Abstract: Composite silicon based materials are described that are effective active materials for lithium ion batteries. The composite materials comprise processed, e.g., high energy mechanically milled, silicon suboxide and graphitic carbon in which at least a portion of the graphitic carbon is exfoliated into graphene sheets. The composite materials have a relatively large surface area, a high specific capacity against lithium, and good cycling with lithium metal oxide cathode materials. The composite materials can be effectively formed with a two step high energy mechanical milling process. In the first milling process, silicon suboxide can be milled to form processed silicon suboxide, which may or may not exhibit crystalline silicon x-ray diffraction. In the second milling step, the processed silicon suboxide is milled with graphitic carbon. Composite materials with a high specific capacity and good cycling can be obtained in particular with balancing of the processing conditions.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 13, 2013
Date of Patent:
January 5, 2021
Assignee:
Zenlabs Energy, Inc.
Inventors:
Yogesh Kumar Anguchamy, Haixia Deng, Yongbong Han, Charan Masarapu, Sujeet Kumar, Herman A. Lopez
Abstract: A method of producing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes at least the following (?), (?), and (?): (?) preparing an elementary battery including at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a gel film, and an electrolyte solution; (?) carrying out initial charge of the elementary battery; and (?) after the initial charge, processing the elementary battery to produce a finished-product battery. The negative electrode includes at least a negative electrode active material. The gel film is formed on a surface of the negative electrode. The gel film contains a polymer material and the electrolyte solution. The gel film is thixotropic. The initial charge is carried out while the gel film is under a first pressure. The processing is carried out in such a way that the gel film is put under a second pressure. The second pressure is higher than the first pressure.
Abstract: An opening is formed in an accommodating case of a fuel cell stack. Flat cables are led out of the accommodating case through the opening. The flat cables pass through a grommet covering the opening. The grommet is positioned by a seal plate (positioning member) attached to the accommodating case.
Abstract: The present invention relates to an all-solid-state lithium secondary battery and a method of manufacturing the same. The all-solid-state lithium secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and a composite solid electrolyte layer between the cathode and the anode, wherein first and second LLZOs contained respectively in the cathode and the composite solid electrolyte layer are each independently aluminum-doped or undoped LLZO, and the battery of the invention can exhibit improved discharge capacity and cycle characteristics because both the cathode and the composite solid electrolyte layer contain a conductive polymer, a lithium salt and an inorganic ceramic solid electrolyte.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 15, 2016
Date of Patent:
January 5, 2021
Assignee:
Korea Institute of Industrial Technology
Inventors:
Ho Sung Kim, Min-Young Kim, Seung Hoon Yang, Da-Hye Kim, Kyeong Joon Kim, Seung Woo Choi, Jinsub Lim, Duck Rye Chang
Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode feedthru assembly for an electronic device and method of manufacturing. The feedthru assembly includes a ferrule, an electrode assembly, and an elastomer. The ferrule includes a bore through which the electrode assembly is positioned. The electrode assembly includes an electrode wire attached to a crimp pin. The crimp pin includes a crimp terminal portion and a pin terminal portion, the crimp terminal portion crimped to the a portion of the electrode wire to form a connected portion of the electrode assembly. The elastomer is disposed in the bore of the ferrule between the ferrule and the electrode assembly. The elastomer is configured to electrically isolate the ferrule from the electrode assembly and to encapsulate at least the connected portion of the electrode assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 17, 2019
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2020
Assignee:
Pacesetter, Inc.
Inventors:
Troy L. McCurry, Ralph Jason Hemphill, Peter Fernstrom, Tearl Stocker
Abstract: A cathode for fuel cells includes a carbon support, a platinum catalyst supported on the carbon support and an ionomer surrounding the carbon support and the platinum catalyst, wherein the ionomer is removed from the surface of the platinum catalyst. The cathode for fuel cells has a structure in which an ionomer film coating the surface of the platinum catalyst and thus acting as oxygen transfer resistance is removed from the surface of the platinum catalyst and, thus, mass transfer resistance (oxygen diffusion resistance) may be reduced and performance of a fuel cell may be improved. Further, the cathode having a low amount of platinum used due to improvement in platinum utilization may effectively execute oxygen transfer and thus increase the amount of platinum participating in catalysis, as compared to conventional cathodes.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 20, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 29, 2020
Assignees:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of preparing a carbon-silicon composite electrode material including silicon nanoparticles and an inverse opal-structured porous carbon structure, the carbon-silicon composite electrode material prepared by the method, and a secondary battery including the carbon-silicon composite electrode material.
