Electrodes for energy storage devices

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an energy storage cell comprising a first electrode; a second electrode; a permeable separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electrolyte wetting the first and second electrodes; wherein the first electrode comprises a network of dements defining void spaces within the network; and active material comprising lithium metal oxide disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 0.1% percent by weight of polymeric binders disposed in the void spaces; and wherein the active layer is greater than 99% by weight active material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy storage cell comprising
 a first electrode;   a second electrode;   a permeable separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electrolyte wetting the first and second electrodes;   
       wherein the first electrode contains an electrode active layer that comprises:
 a network of elements defining void spaces within the network; and 
 active material comprising lithium metal oxide disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; 
 wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 0.1% percent by weight of polymeric binders disposed in the void spaces; 
 wherein the electrode active layer comprises greater than 99% by weight of the active material; wherein the energy storage cells has an operational voltage in the range of 1.0 V to 5.0 V, a gravimetric energy density of at least 300 Wh/Kg, a volumetric energy density of at least 800 Wh/L, a cycle life of at least 1,000 charge discharge cycles. 
 
     
     
         2 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 0.1% percent by weight of polyvinylidene fluoride. 
     
     
         3 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode comprises a cathode with density of at least of 3.5 g/cc and porosity of at least 20 volume percent, based on a total volume of the cathode active layer. 
     
     
         4 . The energy storage cell of  claim 3 , wherein the first electrode is a double sided electrode with active layer thickness of at least 150 micrometer per side. 
     
     
         5 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the network of elements include high aspect ratio carbon elements that each have two major dimensions and one minor dimension, wherein the ratio of the length of each of the major dimensions is at least 10 times that of the minor dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The energy storage cell of  claim 5 , wherein the high aspect ratio carbon elements comprise elements each have one major dimension and two minor dimension, wherein the ratio of the length of each the major dimension is at least 10 times that of each of the minor dimensions. 
     
     
         7 . The energy storage cell of  claim 5 , wherein the high aspect ratio carbon elements comprise carbon nanotubes or carbon nanotube bundles. 
     
     
         8 . The energy storage cell of  claim 5 , wherein the high aspect ratio carbon elements comprise graphene flakes. 
     
     
         9 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 10% by weight polymeric binders disposed in the void spaces 
     
     
         10 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 1% by weight polymeric binders disposed in the void spaces. 
     
     
         11 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode active layer is substantially free of polymeric material other than a surface treatment. 
     
     
         12 . The energy storage cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrode active layer is substantially free of polymeric material.