Stabilized Lithium Metal Powder for Li-Ion Application, Composition and Process

Abstract

The present invention provides a lithium metal powder protected by a substantially continuous layer of a polymer. Such a substantially continuous polymer layer provides improved protection such as compared to typical CO 2 -passivation.

1 . An anode comprising a host material capable of absorbing or desorbing lithium in an electrochemical system and a stabilized polymer-coated lithium metal powder dispersed in the host material, wherein the stabilized lithium metal powder is coated with a continuous polymer layer having a thickness of 25 to 200 nm the polymer selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinyl fluoride, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrenes, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyformaldehyde, styrene-butadiene-styrene block polymers, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene acrylic acid copolymers, polyethylene oxide, polyimides, polythiophenes, poly(para-phenylene), polyaniline, poly(p-phenylenevinylene), silica titania-based copolymers, unsaturated polycarboxylic acids and polysiloxanes and wherein the stabilized polymer-coated lithium metal powder is stable in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. 
     
     
         2 . An anode according to claim  4 , wherein the stabilized lithium metal powder further includes an inorganic coating layer.