Patents by Inventor Kevin Tanzil

Kevin Tanzil 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: 20250070187
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a surface layer disposed over and in contact with the electrically conductive layer. The surface layer may include a transition metallate other than chromate. A lithium storage layer overlays and is in contact with the surface layer. The lithium storage layer may have an average thickness of at least 1 ?m, includes at least 40 atomic % silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, and is substantially free of carbon-based binders. The lithium storage layer may be a continuous porous lithium storage layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Applicant: GRAPHENIX DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Warren, Peter Symons, John C. Brewer, Kyle P. Povlock, Kevin Tanzil, Robert G. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20250062316
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having an electrically conductive layer, a first surface characterized by a first pattern, and a second surface characterized by a complementary second pattern. The anode further includes a patterned lithium storage structure comprising a continuous porous lithium storage layer disposed over the current collector in a pattern corresponding to the first pattern. A method of making an anode for use in an energy storage device includes providing a current collector having an electrically conductive layer, a first surface characterized by a first pattern, and a second surface characterized by a complementary second pattern. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is formed by chemical vapor deposition over the first surface by exposing the current collector to a lithium storage material precursor gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Applicant: GRAPHENIX DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Terrence R. O'Toole, John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Kevin Tanzil
  • Patent number: 12230802
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having a metal oxide layer. A continuous porous lithium storage layer overlays the metal oxide layer, and a first supplemental layer overlays the continuous porous lithium storage layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may be substantially free of nanostructures. The continuous lithium storage layer may include amorphous silicon deposited by a PECVD process. The first supplemental layer includes silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, or silicon oxynitride. The anode may further include a second supplemental layer overlaying the first supplemental layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Patent number: 12199284
    Abstract: A prelithiated anode may include a current collector may include a metal oxide layer. Prelithiated anodes may in addition include a lithiated storage layer overlaying the metal oxide layer. The lithiated storage layer may be formed by incorporating lithium into a continuous porous lithium storage layer may include at least 80 atomic % silicon. The lithiated storage layer may include less than 1% by weight of carbon-based binders. The lithiated storage layer may further include lithium in a range of 1% to 90% of a theoretical lithium storage capacity of the continuous porous lithium storage layer. Batteries may include the prelithiated anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Isaac N. Lund
  • Patent number: 12191501
    Abstract: Methods of making an anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery are disclosed. Methods may include providing a current collector. The current collector may include an electrically conductive layer and a surface layer overlaying over the electrically conductive layer. The surface layer may have an average thickness of at least 0.002 ?m. The surface layer may include a metal chalcogenide including at least one of sulfur or selenium. Methods may include depositing a continuous porous lithium storage layer onto the surface layer by a PECVD process. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may have an average thickness in a range of 4 ?m to 30 ?m and comprises at least 85 atomic % amorphous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Kevin Tanzil
  • Publication number: 20240363842
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device may include a current collector. An anode may include a first lithium storage layer overlaying the current collector. An anode may include a first intermediate layer overlaying at least a portion of the first lithium storage layer. An anode may include a second lithium storage layer overlaying the first intermediate layer. The first lithium storage layer may be a continuous porous lithium storage layer including a total content of silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, of at least 40 atomic %. The first intermediate layer may include a first sublayer in contact with an underlying lithium storage layer and a second sublayer overlaying the first sublayer and in contact with an overlying lithium storage layer, the first sublayer having different a chemical composition than the second sublayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Bernard Philip Gridley, Robert G. Anstey, Kevin Tanzil
  • Patent number: 12068476
    Abstract: A method of making an anode for an energy storage device such as a lithium-ion energy storage device is disclosed. The method may include depositing a first lithium storage layer over a current collector by a first CVD process. The current collector may include a metal oxide layer, and the first lithium storage layer is deposited onto the metal oxide layer. The method may also include forming a first intermediate layer over at least a portion of the first lithium storage layer. The method may further include depositing a second lithium storage layer over the first intermediate layer by a second CVD process. At least the first lithium storage layer may be a continuous porous lithium storage layer having a total content of silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, of at least 40 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Bernard Philip Gridley, Robert G. Anstey, Kevin Tanzil
  • Patent number: 12057580
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device may include a current collector. The current collector may include a metal oxide layer. The metal oxide layer may include a doped oxide or zinc oxide. In addition, the anode may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer overlaying the metal oxide layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may include a total content of silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, of at least 40 atomic %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Isaac N. Lund, Kyle P. Povlock
  • Publication number: 20230343968
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a surface layer disposed over the electrically conductive layer. The surface layer may include a first surface sublayer proximate the electrically conductive layer and a second surface sublayer disposed over the first surface sublayer. The first surface sublayer may include zinc. The second surface sublayer may include a metal-oxygen compound, wherein the metal-oxygen compound includes a transition metal other than zinc. The current collector may be characterized by a surface roughness Ra ? 250 nm. The anode further includes a continuous porous lithium storage layer overlaying the surface layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may have an average thickness of at least 7 µm, may include at least 40 atomic % silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, and may be substantially free of carbon-based binders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. BREWER, Alexander J. WARREN, Kevin TANZIL, Paul D. GARMAN, Robert G. ANSTEY, Kyle P. POVLOCK
  • Publication number: 20230268511
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having a metal oxide layer. A continuous porous lithium storage layer overlays the metal oxide layer, and a first supplemental layer overlays the continuous porous lithium storage layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may be substantially free of nanostructures. The continuous lithium storage layer may include amorphous silicon deposited by a PECVD process. The first supplemental layer includes silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, or silicon oxynitride. The anode may further include a second supplemental layer overlaying the first supplemental layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20230216061
