Patents by Inventor Ian Browne

Ian Browne 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: 20250140819
    Abstract: Systems and methods for silicon dominant lithium-ion cells with controlled lithiation of silicon may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode. The anode may include silicon lithiated at a level after discharge that is configured to be above a minimum threshold level, where the minimum threshold lithiation is 3% silicon lithiation. The lithiation level of the silicon after charging the battery may range between 30% and 95% silicon lithiation, between 30% and 75% silicon lithiation, between 30% and 65% silicon lithiation, or between 30% and 50% silicon lithiation. The lithiation level of the silicon after discharging the battery may range between 3% and 50% silicon lithiation, between 3% and 30% silicon lithiation, or between 3% and 10% silicon lithiation. The minimum threshold level may be a lithiation level below which a cycle life of the battery degrades. The electrolyte may include a liquid, solid, or gel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Inventors: Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Sung Won Choi, Fred Bonhomme
  • Patent number: 12261285
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for control of furnace atmosphere for improving capacity retention of silicon-dominant anode cells. Furnace atmosphere may be controlled during processing of a silicon-dominated electrode in a furnace, with the processing including pyrolysis of the silicon-dominated electrode, and the controlling including setting or adjusting one or more of pressure of the furnace atmosphere, and composition of the furnace atmosphere. The controlling of the furnace atmosphere may be configured based on at least one environment condition. The at least one environment condition may be an oxygen-free environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Park
  • Publication number: 20250087704
    Abstract: Systems and methods for high speed formation of cells for configuring anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode may include a current collector and an active material on the current collector. An expansion of the anode may be configured by a charge rate during formation of the battery. The expansion of the anode may be less than 1.5% in lateral dimensions of the anode for higher charge rates during formation with the active material being more than 50% silicon, where the higher charge rate may be 1 C or higher, and perpendicular expansion may be higher for charge rates below 1 C during formation. The expansion of the anode may be lower in lateral dimensions for thicker current collectors, which may be 10 ?m or thicker, and may be lower in lateral dimensions for more rigid materials for the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Inventors: Jill Renee Pestana, Benjamin Park, Frederic Bonhomme, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne
  • Publication number: 20250054983
    Abstract: Systems and methods for batteries comprising a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, wherein sacrificial salts and prelithiation reagents are added to the cathode as functional additives for electrochemical prelithiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Rahul Kamath, Frederic Bonhomme, Qian Huang, Heidi Anderson, Ian Browne, David J. Lee, Sanjaya Perera, Younes Ansari
  • Publication number: 20250023015
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for managing anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes. An example battery may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, with the anode including a current collector and an active material on a surface of the current collector. One or more characteristics of the current collector may ensure meeting particular expansion criteria. The expansion criteria may include expanding less in one of x-y directions and z-direction while expanding more in other one of the x-y directions and the z-direction, the x-y directions being parallel to the surface of the current collector and perpendicular to a thickness of the active material. The one or more characteristics include at least material of the current collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Inventors: Giulia Canton, Benjamin Park, Fred Bonhomme, David J. Lee, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 12183918
    Abstract: Systems and methods for silicon dominant lithium-ion cells with controlled lithiation of silicon may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode. The anode may include silicon lithiated at a level after discharge that is configured to be above a minimum threshold level, where the minimum threshold lithiation is 3% silicon lithiation. The lithiation level of the silicon after charging the battery may range between 30% and 95% silicon lithiation, between 30% and 75% silicon lithiation, between 30% and 65% silicon lithiation, or between 30% and 50% silicon lithiation. The lithiation level of the silicon after discharging the battery may range between 3% and 50% silicon lithiation, between 3% and 30% silicon lithiation, or between 3% and 10% silicon lithiation. The minimum threshold level may be a lithiation level below which a cycle life of the battery degrades. The electrolyte may include a liquid, solid, or gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Sung Won Choi, Fred Bonhomme
  • Publication number: 20240429448
    Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising a carboxylic ether, a carboxylic acid based salt, or an acrylate electrolyte are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from carboxylic ethers, carboxylic acid based salts, and acrylates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Liwen Ji, Benjamin Yong Park, Ian Browne, Tracy Ho, Sung Won Choi
  • Patent number: 12142739
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for key predictors and machine learning for configuring cell performance. One or more parameters relating to operation of a cell may be measured, via a measurement apparatus, with the cell including a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode, and cell performance may be managed, based on the one or more parameters, with the managing including assessing the cell performance using a machine learning model. The cell may be within a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells, each of which including a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode. One or more of the plurality of cells from the battery pack in response to a determination, based on the assessing, of a different performance of the one or more of the plurality of cells. The battery pack may be in an electric vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sam Keene, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Xianyang Li, Hong Zhao, Benjamin Park
  • Patent number: 12140641
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for key predictors and machine learning for configuring cell performance. One or more parameters relating to the cell may be measured, via a measurement apparatus, with the cell including a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode, and the cell may be managed, based on the one or more parameters, with the managing including predetermining cycle life of the cell based on the one or more parameters using a machine learning model. The cell may be within a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells. The battery pack may be in an electric vehicle. At least one parameter may be measured before a formation process of the cell. At least one parameter may be measured during the formation process. At least one parameter may be measured during cycling of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sam Keene, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Xianyang Li, Hong Zhao, Benjamin Park
  • Patent number: 12087949
    Abstract: Systems and methods for batteries comprising a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, wherein sacrificial salts and prelithiation reagents are added to the cathode as functional additives for electrochemical prelithiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Rahul Kamath, Frederic Bonhomme, Qian Huang, Heidi Anderson, Ian Browne, David J. Lee, Sanjaya Perera, Younes Ansari
  • Patent number: 12040478
