Patents by Inventor Christopher Michael Friend

Christopher Michael Friend 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).

  • Publication number: 20240222603
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: July 4, 2024
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 12021227
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 20 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles A. Mason, Richard Gregory Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 11715824
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20220123282
    Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and/or mesopores having a total volume of at least 0.6 cm 3/g, wherein at least half of the micropore/mesopore volume is in the form of pores having a diameter of no more than 2 nm; and (b) an electroactive material located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework. The D 90 particle diameter of the composite particles is no more than 10 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Charles A. Mason, Richard Gregory Taylor, James Farrell, William James Macklin, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20220077457
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 20 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2019
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Charles A. Mason, Richard Gregory Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20210351399
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 11127945
    Abstract: An electrode for a metal-ion battery is provided wherein the active layer of the electrode comprises a plurality of low porosity particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, silicon oxide germanium, tin, aluminium and mixtures thereof and a plurality of carbon particles selected from one or more of graphite, soft carbon and hard carbon. The ratio of the D50 particles size of the carbon particles to the D50 particle diameter of the porous particles is in the range of from 1.5 to 30. Also provided are rechargeable metal-ion batteries comprising said electrode and compositions of porous particles and carbon particles which may be used to prepare the active layer of said electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Tsuyonobu Hatazawa, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20210276875
    Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and mesopores having a total volume of 0.5 to 1.5 cm3/g; and (b) silicon located at least within the micropores of the porous carbon framework. The porous carbon framework is an activated carbon material obtained by the pyrolysis of a plant source comprising at least 25 wt % lignin on a dry weight basis followed by activation with steam or carbon dioxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Kseniia Katok, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10964940
    Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and mesopores having a total volume of 0.5 to 1.5 cm3/g; and (b) silicon located at least within the micropores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and mesopores. At least 20 wt % of the silicon is characterized as surface silicon by thermogravimetric analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10938027
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20200373561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10658659
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10424786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Charles Mason, Richard Taylor, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Publication number: 20190148718
    Abstract: An electrode for a metal-ion battery is provided wherein the active layer of the electrode comprises a plurality of low porosity particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, silicon oxide germanium, tin, aluminium and mixtures thereof and a plurality of carbon particles selected from one or more of graphite, soft carbon and hard carbon. The ratio of the D50 particles size of the carbon particles to the D50 particle diameter of the porous particles is in the range of from 1.5 to 30. Also provided are rechargeable metal-ion batteries comprising said electrode and compositions of porous particles and carbon particles which may be used to prepare the active layer of said electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Tsuyonobu Hatazawa, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10103379
    Abstract: A composite particle is provided. The particle comprises a first particle component and a second particle component in which: (a) the first particle component comprises a body portion and a surface portion, the surface portion comprising one or more structural features and one or more voids, whereby the surface portion and body portion define together a structured particle; and (b) the second component comprises a removable filler; characterized in that (i) one or both of the body portion and the surface portion comprise an active material; and (ii) the filler is contained within one or more voids comprised within the surface portion of the first component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: William James Macklin, Fiona Scott, Christopher Michael Friend
  • Patent number: 10090513
    Abstract: A method of forming a particulate material comprising silicon, the method comprising the step of reducing a particulate starting material comprising silica-containing particles having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1 and a smallest dimension of less than 15 microns, or reducing a particulate starting material comprising silica-containing particles comprising a plurality of elongate structural elements, each elongate structural element having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1 and a smallest dimension of less than 15 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Nexeon Limited
    Inventors: Leigh Canham, Christopher Michael Friend, William James Macklin, Scott Brown
  • Publication number: 20180069234
    Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a particulate material consisting of a plurality of porous particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, tin, germanium, aluminium or a mixture thereof, wherein the particles are assembled from a plurality of particle fragments comprising the electroactive material wherein the fragments are obtained by the fragmentation of a porous precursor. The fragmentation step may be realized e.g. by wet ball milling and the later assembling step is preferably realized by spray-drying. Also provided are particulate materials obtainable according to the process of the invention, compositions comprising the particulate materials, and electrodes and electrochemical cells comprising the particulate materials. The materials and compositions are especially useful as anode materials in the context of a metal-ion battery such as a lithium-ion battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Friend, Charles Mason, Fritz Wilhelm Wernicke, Lisa Murphy
  • Publication number: 20170200939
    Abstract: A particulate material is provided consisting of a plurality of porous particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, germanium or a mixture thereof (especially a silicon-aluminium alloy), wherein the porous particles have a D50 particle diameter in the range of 0.5 to 7 ?m, an intra-particle porosity between 50 and 90%, and a pore diameter distribution having at least one peak in the range of 30 to 400 nm as determined by mercury porosimetry. Also provided are electrodes (especially anodes) and electrode compositions comprising the particulate material, a rechargeable metal-ion battery (especially a Li-ion battery) comprising the particulate material, and a process for the preparation of the particulate material. It is suggested that the claimed particulate material can be repeatedly lithiated without fracturing, allows easy access to the electrolyte and can be easily dispersed in an electrode slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Lisa MURPHY, Andrew FLOOD, Charles MASON, Christopher Michael FRIEND
  • Publication number: 20170133674
    Abstract: A particulate material is provided consisting of a plurality of porous particles comprising an electroactive material selected from silicon, germanium or a mixture thereof, wherein the porous particles have a D50 particle diameter in the range of greater than 5 to 25 ?m, an intra-particle porosity in the range of from 30 to 90%, and a pore diameter distribution having a peak in the range of from 50 to less than 400 nm as determined by mercury porosimetry. Also provided are electrodes and electrode compositions comprising the particulate material, a rechargeable metal-ion battery comprising the particulate material, and a process for the preparation of the particulate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Lisa MURPHY, Andrew FLOOD, Charles MASON, Christopher Michael FRIEND
  • Publication number: 20160308205
    Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of an electrode for a metal-ion battery. The method comprises sintering porous silicon-containing particles at a temperature of 500 to 1200° C. and in an oxygen-free atmosphere to obtain particles of reduced BET surface area which are suitable for use as the active material of a metal ion battery when disposed onto a current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: NEXEON LIMITED
    Inventors: Leigh Canham, Christopher Michael Friend