Abstract: A lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 2, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2020
Assignee:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: A standalone lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 16, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: Solid-state laminate electrode assemblies and various methods for making the solid-state laminate electrode assemblies involve a lithium metal layer reactively bonded to a lithium ion conducting sulfide glass layer. During manufacture, highly reactive surfaces of the lithium metal layer and the lithium ion conducting sulfide glass layer are maintained in its substantially unpassivated state until they have been reactively bonded.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 10, 2017
Date of Patent:
July 7, 2020
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Vitaliy Nimon, Ian Wogan, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz
Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
Type:
Application
Filed:
November 25, 2019
Publication date:
May 28, 2020
Applicant:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
Abstract: Nanofilm-encapsulated sulfide glass solid electrolyte structures and methods for making the encapsulated glass structures involve a lithium ion conducting sulfide glass sheet encapsulated on its opposing major surfaces by a continuous and conformal nanofilm made by atomic layer deposition (ALD). During manufacture, the reactive surfaces of the sulfide glass sheet are protected from deleterious reaction with ambient moisture, and the nanofilm can be configured to provide additional performance advantages, including enhanced mechanical strength and improved chemical resistance.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 19, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 21, 2020
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Vitaliy Nimon, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce D. Katz
Abstract: A lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner. An automated machine based system, apparatus and methods assessing and inspecting the quality of such vitreous solid electrolyte sheets, electrode sub-assemblies and lithium electrode assemblies can be based on spectrophotometry and can be performed inline with fabricating the sheet or web (e.g., inline with drawing of the vitreous Li ion conducting glass) and/or with the manufacturing of associated electrode sub-assemblies and lithium electrode assemblies and battery cells.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 15, 2016
Date of Patent:
March 24, 2020
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: A lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery. Such an electrolyte is also manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner using an automated machine based system, apparatus and methods based on inline spectrophotometry to assess and inspect the quality of such vitreous solid electrolyte sheets and associated components. Suitable manufacturing methods can involve providing a sulfur precursor, providing a boron precursor material having lithium as a second constituent, combining the sulfur and boron precursor materials to form a precursor mixture, melting the mixture, and cooling the melt to form a solid lithium ion conducting glass. The glass may have a Li+ conductivity of at least 10?5 S/cm.
Type:
Application
Filed:
August 30, 2019
Publication date:
January 23, 2020
Applicant:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 13, 2017
Date of Patent:
January 7, 2020
Assignee:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
Abstract: Methods for making solid-state laminate electrode assemblies include methods to prevent devitrifying and damaging a lithium ion conducting sulfide glass substrate during thermal evaporation of lithium metal, as well as methods for making thin extruded lithium metal foils.
Type:
Application
Filed:
July 17, 2018
Publication date:
August 1, 2019
Applicant:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Vitaliy Nimon, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce D. Katz, Richard L. Swisher
Abstract: Nanofilm-encapsulated sulfide glass solid electrolyte structures and methods for making the encapsulated glass structures involve a lithium ion conducting sulfide glass sheet encapsulated on its opposing major surfaces by a continuous and conformal nanofilm made by atomic layer depositon (ALD). During manufacture, the reactive surfaces of the sulfide glass sheet are protected from deleterious reaction with ambient moisture, and the nanofilm can be configured to provide additional performance advantages, including enhanced mechanical strength and improved chemical resistance.
Type:
Application
Filed:
June 27, 2018
Publication date:
July 25, 2019
Applicants:
PolyPlus Battery Company, PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Vitaliy Nimon, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce D. Katz
Abstract: A lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 30, 2015
Date of Patent:
December 25, 2018
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: A standalone lithium ion-conductive solid electrolyte including a freestanding inorganic vitreous sheet of sulfide-based lithium ion conducting glass is capable of high performance in a lithium metal battery by providing a high degree of lithium ion conductivity while being highly resistant to the initiation and/or propagation of lithium dendrites. Such an electrolyte is also itself manufacturable, and readily adaptable for battery cell and cell component manufacture, in a cost-effective, scalable manner.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 30, 2015
Date of Patent:
December 4, 2018
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Vitaliy Nimon
Abstract: A water activated lithium battery cell having a thermal agent component for warming up cell components upon deployment. Also a water-activated battery system that is adapted to operate in and/or on the surface of a waterbody (i.e., a body of water including those which are natural or man made). In various embodiments the battery system comprises an operably breachable hermetic enclosure and at least one lithium battery cell having an open-cathode architecture, the lithium cell disposed inside the hermetic enclosure and therein maintained in an open ionic circuit condition (i.e., an inactive state) throughout battery system storage. Moreover, optionally, a thermal agent may be disposed inside the hermetic enclosure for warming up one or more battery cell components, the agent typically water activated, which is to mean that it (the thermal agent) evolves heat by reacting with water.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 27, 2014
Date of Patent:
February 27, 2018
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Vitaliy Nimon, Alexei Petrov, Ian Wogan, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce D. Katz
Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 9, 2016
Date of Patent:
May 30, 2017
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
Abstract: Lithium sulfur battery cells that use water as an electrolyte solvent provide significant cost reductions. Electrolytes for the battery cells may include water solvent for maintaining electroactive sulfur species in solution during cell discharge and a sufficient amount of a cycle life-enhancing compound that facilitates charging at the cathode. The combination of these two components enhances one or more of the following cell attributes: energy density, power density and cycle life. For instance, in applications where cost per Watt-Hour (Wh) is paramount, such as grid storage and traction applications, the use of an aqueous electrolyte in combination with inexpensive sulfur as the cathode active material can be a key enabler for the utility and automotive industries, for example, providing a cost effective and compact solution for load leveling, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 13, 2015
Date of Patent:
May 23, 2017
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Nikolay Goncharenko, Vitaliy Nimon, Alexei Petrov, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Bruce D. Katz, Valentina Loginova
Abstract: Aqueous Li/Air secondary battery cells are configurable to achieve high energy density and prolonged cycle life. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. The aqueous catholyte comprises an evaporative-loss resistant and/or polyprotic active compound or active agent that partakes in the discharge reaction and effectuates cathode capacity for discharge in the acidic region. This leads to improved performance including one or more of increased specific energy, improved stability on open circuit, and prolonged cycle life, as well as various methods, including a method of operating an aqueous Li/Air cell to simultaneously achieve improved energy density and prolonged cycle life.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 17, 2012
Date of Patent:
May 23, 2017
Assignee:
POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Alexei Petrov, Nikolay Goncharenko
Abstract: Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided.
Abstract: Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided.
Abstract: Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 15, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2016
Assignee:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Bruce D. Katz, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Lutgard C. De Jonghe
Abstract: Disclosed are ionically conductive membranes for protection of active metal anodes and methods for their fabrication. The membranes may be incorporated in active metal negative electrode (anode) structures and battery cells. In accordance with the invention, the membrane has the desired properties of high overall ionic conductivity and chemical stability towards the anode, the cathode and ambient conditions encountered in battery manufacturing. The membrane is capable of protecting an active metal anode from deleterious reaction with other battery components or ambient conditions while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to facilitate manufacture and/or enhance performance of a battery cell in which the membrane is incorporated.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 30, 2014
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2016
Assignee:
PolyPlus Battery Company
Inventors:
Steven J. Visco, Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Bruce D. Katz