Patents by Inventor Michael M. Thackeray

Michael M. Thackeray 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: 20230282820
    Abstract: Stabilized lithium- and manganese rich manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for Li-ion batteries with structurally-integrated layered, lithiated spinel- and rock salt components are described, as are methods to synthesize them. In these methods, selected annealing temperatures and times are used to control the amount of a stabilizing lithiated spinel component, as well as the extent of disorder in the composite electrode structure to optimize electrochemical performance. The stabilized lithium- and manganese rich manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials can be structurally-integrated with other lithium-metal-oxide or lithium-metal-polyanionic components, as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R, CROY, Boyu SHI
  • Publication number: 20230108813
    Abstract: A composite electrode active material is described herein, which comprises two or more electrode active materials blended or structurally-integrated together, in one of the materials is a lithiated spinel selected from the group consisting of (a) a lithiated spinel of formula LiMnxNiyMzO2; wherein M comprises at least one metal cation other than manganese and nickel cations; x+y+z=1; 0<x<1.0; 0<y<1.0; 0?z?0.5; and the ratio of x:y is in the range of about 1:2 to about 2:1; and (b) a lithiated spinel of formula LiM1O2, wherein M1 comprises a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions in a ratio of Mn to Ni ions of about 2:1 to about 1:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R. CROY, Boyu SHI
  • Publication number: 20220302449
    Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason CROY, Arturo GUTIERREZ, Michael M. THACKERAY, Meinan HE
  • Patent number: 11417882
    Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Croy, Arturo Gutierrez, Michael M. Thackeray, Meinan He
  • Publication number: 20220029160
    Abstract: Lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for lithium cells and batteries, notably rechargeable Li-ion batteries, are described herein. These electrode materials are comprised of crystalline, structurally-integrated, lithium-metal-oxides of empirical formula LiM1O2 wherein M1 comprises a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions; the crystal structure of the materials comprises domains of a disordered lithiated-spinel component, a disordered layered component, and a disordered rock salt component, in which the oxygen lattice of the components is cubic-close packed. In general, the Mn:Ni ratio in the lithiated-spinel structures described herein is less than 2:1 and preferably close to 1:1, and more preferably 1:1. Optionally, the lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials can be blended or structurally-integrated with other cathode materials and structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R, CROY, Boyu SHI, Jihyeon GIM
  • Publication number: 20220029161
    Abstract: Lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials are described herein, which are crystalline, structurally-integrated, lithium-metal-oxides of empirical formula LiM1O2 wherein M1 comprises a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions; the crystal structure of the materials comprises domains of a disordered lithiated-spinel component, a disordered layered component, and optionally a disordered rock salt component, in which the oxygen lattice of the components is cubic-close packed. In general, the Mn:Ni ratio in the lithiated-spinel structures described herein is less than 2:1 and preferably close to 1:1. Preferably, M1 is M2(1-w)M3w, wherein M2 is a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions in a ratio of Mn to Ni ions of about 2:1 to about 1:1; M3 is one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an Al cation, a Ga cation, a Mg cation, a Ti cation; and a Co cation; and 0<w?0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R, CROY, Joseph A. LIBERA, Kyojin KU
  • Publication number: 20220029156
    Abstract: Cobalt-free lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for lithium cells and batteries, notably rechargeable Li-ion batteries, are described herein. These electrode materials have a lithiated-spinel structure with the general formula LiMnxNiyMzO2, or alternatively in lithiated-spinel notation, Li2Mn2xNi2yM2zO4, in which x+y+z=1, 0<x<1.0, 0<y<1.0, 0?z?0.5, and in which M is selected from one or more metal cations other than Mn, Ni and Co. In general, the Mn:Ni ratio in the lithiated-spinel structures described herein is less than 2:1 and greater than 1:2, preferably close to 1:1, and more preferably 1:1. Optionally, the cobalt-free lithiated spinel materials can be blended or structurally-integrated with other cathode materials that may include cobalt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R, CROY, Boyu SHI, Jihyeon GIM
  • Publication number: 20210210755
    Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-metal-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-metal-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. The lithium metal oxide electrode material comprises a disordered rock salt structure with partial lithiated-spinel character, wherein, for example, the disordered rock salt structure comprises a formula Li2(M?2?am??a)O4, which has the crystallographic formula: [Li2?bM??b]16c [M?2?aM??1-bLib]16dO4 wherein 16c and 16d refer to the octahedral sites of the prototypic space group symmetry Fd3m; M? and M?? are metal ions; 0<a?0.5; and 0<b<0.5. These stabilized materials are useful as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component layered-layered system or a multi-component layered-layered-spinel system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R. CROY
  • Publication number: 20200335785
    Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason CROY, Arturo GUTIERREZ, Michael M. THACKERAY, Meinan HE
  • Patent number: 10790508
    Abstract: An electrode material comprising a composite lithium metal oxide, which in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1?x)LiM?O2].(1?y)Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z?d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4 component comprises a spinel structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Jason R. Croy, Brandon R. Long, Joong Sun Park, Eungje Lee
  • Patent number: 10749170
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are graphene-coated lithium manganese oxide spinels cathodes for high-performance batteries Li-ion batteries and methods for making thereof. A single-layer graphene coating is shown to significantly reduce manganese loss in the cathodes while concurrently promoting the formation of a well-defined solid electrolyte interphase layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignees: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Mark C. Hersam, Laila Jaber Ansari, Kanan P. Puntambekar, Michael M. Thackeray
  • Patent number: 10741839
    Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. A method of preparing an active lithium metal oxide material suitable for use in an electrode for a lithium electrochemical cell comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Croy, Arturo Gutierrez, Michael M. Thackeray, Meinan He
  • Patent number: 10573889
    Abstract: An electrode for a lithium-ion cell comprising a ‘layered-spinel’ composite oxide material is disclosed. The ‘layered-spinel’ can be a material of formula xLiMO2.(1?x)LiyM?zO4, wherein 0<x<1; LiMO2 is a lithium metal oxide having a layered structure in which M comprises one or more transition metals and optionally lithium, and has a combined average oxidation state of +3; and LiyM?zO4 is a lithium metal oxide having a spinel structure, 1?y?1.33, 1.66?z?2, and M? comprises one or more transition metals, and has a combined average metal oxidation state in the range of about +3.5 to about +4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Jason R. Croy, Brandon R. Long, Eungje Lee, Joong Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20190207214
    Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-metal-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-metal-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. These stabilized materials are attractive as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component ‘layered-layered’ system or a multi-component ‘layered-layered-spinel’ system, as defined by the phase diagram and compositional space of each system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R. CROY
  • Patent number: 10305103
    Abstract: A structurally inhomogeneous lithium metal oxide material having the Formula (I): y[xLi2MO3•(1-x)LiM?O2]•(1-y)Li1+dM?2?dO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0<y<1; 0?d?0.33; and wherein the Li1+dM?2?dO4 component comprises a spinel structure, and each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?2 components thereof comprise layered structures. Each of M, M?, and M? independently comprises one or more metal ions. The composition of the material of Formula (I) varies across the electrode particles by changing at least one of x, y, d, M, M? and M?. Electrodes, cells and batteries comprising the lithium metal oxide material are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Jason Croy, Khalil Amine, Bryan T. Yonemoto, Joong Sun Park
  • Publication number: 20180351163
    Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. These stabilized lithiated spinel materials are attractive as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component ‘layered-spinel’ system or a multi-component ‘layered-spinel’ system, as defined by the phase diagram and compositional space of each system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Eungje LEE, Jason R. CROY
  • Publication number: 20180309122
    Abstract: An electrode material comprising a composite lithium metal oxide, which in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1?x)LiM?O2].(1?y)Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z?d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4 component comprises a spinel structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. THACKERAY, Jason R. CROY, Brandon R. LONG, Joong Sun PARK, Eungje LEE
  • Publication number: 20180254483
    Abstract: Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. A method of preparing an active lithium metal oxide material suitable for use in an electrode for a lithium electrochemical cell comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Jason CROY, Arturo GUTIERREZ, Michael M. THACKERAY, Meinan HE
  • Patent number: 10069143
    Abstract: An electrode material comprising a composite lithium metal oxide, which in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1?x)LiM?O2].(1?y)Li1+dMn2-z-dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z?d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2-z-d M?zO4 component comprises a spinel structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Michael M. Thackeray, Jason R. Croy, Brandon R. Long, Joong Sun Park, Eungje Lee
  • Publication number: 20170110720
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are graphene-coated lithium manganese oxide spinels cathodes for high-performance batteries Li-ion batteries and methods for making thereof. A single-layer graphene coating is shown to significantly reduce manganese loss in the cathodes while concurrently promoting the formation of a well-defined solid electrolyte interphase layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Applicants: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Mark C. Hersam, Laila Jaber Ansari, Kanan P. Puntambekar, Michael M. Thackeray