Patents by Inventor Nancy J. Dudney

Nancy J. Dudney 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: 20170170453
    Abstract: An electrode and a related method of manufacture are provided. The electrode includes a self-aligning active material having short fiber powders with a cylindrical morphology to increase the packing density from 0.74 to nearly 0.91. The short fiber powders self-align during a slurring coating process as a result of shear forces between a die and a foil. The resulting coating includes parallel short fibers in a closed packed arrangement, providing an increased volumetric capacity of at least approximately 17%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Orlando Rios, Claus Daniel, Nancy J. Dudney, Wyatt E. Tenhaeff
  • Publication number: 20170155155
    Abstract: A battery electrode assembly includes a current collector with conduction barrier regions having a conductive state in which electrical conductivity through the conduction barrier region is permitted, and a safety state in which electrical conductivity through the conduction barrier regions is reduced. The conduction barrier regions change from the conductive state to the safety state when the current collector receives a short-threatening event. An electrode material can be connected to the current collector. The conduction barrier regions can define electrical isolation subregions. A battery is also disclosed, and methods for making the electrode assembly, methods for making a battery, and methods for operating a battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Naguib Abdelmalak, Srikanth Allu, Nancy J. Dudney, Jianlin Li, Srdjan Simunovic, Hsin Wang
  • Publication number: 20170133686
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes an anode and a cathode. The cathode includes a lithium, manganese, nickel, and oxygen containing compound. An electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode. A protective layer is deposited between the cathode and the electrolyte. The protective layer includes pure lithium phosphorus oxynitride and variations that include metal dopants such as Fe, Ti, Ni, V, Cr, Cu, and Co. A method for making a cathode and a method for operating a battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Nancy J. Dudney, Chengdu Liang, Jagjit Nanda, Gabriel M. Veith, Yoongu Kim, Surendra Kumar Martha
  • Patent number: 9590274
    Abstract: A passively impact resistant composite electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte solvent, up to 2M of an electrolyte salt, and shear thickening ceramic particles having a polydispersity index of no greater than 0.1, an average particle size of in a range of 50 nm to 1 ?m, and an absolute zeta potential of greater than ±40 mV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Gabriel M. Veith, Beth L. Armstrong, Wyatt E. Tenhaeff, Nancy J. Dudney
  • Patent number: 9570748
    Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes an anode and a cathode. The cathode includes a lithium, manganese, nickel, and oxygen containing compound. An electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode. A protective layer is deposited between the cathode and the electrolyte. The protective layer includes pure lithium phosphorus oxynitride and variations that include metal dopants such as Fe, Ti, Ni, V, Cr, Cu, and Co. A method for making a cathode and a method for operating a battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Nancy J. Dudney, Chengdu Liang, Jagjit Nanda, Gabriel M. Veith, Yoongu Kim, Surendra Kumar Martha
  • Patent number: 9548512
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium-sulfur battery includes particles of a lithium ion conducting oxide composition embedded within a lithium ion conducting sulfide composition. The lithium ion conducting oxide composition can be Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). The lithium ion conducting sulfide composition can be ?-Li3PS4 (LPS). A lithium ion battery and a method of making a solid electrolyte for a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Ezhiylmurugan Rangasamy, Nancy J. Dudney, Jong Kahk Keum, Adam Justin Rondinone
  • Publication number: 20170005326
    Abstract: A lithium sulfur cell has a cathode including Li3PS4+n(0<n<9), an electrolyte, and an anode comprising lithium. A cathode for a lithium sulfur cell is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: CHENGDU LIANG, NANCY J. DUDNEY, ZHAN LIN, ZENGCAI LIU
  • Patent number: 9466853
    Abstract: Compositions and methods of making are provided for a high energy density aluminum battery. The battery comprises an anode comprising aluminum metal. The battery further comprises a cathode comprising a material capable of intercalating aluminum or lithium ions during a discharge cycle and deintercalating the aluminum or lithium ions during a charge cycle. The battery further comprises an electrolyte capable of supporting reversible deposition and stripping of aluminum at the anode, and reversible intercalation and deintercalation of aluminum or lithium at the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignees: UT-Battelle, LLC, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Gilbert M. Brown, Mariappan Parans Paranthaman, Sheng Dai, Nancy J. Dudney, Arumugan Manthiram, Timothy J. McIntyre, Xiao-Guang Sun, Hansan Liu
  • Patent number: 9466834
    Abstract: A lithium sulfur cell has a cathode including Li3PS4+n(0<n<9), an electrolyte, and an anode comprising lithium. A cathode for a lithium sulfur cell is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Nancy J. Dudney, Zhan Lin, Zengcai Liu
  • Publication number: 20160261001
