Patents Assigned to Umicore
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Patent number: 12683194Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfolane-based electrolyte composition suitable for Lithium secondary batteries, comprising lithium bis(trifluoromethansolfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in an amount (x) of 39.0 vol %?x?47.5 vol %, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) in an amount (y) of 0<y?15 vol %, equivalent to an amount of 0<y?14.0 wt. %, relative to the total volume, respectively weight, of the electrolyte composition, and sulfolane, wherein SL/LiTFSI is comprised in a molar ratio (z) of 2?z?3.5 as well as its application in a Lithium secondary battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: July 14, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Sebastian Mai, Svetlozar-Dimitrov Ivanov, Andreas Bund
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Patent number: 12679745Abstract: Method for manufacturing positive electrode active material for batteries comprising Li, O and M, wherein M consists of: —Co between 5 and 35 mol %; —Mn less than 35 mol %; —A less than 10 mol %, A being an element from: B, Mg, Al, Nb, Ti, W, Y, Ca, S, P, Zr, Sn, Si and W, and —The balance Ni, Which comprises: Step 1: preparing a liquid slurry of a lithium mixed metal oxide powder, Step 2: mixing the powder before or after or during step 1 with a cation selected from: Al3+, La3+, Co2+, Co3+, Mn2+, Mn3+, Mn4+, Mn6+, Zn2+, Cu+, Cu2+, B3+, Mg2+, and with an anion having a general formula A?y?Oz??x?, wherein A? is: B, Al, Sn, Si, P, W, wherein 0.5?x?4, 0.5?y??2 and 1?z??12; Step 3: drying said slurry; Step 4: heating the slurry resulting from steps 1 and 2 or the dried slurry from step 3.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: July 14, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Shinichi Kumakura, Taehyeon Yang
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Patent number: 12658438Abstract: A positive electrode active material for batteries which comprises Li, M?, and oxygen, wherein M? comprises: Ni in a content a between 60.0 mol % and 75.0 mol %; Co in a content x between 0.0 mol % and 20.0 mol %; Mn in a content y between 0.0 mol % and 35.0 mol %, a dopant D in a content z between 0.0 mol % and 2.0 mol %, Al, B and W in a total content c between 0.1 mol % and 5.0 mol %, wherein the active material has an Al content AlA, a B content BA, and a W content WA, wherein a, x, y, z, c, AlA, BA and WA are measured by ICP, wherein AlA, BA and WA, wherein the positive electrode active material, when measured by XPS analysis, shows an average Al fraction AlB, an average B fraction BB and an average W fraction WB, wherein AlB/AlA, BB/BA, and WB/WA are all larger than 1.0, and wherein the positive electrode active material is a single crystalline powder.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2021Date of Patent: June 16, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: JiHye Kim, Jens Martin Paulsen, JeongYim Shin, Maxime Blangero
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Patent number: 12640369Abstract: The present invention relates to a lithium nickel-based oxide positive electrode active material for lithium-ion secondary batteries suitable for electric vehicle and hybrid electric vehicle applications, comprising lithium transition metal-based oxide particles comprising zirconium, and a preparation method for said positive electrode material.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: May 26, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: KyungSub Jung, JiU Ann, Woon-Hyoung Ryu
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Patent number: 12617696Abstract: A lithium cobalt-based oxide cathode active material powder having: —a primary phase comprising Li, Co, and O, and—a secondary phase comprising LiNaSO4, wherein the content of said LiNaSO4 secondary phase in said powder is of at least 0.4 wt. % and inferior or equal to 1.1 wt. % with respect to a total weight of the cathode active material powder, said cathode active material powder being characterized in that it has a S/Na atomic ratio superior or equal to 0.80 and inferior or equal to 1.20.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: May 5, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Jens Paulsen, KyeongSe Song
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Patent number: 12577110Abstract: A powder of carbonaceous matrix particles with silicon-based sub-particles dispersed therein, wherein the particles have a harmonic mean value of their average Vickers hardness value and their average elastic modulus value, both values of hardness and elasticity being measured by nanoindentation and expressed in MPa, being superior or equal to 7000 MPa and inferior or equal to 20000 MPa.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: March 17, 2026Assignees: UMICORE, UMICORE KOREA LTD.Inventors: Michal Tulodziecki, Jean-Sébastien Bridel, Sul-Hee Min
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Patent number: 12570542Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a high-purity nickel sulphate solution, comprising the steps of: i. providing an aqueous feed solution comprising nickel, cobalt, calcium and magnesium: ii. extracting cobalt, calcium, and partly magnesium from said aqueous feed solution using a first solvent comprising a first alkylphosphorus-based acidic extractant, thereby obtaining an aqueous raffinate comprising nickel and magnesium: iii. extracting magnesium from said aqueous raffinate solution comprising nickel and magnesium using a second solvent comprising a second alkylphosphorus-based acidic extractant, thereby obtaining a high-purity aqueous nickel sulphate solution comprising nickel and magnesium: iv. stripping the first loaded solvent comprising cobalt, calcium and magnesium with an aqueous solution comprising a mineral acid.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: March 10, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Francis Rondas, Jan Luyten, Joris Roosen, Wannes De Moor, Maarten Schurmans
