Patents by Inventor Panni ZHENG
Panni ZHENG 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).
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Publication number: 20250233223Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of recycling battery waste. In some aspects, a method can include applying a first heat treatment at a temperature of between about 100° C. and about 700° C. to the battery waste, the first heat treatment decomposing at least about 80 wt % of the binder, separating the electrode material from the current collector, and applying a second heat treatment at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 1,200° C. to the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material, the second heat treatment decomposing at least 90 wt % of binder remaining in the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material. In some embodiments, the method can include applying a surface treatment to the electrode material to remove surface coatings and/or surface impurities from the electrode material. In some embodiments, the surface treatment can include applying a solvent to the electrode material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2025Publication date: July 17, 2025Inventors: David YOUNG, Panni ZHENG, Tairan YANG, Zheng LI, Michael ELLIS
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Publication number: 20250219182Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to removal of aluminum impurities from battery waste. In some aspects, a method for removing aluminum impurities includes preprocessing a quantity of battery waste to improve removal of aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste, modifying the removed aluminum impurities to form a coating precursor and/or a doping precursor, and applying the coating precursor and/or the doping precursor to an electrode material. In some embodiments, the method further includes characterizing the aluminum impurities in the quantity of battery waste and regenerating the electrode material. In some embodiments, the removing can be via sieving, cyclone separation, air separation, elutriation, and/or dissolution. In some embodiments, the doping precursor can include aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2025Publication date: July 3, 2025Inventors: David YOUNG, Tairan YANG, Panni ZHENG, Zheng LI
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Patent number: 12330954Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2024Date of Patent: June 17, 2025Assignee: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Tairan Yang, Panni Zheng, Zheng Li
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Publication number: 20250192259Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of recycling battery waste. In some aspects, a method can include applying a first heat treatment at a temperature of between about 100° C. and about 700° C. to the battery waste, the first heat treatment decomposing at least about 80 wt % of the binder, separating the electrode material from the current collector, and applying a second heat treatment at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 1,200° C. to the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material, the second heat treatment decomposing at least 90 wt % of binder remaining in the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material. In some embodiments, the method can include applying a surface treatment to the electrode material to remove surface coatings and/or surface impurities from the electrode material. In some embodiments, the surface treatment can include applying a solvent to the electrode material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2025Publication date: June 12, 2025Inventors: David YOUNG, Panni ZHENG, Tairan YANG, Zheng LI, Michael ELLIS
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Publication number: 20250162007Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of sorting energy storage devices. In some aspects a method can include measuring, via a physical sensing device, a physical property of a first plurality of energy storage devices. The method further includes sorting the first plurality of energy storage devices into a second plurality of energy storage devices and a third plurality of energy storage devices, delivering the second plurality of energy storage devices to a first location. The method further includes measuring, via a magnetic sensing device, a magnetic property of the third plurality of energy storage devices and sorting the third plurality of energy storage devices into a fourth plurality of energy storage devices and a fifth plurality of energy storage devices, delivering the fourth plurality of energy storage devices to a second location.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2025Publication date: May 22, 2025Inventors: Panni ZHENG, David YOUNG, Zheng LI, Keyur PARASKAR, Tairan YANG
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Patent number: 12278353Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to removal of aluminum impurities from battery waste. In some aspects, a method for removing aluminum impurities includes preprocessing a quantity of battery waste to improve removal of aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste, modifying the removed aluminum impurities to form a coating precursor and/or a doping precursor, and applying the coating precursor and/or the doping precursor to an electrode material. In some embodiments, the method further includes characterizing the aluminum impurities in the quantity of battery waste and regenerating the electrode material. In some embodiments, the removing can be via sieving, cyclone separation, air separation, elutriation, and/or dissolution. In some embodiments, the doping precursor can include aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3).Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2024Date of Patent: April 15, 2025Assignee: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Tairan Yang, Panni Zheng, Zheng Li
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Patent number: 12266772Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of recycling battery waste. In some aspects, a method can include applying a first heat treatment at a temperature of between about 100° C. and about 700° C. to the battery waste, the first heat treatment decomposing at least about 80 wt % of the binder, separating the electrode material from the current collector, and applying a second heat treatment at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 1,200° C. to the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material, the second heat treatment decomposing at least 90 wt % of binder remaining in the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material. In some embodiments, the method can include applying a surface treatment to the electrode material to remove surface coatings and/or surface impurities from the electrode material. In some embodiments, the surface treatment can include applying a solvent to the electrode material.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Panni Zheng, Tairan Yang, Zheng Li, Michael W. Ellis