    Abstract: Systems and methods for anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode may include a current collector and an active material on the current collector. An expansion of the anode during operation may be configured by a roughness and/or thickness of the current collector, a metal used for the current collector, and/or a lamination process that adheres the active material to the current collector. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for thicker current collectors. A thicker current collector may be 10 ?m thick or greater. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for more rigid materials used for the current collector. A more rigid current collector may include nickel and a less rigid current collector may include copper. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for a rougher surface current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giulia Canton, Benjamin Park, Fred Bonhomme, David J. Lee, Ian Browne
  • Publication number: 20240204169
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for control of thermal transfer during electrode pyrolysis based processing. An apparatus for processing battery electrodes may include a core configured for use in forming an electrode roll and a thermal rod. The core is configured to engage a sheet including electrode material applied on a current collector, specifically by rolling the sheet on the core to create concentric alternating layers of electrode material and current collector around an internal space formed by the core. The thermal rod is configured for engaging the electrode roll via the internal space of the core such that, once engaged, at least a portion of the thermal rod is disposed within the concentric alternating layers of electrode material and current collector. The thermal rod is configured to provide thermal transfer into the electrode roll via the core during processing of the electrode roll, with the processing including applying pyrolysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Fred Bonhomme, Benjamin Park, Todd Tatar, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 12015122
    Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising a carboxylic ether, a carboxylic acid based salt, or an acrylate electrolyte are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from carboxylic ethers, carboxylic acid based salts, and acrylates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Liwen Ji, Benjamin Yong Park, Ian Browne, Tracy Ho, Sung Won Choi
  • Publication number: 20240154086
    Abstract: Systems and methods for silicon-dominant lithium-ion cells with controlled utilization of silicon may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode has an active material comprising more than 50% silicon. The battery may be charged by lithiating silicon while not lithiating carbon. The active material may comprise more than 70% silicon. A voltage of the anode during discharge of the battery may remain above a minimum voltage at which silicon can be lithiated. The anode may have a specific capacity of greater than 3000 mAh/g. The battery may have a specific capacity of greater than 1000 mAh/g. The anode may have a greater than 90% initial Coulombic efficiency and may be polymer binder free. The battery may be charged at a 10 C rate or higher. The battery may be charged at temperatures below freezing without lithium plating. The electrolyte may comprise a liquid, solid, or gel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2023
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Sung Won Choi, Fred Bonhomme
  • Publication number: 20230387393
    Abstract: Silicon particles for active materials and electro-chemical cells are provided. The active materials comprising silicon particles described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight silicon particles, the silicon particles having an average particle size between about 10 nm and about 40 ?m, wherein the silicon particles have surface coatings comprising silicon carbide or a mixture of carbon and silicon carbide, and greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases, wherein at least one of the one or more types of carbon phases is a substantially continuous phase.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Benjamin Yong Park, Ian Browne
  • Publication number: 20230361287
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for silicon-dominant electrodes for energy storage using wet oxidized silicon by acid. Silicon may be treated by wet oxidization treatment using acid. The acid may be a nitric acid. Treated silicon may include silicon particles, with each silicon particle including an oxide surface layer formed as a result of the wet oxidization treatment. The wet oxidization treatment may include immersing untreated silicon powder in an acid, dispersing the silicon power continuously, and after an immersion period of pre-determined duration, filtering the silicon powder from the acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Rahul Kamath, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 11764346
    Abstract: Systems and methods for silicon-dominant lithium-ion cells with controlled utilization of silicon may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode has an active material comprising more than 50% silicon. The battery may be charged by lithiating silicon while not lithiating carbon. The active material may comprise more than 70% silicon. A voltage of the anode during discharge of the battery may remain above a minimum voltage at which silicon can be lithiated. The anode may have a specific capacity of greater than 3000 mAh/g. The battery may have a specific capacity of greater than 1000 mAh/g. The anode may have a greater than 90% initial Coulombic efficiency and may be polymer binder free. The battery may be charged at a 10C rate or higher. The battery may be charged at temperatures below freezing without lithium plating. The electrolyte may comprise a liquid, solid, or gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Sung Won Choi, Fred Bonhomme
  • Patent number: 11764350
    Abstract: Systems and methods for anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode may include a current collector and an active material on the current collector. An expansion of the anode during operation may be configured by a thickness of the current collector. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for thicker current collectors. A thicker current collector may be 10 ?m thick or greater. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for more rigid materials used for the current collector. A more rigid current collector may include nickel and a less rigid current collector may include copper. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for a rougher surface current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giulia Canton, Benjamin Park, Fred Bonhomme, David J. Lee, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 11728468
    Abstract: Systems and methods for anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode may include a current collector and an active material on the current collector. An expansion of the anode during operation may be configured by a metal used for the current collector, and/or a lamination process that adheres the active material to the current collector. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for thicker current collectors. A thicker current collector may be 10 ?m thick or greater. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for more rigid materials used for the current collector. A more rigid current collector may include nickel and a less rigid current collector may include copper. The expansion of the anode may be more anisotropic for a rougher surface current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Giulia Canton, Benjamin Park, Fred Bonhomme, David J. Lee, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 11728476
    Abstract: Silicon particles for active materials and electro-chemical cells are provided. The active materials comprising silicon particles described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight silicon particles, the silicon particles having an average particle size between about 10 nm and about 40 ?m, wherein the silicon particles have surface coatings comprising silicon carbide or a mixture of carbon and silicon carbide, and greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases, wherein at least one of the one or more types of carbon phases is a substantially continuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Benjamin Yong Park, Ian Browne