Patents by Inventor Masahisa Fujimoto

Masahisa Fujimoto 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: 11322769
    Abstract: In a flow battery according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a first liquid does not include an undesired compound. The flow battery satisfies requirement (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv). (i) An anode active material 14 includes graphite, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.15 V vs. Li/Li+. (ii) An anode active material includes aluminum, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.18 V vs. Li/Li+. (iii) An anode active material includes tin, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li+. (iv) An anode active material includes silicon, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li+.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Ito, Masahisa Fujimoto, Honami Sako, Sho Shibata
  • Patent number: 11239482
    Abstract: The flow battery in an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first liquid containing a lithium ion and a first redox material, a first electrode in contact with the first liquid, a second electrode functioning as a counter electrode of the first electrode, an isolation unit that isolates the first electrode and the second electrode from each other, a first chamber, and a first circulation mechanism for circulating the first liquid between the first electrode and the first chamber, and in the flow battery, the first liquid is non-aqueous and the first circulation mechanism includes a magnetically driven pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Ito, Masahisa Fujimoto, Haruko Kubota, Norihiko Kawabata
  • Publication number: 20210384541
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes a negative electrode; a positive electrode; a first liquid which contains a first nonaqueous solvent, a first redox species, and metal ions and which is in contact with the negative electrode; a second liquid which contains a second nonaqueous solvent and which is in contact with the positive electrode; and a metal ion-conducting membrane disposed between the first liquid and the second liquid. The metal ion-conducting membrane includes a porous layer and a resin layer which is in contact with the porous layer and which contains a fluorocarbon resin. The porous layer includes a porous body and a filler which is located in pores of the porous body and which contains a fluorocarbon resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: KOHEI HARA, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, HONAMI SAKO, SHUJI ITO
  • Publication number: 20210367256
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a first liquid including first redox species, a second liquid, and a lithium ion conductive membrane. At least one selected from the group consisting of the first liquid and the second liquid includes a supporting electrolyte including lithium. The total of the number of moles of lithium dissolved in the first liquid and the number of moles of lithium dissolved in the second liquid is larger than the number of moles of lithium present in the supporting electrolyte. 0.2?(M1+M2?M3)/M4?1.5 wherein M1 is the number of moles of lithium dissolved in the first liquid, M2 is the number of moles of lithium dissolved in the second liquid, M3 is the number of moles of lithium present in the supporting electrolyte, and M4 is the number of moles of the first redox species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, HONAMI SAKO
  • Publication number: 20210359330
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes a negative electrode; a positive electrode; a first liquid which contains a first nonaqueous solvent, a first redox species, and metal ions and which is in contact with the negative electrode; a second liquid which contains a second nonaqueous solvent and which is in contact with the positive electrode; and a metal ion-conducting membrane which is disposed between the first liquid and the second liquid and which is nonporous. The metal ion-conducting membrane is swollen by at least one selected from the group consisting of the first liquid and the second liquid and allows the metal ions to pass therethrough.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: HONAMI SAKO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, SHUJI ITO
  • Publication number: 20210359325
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes a negative electrode; a positive electrode; a first liquid which contains a first nonaqueous solvent, a first redox species, and metal ions and which is in contact with the negative electrode; a second liquid which contains a second nonaqueous solvent and which is in contact with the positive electrode; and a metal ion-conducting membrane disposed between the first liquid and the second liquid. The metal ion-conducting membrane contains a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder which contains an organic polymer and which binds the inorganic particles together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: HONAMI SAKO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, HIROKI YABE, SHUJI ITO
  • Publication number: 20210351439
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new battery capable of having an increased capacity per weight. A battery according to the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte located between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode layer containing graphene oxide. The electrolyte includes a Lewis acid containing a pentafluorophenyl group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: KOICHI SAWADA, SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, YU OTSUKA, MITSUHIRO HIBINO
  • Publication number: 20210344065
    Abstract: A charge/discharge method of an air battery is a charge/discharge method of an air battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte liquid containing a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, the nonaqueous electrolyte liquid being interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the charge/discharge method includes: discharging the air battery; and supplying a charging liquid different from the nonaqueous electrolyte liquid from the outside to the inside of the air battery so that a discharge product generated by the discharging is desorbed from the positive electrode while being in the form of a solid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: MASAKO YOKOYAMA, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, MITSUHIRO HIBINO
  • Publication number: 20210343997
    Abstract: A primary battery includes: a positive electrode including a positive electrode collector composed of a porous conductor, and a porous positive electrode layer disposed on the positive electrode collector, oxygen taken from outside of the primary battery through the positive electrode collector being allowed to diffuse into the porous positive electrode layer; a negative electrode including a negative electrode collector composed of a porous conductor, and a porous negative electrode layer disposed on the negative electrode collector, the porous negative electrode layer including lithium nitride composed of lithium and nitrogen, nitrogen generated during discharge being allowed to diffuse into the porous negative electrode layer; and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: GO TEI, KOICHI SAWADA, MITSUHIRO HIBINO, MASAKO YOKOYAMA, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, YU OTSUKA
  • Publication number: 20210280890
    Abstract: A redox flow battery includes a first nonaqueous liquid that contains a first nonaqueous solvent, a first electrode mediator, and metal ions; a first electrode at least in part in contact with the first nonaqueous liquid; a second nonaqueous liquid that contains a second nonaqueous solvent; a second electrode that is a counter electrode with respect to the first electrode and is at least in part in contact with the second nonaqueous liquid; and a separator that has a plurality of pores and separates the first and second nonaqueous liquids from each other. The plurality of pores have an average diameter larger than a size of each of the metal ions and smaller than a size of an aggregate containing molecules of the first electrode mediator solvated with the first nonaqueous solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Inventors: MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, SHUJI ITO, YU OTSUKA, YUKA OKADA
