Patents by Inventor Elton J. Cairns

Elton J. Cairns 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: 20210344005
    Abstract: Described is a method of synthesizing a plurality of core-shell nanoparticles. The method includes forming shells around a plurality of lithium sulfide nanoparticles, wherein the shells conduct electrons and lithium ions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventor: Elton J. Cairns
  • Patent number: 11088365
    Abstract: Described is a core-shell nanoparticle comprising a lithium sulfide nanoparticle core and a shell covering the lithium sulfide nanoparticle core. The core-shell nanoparticle may be used for a positive electrode in a lithium/sulfur battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Elton J. Cairns
  • Patent number: 10683419
    Abstract: To address the need for multi-functional binders specifically tailored for sulfur cathodes ?-stacked perylene bisimide (PBI) molecules are repurposed as redox-active supramolecular binders in sulfur cathodes for Li—S cells. In operando lithiation of PBI binders permanently reduces Li—S cell impedance enabling high-rate cycling, a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of Li—S batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Brett A. Helms, Peter D. Frischmann, Yoon Hwa, Elton J. Cairns
  • Publication number: 20200099049
    Abstract: Described is a core-shell nanoparticle comprising a lithium sulfide nanoparticle core and a shell covering the lithium sulfide nanoparticle core. The core-shell nanoparticle may be used for a positive electrode in a lithium/sulfur battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventor: Elton J. Cairns
  • Patent number: 10505180
    Abstract: Described is a core-shell nanoparticle comprising a lithium sulfide nanoparticle core and a shell covering the lithium sulfide nanoparticle core, the shell comprising at least one of carbon, polyanaline or a transition metal sulfide. The core-shell nanoparticle may be used for a positive electrode in a lithium/sulfur battery cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Elton J. Cairns
  • Patent number: 10044031
    Abstract: A battery is described. The battery is composed of a graphene oxide-sulfur (GO-S) nanocomposite cathode, a separator, an anode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Publication number: 20180138504
    Abstract: A battery is described. The battery is composed of a graphene oxide-sulfur (GO—S) nanocomposite cathode, a separator, an anode, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Patent number: 9853284
    Abstract: The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (˜tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g?1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Publication number: 20170294646
    Abstract: The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (˜tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g?1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Publication number: 20170279122
    Abstract: To address the need for multi-functional binders specifically tailored for sulfur cathodes ?-stacked perylene bisimide (PBI) molecules are repurposed as redox-active supramolecular binders in sulfur cathodes for Li—S cells. In operando lithiation of PBI binders permanently reduces Li—S cell impedance enabling high-rate cycling, a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of Li—S batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Brett A. Helms, Peter D. Frischmann, Yoon Hwa, Elton J. Cairns
  • Patent number: 9774204
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed, relating to a dual-chemistry battery subsystem having different battery chemistries and performance properties, and relating to an algorithm of charging and discharging the battery subsystem. For an EV application, the battery subsystem is a tailored solution that combines two different battery configurations, a first battery configuration and a second battery configuration, to satisfy the unique needs of different driving modes and performance profiles of an EV, such as a typical workday commute versus an occasional extended range trip on the weekend. The present disclosure provides intelligent control and heuristics to maximize useful energy on a wide variety of battery applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventors: Nad Karim, Elton J Cairns, Paul H Vroomen
  • Publication number: 20170233250
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for producing Li2S-graphene oxide (Li2S-GO) composite materials. The disclosure further provides for the Li2S-GO made therefrom, and the use of these materials in lithium-sulfur batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Elton J. Cairns, Yoon Hwa
  • Patent number: 9673452
    Abstract: The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (˜tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g?1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Publication number: 20160329559
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for nanosized Li2S materials, the carbon coating of the Li2S materials, and composites comprising the nanosized Li2S materials and one or more conductive coatings. The disclosure further provides that these nanosized Li2S containing materials or composite made thereof can be used in a variety of applications, including for use in Li/S batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Elton J. Cairns, Zhan Lin, Wujun Fu
  • Publication number: 20160248084
    Abstract: The disclosure provides methods for producing uniformly sized lithium sulfide materials which are coated with one or more durable and conductive carbon shells that impede the polysulfide shuttle. The disclosure further provides for the carbon coated lithium sulfide materials made therefrom, and the use of these materials in lithium sulfide batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Elton J. Cairns, Caiyun Nan, Min-Kyu Song, Zhan Lin
  • Publication number: 20160141620
    Abstract: A long-life, high-rate lithium sulfur (Li/S) cell with high specific energy uniquely combines cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB)-modified sulfur-graphene oxide (S-GO) nanocomposites with an elastomeric styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)/carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) binder and an ionic liquid-based novel electrolyte with the LiNO3 additive. A Li/S cell employing a CTAB-modified S-GO nanocomposite cathode can be discharged at rates as high as 6C (1C=1.675 A/g of sulfur) and charged at rates as high as 3C while still maintaining high specific capacity (˜800 mAh/g of sulfur at 6C), with a long cycle life exceeding 1500 cycles, the longest cycle life with extremely low decay rate (0.039% per cycle) demonstrated so far for a Li/S cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Elton J. Cairns, Min-Kyu Song, Yuegang Zhang
  • Publication number: 20150311508
    Abstract: Described is a core-shell nanoparticle comprising a lithium sulfide nanoparticle core and a shell covering the lithium sulfide nanoparticle core, the shell comprising at least one of carbon, polyanaline or a transition metal sulfide. The core-shell nanoparticle may be used for a positive electrode in a lithium/sulfur battery cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventor: Elton J. Cairns
  • Publication number: 20140234702
    Abstract: The loss of sulfur cathode material as a result of polysulfide dissolution causes significant capacity fading in rechargeable lithium/sulfur cells. Embodiments of the invention use a chemical approach to immobilize sulfur and lithium polysulfides via the reactive functional groups on graphene oxide. This approach obtains a uniform and thin (˜tens of nanometers) sulfur coating on graphene oxide sheets by a chemical reaction-deposition strategy and a subsequent low temperature thermal treatment process. Strong interaction between graphene oxide and sulfur or polysulfides demonstrate lithium/sulfur cells with a high reversible capacity of 950-1400 mAh g?1, and stable cycling for more than 50 deep cycles at 0.1 C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventors: Yuegang Zhang, Elton J. Cairns, Liwen Ji, Mumin Rao
  • Publication number: 20130141045
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and system are disclosed, relating to a dual-chemistry battery subsystem having different battery chemistries and performance properties, and relating to an algorithm of charging and discharging the battery subsystem. For an EV application, the battery subsystem is a tailored solution that combines two different battery configurations, a first battery configuration and a second battery configuration, to satisfy the unique needs of different driving modes and performance profiles of an EV, such as a typical workday commute versus an occasional extended range trip on the weekend. The present disclosure provides intelligent control and heuristics to maximize useful energy on a wide variety of battery applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Nad KARIM, Elton J. CAIRNS, Paul H. VROOMEN
  • Publication number: 20090286163
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the preparation of ionic liquid-lithium salt-low molecular weight liquid polymer mixtures. The mixture is useful as an electrolytic solution. Thus, the mixture is suitable as an electrolyte in batteries and supercapacitors as well as an active material for solid state light-emitting devices or polymer light-emitting displays or an electro deposition of alkali metals such as lithium, sodium, or potassium in the field of research or industry. The present invention further provides for a method making the mixture. Additionally, the present invention provides for a lithium battery comprising the mixture and a method of making the lithium battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joon Ho Shin, Elton J. Cairns