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery includes Li3+xGexAs1?xS4 where x=0 to 0.50. The value of x can be a range of any high value and any lower value from 0 to 0.50. For example, x can be 0.25 to 0.50, and x can be 0.3 to 0.4, among many other possible ranges. In one embodiment x=0.33 such that the solid electrolyte is Li3.334Ge0.334As0.666S4. A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery can include LiAsS4 wherein ½ to ? of the As is substituted with Ge. A lithium battery and a method for making a lithium battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Chengdu LIANG, Nancy J. DUDNEY, Ezhiylmurugan RANGASAMY, Gayatri SAHU
  • Publication number: 20160218351
    Abstract: An electrode material includes a lithium active material composition. The lithium active material composition includes lithium and an active anode material. The lithium active material composition is coated with a lithium ion conducting passivating material, such that the electrode material is lithiated and pre-passivated. An electrode and a battery are also disclosed. Methods of making an electrode material, electrode and battery that are lithiated and pre-passivated are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, Edward W. HAGAMAN, Gabriel M. VEITH, Lance W. GILL, Robert L. SACCI
  • Publication number: 20160093917
    Abstract: A passively impact resistant composite electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte solvent, up to 2M of an electrolyte salt, and shear thickening ceramic particles having a polydispersity index of no greater than 0.1, an average particle size of in a range of 50 nm to 1 ?m, and an absolute zeta potential of no greater than ±40 mV.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Gabriel M. Veith, Beth L. Armstrong, Wyatt E. Tenhaeff, Nancy J. Dudney
  • Patent number: 9293772
    Abstract: A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: UT-BATTELLE, LLC
    Inventors: Nancy J. Dudney, James W. Klett, Jagjit Nanda, Chaitanya Kumar Narula, Sreekanth Pannala
  • Publication number: 20150221949
    Abstract: The invention is directed in a first aspect to a sulfur-carbon composite material comprising: (i) a bimodal porous carbon component containing therein a first mode of pores which are mesopores, and a second mode of pores which are micropores; and (ii) elemental sulfur contained in at least a portion of said micropores. The invention is also directed to the aforesaid sulfur-carbon composite as a layer on a current collector material; a lithium ion battery containing the sulfur-carbon composite in a cathode therein; as well as a method for preparing the sulfur-composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Nancy J. Dudney, Jane Y. Howe
  • Publication number: 20150171463
    Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium-sulfur battery includes particles of a lithium ion conducting oxide composition embedded within a lithium ion conducting sulfide composition. The lithium ion conducting oxide composition can be Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). The lithium ion conducting sulfide composition can be ?-Li3PS4 (LPS). A lithium ion battery and a method of making a solid electrolyte for a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Ezhiylmurugan Rangasamy, Nancy J. Dudney, Jong Kahk Keum, Adam Justin Rondinone
  • Patent number: 9023528
    Abstract: The invention is directed in a first aspect to a sulfur-carbon composite material comprising: (i) a bimodal porous carbon component containing therein a first mode of pores which are mesopores, and a second mode of pores which are micropores; and (ii) elemental sulfur contained in at least a portion of said micropores. The invention is also directed to the aforesaid sulfur-carbon composite as a layer on a current collector material; a lithium ion battery containing the sulfur-carbon composite in a cathode therein; as well as a method for preparing the sulfur-composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Nancy J. Dudney, Jane Y. Howe
  • Publication number: 20150099169
    Abstract: An electrode for a battery includes a plurality of electrochemically active conversion-based particles coated by multilayer graphene, a plurality of carbon fibers, and a carbonaceous binder. The carbonaceous binder binds the active particles coated with the multilayer graphene to the plurality of carbon fibers. A battery containing the electrode and a method of making an electrode and a battery containing the electrode are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, Jagjit NANDA, Surendra Kumar MARTHA
  • Publication number: 20150056496
    Abstract: A lithium sulfur cell has a cathode including Li3PS4+n (0<n<9), an electrolyte, and an anode comprising lithium. A cathode for a lithium sulfur cell is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: CHENGDU LIANG, NANCY J. DUDNEY, ZHAN LIN, ZENGCAI LIU
  • Patent number: 8871391
    Abstract: Method of forming lithium-containing electrolytes are provided using wet chemical synthesis. In some examples, the lithium containing electrolytes are composed of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7. The solid electrolyte may be a core shell material. In one embodiment, the core shell material includes a core of lithium sulfide (Li2S), a first shell of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7, and a second shell including one of ?-Li3PS4 or Li4P2S7 and carbon. The lithium containing electrolytes may be incorporated into wet cell batteries or solid state batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventors: Chengdu Liang, Zengcai Liu, Wujun Fu, Zhan Lin, Nancy J. Dudney, Jane Y. Howe, Adam J. Rondinone
  • Publication number: 20140308594
    Abstract: A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, James W. KLETT, Jagjit NANDA, Chaitanya Kumar NARULA, Sreekanth PANNALA