  • Patent number: 11018364
    Abstract: A flow battery includes: a first liquid containing dissolved therein a condensed aromatic compound and lithium; a first electrode immersed in the first liquid; and a first circulator including a first container and a first passage prevention member. The first liquid containing the condensed aromatic compound dissolved therein has the property of causing the lithium to release solvated electrons and dissolve as cations. When the lithium dissolved in the first liquid precipitates on the first electrode, lithium precipitate particles are generated. The first circulator circulates the first liquid between the first electrode and the first container. The first circulator transfers the lithium precipitate particles generated on the first electrode to the first container. The first passage prevention member is disposed in a channel through which the first liquid flows from the first container to the first electrode. The first passage prevention member prevents passage of the lithium precipitate particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20210151785
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a first liquid in contact with the negative electrode, a second liquid in contact with the positive electrode, and a lithium-ion-conductive film disposed between the first liquid and the second liquid. At least one of the first liquid or the second liquid contains a redox species and lithium ions. The lithium-ion-conductive film includes an inorganic member containing zeolite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: TAKAHIRO KURABUCHI, HONAMI SAKO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 10930951
    Abstract: A flow battery includes: a cell including a first chamber and a second chamber a first liquid that contains a charge mediator and a discharge mediator, and that is located in the first chamber of the cell; a first electrode located in the first chamber of the cell; a first active material that is solid and that is located in the first chamber of the cell; a second liquid located in the second chamber of the cell; a second electrode that is located in the second chamber of the cell, and that is a counter electrode to the first electrode; and a first stirrer that stirs the first liquid in the first chamber. The charge mediator has a lower equilibrium potential than an equilibrium potential of the first active material. The discharge mediator has a higher equilibrium potential than the equilibrium potential of the first active material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuji Ito, Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20200373621
    Abstract: The lithium secondary battery of the present disclosure comprises an anode including an anode current collector and an anode active material; an electrolyte liquid; and a cathode including a cathode active material layer disposed on a cathode current collector. The anode includes a material capable of forming an alloy with lithium during charge. The electrolyte liquid contains lithium ions and the counter anions thereof, contains at least one substance selected from the group consisting of phenanthrene, biphenyl, triphenylene, acenaphthene, acenaphthylene, fluoranthene, and benzyl at a concentration of not less than 0.00625 mol/L and not more than 0.05 mol/L, and includes, as a solvent, at least one selected from the group consisting of a cyclic ether, a glyme, and a sulfolane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: MASAHISA FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20200350629
    Abstract: The lithium secondary battery of the present invention satisfies at least one requirement selected from the group consisting of requirements (i) and (ii). (i) An electrolyte liquid includes an anode mediator which is dissolved along with lithium in a solvent of the electrolyte liquid to give, to the electrolyte liquid, an equilibrium potential which is not more than an upper limit potential at which a compound of lithium and an anode active material is formed, and does not include a compound which is dissolved along with lithium in the solvent of the electrolyte liquid to give, to the electrolyte liquid, an equilibrium potential which is more than the upper limit potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, SHUJI ITO
  • Publication number: 20200350608
    Abstract: In a flow battery according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a first liquid does not include an undesired compound. The flow battery satisfies requirement (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv). (i) An anode active material 14 includes graphite, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.15 V vs. Li/Li+. (ii) An anode active material includes aluminum, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.18 V vs. Li/Li+. (iii) An anode active material includes tin, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li+. (iv) An anode active material includes silicon, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li+.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, HONAMI SAKO, SHO SHIBATA
  • Patent number: 10741865
    Abstract: A flow battery includes a first liquid, a second liquid, a first electrode immersed in the first liquid, a second electrode being a counter electrode of the first electrode and immersed in the second liquid, and an isolation unit separating the first electrode and the first liquid from the second electrode and the second liquid. Lithium is dissolved in at least one of the first liquid and the second liquid. The first liquid and the second liquid have a property of emitting solvated electrons of lithium and dissolving the lithium as a cation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahisa Fujimoto, Shuji Ito
  • Publication number: 20190372146
    Abstract: The flow battery in an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first liquid containing a lithium ion and a first redox material, a first electrode in contact with the first liquid, a second electrode functioning as a counter electrode of the first electrode, an isolation unit that isolates the first electrode and the second electrode from each other, a first chamber, and a first circulation mechanism for circulating the first liquid between the first electrode and the first chamber, and in the flow battery, the first liquid is non-aqueous and the first circulation mechanism includes a magnetically driven pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO, HARUKO KUBOTA, NORIHIKO KAWABATA
  • Patent number: 10476107
    Abstract: A battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode containing graphite, and an electrolyte solution containing 2,2?-bipyridyl. The molar ratio of 2,2?-bipyridyl in the electrolyte solution to the graphite is 4.091×10?6 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahisa Fujimoto
  • Publication number: 20190081336
    Abstract: A flow battery includes: a cell including a first chamber and a second chamber a first liquid that contains a charge mediator and a discharge mediator, and that is located in the first chamber of the cell; a first electrode located in the first chamber of the cell; a first active material that is solid and that is located in the first chamber of the cell; a second liquid located in the second chamber of the cell; a second electrode that is located in the second chamber of the cell, and that is a counter electrode to the first electrode; and a first stirrer that stirs the first liquid in the first chamber. The charge mediator has a lower equilibrium potential than an equilibrium potential of the first active material. The discharge mediator has a higher equilibrium potential than the equilibrium potential of the first active material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: SHUJI ITO, MASAHISA FUJIMOTO