Patents by Inventor Donald R. Sadoway
Donald R. Sadoway 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).
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Publication number: 20190089013Abstract: An electrochemical cell including: a negative electrode including calcium and an alkali metal; a positive electrode including one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Zn, Ga, Ge, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Te, Bi, Pb, Sb, Zn, Sn and Mg; and an electrolyte including a salt of calcium and a salt of the alkali metal. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the calcium and alkali metal to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and one or both of the negative electrode and the positive electrode exists as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Takanari Ouchi, Hojong Kim, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 10205195Abstract: Electrochemical cells having molten electrodes having an alkali metal provide receipt and delivery of power by transporting atoms of the alkali metal between electrode environments of disparate chemical potentials through an electrochemical pathway comprising a salt of the alkali metal. The chemical potential of the alkali metal is decreased when combined with one or more non-alkali metals, thus producing a voltage between an electrode comprising the molten alkali metal and the electrode comprising the combined alkali/non-alkali metals.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Dane A. Boysen, David J. Bradwell, Kai Jiang, Hojong Kim, Luis A. Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway, Alina A. Tomaszowska, Weifeng Wei, Kangli Wang
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Patent number: 10177405Abstract: An electrochemical cell and its method of operation includes an electrolyte having a binary salt system of an alkali hydroxide and a second alkali salt. The anode, cathode, and electrolyte may be in the molten phase. The cell is operational for both storing electrical energy and as a source of electrical energy as part of an uninterruptible power system. The cell is particularly suited to store electrical energy produced by a renewable energy source.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Brian L. Spatocco, Paul J. Burke, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 10170799Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode having at least two active metals, a positive electrode having a metal or alloy, and an electrolyte having a cation of each of the active metals. The electrolyte defines first and second interfaces with the positive electrode being in contact with the first interface and the negative electrode being in contact with the second interface. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the active metals to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and the negative electrode and the positive electrode exist as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Takanari Ouchi, Hojong Kim, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20180312986Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an ion-conducting composite membrane disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The composite membrane includes a porous substrate having pores and a porosity from about 5 vol % to about 80 vol %, and a selective ion-conductive filler disposed at least partially within the pores. The filler includes an intercalation material. Methods of making the ion-conducting composite membrane and using an electrochemical cell having the ion-conducting composite membrane are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2017Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: Daniel A. Dalla Corte, Brice H.V. Chung, Dheevesh V. Arulmani, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20180294533Abstract: An energy storage device configured to exchange energy with an external device includes a container having walls, a lid covering the container and having a safety pressure valve, a negative electrode disposed away from the walls of the container, a positive electrode in contact with at least a portion of the walls of the container, and an electrolyte contacting the negative electrode and the positive electrode at respective electrode/electrolyte interfaces. The negative electrode, the positive electrode and the electrolyte include separate liquid materials within the container at an operating temperature of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: David J. Bradwell, Gerbrand Ceder, Luis A. Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 10090564Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode comprising a first active metal, a positive electrode comprising a second active metal, and an electrolyte comprising salts of the two active metals, a salt of the cathodic metal and a salt of the anodic metal. In operation, the electrolyte composition varies such that in a charging mode the salt of the anodic salt decreases, while the salt of the cathodic salt increases, and in a discharging mode the salt of the anodic salt increases, while the salt of the cathodic salt decreases. The cell is operational for both storing electrical energy and as a source of electrical energy as part of an uninterruptible power system. The cell is particularly suited to store electrical energy produced by an intermittent renewable energy source.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignees: Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Total S.A., Total Energies Nouvelles Activites USAInventors: Brice H. V. Chung, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9997808Abstract: An energy storage device configured to exchange energy with an external device includes a container having walls, a lid covering the container and having a safety pressure valve, a negative electrode disposed away from the walls of the container, a positive electrode in contact with at least a portion of the walls of the container, and an electrolyte contacting the negative electrode and the positive electrode at respective electrode/electrolyte interfaces. The negative electrode, the positive electrode and the electrolyte include separate liquid materials within the container at an operating temperature of the battery.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David J. Bradwell, Gerbrand Ceder, Luis Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9905888Abstract: A battery system that exchanges energy with an external device is provided. The battery system includes a positive electrode having a first metal or alloy, a negative electrode having a second metal or alloy, and an electrolyte including a salt of the second metal or alloy. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte are in a liquid phase at an operating temperature during at least one portion of operation. The positive electrode is entirely in a liquid phase in one charged state and includes a solid phase in another charged state. The solid phase of the positive electrode includes a solid intermetallic formed by the first and the second metals or alloys. Methods of storing electrical energy from an external circuit using such a battery system are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Total S.A., Total Energies Nouvelles Activites USAInventors: Paul J. Burke, Brice H. V. Chung, Satyajit R. Phadke, Xiaohui Ning, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9786955Abstract: Electrochemical cells operating with molten electrodes and electrolyte, where the cathode is an alloy of a metal and metalloid, may be assembled in a discharged state by combining first an anodic metal with a cathodic metal to form a binary alloy. This binary alloy is then placed in a cell housing with the metalloid and the electrolyte, all in the solid state. The temperature is raised to, and maintained at, a temperature above the melting point of the highest melting component until components assembled into horizontal layers of electrolyte above a layer of a ternary alloy formed by the combination of the binary alloy and the metalloid. A charge and discharged cycle is then run through the electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Paul J. Burke, Satyajit Phadke, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9605354Abstract: An electrolytic recycling method recovers two or more component elements of one or more compounds simultaneously. A compound, such as a compound semiconductor, to be recycled is dissolved in a liquid electrolyte. Electrolysis of the dissolved compound recovers component elements simultaneously at respective negative and positive electrodes by reduction and oxidation respectively. The component elements produced may be in respective condensed phases or include a gaseous phase.