Patents by Inventor John T. Vaughey

John T. Vaughey 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).

  • Patent number: 7846585
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries. More specifically, the invention relates to silver manganese vanadium oxide positive electrodes for such cells and batteries. The silver manganese vanadium oxide electrodes may contain substituents or dopants to improve the electrochemical properties of the electrodes, cells and batteries. The silver manganese vanadium oxide electrodes optionally contain silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrodes and to improve the power capability of the cells or batteries. The invention also includes a method for preparing the electrodes by decomposition of a permanganate salt, such as AgMnO4, KMnO4, NaMnO4 or LiMnO4 in the presence of a compound or compounds containing silver and/or vanadium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey
  • Publication number: 20100227220
    Abstract: This invention provides a lithium-oxygen or lithium-air electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and a porous activated positive electrode comprising lithium-rich electrocatalytic materials suitable for use in lithium-oxygen (air) cells and batteries. The activated positive electrode is produced by activating a precursor electrode formed from a material comprising one or more metal oxide compounds of general formula xLi2O.yMOz, in which 0<x?4, 0<y?1, and 0<z?3, in which M is typically, but not exclusively, a transition metal, excluding Li2MnO3 as a sole metal oxide compound in the precursor electrode. Li2O is extracted from the above-mentioned precursors to activate the electrode either by electrochemical methods or by chemical methods. The invention extends to batteries containing such electrochemical cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Christopher S. JOHNSON, Sun-Ho KANG, Lynn TRAHEY, John T. VAUGHEY
  • Patent number: 7790317
    Abstract: Metal oxide-fluoride material including silver, vanadium, oxygen and fluorine, such as Ag4V2O6F2, is made and useful as a cathode for a battery. The material is made by subjecting silver oxide, vanadium oxide, and aqueous solution of HF to superambient temperature in a pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Poeppelmeier, Heather K. Izumi, Erin M. Sorensen, John T. Vaughey
  • Publication number: 20100035153
    Abstract: Multi-component intermetallic negative electrodes prepared by electrochemical deposition for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries are disclosed. More specifically, the invention relates to composite intermetallic electrodes comprising two or more compounds containing metallic or metaloid_elements, at least one element of which can react with lithium to form binary, ternary, quaternary or higher order compounds, these compounds being in combination with one or more other metals that are essentially inactive toward lithium and act predominantly, but not necessarily exclusively, to the electronic conductivity of, and as current collection agent for, the electrode. The invention relates more specifically to negative electrode materials that provide an operating potential between 0.05 and 2.0 V vs. metallic lithium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC., Operator of Argonne National Laboratory
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Lynn Trahey, John T. Vaughey
  • Publication number: 20090004565
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries. More specifically, the invention relates to silver manganese vanadium oxide positive electrodes for such cells and batteries. The silver manganese vanadium oxide electrodes may contain substituents or dopants to improve the electrochemical properties of the electrodes, cells and batteries. The silver manganese vanadium oxide electrodes optionally contain silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrodes and to improve the power capability of the cells or batteries. The invention also includes a method for preparing the electrodes by decomposition of a permanganate salt, such as AgMnO4, KMnO4, NaMnO4 or LiMnO4 in the presence of a compound or compounds containing silver and/or vanadium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey
  • Patent number: 7435509
    Abstract: This invention relates to a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell or battery, and to an electrochemical cell or battery; the invention relates more specifically to a positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell or battery when the electrode is used therein. The positive electrode includes a composite metal oxide containing AgV3O8 as one component and one or more other components consisting of LiV3O8, Ag2V4O11, MnO2, CFx, AgF or Ag2O to increase the energy density of the cell, optionally in the presence of silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrode and to improve the power capability of the cell or battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Dennis W. Dees
  • Publication number: 20080152996