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Patent number: 12567582Abstract: A silicon-based powder for use in the negative electrode of a battery comprises silicon-based particles. The silicon-based particles have a number-based particle size distribution having a d50, and less than 8.0% of the particles have a size which is larger than twice the d50. The silicon-based powder may be embedded in a matrix to form an active material powder. Preferably d50<150 nm and d10>10 nm. The cycle efficiency of a negative electrode of a battery, made using such a powder, is much improved.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2026Assignee: UmicoreInventors: Stijn Put, Nicolas Marx, Jan Gilleir, Daniël Nelis
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Patent number: 12545805Abstract: A composition for use as a drier in auto-oxidizable coatings or as an accelerator in unsaturated polyester resins comprises a manganese-bearing polymer having a manganese dicarboxylate repeating unit and at least one nitrogen-containing donor ligand. Such compositions offer excellent drying performances. They ensure a strongly reduced leachability of manganese compared to that of known manganese-bearing driers.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2022Date of Patent: February 10, 2026Assignee: UmicoreInventor: Carl Vercaemst
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Patent number: 12542302Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid electrolyte interphase composition having a F:CF3 mol-ratio (x) of 0.00<x?12.00; a negative electrode comprising a negative electrode material and a solid electrolyte interphase composition on a surface of said negative electrode material, wherein said solid electrolyte interphase composition has a molar ratio F:CF3 (x) of 0.00<x?12.00, as determined by XPS; as well as its application in a lithium secondary battery cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 3, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Sebastian Mai, Svetlozar-Dimitrov Ivanov, Andreas Bund
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Patent number: 12525603Abstract: A positive electrode active material for solid state rechargeable batteries, whereby the positive electrode active material is a powder which comprises Li, M?, and O, wherein M? consists of Co in a content x superior or equal to 2.0 mol % and inferior or equal to 35.0 mol %, Mn in a content y superior or equal to 0 mol % and inferior or equal to 35.0 mol %, A in a content m superior or equal to 0 mol % and inferior or equal to 5 mol %, whereby A comprises at least one element of the group consisting of: Al, Ba, B, Mg, Nb, Sr, Ti, W, S, Ca, Cr, Zn, V, Y, Si, and Zr, Ni in a content of 100-x-y-m mol %, a first compound which comprises Li2WO4 and a second compound which comprises WO3, whereby the powder is a single-crystalline powder, whereby the positive electrode active material comprises Li in a molar ratio of Li/(Co+Mn+Ni+A) of at least 0.9 and at most 1.1, whereby the positive electrode active material has a tap density which is at least 1.0 gr/cm3 and at most 3.0 g/cm3.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: January 13, 2026Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Jens Martin Paulsen, Shinichi Kumakura, Liang Zhu, JiHye Kim, JiHoon Kang, HyeJeong Yang, YuRi Lee
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Patent number: 12509361Abstract: The present invention provides a process for preparing a high-purity nickel sulphate solution, comprising the steps of: i. forming an aqueous mixed metal sulphate solution by reacting sulphuric acid with a raw material feed comprising nickel, manganese, cobalt, and magnesium in an aqueous medium; ii. extracting manganese from said aqueous mixed metal sulphate solution, thereby obtaining a first aqueous raffinate comprising nickel, cobalt and magnesium, and a manganese-rich organic phase; iii. extracting cobalt from said first aqueous raffinate, thereby obtaining a second aqueous raffinate comprising nickel and magnesium, and a cobalt-rich organic phase; and iv. extracting magnesium from said second aqueous raffinate solution, thereby obtaining a high-purity nickel sulphate solution, and a magnesium-rich organic phase.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2023Date of Patent: December 30, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Werner Verdickt, Joris Roosen, Wannes De Moor, Jan Luyten
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Patent number: 12512472Abstract: A lithium metal composite oxide powder for use in a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery has a composition of LiaNibCocAldO2 (wherein, a=0.8 to 1.2, b=0.7 to 0.95, c=0.02 to 0.2, d=0.005 to 0.1, and b+c+d=1). The powder has been treated with an aqueous solution of an organic metal salt and soluble aluminum salt and does not cause volume expansion due to gas generation. A positive electrode active material with the lithium metal composite oxide powder has a large discharge capacity, excellent cycle characteristics, and suppressed gas generation.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2023Date of Patent: December 30, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Takashi Shinpuku, Hiroshi Tani, Ralph Otterstedt, Keiichiro Kanao