Abstract: There is provided a positive electrode active material composite for a lithium-ion secondary battery, in which, when using as a positive electrode active material of the lithium-ion secondary battery, it can effectively improve high-temperature cycle characteristics. In the positive electrode active material composite for a lithium-ion secondary battery, only on the surface of a lithium transition metal oxide secondary particle (A) composed of one or more of the lithium transition metal oxide particles represented by the following formula (I): LiNiaCobMncM1xO2 . . . (I) or the following formula (II): LiNidCOeAlfM2yO2 . . . (II), a lithium-based polyanion particles (B) is composited with lithium transition metal oxide particles under a specific condition, the lithium-based polyanion particles (B) being represented by the following formula (III) or (III)?: LigMnhFeiM3zPO4 . . . (III) or Mnh?Fei?M3z?PO4 . . . (III)? and being supporting carbon (C) on a surface thereof.
Abstract: A method of providing coolant to an electric battery for powering a drive train of an electric vehicle is provided. The method includes providing coolant from a coolant source off-board the electric vehicle at a first rate to cool the electric battery during recharging of the electric battery; and circulating coolant through a coolant loop on-board the electric vehicle at a second rate less than the first rate to cool the electric battery after the recharging of the electric battery.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 29, 2015
Date of Patent:
December 8, 2020
Assignee:
Lightening Energy
Inventors:
Michael L Epstein, Christopher K Dyer, Eric Materniak
Abstract: A secondary battery including an electrode assembly; a first case that includes an electrode assembly accommodating space; and a second case that coupled to the first case, the second case facing the first case and having a convex-concave pattern.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 1, 2020
Assignee:
SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
Inventors:
Hyeri Eom, Jandee Kim, Junggyu Nam, Bongkyoung Park, Wonkyu Bang, Junwon Suh, Juhee Sohn, Jungyup Yang, Jeongdoo Yi, Juhyeong Han, Hyunhwa Song, Taesoo Lee, Sol Choi, Daun Han, Seokhun Hong
Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for forming solid-state electrolytes, electrodes, current collectors, and/or conductive additives used in solid-state batteries. In one version, the method includes depositing a stabilization coating on a powdered electrolyte material, or a powdered electrode material, or a powdered conductive additive material and forming a slurry comprising the coated material. The slurry is then cast on a surface to form a layer, and the layer is sintered to form a solid state electrolyte, or an electrode, or an electrode having the conductive additive.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 9, 2017
Date of Patent:
December 1, 2020
Assignee:
THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Inventors:
Jeffrey Sakamoto, Travis Thompson, Nathan Taylor
Abstract: A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel cathode active material that may be used for a fluoride ion battery. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing a cathode active material used for a fluoride ion battery, comprising a composition represented by Pb2?xCu1+xF6, wherein 0?x<2.
Abstract: A solid-oxide-electrolysis-cell-type hydrogen production apparatus includes a cell structure including a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer, a gas diffusion layer disposed adjacent to the first electrode, and a gas channel plate disposed adjacent to the gas diffusion layer, in which the gas diffusion layer is formed of a porous metal body having a three-dimensional mesh-like skeleton, the gas channel plate includes a first region including a first channel, a second region including a second channel, and a third region including a third channel, the first channel includes a slit extending from the center of the gas channel plate toward its outer edge at the boundary surface between the first region and the second region, letting the total area of the first channel at the boundary surface be a first opening area S1, letting the total area of the second channel at the boundary surface between the second region and the third region be a second opening area S2, and letting the total area
Abstract: Prelithiation of a battery anode carried out using controlled lithium metal vapor deposition. Lithium metal can be avoided in the final battery. This prelithiated electrode is used as potential anode for Li-ion or high energy Li—S battery. The prelithiation of lithium metal onto or into the anode reduces hazardous risk, is cost effective, and improves the overall capacity. The battery containing such an anode exhibits remarkably high specific capacity and a long cycle life with excellent reversibility.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
June 21, 2016
Date of Patent:
November 17, 2020
Assignee:
KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Inventors:
Lain-Jong Li, Feng-Yu Wu, Pushpendra Kumar, Jun Ming
Abstract: A bus bar module includes a plurality of bus bars, each of which connects adjacent electrodes in a plurality of batteries so as to connect the plurality of batteries in series, the plurality of batteries being arranged such that the electrodes thereof are aligned in a straight line, a terminal connected to each of the bus bars; and a casing that accommodates the plurality of bus bars and the plurality of terminals. The casing includes a routing groove configured to route an electric wire in the arrangement direction, the electric wire being to be connected to the terminal. The routing groove includes an absorbing portion formed to be swollen such that a groove width dimension of a part thereof is made larger than a groove width dimension of the other part thereof, whereby the absorbing portion absorbs an extra length portion of the electric wire.