    Abstract: This invention relates to intermetallic negative electrode compounds for non-aqueous, electrochemical lithium cells and batteries. More specifically, the invention relates to one or more electrode components or compositions, one of which contains the basic structural unit of a MM?3 intermetallic compound, in which M and M? are comprised of one or more metals. The MM?3 intermetallic electrode compounds can be mixed, blended or integrated with one or more other intermetallic compounds, such as isostructural M3M? compounds. The electrodes are of particular use in rechargeable lithium-ion cells and batteries in numerous applications such as portable electronic devices, medical devices, space, aeronautical and defense-related devices and in transportation applications such as electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey
  • Patent number: 7358009
    Abstract: Lithium metal oxide compounds of nominal formula Li2MO2, in which M represents two or more positively charged metal ions, selected predominantly and preferably from the first row of transition metals are disclosed herein. The Li2MO2 compounds have a layered-type structure, which can be used as positive electrodes for lithium electrochemical cells, or as a precursor for the in-situ electrochemical fabrication of LiMO2 electrodes. The Li2MO2 compounds of the invention may have additional functions in lithium cells, for example, as end-of-discharge indicators, or as negative electrodes for lithium cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Johnson, Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Arthur J. Kahaian, Jeom-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7157165
    Abstract: An A and/or A? site deficient perovskite of general formula of (A1-xA?x)1-yFeO3-? or of general formula A1-x-yA?xFeO3-67, wherein A is La alone or with one or more of the rare earth metals or a rare earth metal other than Ce alone or a combination of rare earth metals and X is in the range of from 0 to about 1; A? is Sr or Ca or mixtures thereof and Y is in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.3; ? represents the amount of compensating oxygen loss. If either A or A? is zero the remaining A or A? is deficient. A fuel cell incorporating the inventive perovskite as a cathode is disclosed as well as an oxygen separation membrane. The inventive perovskite is preferably single phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: James M. Ralph, Cècile C.R. Rossignol, John T. Vaughey
  • Patent number: 7041414
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries with silver manganese oxide positive electrodes, denoted AgxMnOy, in which x and y are such that the manganese ions in the charged or partially charged electrodes cells have an average oxidation state greater than 3.5. The silver manganese oxide electrodes optionally contain silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrodes and to improve the power capability of the cells or batteries. The invention relates also to a method for preparing AgxMnOy electrodes by decomposition of a permanganate salt, such as AgMnO4, or by the decomposition of KMnO4 or LiMnO4 in the presence of a silver salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Dennis W. Dees
  • Patent number: 6855460
    Abstract: A negative electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The electrode has an intermetallic compound as its basic structural unit with the formula M2M? in which M and M? are selected from two or more metal elements including Si, and the M2M? structure is a Cu2Sb-type structure. Preferably M is Cu, Mn and/or Li, and M? is Sb. Also disclosed is a non-aqueous electrochemical cell having a negative electrode of the type described, an electrolyte and a positive electrode. A plurality of cells may be arranged to form a battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: John T. Vaughey, Linda M. L. Fransson, Michael M. Thackeray
  • Patent number: 6730429
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The cell has an intermetallic negative electrode of Cu6-xMxSn5, wherein x is ≦3 and M is one or more metals including Si and a positive electrode containing Li in which Li is shuttled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode during charge and discharge to form a lithiated intermetallic negative electrode during charge. The voltage of the electrochemical cell is controlled during the charge portion of the charge-discharge cycles so that the potential of the lithiated intermetallic negative electrode in the fully charged electrochemical cell is less than 0.2 V but greater than 0 V versus metallic lithium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Christopher S. Johnson, Linda M. L. Fransson, Ester Kristina Edstrom, Gary Henriksen
  • Publication number: 20040048155
