Electrodes incorporating composites of graphene and selenium-sulfur compounds for improved rechargeable lithium batteries

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method to enable fabrication of a battery electrode comprising forming a conductive compound comprising a selenium-sulfur compound and a conductive additive. The conductive compound is applied onto a conductive substrate utilizing one or more of casting, pressing, ink jet printing, and screen printing. The selenium-sulfur compound is present as SexS8-x and 1<x<8. The conductive additive comprises individual graphene sheets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to enable fabrication of a battery electrode comprising:
 forming a conductive compound comprising a selenium-sulfur compound and a conductive additive;   applying the conductive compound onto a conductive substrate utilizing one or more of casting, pressing, ink jet printing, and screen printing; and
 wherein
 the selenium-sulfur compound is present as Se x S 8-x ; 
 1<x<8; and 
 the conductive additive comprises individual graphene sheets. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 1<x≤4. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coating the conductive substrate with a conductive carbon material, copper, titanium, and/or tungsten, and wherein the conductive substrate comprises aluminum; and   wherein the conductive substrate is in the form of a sheet or mesh.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the selenium-sulfur compound is formed by:
 one or more of mixing, wet or dry milling, wet or dry grinding, ultrasonication, and dissolution in solvent; and   one or more of precipitation, melting, sublimation, and vapor deposition.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the conductive composition comprises:
 mixing a binder with the selenium-sulfur compound and the conductive additive; and   wherein the binder comprises one or more of a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer; polyvinylidene fluoride, and polytetrafluorethylene.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 laminating the conductive substrate with one or more of a carbonaceous material and a metallic coating thin film;   wherein the conductive substrate
 is in the form of a sheet or mesh; and 
 comprises a polymer substrate. 
   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the Se—S compound comprises sublimating or vaporizing and condensing the Se—S compound on to a surface of the conductive additive. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein forming the conductive compound comprises utilizing a carbonaceous material comprising one or more of graphite, graphite oxide, carbon nanotubes, a hard carbon, a soft carbon, a carbon aerogel, a carbon xerogel, carbide-derived carbon, a templated carbon, and activated carbon.