Patents Examined by Lucas J O Donnell
  • Patent number: 12046784
    Abstract: A method for reducing the carbon corrosion in a fuel cell stack of a fuel cell system includes the steps of detecting a corrosion value which is representative of the extent of the carbon corrosion probably occurring in the fuel cell stack during an inactive phase of the fuel cell stack, and initiating a protective measure for reducing the carbon corrosion in the fuel cell stack on the basis of the corrosion value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Frank David
  • Patent number: 12040474
    Abstract: A free-standing electrode film may comprise an electrode active material and a composite binder comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). An electrode for an energy storage device may comprise a current collector and a film on the current collector, the film including an electrode active material and a composite binder comprising PTFE and PVP. A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film may comprise preparing a mixture including an electrode active material and a composite binder, the composite binder comprising PTFE and one or more additional binders selected from the group consisting of PVP, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The method may further comprise adding a solvent to the mixture, subjecting the mixture to a shear force, and, after the solvent has been added and the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: LICAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Bibek Tiwari, Linda Zhong, Bae Hyun Kim, Hyeunhwan An
  • Patent number: 12024440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the precipitation of a solid material, where the method comprises: providing an aqueous metal ion solution, said metal ion solution comprising TiOSO4 and metal ions of a metal M, where M is one or more of the elements: Mg, Co, Cu, Ni, Mn, Fe; providing an aqueous carbonate solution; and mixing said aqueous metal ion solution and said aqueous carbonate solution thereby providing a solid material comprising titanium and a metal carbonate comprising said metal(s) M, where the titanium is homogeneously distributed within the solid material. The invention also relates to a solid material, a method of preparing a positive electrode material for a secondary battery from the solid material and the use of the solid material as a precursor for the preparation of a positive electrode material for a secondary battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: TOPSOE BATTERY MATERIALS A/S
    Inventors: Søren Dahl, Jon Fold Von Bülow, Rainer Küngas, Anni Stahl, Peter Axmann, Gisela Arnold, Claudia Pfeifer, Wolfgang Weirather
  • Patent number: 12021277
    Abstract: In a fuel cell system, for example HTPEM fuel cells. a valve system is employed by selectively guiding exhaust gas from the burner either to the reformer for heating the reformer, especially during normal operation, or to by-pass the reformer in startup situations in order to heat the fuel cell stack before starting heating the reformer. Optionally, a compact burner/reformer unit is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: BLUE WORLD TECHNOLOGIES HOLDING APS
    Inventors: Mads Bang, Anders Risum Korsgaard
  • Patent number: 12021192
    Abstract: An electrolyte composition includes at least a sodium salt dissolved in at least one solvent and a combination of additives. The solvent is any of ethylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, propylene carbonate, ethyl acetate, ethyl propionate, methyl propionate, 4-fluorotoluene, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether, di-fluoro ethylene carbonate, ethyl difluoroacetate, or mixtures of the foregoing. The combination of additives includes at least sodium difluoro(oxalato)borate (NaODFB) and tris(trimethylsilyl)phosphite (TMSPi).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, COLLEGE DE FRANCE, SORBONNE UNIVERSITÉ
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Tarascon, Guochun Yan
  • Patent number: 12015125
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately prevent a shortage of a nonaqueous electrolyte solution in an electrode body and keep battery performance of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery at a favorable state. A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery disclosed herein includes an electrode body and a nonaqueous electrolyte solution. The electrode body includes an electrolyte solution passage that is a flow passage through which the nonaqueous electrolyte solution flows between the inside and the outside of the electrode body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshioka, Yoshitomo Takebayashi
  • Patent number: 12009526
    Abstract: A method for the production of an electrode for a fuel cell is provided that comprises providing a multitude of catalyst particles carried on at least one electrically conductive particle carrier, and depositing one or more atomic or molecular layers of an ionomer from the gas phase on the catalyst particles and/or the at least one particle carrier, thereby forming a proton-conducting ionomer coating. Furthermore, an electrode for a fuel cell is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignees: Volkswagen AG, Audi AG
