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the silicon nanoparticles and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the silicon nanoparticles and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber comprises at least 60 elemental wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber comprises at least 75 elemental wt. % silicon. 
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber comprises 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % carbon. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein thermally treating comprises heating to a temperature between 400° C. and 2000° C. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal treatment carbonizes the polyvinylalcohol. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal treatment is performed under inert or reducing conditions. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising washing the nanofiber prior to thermal treatment. 
     
     
         25 . A process for preparing a silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber, the process comprising:
 a. providing an aqueous fluid stock comprising polyvinylalcohol, a plurality of silicon nanoparticles having an average diameter of less than 100 nm, and a nanostructured carbon having an aspect ratio of at least 5, the weight-to-weight ratio of silicon nanoparticles to polyvinylalcohol being at least 1:10, and the weight-to-weight ratio of nanostructured carbon to polyvinylalcohol being at least 1:10;   b. electrospinning the fluid stock, producing a nanofiber comprising the polyvinylalcohol, the silicon nanoparticles, and the nanostructured carbon, the electrospinning being coaxially gas assisted; and   c. thermally carbonizing the polyvinylalcohol of the nanofiber, thereby producing the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber.   
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the fluid stock comprises the silicon nanoparticles and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1 and the nanostructured carbon and the polyvinyl alcohol in a weight-to-weight ratio of 1:4 to 4:1. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the nanostructured carbon comprises carbon nanotubes or graphene. 
     
     
         28 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber comprises at least 60 elemental wt. % silicon and 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % carbon. 
     
     
         29 . The process of  claim 27 , wherein the silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber comprises at least 60 elemental wt. % silicon and 5 wt. % to 25 wt. % carbon. 
     
     
         30 . A silicon-carbon nanocomposite nanofiber produced by the process of  claim 1 .

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