Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090075176 | Solid Electrolyte Material Manufacturable by Polymer Processing Methods - The present invention relates generally to electrolyte materials. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides for a solid polymer electrolyte material that is ionically conductive, mechanically robust, and can be formed into desirable shapes using conventional polymer processing methods. An exemplary polymer electrolyte material has an elastic modulus in excess of 1×10 | 03-19-2009 |
20090104523 | High elastic modulus polymer electrolytes suitable for preventing thermal runaway in lithium batteries - A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×10 | 04-23-2009 |
20090263725 | High Elastic Modulus Polymer Electrolytes - A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×10 | 10-22-2009 |
20100227224 | HIGH PERFORMANCE SULFUR-BASED DRY POLYMER ELECTRODES - A sulfur-based cathode for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. An exemplary sulfur-based cathode is coupled with a solid polymer electrolyte instead of a conventional liquid electrolyte. The dry, solid polymer electrolyte acts as a diffusion barrier for the sulfur, thus preventing the sulfur capacity fade that occurs in conventional liquid electrolyte based cell systems. The solid polymer electrolyte further binds the sulfur-containing active particles, preventing sulfur agglomerates from forming, while still allowing lithium ions to be transported between the anode and cathode. | 09-09-2010 |
20110003211 | ELECTRODES WITH SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTES - An electrode assembly that includes an electrode film and a current collector is provided. The electrode film includes electrode active material, electronically conductive particles, and a solid polymer electrolyte. In some embodiments, no additional binder is used as the solid polymer electrolyte also acts as a binder to hold together the active material and electronically conductive particles, thus creating a freestanding electrode film. Such a freestanding film makes it possible to deposit a very thin current collector layer, thus increasing specific energy and specific power for electrochemical cells in which these electrode assemblies are used. | 01-06-2011 |
20110033755 | PROTECTED LITHIUM METAL ELECTRODES FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - It has long been recognized that replacing the Li intercalated graphitic anode with a lithium foil can dramatically improve energy density due to the dramatically higher capacity of metallic lithium. However, lithium foil is not electrochemically stable in the presence of typical lithium ion battery electrolytes and thus a simple replacement of graphitic anodes with lithium foils is not possible. It was found that diblock or triblock polymers that provide both ionic conduction and structural support can be used as a stable passivating layer on a lithium foil. This passivation scheme results in improved manufacture processing for batteries that use Li electrodes and in improved safety for lithium batteries during use. | 02-10-2011 |
20110075324 | SUPERCAPACITORS WITH BLOCK COPOLYMER ELECTROLYTES - An electrode for a supercapacitor includes a block copolymer and active material particles. The block copolymer is used both to bind the particles together and to act as an electrolyte. The electrode does not have a porous structure, but rather it is pressed or rolled to achieve zero porosity and to ensure good contact between the particles and the block copolymer electrolyte. Thus, the entire surface of the active particles can be accessed for charge storage. Furthermore, the volume of such an electrode is smaller than typical electrodes with the same capacity, as none of the volume is wasted with additional, non-active binder material, offering a higher effective active material loading per unit volume. Electrodes made in this way, with block copolymer electrolyte and active materials, can also form free-standing films that are easy to handle during manufacture of supercapacitors. | 03-31-2011 |
20110136017 | HIGH CAPACITY ANODES - A novel anode for a lithium battery cell is provided. The anode contains silicon nanoparticles embedded in a solid polymer electrolyte. The electrolyte can also act as a binder for the silicon nanoparticles. A plurality of voids is dispersed throughout the solid polymer electrolyte. The anode may also contain electronically conductive carbon particles. Upon charging of the cell, the silicon nanoparticles expand as take up lithium ions. The solid polymer electrolyte can deform reversibly in response to the expansion of the nanoparticles and transfer the volume expansion to the voids. | 06-09-2011 |
20110206994 | GEL POLYMER ELECTROLYTES FOR BATTERIES - Nanostructured gel polymer electrolytes that have both high ionic conductivity and high mechanical strength are disclosed. The electrolytes have at least two domains—one domain contains an ionically-conductive gel polymer and the other domain contains a rigid polymer that provides structure for the electrolyte. The domains are formed by block copolymers. The first block provides a polymer matrix that may or may not be conductive on by itself, but that can soak up a liquid electrolyte, thereby making a gel. An exemplary nanostructured gel polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10 | 08-25-2011 |