    Abstract: Methods of making an anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery are disclosed. Methods may include providing a current collector. The current collector may include an electrically conductive layer and a surface layer overlaying over the electrically conductive layer. The surface layer may have an average thickness of at least 0.002 ?m. The surface layer may include a metal chalcogenide including at least one of sulfur or selenium. Methods may include depositing a continuous porous lithium storage layer onto the surface layer by a PECVD process. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may have an average thickness in a range of 4 ?m to 30 ?m and comprises at least 85 atomic % amorphous silicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Kevin Tanzil
  • Publication number: 20230207832
    Abstract: An anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery is disclosed. The anode includes an electrically conductive current collector comprising an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer overlaying the electrically conductive layer. The anode may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer provided over the transition metal oxide layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may include at least 80 atomic % amorphous silicon and a silicide-forming metallic element in a range of 0.1 to 10 atomic %. A method of making the anode may include providing an electrically conductive current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer provided over the electrically conductive layer. The transition metal oxide layer may have an average thickness of at least 0.05 ?m. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is deposited over the transition metal oxide layer by PECVD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20230207831
    Abstract: An anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery is disclosed. The anode includes an electrically conductive current collector comprising an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer overlaying the electrically conductive layer. The anode may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer provided over the transition metal oxide layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may include at least 80 atomic % silicon. A method of making the anode may include providing an electrically conductive current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer provided over the electrically conductive layer. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is deposited over the transition metal oxide layer by PECVD. The continuous porous lithium storage layer has a total content of silicon of at least 80 atomic %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Patent number: 11658300
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having a metal oxide layer. A continuous porous lithium storage layer overlays the metal oxide layer, and a first supplemental layer overlays the continuous porous lithium storage layer. The first supplemental layer includes silicon nitride, silicon dioxide, or silicon oxynitride. The anode may further include a second supplemental layer overlaying the first supplemental layer. The second supplemental layer has a composition different from the first supplemental layer and may include silicon dioxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, or a metal compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20230142782
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device includes a current collector having an electrically conductive layer that includes nickel or copper, and a lithium storage structure comprising a plurality of first microstructures in contact with the electrically conductive layer. Each first microstructure includes silicon and is characterized by a first maximum width measured across the widest section orthogonal to the first microstructure axis. Each first microstructure includes a first portion characterized by the width substantially tapering from the maximum width to a location where each first microstructure contacts the electrically conductive layer and a second portion positioned farther from the electrically conductive layer than the first portion, the second portion defining a substantially hemispherical shape and the top of each first microstructure. The lithium storage structure has at least 1 mg/cm2 of active silicon and a total atomic % of nickel and copper is from 0.5% to 1.2%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Kevin Tanzil
  • Patent number: 11631860
    Abstract: An anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery is disclosed. The anode includes an electrically conductive current collector comprising an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer overlaying the electrically conductive layer. The anode may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer provided over the transition metal oxide layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may include at least 40 atomic % silicon. A method of making the anode may include providing an electrically conductive current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a transition metal oxide layer provided over the electrically conductive layer. The transition metal oxide layer may have an average thickness of at least 0.05 ?m. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is deposited over the transition metal oxide layer by PECVD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GRAPHENIX DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey
  • Publication number: 20230063959
    Abstract: A prelithiated anode may include a current collector may include a metal oxide layer. Prelithiated anodes may in addition include a lithiated storage layer overlaying the metal oxide layer. The lithiated storage layer may be formed by incorporating lithium into a continuous porous lithium storage layer may include at least 80 atomic % silicon. The lithiated storage layer may include less than 1% by weight of carbon-based binders. The lithiated storage layer may further include lithium in a range of 1% to 90% of a theoretical lithium storage capacity of the continuous porous lithium storage layer. Batteries may include the prelithiated anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Isaac N. Lund
  • Publication number: 20230014638
    Abstract: A method of making an anode for an energy storage device such as a lithium-ion energy storage device is disclosed. The method may include depositing a first lithium storage layer over a current collector by a first CVD process. The current collector may include a metal oxide layer, and the first lithium storage layer is deposited onto the metal oxide layer. The method may also include forming a first intermediate layer over at least a portion of the first lithium storage layer. The method may further include depositing a second lithium storage layer over the first intermediate layer by a second CVD process. At least the first lithium storage layer may be a continuous porous lithium storage layer having a total content of silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, of at least 40 atomic %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.,
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Paul D. Garman, Bernard Philip Gridley, Robert G. Anstey, Kevin Tanzil
  • Publication number: 20220376220
    Abstract: An anode for an energy storage device may include a current collector. The current collector may include a metal oxide layer. The metal oxide layer may include a doped oxide or zinc oxide. In addition, the anode may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer overlaying the metal oxide layer. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may include a total content of silicon, germanium, or a combination thereof, of at least 40 atomic %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Isaac N. Lund, Kyle P. Povlock
  • Patent number: 11508965
    Abstract: A method of making a prelithiated anode for use in a lithium-ion battery includes providing a current collector having an electrically conductive layer and a metal oxide layer overlaying the electrically conductive layer. The metal oxide layer has an average thickness of at least 0.01 ?m. A continuous porous lithium storage layer is deposited onto the metal oxide layer by a CVD process. Lithium is incorporated into the continuous porous lithium storage layer to form a lithiated storage layer prior to a first electrochemical cycle when the anode is assembled into the battery. The anode may be incorporated into a lithium ion battery along with a cathode. The cathode may include sulfur or selenium and the anode may be prelithiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Graphenix Development, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Brewer, Kevin Tanzil, Paul D. Garman, Robert G. Anstey, Isaac N. Lund