Patents by Inventor Shigemasa Kuwata
Shigemasa Kuwata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240038997Abstract: A lithium metal battery cell has an electrolyte and an anode comprising an anode current collector and a thin film metal layer formed on the anode current collector, the thin film metal layer consisting of a metal that forms a solid solution with lithium metal. The thin film metal layer is configured to promote dense lithium deposition between the thin film metal layer and the electrolyte during charging.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Hideyuki Komatsu, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Maarten Sierhuis, Takuya Mishina, Kazuyuki Sakamoto
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Publication number: 20240006600Abstract: A lithium metal battery cell has an electrolyte and an anode comprising an anode current collector and a composite interlayer formed on the anode current collector between the anode current collector and the electrolyte. The composite interlayer consists of conductive carbon and a metal additive, the composite interlayer configured to promote dense lithium deposition in the anode during charging. The metal additive in the composite interlayer is a metal that forms a solid solution with lithium metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Inventors: Hideyuki Komatsu, Shigemasa Kuwata, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Maarten Sierhuis, Kazuyuki Sakamoto, Takuya Mishina
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Patent number: 11715827Abstract: An all-solid-state battery comprises a lithium anode, a cathode, solid electrolyte and a protective layer between the solid electrolyte and the lithium anode. The protective layer comprises an ion-conducting material having an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 1.0 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being 0.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 1.0 V. More particularly, when the solid electrolyte is LiSiCON, the electrochemical stability window is at least 1.5 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 1.5 V. When the solid electrolyte is sulfide-based, the electrochemical stability window is at least 2.0 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 2.0 V.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.Inventors: Hideyuki Komatsu, Shigemasa Kuwata, Atsushi Ohma, Maarten Sierhuis, Xin Yang, Najamuddin Mirza Baig, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson, Mohit Rakesh Mehta
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Publication number: 20230059842Abstract: A method of manufacturing an all-solid-state battery cell includes depositing an interlayer directly onto an anode current collector; depositing a solid electrolyte onto the interlayer opposite the anode current collector; forming a cathode on the solid electrolyte opposite the interlayer, wherein the cathode contains one or more lithium-containing compounds; and applying pressure to achieve uniform contact between layers. The manufactured all-solid-state battery cell is anode-free prior to charging. The interlayer is configured such that lithium metal is deposited between the interlayer and the anode current collector during charging, the interlayer prevents contact between the lithium metal and the solid electrolyte, and the interlayer has a greater density than a density of the solid electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: February 23, 2023Inventors: Hideyuki Komatsu, Shigemasa Kuwata, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Maarten Sierhuis, Naoki Ueda, Kazuyuki Sakamoto, John Lawson
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Patent number: 11522213Abstract: A lithium battery comprises cathode active material comprising particles of a transition metal oxide, each particle coated in an ion-conducting material that has an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 2.2 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being less than 2.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 4.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignees: Nissan North America, Inc., United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASAInventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Hideyuki Komatsu, Maarten Sierhuis, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson
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Publication number: 20220263092Abstract: A lithium battery has a composite cathode comprising cathode active material including a transition metal oxide and an ion-conducting material having an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 2.2 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being less than 2.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 4.2 V, the ion-conducting material selected from one or more of: Cs2LiCl3; Cs3Li2Cl5; Cs3LiCl4; CsLiCl2; Li2B3O4F3; Li3AlF6; Li3ScCl6; Li3ScF6; Li3YF6; Li9Mg3P4O16F3; LiBF4; LiThF5; Na3Li3Al2F12; and NaLi2AlF6.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Hideyuki Komatsu, Maarten Sierhuis, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson
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Publication number: 20220255119Abstract: A lithium battery comprises cathode active material comprising particles of a transition metal oxide, each particle coated in an ion-conducting material that has an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 2.2 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being less than 2.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 4.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Hideyuki Komatsu, Maarten Sierhuis, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson
