BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates generally to energy storage devices, and more particularly to battery technology, supercapacitor technology and the like.

Background

Owing in part to their relatively high energy densities, relatively high specific energy, relatively high specific power, relatively fast charging, light weight, and potential for long lifetimes and cycle life, advanced rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors are desirable for a wide range of electronic devices, electric vehicles, grid storage and other important applications.

However, despite the increasing commercial prevalence of electrochemical energy storage technologies, further development of the batteries and supercapacitors is needed, particularly for potential applications in low- or zero-emission, hybrid-electrical or fully-electrical vehicles, consumer electronics, energy-efficient cargo ships and locomotives, aerospace applications, and power grids. In particular, further improvements are desired for various rechargeable batteries, such as rechargeable metal and metal-ion batteries (such as rechargeable Li and Li-ion batteries, rechargeable Na and Na-ion batteries, rechargeable Mg and Mg-ion batteries, rechargeable K and K-ion batteries, rechargeable Ca and Ca-ion batteries, etc.). The following energy storage devices may similarly benefit from the additional improvements: rechargeable halogen-ion batteries (such as F-ion and Cl-ion batteries, etc.), rechargeable mixed ion batteries, rechargeable aqueous batteries (e.g., rechargeable batteries with pH-neutral or acidic or caustic electrolytes), electrochemical capacitors (e.g., supercapacitors or double layer capacitors), hybrid devices, rechargeable polymer electrolyte batteries and supercapacitors, rechargeable polymer gel electrolyte batteries and supercapacitors, rechargeable solid ceramic or solid glass electrolyte batteries, rechargeable composite electrolyte batteries, to name a few.

A broad range of active (charge-storing) materials, a broad range of polymer binders, a broad range of conductive additives and various mixing recipes may be utilized in the construction of battery electrodes. In some designs, active materials may be utilized in the form of composite particles. However, for improved electrode performance (low and stable resistance, high cycling stability, high rate capability, acceptable energy, good volumetric capacity, etc.), the optimal composite formulations need to be identified. Furthermore, the choice of binders, additives, and mixing protocols needs to be discovered for specific types, specific physical and chemical properties and specific sizes of active particles. In many cases, the choices of the composite particle architecture and compositions as well as the composition of the electrodes are not trivial and can be counter-intuitive.

In many different types of rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors, charge storing materials may be produced as (nano)composite powders, which may comprise conductive carbon. As a subset of such particles, conductive carbon may be biologically derived. In principle, such a class of charge-storing (nano)composite particles may offer great promises for scalable (and, in some case, sustainable) manufacturing and achieving good charge storage performance characteristics. Unfortunately, it largely remains unclear what types and what properties of biologically derived carbon would be advantageous in such applications of composite ((nano)composite) particles. In addition, it is further unclear how to achieve effective processing of such (nano)composite particles into electrodes that would result in good performance characteristics, including high capacity, fast charging, fast discharging and long cycle stability. The performance of battery electrodes comprised of similar (nano)composites may become particularly poor when the electrode capacity loading becomes moderate (for batteries) (2-4 mAh/cm2) or even more so when it becomes high (e.g., 4-16 mAh/cm2). Higher capacity loading, however, is advantageous for increasing battery cell energy density and reducing cell manufacturing costs. The performance of supercapacitor electrodes comprised of similar (nano)composites may become particularly poor when the electrode capacity loading exceeds about 0.1 mAh/cm2. Higher capacity loading, however, is advantageous for increasing supercapacitor energy density and reducing its manufacturing costs.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improved batteries, components, electrode materials and other related materials and manufacturing processes.

SUMMARY

An embodiment is directed to an electrode composition for use in an energy storage device cell. The electrode comprises composite particles, each comprising carbon that is biomass-derived and active material. The active material exhibits partial vapor pressure below around 10−13torr at around 400 K, and an areal capacity loading of the electrode composition ranges from around 2 mAh/cm2to around 16 mAh/cm2.

