Patents Examined by Brittany L Raymond
  • Bipolar plate and membrane electrode unit for a fuel cell arranged in a fuel cell stack, fuel cell and fuel cell stack
    Patent number: 10879549
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bipolar plate (1) for a fuel cell (100) comprising a profiled anode plate (7) and a profiled cathode plate (8), each having an active region (6) as well as two distributor regions (2) for supply and discharge of operating media to or from the active region (6), wherein the distributor regions (2) each have one main anode gas port (3) for supply and discharge of fuel, one main cathode gas port (4) for supply and discharge of oxidizer, which is arranged in such a manner that cathode channels (41) extending therefrom run straight, at least across the distributor region (2) of the bipolar plate (1), and have a flow direction that corresponds to a main flow direction in the cathode channels (41) in the active region, as well as a main coolant port (5) for the supply and discharge of coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignees: VOLKSWAGEN AG, AUDI AG
    Inventor: Christian Martin Zillich
  • Multi-layer structures prepared by layer-by-layer assembly
    Patent number: 10873117
    Abstract: A protective layer can be deposited on a surface of an porous polymer separator placing on a Li-metal electrode to protect against adverse electrochemical activity in a battery. The protective layer can be a multilayered structure including graphene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Paula T. Hammond, Sun Hwa Lee
  • Positive electrode active material particle including core containing lithium cobalt oxide and coating layer containing boron and fluorine, and preparation method thereof
    Patent number: 10868309
    Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode active material particle including a core containing lithium cobalt oxide represented by the following Chemical Formula 1; and a coating layer containing boron (B) and fluorine (F), which is coated on the surface of the core: Li1+xCo1?xO2??(1)
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Bo Ram Lee, Sung Bin Park, Young Uk Park, Chi Ho Jo, Hyuck Hur, Wang Mo Jung
  • Fuel cell system and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 10868316
    Abstract: When the fuel cell stack is operated in a state in which the air stoichiometric ratio is smaller than the predetermined value, the controller calculates the amount of retained water that has been retained in the cathode flow path of the fuel battery cell per fixed time in such a way that the calculated amount includes an extra amount therein, integrates the amount of retained water per fixed time that has been calculated in such a way that the calculated amount includes the extra amount therein, and executes air blow in the cathode flow path of the fuel battery cell when the integrated value of the amount of retained water becomes equal to or larger than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ogawa, Tomotaka Ishikawa, Tomio Yamanaka, Ryoichi Nanba, Kenji Umayahara
  • Nonaqueous battery
    Patent number: 10862131
    Abstract: A nonaqueous battery includes a current collector that supports an electrode active material. The current collector includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The second layer is interposed between the first layer and the third layer. The second layer includes 0.3 mass % or more and 1 mass % or less of magnesium and 0.2 mass % or more and 0.9 mass % or less of silicon, with a remainder being made up of aluminum. The first layer and the third layer constitute outer surfaces of the current collector. The first layer and the third layer each include 99.3 mass % or more of aluminum. In both of the first layer and the third layer, there is less than 0.3 mass % of magnesium and less than 0.2 mass % of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Torita, Harunari Shimamura, Yusuke Fukumoto, Akihiro Ochiai
  • Composite anode active material, anode and lithium battery including the composite anode active material, and method of preparing the composite anode active material
    Patent number: 10862107
    Abstract: A composite anode active material includes a composite medium, the composite medium including a first medium block including a metal nanostructure capable of intercalation or deintercalation of lithium and a conductive medium disposed on the metal nanostructure; and a second medium block, disposed adjacent to the first medium block and including a medium which is free of the metal nanostructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Ogata, Seongho Jeon, Koichi Takei, Sungsoo Han
  • Separator for secondary battery, method for manufacturing the same and lithium secondary battery containing the same
    Patent number: 10854863
    Abstract: Provided is a separator for a secondary battery including: a porous substrate; and a coating layer formed on the porous substrate, wherein the coating layer includes a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder for binding the plurality of inorganic particles, and the binder includes a copolymer of a monomer mixture including an acrylamide-based monomer, a vinyl cyanide monomer, and an acrylic monomer having a carboxyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignees: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD., SK IE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun Bong Kim, Su Ji Lee, Kyu Young Cho, Won Sub Kwack, Hye Jin Kim
