Carbon aerogel-based electrode materials and methods of manufacture thereof

Abstract

Nanoporous carbon-based scaffolds or structures, and specifically carbon aerogels and their manufacture and use thereof are provided. Embodiments include a silicon-doped anode material for a lithium-ion battery, where the anode material includes beads of polyimide-derived carbon aerogel. The carbon aerogel includes silicon particles and accommodates expansion of the silicon particles during lithiation. The anode material provides optimal properties for use within the lithium-ion battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carbon composition comprising:
 a framework of interconnected carbon structures defining a corresponding network of pores;   a silicon-based material; and   wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a specific surface area attributable to micropores, wherein an upper specific micropore surface area is less than about 92 m 2 /g.   
     
     
         2 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , characterized by a total specific surface area is less than 575 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein a content of the silicon-based material in the carbon composition is from 9 % to 64%. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , characterized by a specific pore volume of from 1.5 to 3.6 cubic centimeter (cm 3 )/gram (g). 
     
     
         5 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , characterized by an average specific pore volume of from 1.15 cm 3 /g to 5.34 cm 3 /g. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon composition is a monolithic carbon composition free of a binder material. 
     
     
         7 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon composition is a particulate carbon. 
     
     
         8 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein the framework of interconnected carbon structures further comprises a network of carbon fibrils, wherein at least some of the carbon fibrils of the network have a fibril width of from 2 nm to 10 nm. 
     
     
         9 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein the framework of interconnected carbon structures further comprises a network of carbon fibrils, wherein at least some of the carbon fibrils of the network have a fibril width of from 2 nm to 5 nm. 
     
     
         10 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a porosity of from 10 volume (vol.) % to 70 vol. %. 
     
     
         11 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , wherein the full width at half max of the maximum pore size peak is from 5 nm to 50 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The carbon composition of  claim 1 , having a Young’s Modulus is from 0.27 GPa to 8.26 GPa and a density is from 0.3 g/cc to 0.74 g/cc. 
     
     
         13 . An energy storage system comprising at least one electrode that includes the carbon composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The energy storage system of  claim 13 , further comprising an additive disposed within at least a portion of pores of the at least one electrode, the additive reducing an electrical resistance of the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         15 . A carbon composition comprising:
 a framework of interconnected carbon structures defining a corresponding network of pores; and   an electroactive species; and   wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a specific surface area attributable to micropores less than 62 m 2 /g.   
     
     
         16 . The carbon composition of  claim 15 , wherein the carbon composition is characterized by a total specific surface area is of less than 255 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         17 . The carbon composition of  claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises silicon. 
     
     
         18 . The carbon composition of  claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises graphite. 
     
     
         19 . The carbon composition of  claim 15 , wherein the electroactive species comprises lithium. 
     
     
         20 . An energy storage system comprising at least one electrode that includes the carbon composition of  claim 15 . 
     
     
         21 . The energy storage system of  claim 20 , further comprising an additive disposed within at least a portion of pores of the at least one electrode, the additive reducing an electrical resistance of the at least one electrode.