    Inventors: Thomas Schladt, Lasse Schmidt, Tanja Graf, Gerold Hübner, Jonathan Edward Müller
  • Patent number: 12002944
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrode for an all solid-state battery and a method for manufacturing the same. The electrode comprises an electrode active material layer, wherein the gaps between the electrode active material particles forming the electrode active material layer are filled with a mixture of a polymeric solid electrolyte, oxidation-/reduction-improving additive and a conductive material. The method for manufacturing the electrode comprises a solvent annealing process, and the dissociation degree and transportability of the oxidation-/reduction-improving additive are increased through the solvent annealing process, thereby improving the life characteristics of a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: LG Energy Solution, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Pil Lee, Ji-Hee Ahn, Sung-Joong Kang, Jae-Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11990659
    Abstract: A method for preparation of electrolyte for a redox flow battery includes reducing chromium ore using a carbon source to convert the chromium ore to an iron/chromium alloy with carbon particles; dissolving the iron/chromium alloy with carbon particles in sulfuric acid to form a first solution; adding calcium chloride or barium chloride to the first solution to produce a second solution including FeCl3 and CrCl3; and adding an acid to the second solution to form the electrolyte. Other methods can be used for preparing an electrolyte from chromium waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: COUGAR CREEK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Liyu Li, Qingtao Luo
  • Patent number: 11990694
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a multifunctional high-voltage connector and a battery product, the multifunctional high-voltage connector comprises: an upper cover; a pedestal; a conductive connection structure; two mating terminals; and a harness assembly. The conductive connection structure is used to make the two mating terminals be connected in series, and the harness assembly is directly connected to one of the mating terminals. When the upper cover and the pedestal are assembled, the conductive connection structure is simultaneously in contact with the two mating terminals, thereby turning on the high-voltage circuit. When the battery product requires maintenance, the upper cover is directly detached from the base, thereby turning off the high-voltage circuit. The battery product can be electrically connected to an external device via the harness assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Jianwei Li, Cong Bao, Mingping Yang, Libing Chan, Linggang Zhou
  • Patent number: 11990642
    Abstract: A separator including a porous polymer substrate and an inorganic coating layer formed on at least one surface of the porous polymer substrate. The inorganic coating layer includes inorganic particles and a binder resin. The binder resin includes a first binder resin and a second binder resin. The first binder resin comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF)-based polymer and the second binder resin comprises an acrylic polymer. The acrylic polymer has an acid value of 1 or less and a glass transition temperature, Tg, of 90° C. to 130° C. In addition, the inorganic coating layer has a high content of binder resin at the top layer portion to provide excellent adhesion between the separator and an electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Bok Kim, Dong-Wook Sung, So-Mi Jeong
  • Patent number: 11984603
    Abstract: An electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which may be applied to the lithium secondary battery to increase cycling performance and efficiency of the battery, and a manufacturing method thereof. When the electrode for the lithium secondary battery of the present invention is applied to the lithium secondary battery, uniform deposition and stripping of lithium metals occur throughout the surface of the electrode when charging/discharging the battery, thereby inhibiting uneven growth of lithium dendrites and improving cycle and efficiency characteristics of the battery. Further, the electrode for the lithium secondary battery of the present invention exhibits remarkably high flexibility, as compared with existing electrodes including a metal current collector and an active material layer, thereby improving processability during manufacture of the electrode and assembling the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
    Inventors: Ohbyong Chae, Sangwook Woo, Yeri Kim
  • Patent number: 11984552
    Abstract: An all-solid secondary battery includes: a cathode layer including a cathode active material; an anode layer; and a solid electrolyte layer disposed between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein at least one of the cathode layer, the anode layer, or the solid electrolyte layer includes a phase-transition solid electrolyte material, wherein upon heating, the phase-transition solid electrolyte material undergoes a phase transition from a first phase to a second phase, and the second phase has an ionic conductivity less than the ionic conductivity of the first phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seitaro Ito, Tomoyuki Tsujimura, Yuichi Aihara
