Patents by Inventor Linda Zhong

Linda Zhong 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: 11955621
    Abstract: A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the electrode to be lithiated, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: LICAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Qiu, Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, Bae Kyun Kim, Alvaro Perez Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20230411585
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode for an energy storage device includes at least one laminator for simultaneously laminating two free-standing electrode films on opposite sides of a current collector and a pair of mill lines operable to produce, respectively, the two films and to feed the two films simultaneously to the laminator. Each mill line may have at least one press including working rolls arranged horizontally for pressing a powder mixture into a respective one of the films and at least one press including working rolls (typically arranged vertically) for reducing the thickness of the respective film. The apparatus may include a mill line expansion module that is insertable into a mill line and has at least one additional press including working rolls for reducing the thickness and controlling other key parameters of the respective film. Films may have elongation below 4% and tensile strength below 250 kPa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Martin Zea
  • Publication number: 20230411588
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film for an electrode of an energy storage device includes providing a powder mixture of at least one electrode active material and at least one fibrillizable binder and feeding the powder mixture to a mill line including one or more presses. At least one press may include a pair of opposing working rolls and a backing roll associated with each working roll. An apparatus for manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes a mill line including at least one press having a pair of opposing working rolls and a backing roll associated with each working roll, a barrel of at least one of the backing rolls having a diameter that is at least 1.5 times a diameter of a barrel of the associated working roll, the barrels of the opposing working rolls each having a total indicated runout (TIR) of less than 5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, Eric Fodge
  • Publication number: 20230197923
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder, heating the mixture to 70° C. or higher, subjecting the mixture to a shear force, and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film. The method may further include adding a solvent to the mixture. A resulting free-standing electrode film may include an amount of binder less than 4% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Kathleen Qiu, Martin Zea, Erika Shaw
  • Publication number: 20230106377
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode block for a solid-state battery includes providing an electrode film with a current collector on a first side of the electrode film, coating a layer of dry electrolyte powder on a second side of the electrode film opposite the first side, and pressing the dry electrolyte powder coated on the electrode film to produce a solid electrolyte layer on the electrode film. A method of manufacturing an electrolyte film for a solid-state battery includes preparing a powder mixture including at least one type of fibrillizable binder and at least one type of dry electrolyte powder, the at least one type of dry electrolyte powder being a majority of the powder mixture by weight, fibrillizing the at least one type of fibrillizable binder in the powder mixture by subjecting the powder mixture to a shear force, and pressing the powder mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventor: Linda Zhong
  • Publication number: 20230108113
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode block for a solid-state battery includes providing an electrode film with a current collector on a first side of the electrode film, coating a layer of dry electrolyte powder on a second side of the electrode film opposite the first side, and pressing the dry electrolyte powder coated on the electrode film to produce a solid electrolyte layer on the electrode film. A method of manufacturing an electrolyte film for a solid-state battery includes preparing a powder mixture including at least one type of fibrillizable binder and at least one type of dry electrolyte powder, the at least one type of dry electrolyte powder being 80-97% of the powder mixture by weight, fibrillizing the at least one type of fibrillizable binder in the powder mixture by subjecting the powder mixture to a shear force, and pressing the powder mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventor: Linda Zhong
  • Patent number: 11616218
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder, heating the mixture to 70° C. or higher, subjecting the mixture to a shear force, and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film. The method may further include adding a solvent to the mixture. A resulting free-standing electrode film may include an amount of binder less than 4% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: LICAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Kathleen Qiu, Martin Zea, Erika Shaw
  • Publication number: 20230056854
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a binder, and an additive solution or conductive paste, the additive solution or conductive paste being in an amount less than 5% by weight of the mixture and including a polymer additive and a liquid carrier, as well as a conductive material in the case of a conductive paste. The mixture may have total solid contents greater than 95% by weight. Preparing the mixture may include mixing the additive solution or conductive paste with the electrode active material to lubricate the electrode active material and subsequently adding and mixing in the binder. The method may further include subjecting the mixture to a shear force and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Erika Shaw, Bae Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11508956
