Composite battery electrode structures comprising high-capacity materials and polymers and methods of forming thereof

Abstract

Described herein are composite battery electrode structures and methods of forming such structures. Composite battery electrode structures comprise active electrode material structures and polymer structures such that at least a portion of the polymer structures at least partially protrudes into some of the high capacity structures. Some of these polymer structures may be fully enclosed by the active electrode material structures. Other polymer structures may only partially extend inside the active electrode material structures. Furthermore, additional polymer structures may be bound to the external surface of the active electrode material structures. Composite battery electrode structures may be formed using low-temperature deposition techniques, such as solvent-thermal synthesis, direct chemical reduction, and electrochemical deposition. More specifically, composite battery electrode structures may be formed from a solution comprising active electrode material precursors and polymer precursors, e.g., dissolved polymers, monomers, and/or conductive polymers electrically coupled to the working electrodes.