    Abstract: This invention relates to electrodes for non-aqueous lithium cells and batteries with silver manganese oxide positive electrodes, denoted AgxMnOy, in which x and y are such that the manganese ions in the charged or partially charged electrodes cells have an average oxidation state greater than 3.5. The silver manganese oxide electrodes optionally contain silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrodes and to improve the power capability of the cells or batteries. The invention relates also to a method for preparing AgxMnOy electrodes by decomposition of a permanganate salt, such as AgMnO4, or by the decomposition of KMnO4 or LiMnO4 in the presence of a silver salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Dennis W. Dees
  • Publication number: 20040048156
    Abstract: This invention relates to a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell or battery, and to an electrochemical cell or battery; the invention relates more specifically to a positive electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell or battery when the electrode is used therein. The positive electrode includes a composite metal oxide containing AgV3O8 as one component and one or more other components consisting of LiV3O8, Ag2V4O11, MnO2, CFx, AgF or Ag2O to increase the energy density of the cell, optionally in the presence of silver powder and/or silver foil to assist in current collection at the electrode and to improve the power capability of the cell or battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Dennis W. Dees
  • Publication number: 20030180616
    Abstract: Lithium metal oxide compounds of nominal formula Li2MO2, in which M represents two or more positively charged metal ions, selected predominantly and preferably from the first row of transition metals are disclosed herein. The Li2MO2 compounds have a layered-type structure, which can be used as positive electrodes for lithium electrochemical cells, or as a precursor for the in-situ electrochemical fabrication of LiMO2 electrodes. The Li2MO2 compounds of the invention may have additional functions in lithium cells, for example, as end-of-discharge indicators, or as negative electrodes for lithium cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Applicant: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Christopher S. Johnson, Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Arthur J. Kahaian, Jeom-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 6528208
    Abstract: A negative electrode (12) for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell (10) with an intermetallic host structure containing two or more elements selected from the metal elements and silicon, capable of accommodating lithium within its crystallographic host structure such that when the host structure is lithiated it transforms to a lithiated zinc-blende-type structure. Both active elements (alloying with lithium) and inactive elements (non-alloying with lithium) are disclosed. Electrochemical cells and batteries as well as methods of making the negative electrode are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Keith D. Kepler, John T. Vaughey
  • Publication number: 20020136953
    Abstract: A negative electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell. The electrode has an intermetallic compound as its basic structural unit with the formula M2M′ in which M and M′ are selected from two or more metal elements including Si, and the M2M′ structure is a Cu2Sb-type structure. Preferably M is Cu, Mn and/or Li, and M′ is Sb. Also disclosed is a non-aqueous electrochemical cell having a negative electrode of the type described, an electrolyte and a positive electrode. A plurality of cells may be arranged to form a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventors: John T. Vaughey, Linda M.L. Fransson, Michael M. Thackeray
  • Publication number: 20020064704
    Abstract: A method of operating an electrochemical cell is disclosed. The cell has an intermetallic negative electrode of Cu6-xMxSn5, wherein x is ≦3 and M is one or more metals including Si and a positive electrode containing Li in which Li is shuttled between the positive electrode and the negative electrode during charge and discharge to form a lithiated intermetallic negative electrode during charge. The voltage of the electrochemical cell is controlled during the charge portion of the charge-discharge cycles so that the potential of the lithiated intermetallic negative electrode in the fully charged electrochemical cell is less than 0.2 V but greater than 0 V versus metallic lithium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, John T. Vaughey, Christopher S. Johnson, Linda M. L. Fransson, Ester Kristina Edstrom, Gary Henriksen
  • Patent number: 6221531
    Abstract: A spinel-type structure with the general formula Li[Ti1.67Li0.33−yMy]O4, for 0<y≦0.33, where M=Mg and/or Al. The structure is usefid as a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrochemical cell and in a non-aqueous battery comprising an plurality of cells, electrically connected, each cell comprising a negative electrode, an electrolyte and a positive electrode, the negative electrode consisting of the spinel-type structure disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: John T. Vaughey, Michael M. Thackeray, Arthur J. Kahaian, Andrew N. Jansen, Chun-hua Chen