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a binder, and an additive solution or conductive paste, the additive solution or conductive paste being in an amount less than 5% by weight of the mixture and including a polymer additive and a liquid carrier, as well as a conductive material in the case of a conductive paste. The mixture may have total solid contents greater than 95% by weight. Preparing the mixture may include mixing the additive solution or conductive paste with the electrode active material to lubricate the electrode active material and subsequently adding and mixing in the binder. The method may further include subjecting the mixture to a shear force and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: LiCap Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Erika Shaw, Bae Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11430613
    Abstract: A dry process based capacitor and method for using one or more recyclable electrode film structure is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong
  • Publication number: 20220216453
    Abstract: A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the electrode to be lithiated, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Inventors: Kathleen Qiu, Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, Bae Kyun Kim, Alvaro Perez Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20220158150
    Abstract: A free-standing electrode film may comprise an electrode active material and a composite binder comprising polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). An electrode for an energy storage device may comprise a current collector and a film on the current collector, the film including an electrode active material and a composite binder comprising PTFE and PVP. A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film may comprise preparing a mixture including an electrode active material and a composite binder, the composite binder comprising PTFE and one or more additional binders selected from the group consisting of PVP, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethylene oxide (PEO), and carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). The method may further comprise adding a solvent to the mixture, subjecting the mixture to a shear force, and, after the solvent has been added and the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Hyeunhwan An, Bibek Tiwari, Bae Kyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11329264
    Abstract: A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the electrode to be lithiated, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: LICAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Kathleen Qiu, Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, Bae Kyun Kim, Alvaro Perez Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20220077453
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a binder, and an additive solution or conductive paste, the additive solution or conductive paste being in an amount less than 5% by weight of the mixture and including a polymer additive and a liquid carrier, as well as a conductive material in the case of a conductive paste. The mixture may have total solid contents greater than 95% by weight. Preparing the mixture may include mixing the additive solution or conductive paste with the electrode active material to lubricate the electrode active material and subsequently adding and mixing in the binder. The method may further include subjecting the mixture to a shear force and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Erika Shaw, Bae Kyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20210126234
    Abstract: A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the electrode to be lithiated, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Kathleen Qiu, Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, Bae Kyun Kim, Alvaro Perez Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20200388822
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a free-standing electrode film includes preparing a mixture including an electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder, heating the mixture to 70° C. or higher, subjecting the mixture to a shear force, and, after the mixture has been subjected to the shear force, pressing the mixture into a free-standing film. The method may further include adding a solvent to the mixture. A resulting free-standing electrode film may include an amount of binder less than 4% by weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Linda Zhong, Kathleen Qiu, Martin Zea, Erika Shaw
  • Patent number: 10840558
    Abstract: A method for lithiation of an electrode includes providing a roll including an electrode to be lithiated, providing a piece of lithium metal with predetermined weight attached to a conductive material, attaching the conductive material to a current collector of the electrode to be lithiated or to a metal tab connected to or from the electrode to be lithiated, placing the roll, the piece of lithium, and the conductive material in a container, and filling the container with an electrolyte containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: LICAP NEW ENERGY TECHNOLOGY (TIANJIN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kathleen Qiu, Linda Zhong, Martin Zea, David Kim
  • Patent number: 10833324
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode, includes: determining a thickness of an active layer; selecting a lithium (Li) foil having a specified thickness; determining a Li layer pattern for the Li foil based on a portion of a surface of the active layer to be covered by the Li foil; and pressing the Li layer pattern into the surface of the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: LICAP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Linda Zhong
  • Publication number: 20200152987
    Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou
  • Patent number: 10547057
    Abstract: Dry process based energy storage device structures and methods for using a dry adhesive therein are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Maxwell Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Porter Mitchell, Xiaomei Xi, Linda Zhong, Bin Zou