20110281173 | MULTIPLE ELECTROLYTE ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS - Electrode assemblies for use in electrochemical cells are provided. The negative electrode assembly comprises negative electrode active material and an electrolyte chosen specifically for its useful properties in the negative electrode. These properties include reductive stability and ability to accommodate expansion and contraction of the negative electrode active material. Similarly, the positive electrode assembly comprises positive electrode active material and an electrolyte chosen specifically for its useful properties in the positive electrode. These properties include oxidative stability and the ability to prevent dissolution of transition metals used in the positive electrode active material. A third electrolyte can be used as separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. | 11-17-2011 |
20110281175 | ELECTRODES WITH SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTES AND REDUCED POROSITY - An electrode/electrolyte assembly that has a well-integrated interface between an electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte film, which provides continuous, ionically-conducting and electronically insulating paths between the films is provided. A slurry is made containing active electrolyte material, a liquefied, ionically-conductive first polymer electrolyte with dissolved lithium salt, and conductive additive. The binder may have been liquefied by dissolving in a volatile solvent or by melting. The slurry is cast or extruded as a thin film and dried or cooled to form an electrode layer that has some inherent porosity. A liquefied second polymer electrolyte that includes a salt is cast over the electrode film. Some of the liquefied second polymer electrolyte fills at least some of the pores in the electrode film and the rest forms an electrolyte layer on top of the electrode film. After solidifying by either drying or cooling, the dual-cast electrode assembly includes both an electrode with low porosity and an adjacent solid polymer electrolyte film. A lithium secondary battery that employs the novel electrode assembly is also provided. | 11-17-2011 |
20120029099 | POLYMER ELECTROLYTE MATERIALS BASED ON BLOCK COPOLYMERS - The present invention relates generally to electrolyte materials. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides for a solid polymer electrolyte material that has high ionic conductivity and is mechanically robust. An exemplary material can be characterized by a copolymer that includes at least one structural block, such as a vinyl polymer, and at least one ionically conductive block with a siloxane backbone. In various embodiments, the electrolyte can be a diblock copolymer or a triblock copolymer. Many uses are contemplated for the solid polymer electrolyte materials. For example, the novel electrolyte material can be used in Li-based batteries to enable higher energy density, better thermal and environmental stability, lower rates of self-discharge, enhanced safety, lower manufacturing costs, and novel form factors. | 02-02-2012 |
20120110835 | METHOD OF FORMING AN ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY - When electrode films are prepared for lithium electrochemical cells, problems are often encountered in laminating the films with an appropriate intervening electrolyte layer. This presents a significant challenge because proper alignment of the three layers and complete lamination at the interfaces are crucial to good cell performance. Often lamination is imperfect with gaps and defects at the interfaces. The disclosure herein describes a method of casting or extruding a polymer electrolyte directly onto an electrode film to create an electrode assembly with a continuous, defect-free interface. In some arrangements, there is some slight intermixing of the layers at the interface. A complete cell can be formed by laminating two such electrode assemblies to opposite sides of an additional electrolyte or to one another. | 05-10-2012 |
20120141881 | HIGH ENERGY POLYMER BATTERY - An optimal architecture for a polymer electrolyte battery, wherein one or more layers of electrolyte (e.g., solid block-copolymer) are situated between two electrodes, is disclosed. An anolyte layer, adjacent the anode, is chosen to be chemically and electrochemically stable against the anode active material. A catholyte layer, adjacent the cathode, is chosen to be chemically and electrochemically stable against the cathode active material. | 06-07-2012 |
20130063092 | HIGH TEMPERATURE LITHIUM CELLS WITH SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTES - Electrochemical cells that use electrolytes made from new polymer compositions based on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and other high-softening-temperature polymers are disclosed. These materials have a microphase domain structure that has an ionically-conductive phase and a phase with good mechanical strength and a high softening temperature. In one arrangement, the structural block has a softening temperature of about 210° C. These materials can be made with either homopolymers or with block copolymers. Such electrochemical cells can operate safely at higher temperatures than have been possible before, especially in lithium cells. The ionic conductivity of the electrolytes increases with increasing temperature. | 03-14-2013 |