Abstract: Methods and systems for warming a battery of a vehicle. The battery is configured to power a motor of the vehicle. The system includes a vent located below the battery and within an opening in the bottom surface of the vehicle, the vent configured to be in an open state or a closed state, the opening being substantially open when the vent is in the open state and the opening being substantially covered when the vent is in the closed state. The system includes an electronic control unit (ECU) coupled to the vent and the battery and configured to determine whether a temperature of the battery is below a threshold temperature, and cause the vent to move from the closed state to the open state when the temperature of the battery is below the threshold temperature to allow the battery to directly absorb heat radiated from the ground surface.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 13, 2018
Date of Patent:
November 10, 2020
Assignee:
TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Abstract: A hydrogen fuel, sustainable, closed clean energy cycle based on green chemistry is presented for large scale implementation using a cost effective electrolytic cell. A chemical reaction between salinated (sea) or desalinated (fresh) water (H2O) and sodium (Na) metal produces hydrogen (H2) fuel and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) byproduct. The NaOH is reprocessed in a solar powered electrolytic Na metal production plant that can result in excess chlorine (Cl2) from sodium chloride (NaCl) in sea salt mixed with NaOH, used to effect freezing point lowering of seawater reactant for hydrogen generation at reduced temperatures. The method and molten salt electrolytic cell enable natural separation of NaCl from NaOH, thereby limiting excess Cl2 production. The recovered NaCl is used to produce concentrated brine solution from seawater for hydrogen generation in cold climates, or becomes converted to sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) via the Solvay process for electrolytic production of Na metal without Cl2 generation.
Abstract: A separator for a fuel cell includes: a metal base material; and a carbon coating layer formed on one surface or both surfaces of the metal base material, in which roughness Ra formed at an interface between the metal base material and the carbon coating layer may be in a range of 20 to 78 nm.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 8, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 27, 2020
Assignees:
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, DONGWOO HST CO., LTD.
Inventors:
Bokyung Kim, Yoo Chang Yang, Woong Pyo Hong, Seungkoo Lee, Jungyeon Park, Su Jung Noh, Seung Jeong Oh, Daeil Yoon, In Woong Lyo, Kyungmin Kim
Abstract: A film structure for a battery for dispensing on a round body includes a carrier film having a first section and a subsequent second section and a first electrode layer for forming an anode or a cathode, and a second electrode layer for forming an anode, if the first electrode layer is formed as a cathode, or a cathode, if the first electrode layer is formed as an anode. The first and second electrode layers are arranged on a top side of the first section and the second section of the carrier film. While the underside of the second section of the carrier film is coated with an adhesive layer, the underside of the first section of the carrier film is free of adhesive. As a result, the first section of the carrier film can be folded over onto the second section of the carrier film during labeling and the battery can be thereby activated.
Abstract: A method for controlling thermal conductivity between two thermal masses includes thermally contacting a first conduction body with a heat source, thermally contacting a second conduction body with a heat sink, and thermally contacting the second conduction body with the first conduction body by moving the first conduction body between a first position and a second position with a thermal expansion component. The thermal expansion component moves the first conduction body between the first position and the second position at a predetermined temperature and heat is conducted from the heat source to the heat sink through the first and second conduction bodies.