US 12,074,276 B2
Electrochemical cells with catholyte additives and lithium-stuffed garnet separators
Thomas Arnold, San Jose, CA (US); Larry Beck, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Tiffany Ho, Fremont, CA (US); and Aram Yang, Berkeley, CA (US)
Assigned to QuantumScape Battery, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/289,272
Filed by QuantumScape Battery, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
PCT Filed Nov. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/059779
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 28, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/097018, PCT Pub. Date May 14, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/756,555, filed on Nov. 6, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0399338 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 10/05 (2010.01); H01M 4/48 (2010.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/0562 (2010.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01); H01M 50/431 (2021.01)
CPC H01M 10/0562 (2013.01) [H01M 4/48 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/44 (2013.01); H01M 50/431 (2021.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01); H01M 2300/0071 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrochemical cell comprising, a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a solid-state electrolyte therebetween;
wherein the positive electrode comprises a catholyte comprising:
a lithium salt selected from the group consisting of LiPF6, lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LIBOB), lithium bis(perfluoroethanesulfonyl)imide (LiIBETI), lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide (LiTFSI), LiBF4, LiAsF6, lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), and combinations thereof;
a first solvent selected from the group consisting of sulfolane, 1,3-propane sultone, sulfolene, thiophene, and combinations thereof;
a second solvent; and
a strong Lewis acid;
wherein the lithium salt is present at a concentration of about 0.5 M to about 2.0 M;
wherein the catholyte has a viscosity of less than 15 mPa-s at 20° C.;
wherein the catholyte has a water content less than 200 ppm;
wherein the catholyte is a eutectic mixture of solvents that melts at less than 0° C.;
wherein the catholyte has a lithium ion conductivity of greater than 10−5 S/cm at room temperature;
wherein the solid-state electrolyte comprises a lithium-stuffed garnet thin film with a thickness of 10 nm to 500 um; and
wherein the negative electrode comprises lithium metal.