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Publication number: 20250083960Abstract: Systems and methods for forming finished electrode materials are described herein. The method includes mixing an electrode material and an electrode material precursor to form a material mixture and heating the material mixture to produce a finished electrode material. In some embodiments, at least one of an electrode material or an electrode material precursor can be partially or entirely formed from a battery waste material. The methods provided herein provide a sustainable and efficient pathway to produce finished electrode materials, and also expand the pool of source materials for the production of finished electrode materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2024Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Panni ZHENG, Tairan YANG, Zheng LI
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Publication number: 20250011184Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2024Publication date: January 9, 2025Inventors: David YOUNG, Tairan YANG, Panni ZHENG, Zheng LI
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Publication number: 20240429479Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to removal of aluminum impurities from battery waste. In some aspects, a method for removing aluminum impurities includes preprocessing a quantity of battery waste to improve removal of aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the aluminum impurities from the quantity of battery waste, modifying the removed aluminum impurities to form a coating precursor and/or a doping precursor, and applying the coating precursor and/or the doping precursor to an electrode material. In some embodiments, the method further includes characterizing the aluminum impurities in the quantity of battery waste and regenerating the electrode material. In some embodiments, the removing can be via sieving, cyclone separation, air separation, elutriation, and/or dissolution. In some embodiments, the doping precursor can include aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Inventors: David YOUNG, Tairan YANG, Panni ZHENG, Zheng LI
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Patent number: 12129180Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2024Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Tairan Yang, Panni Zheng, Zheng Li
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Publication number: 20240294389Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to recycling of spent lithium battery material. In some aspects, a method can include suspending a lithium source in a solvent containing an oxidation reagent to extract lithium, forming an extracted lithium solution, separating the extracted lithium solution from residual solids of a lithium source, purifying the extracted lithium solution by precipitating and filtering impurities, and precipitating the lithium in the purified lithium solution to generate lithium carbonate (Li2CO3). In some embodiments, the method can further include preprocessing the lithium source to improve kinetics of the lithium extraction. In some embodiments, the preprocessing can include a cutting or shredding step to downsize the lithium source. In some embodiments, the lithium source can include lithium-ion battery waste.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2024Publication date: September 5, 2024Inventors: Tairan YANG, David YOUNG, Panni ZHENG, Zheng LI
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Publication number: 20240027376Abstract: A method includes irradiating an energy storage device using an input radiation characterized by a first electromagnetic spectrum and detecting an output radiation reflected or backscattered by the energy storage device. The method also includes determining a second electromagnetic spectrum of the output radiation and comparing the second electromagnetic spectrum with a reference electromagnetic spectrum. The method further includes generating a sorting instruction based on comparison of the second electromagnetic spectrum with the reference electromagnetic spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: David YOUNG, Xu HAN, Zheng LI, Panni ZHENG
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Publication number: 20230369671Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods of recycling battery waste. In some aspects, a method can include applying a first heat treatment at a temperature of between about 100° C. and about 700° C. to the battery waste, the first heat treatment decomposing at least about 80 wt % of the binder, separating the electrode material from the current collector, and applying a second heat treatment at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 1,200° C. to the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material, the second heat treatment decomposing at least 90 wt % of binder remaining in the electrode material to produce a regenerated electrode material. In some embodiments, the method can include applying a surface treatment to the electrode material to remove surface coatings and/or surface impurities from the electrode material. In some embodiments, the surface treatment can include applying a solvent to the electrode material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Inventors: Panni ZHENG, David YOUNG, Tairan YANG, Zheng LI, Michael W. ELLIS
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Patent number: 11747290Abstract: A method includes irradiating an energy storage device using an input radiation characterized by a first electromagnetic spectrum and detecting an output radiation reflected or backscattered by the energy storage device. The method also includes determining a second electromagnetic spectrum of the output radiation and comparing the second electromagnetic spectrum with a reference electromagnetic spectrum. The method further includes generating a sorting instruction based on comparison of the second electromagnetic spectrum with the reference electromagnetic spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Li Industries, Inc.Inventors: David Young, Xu Han, Zheng Li, Panni Zheng
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Publication number: 20220057345Abstract: A method includes irradiating an energy storage device using an input radiation characterized by a first electromagnetic spectrum and detecting an output radiation reflected or backscattered by the energy storage device. The method also includes determining a second electromagnetic spectrum of the output radiation and comparing the second electromagnetic spectrum with a reference electromagnetic spectrum. The method further includes generating a sorting instruction based on comparison of the second electromagnetic spectrum with the reference electromagnetic spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2020Publication date: February 24, 2022Inventors: David YOUNG, Xu HAN, Panni ZHENG, Zheng LI