  • Method of improving power density and fast-chargeability of a lithium secondary battery
    Patent number: 10840565
    Abstract: Provided is a method of improving fast-dischargeability or high rate capability of a lithium secondary battery containing an anode, a cathode, a porous separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the method comprises packing particles of a cathode active material to form a cathode active material layer having interstitial spaces and disposing a lithium ion receptor in the interstitial spaces, configured to receive lithium ions from the anode through the porous separator when the battery is discharged and to enable the lithium ions to enter the particles of cathode active material in a time-delayed manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Global Graphene Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Aruna Zhamu, Bor Z. Jang
  • Carbon-based nanocomposite, and electrode and lithium air battery including carbon-based nanocomposite
    Patent number: 10826069
    Abstract: A carbon nanocomposite includes a polymer nanowire comprising a plurality of carbon nanostructures, wherein the plurality of carbon nanostructures are electrically connected to each other within the polymer nanowire, and a portion of the plurality of carbon nanostructures protrude from a surface of the polymer nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: MYONGJI UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIA COOPERATION, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyukjae Kwon, Dongjoon Lee, Dongmin Im, Hyunjin Kim, Alan Christian Lim, Jeong Gil Seo, Hyunpyo Lee
  • Electrolyte composition and lithium ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 10818973
    Abstract: The electrolyte composition at least includes an aprotic organic solvent, a lithium salt, a flame retardant, and inorganic oxide particles. The flame retardant is at least one selected from a group consisting of a phosphorus-based acid ester having a fluorinated alkyl group and a phosphate amide having a fluorinated alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mamoru Mizutani, Shin-ichi Ogata
  • Negative electrode, lithium ion secondary battery, method of manufacturing negative electrode, and method of manufacturing lithium ion secondary battery
    Patent number: 10818962
    Abstract: A negative electrode contains at least composite particles. The composite particles each contain a negative electrode active material particle and a coating. The coating is formed on a surface of the negative electrode active material particle. The coating contains at least a metal organic framework. The metal organic framework is formed by alternately stacking a first layer and a second layer. The first layer is formed by stacking an aromatic compound in a direction intersecting with a direction of stack of the first layer and the second layer. The aromatic compound contains two carboxylate anions. The two carboxylate anions satisfy para-positional relation. The second layer is formed of lithium ions coordinated to the carboxylate anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Takeda
  • Sealed bipolar battery assembly
    Patent number: 10797276
    Abstract: Apparatus and techniques such as can include a sealed bipolar battery assembly are described herein. For example, the battery assembly can using two or more sealing techniques, such as to provide a liquid-tight assembly. A sealed current collector assembly can be provided, such as by fitting compressible plastic seals to one or both side of a current collector. An adhesive seal can be applied to an edge or perimeter of the current collector. A plastic seal assembly can be used to anchor the seals or to provide an additional layer of leakage protection should electrolyte seep under hydrophobic plastic seals. Current collector assemblies including stackable casing frames can be assembled to provide a rigid casing. These casing assemblies can be stacked on top of one another to form bipolar cells comprising the battery assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Gridtential Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Jason Moomaw, Collin Kwok Leung Mui
  • Nonaqueous battery
    Patent number: 10797322
    Abstract: A nonaqueous battery includes a current collector that supports an electrode active material. The current collector includes a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The second layer is interposed between the first layer and the third layer. The second layer includes 0.3 mass % or more and 1 mass % or less of magnesium and 0.2 mass % or more and 0.9 mass % or less of silicon, with a remainder being made up of aluminum. The first layer and the third layer constitute outer surfaces of the current collector. The first layer and the third layer each include 99.3 mass % or more of aluminum. In both of the first layer and the third layer, there is less than 0.3 mass % of magnesium and less than 0.2 mass % of silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koji Torita, Harunari Shimamura, Yusuke Fukumoto, Akihiro Ochiai
  • Polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) sensor
    Patent number: 10788445
