Cobalt and Nickel FREE Cathodes for Li-Ion Batteries

A composite copper sulfide - alkali metal salt cathode composition for high efficiency, high density alkali metal batteries

Background
High energy rechargeable batteries are in ever-increasing demand to power consumer electronics and electric vehicles. Although lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been successfully used for portable electronics in the past three decades and more recently for electric vehicles, they are facing a challenging bottleneck regarding high cost and the lack of sustainability. The conventional cathodes of LIBs that operate on topotactic insertion reactions such as lithium metal oxides, e.g., LiCoO₂ and LiNi_xCo_yMn_1−x−yO₂, relying heavily on cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) elements as the main active components. The LIB industry is experiencing increasing prices and impending supply shortages for these two metals. In terms of the verified reserve, cobalt and nickel are expected to encounter supply shortages by 2035 and 2045, respectively. Hence, alternative battery chemistries or active elements are needed to overcome these challenges.

Technology Description
This technology is a composite cathode for alkali metal batteries, such as lithium and sodium batteries. The cathode comprises a composite of (i) an alkali metal salt of Li or Na, and (ii) a transition metal, a transition metal sulfide, a transition metal carbonate, or any combination thereof. These cathodes have high energy densities due to conversion reactions, high coulombic efficiency, and exhibit stable cycling as evidenced by capacity retention. In some implementations, the composite cathodes are more sustainable than conventional lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes. Alkali metal ion batteries containing these composite cathodes may be more sustainable and exhibit a higher energy density than batteries with conventional cathodes.