US 11,757,082 B2
Method for fabricating an anode for a lithium battery cell
Jin Liu, Novi, MI (US); Jiazhi Hu, Troy, MI (US); Raffaello Ardanese, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US); Ryan C. Sekol, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI (US); Lei Wang, Rochester Hills, MI (US); and Michael P. Balogh, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/179,543.
Prior Publication US 2022/0271268 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 10/0568 (2010.01); H01M 10/0569 (2010.01); H01M 10/0565 (2010.01)
CPC H01M 4/0416 (2013.01) [H01M 10/0565 (2013.01); H01M 10/0568 (2013.01); H01M 10/0569 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fabricating a cell anode for a lithium ion battery cell, the method comprising:
forming a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a raw anode, including:
applying a first SEI-generating electrolyte to the raw anode to form a first intermediate anode;
applying a second SEI-generating electrolyte to the first intermediate anode to form a second intermediate anode;
post-processing the first intermediate anode to avoid a side reaction between the first SEI-generating electrolyte and the second SEI-generating electrolyte, cross-contamination of the second SEI-generating electrolyte, and dilution of the second SEI-generating electrolyte;
applying a third SEI-generating electrolyte to the second intermediate anode to form the cell anode;
post-processing the second intermediate anode to avoid a side reaction between the second SEI-generating electrolyte and the third SEI-generating electrolyte, cross-contamination of the third SEI-generating electrolyte, and dilution of the third SEI-generating electrolyte;
wherein applying the respective first, second, and third SEI-generating electrolyte occurs in an inert environment at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of from 0° C. to 200° C. for a time period of from 30 seconds to 72 hours with an applied potential of from 0V to 10V, an applied current having an areal current density of from 0 mA/cm2 to 100 mA/cm2, and an applied surface pressure on the respective raw anode, first intermediate anode, and second intermediate anode of from 0.05 MPa to 30 MPa;
concurrent to applying the third SEI-generating electrolyte, monitoring the cell anode with non-destructive testing in real-time to identify either: a) an acceptable quality of the third SEI-generating electrolyte to thereby form the SEI layer on the raw anode or b) a defect in at least one of structural integrity, consistency, thickness, and morphology of the third SEI-generating electrolyte; and
after identifying the defect, i) reapplying the third SEI-generating electrolyte to thereby form the SEI layer on the raw anode or ii) recycling the cell anode;
wherein the cell anode includes the raw anode having the SEI layer; and
wherein the raw anode includes a metallic strip having an electroactive material deposited on at least one side.