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David J. Bradwell, Sebastian Osswald, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20160301038Abstract: The present disclosure provides cell housings and cell packs that are designed to serve both electrical and structural functions. Cell housing side walls can be directly joined together to create parallel connections within a module of cells. The series connections can be formed by stacking one cell on top of another cell, thus connecting the opposing polarity terminals of the two cells. The cells can be designed to support the weight of the cells above without the use of additional framework. This approach can reduce tertiary interconnection mechanisms and/or the number of components required to electrically connect and structurally support cells, thus providing increased system efficiency and/or a reduced system cost.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Zachary T. Modest, Daniel M. Holzer, Hari P. Nayar, Michael J. McNeley, Greg A. Thompson, Shazad Butt, David J. Bradwell, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20160172714Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode having at least two active metals, a positive electrode having a metal or alloy, and an electrolyte having a cation of each of the active metals. The electrolyte defines first and second interfaces with the positive electrode being in contact with the first interface and the negative electrode being in contact with the second interface. The electrolyte is configured to allow the cations of the active metals to be transferred from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharging and to be transferred from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging. The electrolyte exists as a liquid phase and the negative electrode and the positive electrode exist as liquid or partially liquid phases at operating temperatures of the electrochemical cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2015Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Takanari Ouchi, Hojong Kim, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20160156068Abstract: A battery system that exchanges energy with an external device is provided. The battery system includes a positive electrode having a first metal or alloy, a negative electrode having a second metal or alloy, and an electrolyte including a salt of the second metal or alloy. The positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the electrolyte are in a liquid phase at an operating temperature during at least one portion of operation. The positive electrode is entirely in a liquid phase in one charged state and includes a solid phase in another charged state. The solid phase of the positive electrode includes a solid intermetallic formed by the first and the second metals or alloys. Methods of storing electrical energy from an external circuit using such a battery system are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Paul J. Burke, Brice H.V. Chung, Satyajit R. Phadke, Xiaohui Ning, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9203109Abstract: Presented herein is a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a cathode, a liquid electrolyte, a solid electrolyte, and an anode. The anode is at least partially coated or plated with the solid electrolyte. The cathode may be porous and infiltrated by the liquid electrolyte. The cathode may also include a binder having a solid graft copolymer electrolyte (GCE). In certain embodiments, the liquid electrolyte is a gel that includes a PIL and a GCE. The battery achieves a high energy density and operates safely over a wide range of temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Qichao Hu, Antonio Caputo, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20150303525Abstract: An energy storage device configured to exchange energy with an external device includes a container having walls, a lid covering the container and having a safety pressure valve, a negative electrode disposed away from the walls of the container, a positive electrode in contact with at least a portion of the walls of the container, and an electrolyte contacting the negative electrode and the positive electrode at respective electrode/electrolyte interfaces. The negative electrode, the positive electrode and the electrolyte include separate liquid materials within the container at an operating temperature of the battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: David J. Bradwell, Gerbrand Ceder, Luis Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9153803Abstract: A cell for high temperature electrochemical reactions is provided. The cell includes a container, at least a portion of the container acting as a first electrode. An extension tube has a first end and a second end, the extension tube coupled to the container at the second end forming a conduit from the container to said first end. A second electrode is positioned in the container and extends out of the container via the conduit. A seal is positioned proximate the first end of the extension tube, for sealing the cell.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2012Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Total Marketing ServicesInventors: Brice Hoani Valentin Chung, Paul J. Burke, Donald R. Sadoway
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Publication number: 20150214579Abstract: Electrochemical cells having molten electrodes having an alkali metal provide receipt and delivery of power by transporting atoms of the alkali metal between electrode environments of disparate chemical potentials through an electrochemical pathway comprising a salt of the alkali metal. The chemical potential of the alkali metal is decreased when combined with one or more non-alkali metals, thus producing a voltage between an electrode comprising the molten alkali metal and the electrode comprising the combined alkali/non-alkali metals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Dane A. Boysen, David J. Bradwell, Kai Jiang, Hojong Kim, Luis A. Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway, Alina A. Tomaszowska, Weifeng Wei, Kangli Wang
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Patent number: 9076996Abstract: An electrochemical battery that exchanges energy with an external device. The battery includes a container containing a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an intervening electrolyte, the electrodes and electrolyte existing as liquid material layers in the container at the operating temperature of the battery so that adjacent layers form respective electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Positive and negative current collectors are in electrical contact with the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, both collectors being adapted for connection to the external device to create a circuit through which current flows. A circulation producer in the battery causes circulation within at least one of the layers to increase the flux of material in one layer to an interface with an adjacent layer, thereby giving the battery a greater current/power capability.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: David J. Bradwell, Gerbrand Ceder, Luis Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway
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Patent number: 9000713Abstract: Electrochemical cells having molten electrodes having an alkali metal provide receipt and delivery of power by transporting atoms of the alkali metal between electrode environments of disparate chemical potentials through an electrochemical pathway comprising a salt of the alkali metal. The chemical potential of the alkali metal is decreased when combined with one or more non-alkali metals, thus producing a voltage between an electrode comprising the molten the alkali metal and the electrode comprising the combined alkali/non-alkali metals.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: Massachussetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Dane A. Boysen, David J. Bradwell, Kai Jiang, Hojong Kim, Luis A. Ortiz, Donald R. Sadoway, Alina A. Tomaszowska, Weifeng Wei, Kangli Wang