Electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and other applications

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to various electrodes suitable for electrochemical devices such as batteries, capacitors, sensors, condensers, electrochromic elements, photoelectric conversion elements, etc. Some embodiments are generally directed to electrode materials surrounded by electrolyte, e.g., filling in porous spaces within the electrode. For example, one aspect is generally directed to an electrochemical device comprising an electrode comprising particles. Some or all of the particles may be surrounded by an electrolyte, such as a solid electrolyte. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices including such electrodes, methods of making or using such electrodes, kits including such electrodes, or the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode comprising particles and a solid electrolyte, wherein at least 50 vol % of interstices between the particles comprise the solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         2 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise a positive electroactive material. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein at least 75 vol % of the interstices comprise the solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         4 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the particles comprise lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, lithium nickel cobalt manganese aluminum oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, lithium titanate, metallic lithium lithium metal oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, and/or lithium iron phosphate. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the particles are in contact with the solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein at least 90% of the particles are in contact with the solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode has a capacity of at least 1 mA h/cm 2 . 
     
     
         18 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         26 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The electrode of  claim 25 , wherein the polymer comprises a product of a crosslinking reaction including a polymer selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein n is an integer between 1 and 10,000, inclusive; 
         wherein m is an integer between 1 and 5,000, inclusive; 
         wherein R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , and R 6  are each independently selected from the group consisting of: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 wherein * indicates a point of attachment. 
 
     
     
         31 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode further comprises a support structure disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the electrode. 
     
     
         44 . The electrode of  claim 43 , wherein the support structure comprises a non-woven fabric. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . The electrode of  claim 43 , wherein the support structure comprises an inorganic nanoparticle-coated composite membrane, and/or an inorganic nano-particle-filled composite membrane, and/or an inorganic nanoparticle-filled non-woven mat. 
     
     
         47 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . The electrode of  claim 46 -, wherein the inorganic nanoparticles comprise BaTiO 3 , ZrO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , SiO 2 , BaCO 3 , and/or LiAlO 2 . 
     
     
         50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . The electrode of  claim 43 , wherein at least one side of the support structure is at least partially coated with a coating layer. 
     
     
         52 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises a protective apparatus. 
     
     
         56 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is an anode. 
     
     
         59 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . The electrode of  claim 58 , wherein the anode comprises a lithium ion-conducting material. 
     
     
         64 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode is contained within a lithium-ion solid-state battery. 
     
     
         73 - 77 . (canceled) 
     
     
         78 . An electrochemical device, comprising:
 an electrode comprising particles and a solid electrolyte, wherein at least 50 vol % of interstices between the particles comprise the solid electrolyte.   
     
     
         79 . (canceled) 
     
     
         80 . An electrochemical device, comprising:
 a porous electrode; and   a solid electrolyte present in at least 90 vol % of a porous volume of the electrode.   
     
     
         81 - 101 . (canceled)