Patents by Inventor Mengyan Hou

Mengyan Hou 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: 20240250301
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a positive electrode that includes a positive electroactive material, a negative electrode that includes a silicon-containing negative electroactive material, a separating layer disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte that is in contact with at least one of the positive electroactive material, the negative electroactive material, and the separating layer. The electrolyte includes greater than or equal to about 0.1 wt. % to less than or equal to about 10 wt. % of a phosphite-type additive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dewen KONG, Haijing LIU, Si CHEN, Mengyan HOU, Mark W. VERBRUGGE
  • Publication number: 20240204192
    Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell includes a silicon-containing electroactive material that includes a plurality of silicon-containing electroactive material particles and a polymeric network that forms polymeric cages around each of the silicon-containing electroactive material particles of the plurality. The polymeric cages include polyacrylic acid (PAA), lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi), or a combination of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi) covalently bonded with poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA). The polymeric network has a mass ratio of the polyacrylic acid (PAA), the lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi), or the combination of the polyacrylic acid (PAA) and the lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi) to the poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) of greater than or equal to about 0.5 to less than or equal to about 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dewen KONG, Haijing LIU, Mengyan HOU, Si CHEN, Zhixin XU, Jun YANG
  • Publication number: 20240170719
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gel membrane for a battery cell includes supplying a first substrate to a first roller; heating a gel membrane solution in a tank, wherein the gel membrane solution includes a polymer and a liquid electrolyte comprising one or more lithium salts; arranging a slot die within a predetermined distance of the first substrate located on the first roller; pumping the gel membrane solution into an inlet of the slot die; depositing a gel membrane layer from an outlet of the slot die onto the first substrate supported by the first roller; and cooling the gel membrane layer on the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Zhe LI, Qili SU, Meiyuan WU, Haijing LIU, Mengyan HOU
  • Patent number: 11973226
    Abstract: A hybrid electrochemical device including at least two electrically connected solid-state electrochemical cells is provided. Each electrochemical cell includes a first outer electrode having a first current collector and a first electroactive layer, a second outer electrode having a second current collector and a second electroactive layer, and one or more intervening electrodes disposed between the electroactive layers. At least one of the intervening electrodes includes one or more capacitor additives. The first outer electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the intervening electrodes in a first electrical configuration. The second outer electrode is electrically connected to at least one of the intervening electrodes in a second electrical configuration. The at least two electrochemical cells are electrically connected in a third electrical configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Haijing Liu, Qili Su, Xiaochao Que
  • Patent number: 11967722
    Abstract: A battery includes positive and negative current collectors and a plurality of bipolar electrodes arranged in a stack between the positive and negative current collectors. The positive and negative current collectors and the stack of the plurality of bipolar electrodes are folded in an S-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili Su, Zhe Li, Meiyuan Wu, Mengyan Hou, Haijing Liu
  • Publication number: 20230246161
    Abstract: A pre-lithiated, precursor electrode includes an electroactive material layer, a current collector, and a lithium foil disposed between the electroactive material layer and the current collector. A method of preparing an electrode to be used in an electrochemical cell is provide. The method includes preparing a pre-lithiated, precursor electrode. Preparing the pre-lithiated precursor electrode includes contacting at least a first electroactive material layer with a first surface of a lithium foil assembly, where the lithium foil assembly includes a current collector and at least a first lithium foil disposed on or adjacent to a first surface of the current collector. The method may further include contacting the prelithiated, precursor electrode with an electrolyte in the electrochemical cell, where the first lithium foil at least partially or fully dissolves when contacted by the electrolyte to form the electrode and a lithium reservoir in the electrochemical cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili SU, Zhe LI, Dewen KONG, Mengyan HOU, Haijing LIU
  • Publication number: 20230246310