20130066025 | POLYMER COMPOSITIONS BASED ON PXE - New polymer compositions based on poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and other high-softening-temperature polymers are disclosed. These materials have a microphase domain structure that has an ionically-conductive phase and a phase with good mechanical strength and a high softening temperature. In one arrangement, the structural block has a softening temperature of about 210° C. These materials can be made with either homopolymers or with block copolymers. | 03-14-2013 |
20130130069 | HIGH ELASTIC MODULUS POLYMER ELECTROLYTES SUITABLE FOR PREVENTING THERMAL RUNAWAY IN LITHIUM BATTERIES - A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×10 | 05-23-2013 |
20140154572 | COATED PARTICLES FOR LITHIUM BATTERY CATHODES - Particles of cathodic materials are coated with polymer to prevent direct contact between the particles and the surrounding electrolyte. The polymers are held in place either by a) growing the polymers from initiators covalently bound to the particle, b) attachment of the already-formed polymers by covalently linking to functional groups attached to the particle, or c) electrostatic interactions resulting from incorporation of cationic or anionic groups in the polymer chain. Carbon or ceramic coatings may first be formed on the surfaces of the particles before the particles are coated with polymer. The polymer coating is both electronically and ionically conductive. | 06-05-2014 |
20140322614 | LONG CYCLE LIFE LITHIUM SULFUR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS - A sulfur-based cathode for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The sulfur is sequestered to the cathode to enhance cycle lifetime for the cathode and the cell. An exemplary sulfur-based cathode is coupled with a solid polymer electrolyte instead of a conventional liquid electrolyte. The dry, solid polymer electrolyte further acts as a diffusion barrier for the sulfur. Together with a sequestering matrix in the cathode, the solid polymer electrolyte prevents sulfur capacity fade that occurs in conventional liquid electrolyte based sulfur systems. The sequestering polymer in the cathode further binds the sulfur-containing active particles, preventing sulfur agglomerates from forming, while still allowing lithium ions to be transported between the anode and cathode. | 10-30-2014 |
20140350875 | RELAXATION MODEL IN REAL-TIME ESTIMATION OF STATE-OF-CHARGE IN LITHIUM POLYMER BATTERIES - Relaxation time constants give valuable information about a lithium polymer battery cell's state-of-charge. Moreover, determination of these time constants can be performed in real time by fitting exponential functions to transient voltage or current patterns. | 11-27-2014 |
20140370388 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING STATE OF CHARGE IN LITHIUM BATTERIES THROUGH USE OF A NOVEL ELECTRODE - The accurate determination of the state-of-charge (SOC) of batteries is an important element of battery management. One method to determine SOC is to measure the voltage of the cell and exploiting the correlation between voltage and SOC. For electrodes with sloped charge/discharge profiles, this is a good method. However, for batteries with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes the charge/discharge profile is flat. Now, by using the materials and methods disclosed herein, an amount of cathode active material that has a sloped charge/discharge profile is mixed with LFP in a cathode, which results in a charge/discharge profile with enough slope that the SOC of the battery can be determined by measuring the voltage alone. | 12-18-2014 |
20150017547 | ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICES BASED ON BLOCK COPOLYMERS - The present invention relates generally to electrolyte materials. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides for a solid polymer electrolyte material that has high ionic conductivity and is mechanically robust. An exemplary material can be characterized by a copolymer that includes at least one structural block, such as a vinyl polymer, and at least one ionically conductive block with a siloxane backbone. In various embodiments, the electrolyte can be a diblock copolymer or a triblock copolymer. Many uses are contemplated for the solid polymer electrolyte materials. For example, the novel electrolyte material can be used in Li-based batteries to enable higher energy density, better thermal and environmental stability, lower rates of self-discharge, enhanced safety, lower manufacturing costs, and novel form factors. | 01-15-2015 |
20150081237 | DATA DRIVEN/PHYSICAL HYBRID MODEL FOR SOC DETERMINATION IN LITHIUM BATTERIES - A hybrid model to determine state-of-charge for lithium batteries includes both a physical model and an empirical or data-driven model. The physical model is an electrochemical model, based on the battery materials properties and structure and describes dynamic electrochemical reactions. The empirical model uses coulomb counting and a relaxation filter, plus a Kalman filter for adaptive compensation of the system parameters. In some SOC regimes, one model is strongly favored over the other. In some SOC regions, a weighted combination of the two models is used. | 03-19-2015 |