    Abstract: A polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) sensor includes an anode and a cathode with a polymer electrolyte disposed therebetween. The anode and cathode are configured with asymmetric catalyst loadings, such that the catalyst loading on the cathode is lower than that of the anode. Accordingly, due to the reduction of the amount of catalyst utilized, the cost of fabricating the sensor is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
    Inventor: Siamak Farhad
  • Pulse plating of lithium material in electrochemical devices
    Patent number: 10784497
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to battery system and operation thereof. In an embodiment, lithium material is plated onto the anode region of a lithium secondary battery cell by a pulsed current. The pulse current may have both positive and negative polarity. One of the polarities causes lithium material to plate onto the anode region, and the opposite polarity causes lithium dendrites to be removed. There are other embodiments as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: QuantumScape Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Holme, Marie Mayer, Ghyrn Loveness, Zhebo Chen, Rainer Fasching
  • Lithium-sulfur battery with lithium polysulfide catholyte
    Patent number: 10777811
    Abstract: A liquid catholyte for a Li—S battery comprises a non-aqueous solution of at least one lithium polysulfide of formula Li2Sx (wherein x is selected from 4, 6, and 8) and an anion receptor compound capable of complexing with polysulfide anion. The non-aqueous solution typically is composed of the Li2Sx and the anion receptor compound dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent (e.g., one or more organic ether or fluorinated ether solvents). The anion receptor compound typically is present in the catholyte at a concentration of about 0.1 M to about 4 M. Li—S batteries comprise a metallic lithium anode; a porous conductive substrate; a separator membrane between the anode and the porous conductive substrate; and the liquid catholyte composition within pores of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengcheng Zhang, Zheng Xue, Feng Zhao
  • Stable bromine charge storage in porous carbon electrodes using tetraalkylammonium bromides for reversible solid complexation
    Patent number: 10770699
    Abstract: Electrolytes for use in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs; often referred as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) are disclosed. In one example, the electrolyte comprises viologen in both the anolyte and the catholyte (with bromide). In another example, the electrolyte comprises viologen (in the anolyte) and tetraalkylammonium with bromide (in the catholyte), wherein the tetraalkylammonium is used to achieve solid complexation of bromine in the activated carbon of the cathode. In a third example, a zinc bromine/tetraalkylammonium supercapacitor/battery hybrid is disclosed. Also disclosed is a corrosion resistant bipolar pouch cell that can be used with the electrolyte embodiments described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, Oregon State University, University of Oregon
    Inventors: Galen D. Stucky, Brian Evanko, Seung Joon Yoo, Jason Lipton, Shannon W. Boettcher, David Xiulei Ji, Xingfeng Wang
  • Method of manufacturing a lithium battery
    Patent number: 10770756
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery with a substrate current collector, wherein the method comprises: forming elongate and aligned electrically conductive structures on the substrate face with upstanding walls; wherein the walls are formed with a first electrode layer covering said walls, and a solid state electrolyte layer provided on the first electrode layer; and wherein a second electrode layer is formed by covering the electrolyte layer with an electrode layer; and forming a top current collector layer in electrical contact with the second electrode layer, wherein the second electrode layer is shielded from the conductive structure by an insulator covering a part of said conductive structure adjacent an end side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Lucas Augustinus Haverkate, Sandeep Unnikrishnan, Dorothee Christine Hermes
  • Silicon oxide-carbon composite, method of manufacturing the composite, and energy storage device having the composite
    Patent number: 10763496
    Abstract: Provided are a silicon oxide-carbon composite, a method of preparing the same, and an energy storage device containing the same. In the method of preparing a silicon oxide-carbon composite, a reaction solution containing an organic solvent including an aromatic compound is provided. Crystalline carbon structures are formed by generating plasma in the reaction solution. A slurry is formed by adding silicon halide and a polyol in the reaction solution in which the crystalline carbon structures are dispersed. The slurry is separated from the organic solvent and subjected to thermal treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Industry-Academia Cooperation Group of Sejong Univ
    Inventors: Sun Jae Kim, Hee June Jung, Kang Seop Yun, Eul Noh
  • Method of producing sulfide solid electrolyte
    Patent number: 10756387
    Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a sulfide solid electrolyte which brings low costs, and large sulfur reducing effect, the method comprising heat-treating material for a sulfide solid electrolyte at a temperature no less than a melting point of elemental sulfur while vibrating the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Iwasaki