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Patent number: 12489107Abstract: A powder for use in a negative electrode of a battery, comprising a mixture of a first number-based fraction of particles comprising a carbonaceous matrix material and silicon-based particles dispersed therein, and a second number-based fraction of particles, comprising Si-free carbonaceous particles comprising graphitic domains having a mean size of at least 10 nm and at most 45 nm, as determined by the Scherrer equation applied to the powder's X-ray diffraction peak assigned to C(002) having an intensity IC with its maximum at 2?Cu between 26° and 27°.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2021Date of Patent: December 2, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Kun Feng, Boaz Moeremans, Jean-Sébastien Bridel
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Patent number: 12482862Abstract: A liquid electrolyte lithium secondary battery cell comprising: —a positive electrode material comprising a lithium transition metal-based oxide powder having a general formula Li1+a ((Niz (Ni0.5Mn0.5)y Cox)1?k Ak)1?a O2, wherein A is a dopant, ?0.025?a?0.025, 0.18?x?0.22, 0.42?z?0.52, 1.075<z/y<1.625, x+y+z=1 and k?0.01; and—an electrolyte composition comprising: a) at least one cyclic carbonate, b) at least one fluorinated acyclic carboxylic acid ester, c) at least one electrolyte salt, d) at least one lithium compound selected from lithium phosphate compounds, lithium boron compounds, lithium sulfonate compounds and mixtures thereof, e) at least one cyclic sulfur compound, and f) optionally at least one cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 25, 2025Assignees: UMICORE, SYENSQO SAInventors: JiHye Kim, Jens Paulsen, AReum Park, Dae-Hyun Kim, Hee-Sung Gil, Jean-Sébastien Bridel, Ji-Hye Won, Moon-Hyung Choi, Mi-Soon Oh, Hyuncheol Lee, Lawrence Alan Hough, Hae-Young Kim
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Patent number: 12465975Abstract: The invention concerns pre-alloyed powders useful for the manufacture of metal-bonded diamond tools. A process for the synthesis of such powders is presented, characterized in that at least a major part of the phosphor is introduced by adding an aqueous solution of a phosphorus salt to one or more of the metal-bearing compounds. The powder can have a low cobalt content, or even be cobalt-free, yet remain suitable for the production of diamond-loaded segments having harness and bending characteristics approaching or exceeding that of cobalt.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2020Date of Patent: November 11, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventor: Thierry Commeau
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Patent number: 12438209Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste, particularly from Black Mass. The slag composition is defined according to: 25%<MnO<70%; Al2O3+0.5 MnO<45% SiO2>5%; Li2O>1%; MnO+Li2O+Al2O3+CaO+SiO2+FeO+MgO+P2O5>90%; and, wherein (CaO+2 Li2O+0.4 MnO)/SiO2?2.0. This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the wear or corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2022Date of Patent: October 7, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Ryohei Yagi, Lennart Scheunis
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Patent number: 12424612Abstract: A powder for use in a negative electrode of a battery, said powder comprising particles, wherein the particles comprise a carbonaceous matrix material and silicon-based domains dispersed in the carbonaceous matrix material, wherein the particles further comprise pores wherein at least 1000 cross-sections of pores comprised in a cross-section of the powder satisfy optimized conditions of size and size distribution, allowing the battery containing such a powder to achieve a superior cycle life and a production method of such a powder.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 23, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Boaz Moeremans, Kun Feng, Michal Tulodziecki, Jean-Sébastien Bridel, Nicolas Marx, Stijn Put
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Patent number: 12419090Abstract: The invention concerns monocrystalline dislocation-free Ge, n-type doped, and having a resistivity of less than 10 mOhm·cm, characterized in that phosphorus is the single dopant. Such crystals can be obtained by using the Czochralski pulling technique with GeP as dopant.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: September 16, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Johannes Vanpaemel, Kristof Dessein, Ben Depuydt
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Patent number: 12416065Abstract: The present invention lies in the field of pyrometallurgy and discloses a process and a slag suitable for the recovery of Ni and Co from Li-ion batteries or their waste. The slag composition is defined according to: 10%<MnO<40%; (CaO+1.5*Li2O)/Al2O3>0.3; CaO+0.8*MnO+0.8*Li2O<60%; (CaO+2*Li2O+0.4*MnO)/SiO2?2.0; Li2O?1%; and, Al2O3+SiO2+CaO+Li2O+MnO+FeO+MgO>85%. This composition is particularly adapted to limit or avoid the corrosion of furnaces lined with magnesia-bearing refractory bricks.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2023Date of Patent: September 16, 2025Assignee: UMICOREInventors: Ryohei Yagi, Lennart Scheunis