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Publication number: 20220255078Abstract: An all-solid-state battery comprises a lithium anode, a cathode, solid electrolyte and a protective layer between the solid electrolyte and the lithium anode. The protective layer comprises an ion-conducting material having an electrochemical stability window against lithium of at least 1.0 V, a lowest electrochemical stability being 0.0 V and a highest electrochemical stability being greater than 1.0 V. More particularly, when the solid electrolyte is LiSiCON, the electrochemical stability window is at least 1.5 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 1.5 V. When the solid electrolyte is sulfide-based, the electrochemical stability window is at least 2.0 V, the lowest electrochemical stability is 0.0 V and the highest electrochemical stability is greater than 2.0 V.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Inventors: Hideyuki Komatsu, Shigemasa Kuwata, Atsushi Ohma, Maarten Sierhuis, Xin Yang, Najamuddin Mirza Baig, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson, Mohit Rakesh Mehta
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Publication number: 20210098084Abstract: A method for screening materials may include obtaining materials from a database. The method may include screening the materials to obtain a one or more screened materials. The method may include generating a training set based on the screened materials, validated experimental data, or both. The method may include establishing a machine learning screening model based on the training set, one or more target parameters, or both. The method may include applying the machine learning screening model to uncharacterized materials. The method may include outputting one or more materials having characteristics matching the target parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2019Publication date: April 1, 2021Inventors: Akiyoshi Park, Taehee Han, Shigemasa Kuwata, Maarten Sierhuis, Xin Yang, Atsushi Ohma, Balachandran Gadaguntla Radhakrishnan, Shreyas Honrao, John Lawson, Najamuddin Mirza Baig, Mohit Rakesh Mehta
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Patent number: 10707497Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly constituted of an electrolyte membrane and an electrode layer, a frame portion disposed along an outer periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, and separators that include gas flow passages to supply the membrane electrode assembly with fuel gas, wherein the membrane electrode assembly is interposed by a pair of the separators, and the separators include adhesion regions bonded to the frame portion via an adhesive, and reduced portions where distances between the separators and the frame portion are shorter than distances between the separators and the frame portion at other adhesion regions in the adhesion regions.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2015Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Takanori Oku, Mitsutaka Abe
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Patent number: 10361445Abstract: A microporous layer sheet for a fuel cell according to the present invention includes at least two microporous layers, which are stacked on a gas diffusion layer substrate, and contain a carbon material and a binder. Then, the microporous layer sheet for a fuel cell is characterized in that a content of the binder in the microporous layer as a first layer located on the gas diffusion layer substrate side is smaller than contents of the binder in the microporous layers other than the first layer. The microporous layer sheet for a fuel cell, which is as described above, can ensure gas permeability and drainage performance without lowering strength. Hence, the microporous layer sheet for a fuel cell, which is as described above, can contribute to performance enhancement of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell by application thereof to a gas diffusion layer.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Yozo Okuyama, Kazufumi Kodama
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Patent number: 10147954Abstract: A positive electrode (10) for an air cell of the present invention includes: a catalyst layer (11) composed of a porous layer containing electrical conductive carbon (1), a binder (2), and a catalyst component (3); and a fluid-tight gas-permeable layer (12) composed of a porous layer containing an electrical conductive carbon (1a) and a binder (2). The fluid-tight gas-permeable layer is stacked on the catalyst layer. This configuration can facilitate series connection of the air cells while preventing electrolysis solution from leaking out of a positive electrode. It is therefore possible to enhance the manufacturing efficiency and handleability of the air cells.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yoshiko Tsukada, Kazufumi Kodama, Shigemasa Kuwata, Atsushi Miyazawa
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Patent number: 10128514Abstract: A fuel cell metal separator structure includes a first separator in contact with a first membrane electrode assembly and a second separator in contact with a second membrane electrode assembly. In the stacking direction of the first separator and the second separator and the membrane electrode assemblies, in an reaction area formed between the two membrane electrode assemblies, an electrically conductive member is put between the first separator and the second separator, and in the sealing portion on a periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, the first separator and second separator are in direct contact with each other so that a space for sealing is expanded due to the increased depth of the sealing grooves.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takanori Oku, Shigemasa Kuwata
