Electrodeposition As a Route Toward Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

Electrodeposition as a Route Toward Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices

Derek C. Johnson, Matthew T. Rawls, and Amy L. Prieto

Chemistry Department, Colorado State University

Prieto Battery, Inc., Fort Collins, CO

                Lithium-ion batteries have become the primary energy choice for low power applications, and are now being sought after for high power applications in hybrid electric vehicles (HEV), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and electric vehicles (EV).  To meet the performance requirements for high power density applications, the short comings that have confined the use of conventional lithium-ion batteries to low-power applications needs to be addressed.  To address these problems, we utilize electrodeposition as the main synthetic tool for the fabrication of a three-dimensional (3D) solid-state lithium-ion battery.  The ultimate goal is to use this synthetic technique to fabricate a solid-state battery with a significantly higher power density and longer cycle life when compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries containing a liquid electrolyte or a polymer gel electrolyte.  Electrodeposition is used to synthesize high surface area anodes that do not require additional conducting materials such as graphite or polymer binders to retain structural integrity.  Since the anode is highly conducting, it is subsequently used as the substrate to which a solid-state electrolyte is directly electrochemically deposited.  An aqueous based cathode slurry is then applied to the solid-state electrolyte to complete the cell.  Battery performance of these composite structures will be presented.