Patents by Inventor Christian Masquelier

Christian Masquelier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8066916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries and more specifically to positive electrode materials operating at potentials greater than 2.8 V vs. Li+/Li in non-aqueous electrochemical cells. In particular, the invention relates to crystalline nanometric olivine-type LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder with M is Co and/or Mn, and 0<x<1, with small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. A direct precipitation process is described, comprising the steps of:—providing a water-based mixture having at a pH between 6 and 10, containing a dipolar aprotic additive, and Li(I), Fe(II), P(V), and Co(II) and/or Mn(II) as precursor components;—heating said water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, thereby precipitating crystalline LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder. An extremely fine particle size is obtained of about 80 nm for Mn and 275 nm for Co, both with a narrow distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignees: Umicore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Stephane Levasseur, Michèle Van Thournout, Pierre Gibot, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20110212365
    Abstract: The invention provides a new route for the synthesis of carbon-coated powders having the olivine or NASICON structure, which form promising classes of active products for the manufacture of rechargeable lithium batteries. Carbon-coating of the powder particles is necessary to achieve good performances because of the rather poor electronic conductivity of said structures. For the preparation of coated LiFePO4, sources of Li, Fe and phosphate are dissolved in an aqueous solution together with a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. Upon water evaporation, polyesterification occurs while a mixed precipitate is formed containing Li, Fe and phosphate. The resin-encapsulated mixture is then heat treated at 700° C. in a reducing atmosphere. This results in the production of a fine powder consisting of an olivine LiFePO4 phase, coated with conductive carbon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicants: UMICORE, LE CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Albane AUDEMER, Calin WURM, Mathieu MORCRETTE, Sylvain GWIZDALA, Christian MASQUELIER
  • Patent number: 7998617
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Québec
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7972728
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakadu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7964308
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7960058
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakoda S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7955733
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivineor the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Quebec
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7923154
    Abstract: The invention provides a new route for the synthesis of carbon-coated powders having the olivine or NASICON structure, which form promising classes of active products for the manufacture of rechargeable lithium batteries. Carbon-coating of the powder particles is necessary to achieve good performances because of the rather poor electronic conductivity of said structures. For the preparation of coated LiFePO4, sources of Li, Fe and phosphate are dissolved in an aqueous solution together with a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. Upon water evaporation, polyesterification occurs while a mixed precipitate is formed containing Li, Fe and phosphate. The resin-encapsulated mixture is then heat treated at 700° C. in a reducing atmosphere. This results in the production of a fine powder consisting of an olivine LiFePO4 phase, coated with conductive carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignees: Umicore, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Albane Audemer, Calin Wurm, Mathieu Morcrette, Sylvain Gwizdala, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20110068297
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20110039158
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kjrakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20110006270
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20110006256
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakoda S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20100327222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries and more specifically to positive electrode materials operating at potentials greater than 2.8 V vs. Li+/Li in non-aqueous electrochemical cells. In particular, the invention relates to crystalline nanometric olivine-type LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder with M is Co and/or Mn, and 0<x<1, with small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. A direct precipitation process is described, comprising the steps of: providing a water-based mixture having at a pH between 6 and 10, containing a dipolar) aprotic additive, and Li(I), Fe(II), P(V), and Co(II) and/or Mn(II) as precursor components; heating said water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, thereby precipitating crystalline LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder. An extremely fine particle size is obtained of about 80 nm for Mn and 275 nm for Co, both with a narrow distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicants: UMICORE, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE
    Inventors: Stephane LEVASSEUR, Michèle VAN THOURNOUT, Pierre GIBOT, Christian MASQUELIER
  • Publication number: 20100314577
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20100316909
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakodu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20100314589
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: Michel Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakada S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20100310935
    Abstract: The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine, a modified olivine, or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO4)3? as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Michel B. Armand, John B. Goodenough, Akshaya K. Padhi, Kirakadu S. Nanjundaswamy, Christian Masquelier
  • Publication number: 20100086852
    Abstract: The invention relates to active materials for the manufacture of Li-based batteries. A crystalline nanometric powdered material with formula Lix(M, M?)PO4, in particular LixFePO4 (O?x?1), is disclosed, exhibiting single phase Li insertion/extraction mechanism at room temperature when used as positive electrode material in Li-based batteries. Compared to current LiFePO4, the novel material results in smooth, sloping charge/discharge voltage curve greatly simplifying the monitoring of the state of charge of the batteries. The coexistence of mixed valence states for Fe (i.e. FeIIIVFeII) is believed to increase the electronic conductivity in the room temperature single phase LixFePO4 material, compared to state of the art two-phase materials. This, together with the nanometric size of the particles and their sharp monomodal size distribution, contributes to the exceptional high-rate capability demonstrated in batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Pierre Gibot, Christian Masquelier, Jean-Marie Tarascon, Stephane Levasseur, Philippe Carlach
  • Publication number: 20100084615
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries and more specifically to positive electrode materials operating at potentials greater than 2.8 V vs. Li+/Li in non-aqueous electrochemical cells. In particular, the invention relates to crystalline nanometric olivine-type LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder with M is Co and/or Mn, and 0<x<1, with small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. A direct precipitation process is described, comprising the steps of:—providing a water-based mixture having at a pH between 6 and 10, containing a dipolar aprotic additive, and Li(I), Fe(II), PV, and Co(II) and/or Mn(II) as precursor components;—heating said water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, thereby precipitating crystalline LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder. An extremely fine particle size is obtained of about 80 nm for Mn and 275 nm for Co, both with a narrow distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Stephane Levasseur, Michèle Van Thournout, Pierre Gibot, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 7670721
    Abstract: Methods of manufacture and use of phosphates of transition metals are described as positive electrodes for secondary lithium batteries, including a process for the production of LiMPO4 with controlled size and morphology, M being FexCoyNizMnw, where 0?x?1, 0?y?1, 0?w?1, and x+y+z+w=1. According to an exemplary embodiment, a process is described for the manufacture of LiFePO4 including the steps of providing an equimolar aqueous solution of Li1+, Fe3+ and PO43?, evaporating water from the solution to produce a solid mixture, decomposing the solid mixture at a temperature of below 500° C. to form a pure homogeneous Li and Fe phosphate precursor, and annealing the precursor at a temperature of less than 800° C. in a reducing atmosphere to produce the LiFePO4 powder. The obtained powders can have a particle size of less than 1 ?m, and can provide superior electrochemical performance when mixed for an appropriate time with an electrically conductive powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignees: Le Centre National de la Rocherche Scientifique, Umicore
    Inventors: Calin Wurm, Mathieu Morcrette, Sylvain Gwizdala, Christian Masquelier