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Patent number: 10109877Abstract: A micro porous layer and a catalyst layer are integrated into a sheet so that a fuel cell electrode sheet is formed. The electrode sheet is obtained by applying an MPL ink containing a carbon material and a binder to a supporting sheet and heat-treating the ink, and applying a catalyst ink containing a catalyst to the obtained micro porous sheet and drying it. An electrode assembly in which the electrode sheets is laminated onto both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, is obtained by laminating the electrode sheets formed on the supporting sheets to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and thereafter peeling off the supporting sheets.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Norifumi Horibe, Shigemasa Kuwata, Kazufumi Kodama, Masaya Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20180226660Abstract: A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly constituted of an electrolyte membrane and an electrode layer, a frame portion disposed along an outer periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, and separators that include gas flow passages to supply the membrane electrode assembly with fuel gas, wherein the membrane electrode assembly is interposed by a pair of the separators, and the separators include adhesion regions bonded to the frame portion via an adhesive, and reduced portions where distances between the separators and the frame portion are shorter than distances between the separators and the frame portion at other adhesion regions in the adhesion regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2015Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigemasa KUWATA, Takanori Oku, Mitsutaka Abe
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Publication number: 20180159147Abstract: A fuel cell metal separator structure includes a first separator in contact with a first membrane electrode assembly and a second separator in contact with a second membrane electrode assembly. In the stacking direction of the first separator and the second separator and the membrane electrode assemblies, in an reaction area formed between the two membrane electrode assemblies, an electrically conductive member is put between the first separator and the second separator, and in the sealing portion on a periphery of the membrane electrode assembly, the first separator and second separator are in direct contact with each other so that a space for sealing is expanded due to the increased depth of the sealing grooves.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2016Publication date: June 7, 2018Applicant: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Takanori OKU, Shigemasa KUWATA
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Patent number: 9793550Abstract: A gas diffusion layer (30) for a fuel cell includes: a gas diffusion layer substrate (31); and a microporous layer (32) containing a granular carbon material and scale-like graphite and formed on the gas diffusion layer substrate (31). The microporous layer (32) includes a concentrated region (32a) of the scale-like graphite that is formed into a belt-like shape extending in a direction approximately parallel to a junction surface (31a) between the microporous layer (32) and the gas diffusion layer substrate (31). Accordingly, both resistance to dry-out and resistance to flooding, which are generally in a trade-off relationship, in the gas diffusion layer can be ensured so as to contribute to an increase in performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yozo Okuyama, Shigemasa Kuwata, Kazufumi Kodama
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Patent number: 9601793Abstract: An electrolyte membrane-electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte membrane; a cathode catalyst layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer including a cathode micro porous layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer substrate, arranged in order on one side of the polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode catalyst layer and an anode gas diffusion layer including an anode micro porous layer and an anode gas diffusion layer substrate, arranged in order on the other side of the polymer electrolyte membrane. A relative gas diffusion coefficient of the anode micro porous layer is smaller than a relative gas diffusion coefficient of the cathode micro porous layer by an amount equal to or greater than 0.05[?].Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Shigemasa Kuwata, Yozo Okuyama, Kazufumi Kodama
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Patent number: 9325022Abstract: A gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell includes a gas diffusion layer substrate and a microporous layer formed on the surface of the gas diffusion layer substrate. The microporous layer is formed into a sheet-like shape including a binder and a carbon material containing at least scale-like graphite, and the sheet-like microporous layer is attached to the gas diffusion layer substrate. The gas diffusion layer for a fuel cell having such a configuration, prevents the components included in the microporous layer from entering the gas diffusion layer substrate, so as to ensure gas permeability. In addition, the scale-like graphite contained in the microporous layer as an electrically conductive material improves electrical conductivity and gas permeability. Accordingly, the gas diffusion layer contributes to an improvement in performance of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: April 26, 2016Assignee: NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Yozo Okuyama, Shigemasa Kuwata, Kazufumi Kodama
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Publication number: 20150349367Abstract: A micro porous layer and a catalyst layer are integrated into a sheet so that a fuel cell electrode sheet is formed. The electrode sheet is obtained by applying an MPL ink containing a carbon material and a binder to a supporting sheet and heat-treating the ink, and applying a catalyst ink containing a catalyst to the obtained micro porous sheet and drying it. An electrode assembly in which the electrode sheets is laminated onto both sides of a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, is obtained by laminating the electrode sheets formed on the supporting sheets to the solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and thereafter peeling off the supporting sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventors: Norifumi HORIBE, Shigemasa KUWATA, Kazufumi KODAMA, Masaya YAMAMOTO