    Abstract: A high-power gel-assisted battery stack that cycles lithium ions is provided with two terminal electrodes having opposite polarities and at least one bipolar electrode assembly disposed therebetween. A first electrode is disposed on a first side of a bipolar current collector and a second electrode with an opposite polarity to the first electrode is disposed on a second side of the bipolar current collector. Each electrode includes a porous layer having an electroactive material and a solid-state electrolyte disposed in a polymeric binder. A polymer gel electrolyte is distributed in pores of the porous. The stack also includes at least two free-standing gel separator layers each being disposed between the at least one bipolar electrode assembly and terminal electrodes. Each respective free-standing gel separator layer comprises polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and an electrolyte distributed therein. The high-power gel-assisted battery stack has a maximum voltage rating of ?about 12V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yong LU, Zhe LI, Mengyan HOU, Qili SU, Meiyuan WU, Xiaochao QUE, Haijing LIU, Si CHEN
  • Publication number: 20230246242
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode having a positive electroactive material selected from the group consisting of LiNixM2-xO2 (where M is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, manganese, aluminum, and combinations thereof and x?0.8), and a negative electrode having a negative electroactive composite material including a carbonaceous material and silicon oxide (SiOx, 0.95?x?1.05). The positive electrode has a single-sided loading capacity at room temperature between about 4.5 mAh/cm2 and about 6.5 mAh/cm2. The negative electrode has a single-sided loading capacity at room temperature between about 4.5 mAh/cm2 and about 5.5 mAh/cm2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan HOU, Meiyuan WU, Si CHEN, Xiachao QUE, Haijing LIU
  • Publication number: 20230231110
    Abstract: Negative electrodes for electrochemical cells that cycle lithium ions are provided. The negative electrodes comprise electroactive material particles that exhibit a core-shell structure defining a core made of a lithiated silicon-based material and a shell surrounding the core that is a bi-layer structure including first and second carbon coating layers. An electrical conductivity of the first carbon coating layer is greater than that of the second carbon coating layer. A method of manufacturing a negative electrode material is provided in which a first carbon coating layer is formed on an outer surface of a silicon-based precursor particle. The silicon-based precursor particle is exposed to a lithium source to form a lithiated silicon-based particle having the first carbon coating layer. A second carbon coating layer is formed on the first carbon coating layer over the lithiated silicon-based particle to form an electroactive material particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan HOU, Haijing LIU, Xiaochao QUE, Meiyuan WU
  • Patent number: 11651906
    Abstract: Hybrid lithium-ion electrochemical cells include a first electrode having a first polarity and a first electroactive material that reversibly cycles lithium ions having a first maximum operational voltage and a second electrode having the first polarity with a second electroactive material having a second maximum operational voltage. A difference between the second and first maximum operational voltages defines a predetermined voltage difference. Also included are at least one third electrode including a third electroactive material that reversibly cycles lithium ions having a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, a separator, and electrolyte. A voltage modification component (e.g., diode) is in electrical communication with the first and the second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili Su, Haijing Liu, Meiyuan Wu, Dewen Kong, Mengyan Hou
  • Publication number: 20230072660
    Abstract: A battery includes positive and negative current collectors and a plurality of bipolar electrodes arranged in a stack between the positive and negative current collectors. The positive and negative current collectors and the stack of the plurality of bipolar electrodes are folded in an S-shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Qili SU, Zhe LI, Meiyuan WU, Mengyan HOU, Haijing LIU
  • Publication number: 20230046608
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electrochemical cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first plurality of solid-state electroactive material particles and a first polymeric gel electrolyte, where the first polymeric gel electrolyte includes a first additive. The second electrode includes a second plurality of solid-state electroactive material particles and a second polymeric gel electrolyte that is different from the first polymeric gel electrolyte, where the second polymeric gel electrolyte includes a second additive. The electrolyte layers include a third polymeric gel electrolyte that is different from both the first polymeric gel electrolyte and the second polymeric gel electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili SU, Zhe LI, Mengyan HOU, Yong LU, Haijing LIU
  • Patent number: 11575120
    Abstract: An electrode including micro-sized secondary particle (MSSP) with enhanced ionic conductivity for solid-state battery is provided. The MSSP comprises a cathode particle and a solid-state electrolyte. The cathode particle is at least partially coated by solid-state electrolyte. The lithium ion transport inside the micro-sized secondary particles is increased by the incorporation of solid-state electrolyte. The electrode can be prepared by casting the slurry comprising MSSP, another electrolyte, binders, and conductive additives on the current collector. The current collector is comprised of a conductive material. The current collector has a first side and a second side. The electrode active material layer is disposed on one of the first and second sides of the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Zhe Li, Qili Su, Xiaochao Que, Meiyuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11575122