  • Patent number: 11978894
    Abstract: Systems and methods for batteries comprising a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, wherein the anode is a Si-dominant anode that utilizes water-soluble maleic anhydride- and/or maleic acid-containing polymers/co-polymers, derivatives, and/or combinations (with or without additives) as binders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Liwen Ji, Younes Ansari, Sanjaya D. Perera, Benjamin Park
  • Patent number: 11973250
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are membrane-electrode assemblies and fuel cells comprising an anode comprising a first catalyst; a cathode comprising a second catalyst; and a proton exchange membrane between the anode and cathode; wherein at least one of the proton exchange membrane, anode, and cathode comprise an antioxidant comprising yttrium doped cerium oxide and a metal doped cerium oxide that has a faster release time of cerium ions compared to yttrium doped cerium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Liang Wang, Hongfei Jia, Naoki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11967675
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrolytes for use in various electrochemical devices. In some cases, the electrolytes are relatively safe to use; for example, the electrolytes may be resistant to overheating, catching on fire, burning, exploding, etc. In some embodiments, such electrolytes may be useful for certain types of high-voltage cathode materials. In some cases, the electrolytes may include ion dissociation compounds that can dissociate tight ion pairs. Non-limiting examples of ion dissociation compounds include trialkyl phosphates, sulfones, or the like. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices including such electrolytes, methods of making or using such electrolytes, kits including such electrolytes, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Factorial Inc.
    Inventors: Jia Du, Peishen Huang, Karlie Mellott, Dong Ren
  • Patent number: 11942664
    Abstract: Battery parts having retaining and sealing features and associated assemblies and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a battery part includes a base portion that is configured to be embedded in battery container material of a corresponding battery container. The battery part and base portion include several torque resisting features and gripping features that resist torsional or twist loads that are applied to the battery part after it has been joined to the battery container. For example, the base portion can include several internal and external torque resisting features and gripping features that are configured to resist twisting or loosening of the battery part with reference to the battery container material, as well as prevent or inhibit fluid leakage from the battery container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Water Gremlin Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Garin, Kurt T. Gifford
  • Patent number: 11942638
    Abstract: A controlled oxidizing method is provided for preparing a high-performance nickel-rich lithium ion battery cathode material having a composition of LiNixM1-xO2, where 0.6<x<0.9, and M is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Fe, Ti, Zr, V, and Cr. The method comprises combining a water-soluble salt precursor of nickel and a water-soluble salt precursor of the one or more M metals with one or more oxidizing agents to form an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is alkalized to a selected pH value to produce precipitated precursors. The precipitated precursors are mixed with a lithium precursor to form a lithiated precursor. The lithiated precursor is calcined to form the nickel-rich lithium ion battery cathode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: City University of Hong Kong
    Inventors: Qi Liu, He Zhu
  • Patent number: 11936062
    Abstract: A battery pack includes battery cell having exhaust valve that opens when internal pressure exceeds set pressure, and case that houses battery cell. Case includes multiple case units molded with plastic, multiple case units being coupled with mating surfaces to dispose battery cell inside case, and heat-resistant material disposed inside mating surfaces of respective multiple case units, heat-resistant material blocking gap between mating surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kawakami, Masaya Nakano
  • Patent number: 11926680
    Abstract: This invention provides a method whereby Si microparticles (“Si MP”) with low cost and nitrogen-abundant chitin fibers from crustacean shells are used as raw materials to produce Si nanoparticles and nitrogen doped carbon composite via a scalable ball milling method. During the ball-milling process, Si MP are downsized, and the chitin fibers are wrapped around the particles. The milled product is then post-thermally treated to obtain Si and nitrogen doped carbon composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
    Inventor: Ling Fei