Binder Free Silicon/Graphite Anode & Solid Inorganic Electrolyte: Breakthrough in Li-Ion Batteries. Materials, Technologies, Equipment for Production
Authors: Shembel Elena M , Redko Vlad I , Pastushkin Timothy V , Markevich Alexandr V , Kolomoyets Olga , Maksuta Irina M 
Published: February 2020

The goal of the achievements that will be presented is to solving the problems of the traditional Li-ion batteries: Safety; Costliness; Limited energy; Limited operating range of temperature; Content of toxic materials

To solving these problems Enerize developed: Anode based on binder free nano-structured Si-graphite composition; Solid inorganic electrolyte; Technology and equipment for high rate thin films depositions that possible for roll-to-roll operation; Non-destructive non-contact testing in-line initial materials, semi and final product during batteries production.

Advantages of lithium batteries with thin film binder free Si – graphite electrodes and solid inorganic electrolyte are as following

Micro- & macro-batteries, wide operating temperature range from minus and up to +250°C. Low cost of the cooling system in EV.

Increasing safety during battery cycling due to the absence of dendrite formation and cathode / anode short circuits.

High energy due to the high energy anode Si-graphite and cathode (without binder).

High quality hermetic sealing of cells due absence of liquid phase.

Low manufacturing cost for materials & cells.

Enerize proposes a silicon – graphite composite anode that fabricated via a proprietary method of gas detonation deposition. Results of test reveal >1100mAh/g capacity during cycles, and further improvement are possible. A further benefit is as following: Si - graphite composite electrode that produced using the method of gas detonation deposition do not require a polymer binder. This is because: a) electrodes have high level of the adhesion between current collector and the composition of Si - graphite; b). particle of Si and graphite have high level of cohesion. These unique properties provide improved stability of the structure of electrodes and as result stability of the energy parameters of the battery during cycling.

For deposition of thin films of solid inorganic electrolytes Enerize developed technology and equipment based on Gas Discharge Electron Gun with a Cold Cathode. This allows combine high efficiency (high throughput & high yield), ability to manage the properties (e.g. morphology) of the deposited materials during the process, and the availability of the necessary equipment. This enables to increase the process rate for deposition of thin film of vitreous solid electrolytes. This process also allows high rate of the deposition as compare with the magnetron sputtering process. The deposition can be done on most metal thin foils and polymers

During presentation will be presented and described:Method and equipment for deposition electrode based on the composition Si and graphite

Method and equipment for deposition solid inorganic electrolyte

Kinetic of electrochemical process on electrode based on Si – graphite composition

Electrochemical properties of developed solid inorganic electrolytes

Process of roll-to-roll production Li-ion cells with Si-graphite anode and solid inorganic electrolyte

Non-destructive non-contact testing methods & devices for ensuring quality of initial materials, components, and final products, including in-line control during production of batteries

Acknowledgements: This presentation is connected with the framework of NATO, Science for Peace and Security Programme Project SPS 985148 “Development of New Cathodes for Stable and Safer Lithium-Sulfur Batteries” in the light of development the innovating batteries with high energy and low self - discharge that are based on Si/graphite anode – Sulfur cathode. Enerize Corporation is the Industrial Partner / End User of this NATO project. Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology is active participant of this NATO project