    Abstract: An anode electrode with enhanced state of charge estimation is provided. The anode electrode comprises anode layer and a negative current collector. The negative current collector has a first side and a second side. The anode layer comprises lithium-titanium oxide and a second anode material (e.g. niobium-titanium oxide) disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the negative current collector with single-layer or layer-by-layer coated structures. The second anode material (e.g. niobium-titanium oxide) can be physically blended with lithium-titanium oxide or be at least partially coated on the surface of lithium-titanium oxide or their combinations. The anode electrode further comprises a binder and a conductive carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yong Lu, Dewen Kong, Mengyan Hou, Zhe Li, Haijing Liu
  • Publication number: 20230025830
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a solid-state battery. The method includes stacking two or more cell units, where each cell unit is formed by substantially aligning a first electrode and a second electrode, where the first electrode includes one or more first electroactive material layers disposed on or adjacent to one or more surfaces of a releasable substrate and the second electrode includes one or more second electroactive material layers disposed on or adjacent to one or more surfaces of a current collector; disposing an electrolyte layer between exposed surfaces of the first electrode and the second electrode; and removing the releasable substrate to form the cell unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili SU, Mengyan HOU, Zhe LI, Haijing LIU
  • Publication number: 20230015143
    Abstract: A method for forming a solid-state battery is provided. The method includes disposing one or more cell units along a continuous current collector to form a stack precursor. In some examples, disposing of the one or more cell units along the continuous current collector includes concurrently disposing the one or more cell units along the continuous current collector and winding the continuous current collector to form a stack. In other examples, the continuous current collector is a z-folded current collector and the disposing the one or more cell units along the continuous current collector includes inserting the one or more cell units into one or more pockets formed by folds of the continuous current collector. The method may further include applying heat, pressure, or a combination of heat and pressure to the stack precursor to form a compressed stack, and cutting the continuous current collector to form the solid-state battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Qili SU, Mengyan HOU, Meiyuan WU, Haijing LIU
  • Patent number: 11430981
    Abstract: A material including TiO2 nanoparticles at least partially embedded in a matrix material of TixNbyOz, where 0<x?2, 0<y?24, and 0<z?62, is provided. Methods of making the material are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yong Lu, Dewen Kong, Mengyan Hou, Zhe Li, Haijing Liu
  • Publication number: 20220263055
    Abstract: A method for forming a bipolar solid-state battery may include preparing a plurality of freestanding gels each comprising a polymer, a solvent, and a lithium salt and, also, positioning a first freestanding gel between a first electrode and a second electrode and a second freestanding gel between the second electrode and a third electrode. Each of the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode may include a plurality of electroactive particles. The method may also include infiltrating at least a portion of the first free-standing gel into a space between particles of the first electrode and the second electrode and at least a portion of the second free-standing gel into a space between the particles of second electrode and the third electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan HOU, Qili SU, Meiyuan WU, Haijing LIU
  • Patent number: 11404714
    Abstract: A bipolar battery may comprise first, second, and third bipolar electrodes that are physically and electrically isolated from one another by intervening non-liquid electrolyte layers. Each of the bipolar electrodes may comprise a bipolar current collector including a first electroactive material layer connected to a first side thereof and a second electroactive material layer connected to a second side thereof. Each electroactive material layer may comprise at least one of: (i) a lithium ion battery positive electrode material, (ii) a lithium ion battery negative electrode material, and/or (iii) a capacitor electrode material. At least one of the electroactive material layers comprises a capacitor electrode material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Haijing Liu, Mark W. Verbrugge, Qili Su, Meiyuan Wu
  • Patent number: 11374257
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a softened solid-state electrolyte, comprises an oxide-based solid-state electrolyte, where at least a portion of the oxide anions in the oxide-based solid-state electrolyte is replaced with a replacement anion. In another embodiment, a softened solid-state electrolyte comprises a sulfide-based solid-state electrolyte, wherein at least a portion of the sulfide anions in the sulfide-based solid-state electrolyte is replaced with the replacement anion. When the replacement anion replaces the oxide anion, the replacement anion has a larger atomic radius than the oxide anion and when the replacement anion replaces the sulfide anion, the replacement anion has a larger atomic radius than the sulfide anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mengyan Hou, Haijing Liu, Dewen Kong, Yong Lu