Patents Assigned to Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20200009846
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a graphene foam laminate for use as a sealing material, the process comprising (a) providing a layer of graphene foam; and (b) laminating the layer of graphene foam with one layer of permeation-resistant polymer to form a two-layer laminate or with two layers of permeation-resistant polymer to form a three-layer laminate wherein the graphene foam layer is sandwiched between the two permeation-resistant polymer layers. The two permeation-resistant polymer layers can be the same or different in composition. The product is a new, novel, unexpected, and patently distinct class of highly conducting, elastic, thermally stable, and strong sealing materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-jun Lin, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20200002505
    Abstract: A black-color polymer composite film comprising a phthalocyanine compound dispersed in a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyoxadiazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzobisoxazole, polythiazole, polybenzothiazole, polybenzobisthiazole, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polybenzimidazole, polybenzobisimidazole, and combinations thereof, wherein the phthalocyanine compound occupies a weight fraction of 0.1% to 50% based on the total polymer composite weight. Preferably, the phthalocyanine compound is selected from copper phthalocyanine, zinc phthalocyanine, tin phthalocyanine, iron phthalocyanine, lead phthalocyanine, nickel phthalocyanine, vanadyl phthalocyanine, fluorochromium phthalocyanine, magnesium phthalocyanine, manganous phthalocyanine, dilithium phthalocyanine, aluminum phthalocyanine chloride, cadmium phthalocyanine, chlorogallium phthalocyanine, cobalt phthalocyanine, silver phthalocyanine, a metal-free phthalocyanine, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20200002506
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a polymer composite film, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a phthalocyanine compound with a polymer or its precursor and a liquid to form a slurry and forming the slurry into a wet film on a solid substrate, wherein the polymer is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyoxadiazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzobisoxazole, polythiazole, polybenzothiazole, polybenzobisthiazole, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polybenzimidazole, polybenzobisimidazole, and combinations thereof; and (b) removing the liquid from the wet film and, in some embodiments, converting the precursor to the polymer to form the polymer composite film comprising from 0.1% to 50% by weight of the phthalocyanine compound dispersed in the polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393487
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; (b) a first anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m (preferably <1 ?m and more preferably <100 nm) and comprising a lithium ion-conducting material having a lithium ion conductivity from 108 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm; and (c) a second anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 108 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Baofei Pan, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393542
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery containing a non-solid state electrolyte, the method comprising implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a cathode active material layer without using a porous separator, wherein the anode-protecting layer is in a close physical contact with the anode active material layer, has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprises an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm when measure at room temperature and wherein the anode active material layer contains a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393544
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium-selenium battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator/electrolyte assembly, wherein the anode comprises an anode active layer containing lithium or lithium alloy as an anode active material, and the cathode comprises a cathode active layer comprising a selenium-containing material, wherein an anode-protecting layer is disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte and/or a cathode-protecting layer is disposed between the cathode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; the protecting layer contains a composite comprising from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393541
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium metal secondary battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and a non-solid state electrolyte without a porous separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active material layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; and (b) an anode-protecting layer in physical contact with the anode active material layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm when measure at room temperature; wherein the lithium metal secondary battery does not include a lithium-sulfur battery or a lithium-selenium battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393496
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a porous separator/electrolyte, wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an electrochemically stable inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm when measured at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393510
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium-selenium battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator/electrolyte assembly, wherein the anode comprises an anode active layer containing lithium or lithium alloy as an anode active material, and the cathode comprises a cathode active layer comprising a selenium-containing material, wherein an anode-protecting layer is disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte and/or a cathode-protecting layer is disposed between the cathode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; the protecting layer comprising from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an electrochemically stable inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393495
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; and (b) an anode-protecting layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; wherein the composite has from 0.01% to 40% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material and from 0.01% to 40% by weight of an inorganic filler dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393485
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; (b) a first anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g and comprising a thin layer of electron-conducting material selected from graphene sheets, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon or graphite fibers, expanded graphite flakes, metal nanowires, conductive polymer fibers, or a combination thereof, and (c) a second anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Baofei Pan, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393482
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the anode stability and cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing two anode-protecting layers between an anode active material layer and an electrolyte or electrolyte/separator assembly. These two layers comprise (a) a first anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m (preferably <1 ?m and more preferably <100 nm) and comprising a lithium ion-conducting material having a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm; and (b) a second anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% (preferably >10% more preferably >100%) and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Baofei Pan, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393486
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the anode stability and cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing two anode-protecting layers between an anode active material layer and an electrolyte/separator assembly. These two layers comprise (a) a first anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g and comprising a thin layer of electron-conducting material selected from graphene sheets, carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, carbon or graphite fibers, expanded graphite flakes, metal nanowires, conductive polymer fibers, or a combination thereof; and (b) a second anode-protecting layer having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% (preferably >10%) and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Baofei Pan, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393508
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a lithium metal secondary battery. The method comprises implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a porous separator/electrolyte, wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm when measured at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190393543
    Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and a porous separator or electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode comprises: (a) an anode active layer containing a layer of lithium or lithium alloy, in a form of a foil, coating, or multiple particles aggregated together, as an anode active material; and (b) an anode-protecting layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, disposed between the anode active layer and the separator/electrolyte; wherein the composite has from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190386296
    Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell comprising: (a) an anode; (b) a cathode active material layer comprising a sulfur-containing material; and (c) an electrolyte or an electrolyte/separator layer; wherein the anode comprises (i) an anode active material layer; (ii) a first anode-protecting layer, in physical contact with the anode active material layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising a thin layer of an electron-conducting material having a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g; and (iii) a second anode-protecting layer in physical contact with the first anode-protecting layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm when measure at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190386342
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the anode stability and cycle-life of an alkali metal-sulfur. The method comprises implementing two anode-protecting layers between an anode active material layer and an electrolyte or electrolyte/separator assembly. These two layers comprise (a) a first anode-protecting layer, in physical contact with the anode active material layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising a thin layer of an electron-conducting material having a specific surface area greater than 50 m2/g; and (b) a second anode-protecting layer in physical contact with the first anode-protecting layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm when measure at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui He, Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190386332
    Abstract: Provided is a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell comprising an anode layer, an electrolyte and a porous separator, a cathode layer, and a discrete anode-protecting layer disposed between the anode layer and the separator and/or a discrete cathode-protecting layer disposed between the separator and the cathode active material layer; wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protective layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 50 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm. This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high sulfur content, high sulfur utilization efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190386347
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of improving the cycle-life of a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell. The method comprises implementing an anode-protecting layer between an anode active material layer and a porous separator/electrolyte, and/or implementing a cathode-protecting layer between a cathode active material and the porous separator/electrolyte, wherein the anode-protecting layer or cathode-protecting layer comprises a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite having from 0.01% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material and the protecting layer has a thickness from 1 nm to 100 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm when measured at room temperature. This battery exhibits an excellent combination of high sulfur content, high sulfur utilization efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Publication number: 20190386295
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell, comprising: (a) providing an anode layer; (b) providing particulates comprising primary particles of a sulfur-containing material encapsulated or embraced by a thin layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, wherein the conductive sulfonated elastomer composite comprises from 0% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material, and the conductive sulfonated elastomer composite has a thickness from 1 nm to 10 ?m, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 5×10?2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10?7 S/cm to 100 S/cm; (c) forming the particulates, a resin binder, and an optional conductive additive into a cathode layer; and (d) combining the anode layer, the cathode layer, an optional porous separator, and an electrolyte to form the alkali metal-sulfur cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Applicant: Nanotek Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang