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: 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: 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: 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: 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
  • Patent number: 11618800
    Abstract: Disclosed are maleic anhydride-grafted cyclic olefin copolymers, methods for preparing maleic anhydride-grafted cyclic olefin copolymers, low temperature methods for laminating anodes comprising the maleic anhydride-grafted cyclic olefin copolymers, and anodes and alkali ion batteries that comprise the maleic anhydride-grafted cyclic olefin copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Ambica Nair, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Michael Buet
  • Publication number: 20230081140
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for pyrolysis reactions to be performed at reduced temperatures that convert non-conductive precursor polymers to conductive carbon suitable for use in electrode materials, which may be incorporated into a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the pyrolysis method may include one or more catalysts or reactive reagents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Yong Park, Giulia Canton, Fred Bonhomme
  • Patent number: 11588182
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a battery electrode having a solvent level to facilitate peeling are disclosed. In examples, a battery may include one or more electrodes and an electrolyte. The electrodes include an electrode slurry layer with a solvent. The electrode slurry is coated on a substrate, where the electrode slurry and substrate produce an active material with a residual amount of solvent in response to a heat-treatment, and where the active material comprises 10% to 25% residual solvent by weight following the heat-treatment. The amount of residual solvent facilitates peeling of the active material from the substrate, which, once pyrolyzed, may be used to create a multi-layer film with the current collector film and the active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Monika Chhorng, Ian Browne
  • Publication number: 20230006198
    Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes using particle size 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 utilizing a predetermined particle size distribution of silicon particles in the active material. The expansion of the anode may be greater for smaller particle size distributions, which may range from 1 to 10 ?m. The expansion of the anode may be smaller for a rougher surface active material, which may be configured by utilizing larger particle size distributions that may range from 5 to 25 ?m. The expansion may be configured to be more anisotropic using more rigid materials for the current collector, where a more rigid current collector may comprise nickel and a less rigid current collector may comprise copper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Park, Jill Renee Pestana, Fred Bonhomme, Monika Chhorng, David J. Lee, Heidi Anderson
  • Publication number: 20220367847
    Abstract: A method and system for carbon-coated silicon in a pyrolyzed carbon binder electrode on copper current collectors may include providing a metal current collector; forming a non-porous carbon coating on the metal current collector; coating silicon particles with carbon; forming an active material layer on the metal current collector, where the active material layer comprises at least 50% silicon particles by weight and a carbon source; and pyrolyzing the active material layer on the metal current collector, with no silicon particles in contact with metal from the metal current collector. The metal current collector may include copper. The battery anode may include no copper-silicon eutectic. The silicon particles may range in size from 2 to 50 ?m. The active material layer may include aluminum carbide. A source for the pyrolyzed carbon may include polyimide and/or polyamide-imide. The current collector may be coated with the non-porous carbon coating using physical vapor deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin Park, Jill Pestana, Ian Browne, Younes Ansari, Sanjaya D. Perera
  • Patent number: 11502304
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for pyrolysis reactions to be performed at reduced temperatures that convert non-conductive precursor polymers to conductive carbon suitable for use in electrode materials, which may be incorporated into a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the pyrolysis method may include one or more catalysts or reactive reagents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Park, Giulia Canton, Frederic Bonhomme
  • Publication number: 20220352506
    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: July 5, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Benjamin Yong Park, Ian Browne
  • Patent number: 11450850
    Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes using particle size 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 utilizing a predetermined particle size distribution of silicon particles in the active material. The expansion of the anode may be greater for smaller particle size distributions, which may range from 1 to 10 ?m. The expansion of the anode may be smaller for a rougher surface active material, which may be configured by utilizing larger particle size distributions that may range from 5 to 25 ?m. The expansion may be configured to be more anisotropic using more rigid materials for the current collector, where a more rigid current collector may comprise nickel and a less rigid current collector may comprise copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Enevate Corporation
    Inventors: Ian Browne, Benjamin Park, Jill Renee Pestana, Fred Bonhomme, Monika Chhorng, David J. Lee, Heidi Anderson
  • Publication number: 20220285749
    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: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Sam Keene, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Xianyang Li, Hong Zhao, Benjamin Park
  • Publication number: 20220283243
    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: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Sam Keene, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Xianyang Li, Hong Zhao, Benjamin Park
  • Publication number: 20220263059
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for heat treatment of whole cell structures. A battery may be formed based on applying of heat treatment to a whole cell composition that includes, at least, both anode material and cathode material, such that the anode material and the cathode material are heat treated at the same time. The heat treatment may include pyrolysis. The whole cell composition, and the corresponding cell formed based thereon, may include solid state electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Qian Huang, Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Rahul Kamath, David J. Lee
  • Patent number: 11329267
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for heat treatment of whole cell structures. A battery may be formed based on applying of heat treatment to a whole cell composition that includes, at least, both anode material and cathode material, such that the anode material and the cathode material are heat treated at the same time. The heat treatment may include pyrolysis. The whole cell composition, and the corresponding cell formed based thereon, may include solid state electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Qian Huang, Benjamin Park, Ian Browne, Rahul Kamath, David J. Lee
  • Publication number: 20220115651
    Abstract: Systems and methods utilizing aqueous-based polymer binders for silicon-dominant anodes may include an electrode coating layer on a current collector, where the electrode coating layer is formed from silicon and a water soluble polymer and may comprise one or more of the following materials: pH modifiers, viscosity modifiers, strengthening additives, surfactants and anti-foaming agents. The electrode coating layer may include more than 70% silicon and the anode may be in a lithium ion battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Younes Ansari, Benjamin Park, Sanjaya Perera, Qing Zhang, Anil Malhotra, Ambica Nair, Rahul Kamath, Ian Browne, Frederic Bonhomme
  • Patent number: 11300631
    Abstract: A method for key predictors and machine learning for configuring battery cell performance may include providing a cell that includes a cathode, a separator, and a silicon-dominant anode; measuring a plurality of parameters of the cell; and using a machine learning model to determine cycle life based on the plurality of measured parameters, where one of the measured parameters includes second cycle coulombic efficiency. The plurality of parameters may include initial coulombic efficiency, cell impedance values, open-circuit voltage, cell thickness, and impedance after degassing. A first subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured before a formation process. A second subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured during a formation process, where the plurality of parameters may include a voltage reached during a first 10% of a first formation cycle. A third subset of the plurality of parameters may be measured during cycling of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: ENEVATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sam Keene, Giulia Canton, Ian Browne, Xianyang Li, Hong Zhao, Benjamin Park