Patents by Inventor RAGHUNATHAN K
RAGHUNATHAN K 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: 20240030458Abstract: A method of making a battery current collector foil includes heat treating a foil sheet and mechanically roughening the heat treated foil sheet to create a surface roughness of between 2-4 ?m. The heat treating and mechanical roughening of the foil sheet provides improved coating adhesion. One of an anode and cathode coating is then applied to the roughened, heat treated, foil sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2022Publication date: January 25, 2024Inventors: Andrew Clay BOBEL, Louis G. HECTOR, JR., Erik Brandon GOLM, Shaomao XU, Raghunathan K, Anil K. SACHDEV
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Patent number: 11876213Abstract: A method of making an electrode material for an electrode in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided, where a protective coating is applied to an electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor may be a silicon-containing composition. The protective coating is selected from the group consisting of: an oxide-based coating, a fluoride-based coating, and a nitride-based coating. The method also includes lithiating the electrode precursor material in a continuous process. The continuous process is conducted in a reactor having a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber to form a lithiated electrode material comprising the protective coating.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Xingyi Yang, Raghunathan K, Mark W. Verbrugge
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Publication number: 20230411623Abstract: An electrode assembly for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The electrode includes a current collector, a binder material layer disposed on or near a surface of the current collector, and an electroactive material layer disposed on or near a surface of the binder material layer that faces away from the current collector. The electroactive material layer includes a plurality of electroactive material particles having an average specific surface area greater than or equal to about 1 m2/g to less than or equal to about 30 m2/g, and average particle size greater than or equal to about 0.1 micrometer to less than or equal to about 10 micrometers.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2022Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Meixian WANG, Nicole ELLISON, Xiaosong HUANG, Raghunathan K
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Publication number: 20230361591Abstract: A battery pack includes: first battery modules, the first battery modules each including first battery cells having a first battery cell chemistry and not including second battery cells having a second battery cell chemistry that is different than the first battery cell chemistry; second battery modules, the second battery modules each including the second battery cells having the second battery cell chemistry and not including the first battery cells having the first battery chemistry; switches; and a switch control module configured to actuate the switches and control charging and discharging of the first and second battery modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2022Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Srikanth ARISETTY, Venkata Prasad ATLURI, Charles W. WAMPLER, II, Chandra S. NAMUDURI, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 11749832Abstract: Lithiated electrodes, electrochemical cells including lithiated electrodes, and methods of making the same are provided. The method includes lithiating at least one electrode in an electrochemical cell by applying current across a first current collector of the at least one electrode to a second current collector of an auxiliary electrode. The electrochemical cell may be disposed within a battery packaging and the auxiliary electrode may be disposed within the battery packaging adjacent to an edge of the electrochemical cell. The at least one electrode may include a first electroactive layer disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the first current collector, and the auxiliary electrode may include a second electroactive layer disposed at or near one or more surfaces of the second current collector. The method may further include extracting the auxiliary electrode from the battery packaging and sealing the battery packaging, which includes the pre-lithiated electrochemical cell.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Xingyi Yang, Mark W. Verbrugge, Raghunathan K, Qinglin Zhang
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Publication number: 20230271521Abstract: A charging module configured to charge a battery system of a vehicle includes a usage prediction module configured to predict usage of the vehicle subsequent to a charging event, a target state of charge (SOC) calculation module configured to determine a target SOC based on the predicted usage of the vehicle subsequent to the charging event, and a charging control module configured to selectively charge the battery system, based on the predicted usage of the vehicle subsequent to the charging event, to one of the target SOC and a limited SOC.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Meng JIANG, Raghunathan K
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Publication number: 20230246258Abstract: A method of recycling a Lithium-ion battery includes removing a plurality cells from a container of the battery without dismantling the cells, removing an electrolyte from the cells, re-lithiating the cells using lithium as a source of re-lithiation, and packaging the re-lithiated cells in a new container to form a new battery.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventors: Meng JIANG, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 11626591Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xingyi Yang, Lei Wang, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 11581521Abstract: A lithium metal oxide (LMO) cathode includes a current collector having a length defining a first end and a second end, a width, and a first side and a second side, LMO active material applied to the first side and the second side of the current collector such that the LMO active material applied to each respective side of the current collector has an inner face contiguous with the current collector and an outer face, and a plurality of channels extending widthwise across the cathode within the LMO active material applied to the first and second sides. The LMO active material on each current collector side can have a thickness of about 100 ?m to about 400 ?m. The channels on the same side of the current collector can be spaced apart by 0.1 mm to 10 mm. The channels can have widths of 10 ?m to 60 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Meixian Wang, Raghunathan K, Niccolo Jimenez, Ion C. Halalay
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Patent number: 11575115Abstract: An electrode heat treatment device and associated method for fabricating an electrode are described, and include forming a workpiece, including coating a current collector with a slurry. The workpiece is placed on a first spool, and the first spool including the workpiece is placed in a sealable chamber, wherein the sealable chamber includes the first spool, a heat exchange work space, and a second spool. An inert environment is created in the sealable chamber. The workpiece is subjected to a multi-step continuous heat treatment operation in the inert environment, wherein the multi-step continuous heat treatment operation includes continuously transferring the workpiece through the heat exchange work space between the first spool and the second spool and controlling the heat exchange work space to an elevated temperature.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Ion C. Halalay, Kevin B. Rober, Niccolo Jimenez, Michael P. Balogh, Teresa U. Holiness-Stalling, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 11374218Abstract: A negative electroactive material for use in a negative electrode of an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The negative electroactive material includes a particle defining a core region that includes silicon, silicon-containing alloys, tin-containing alloys, and combinations thereof. A porous, elastomeric multilayer coating is disposed on a surface of the core region that includes a first carbonaceous layer and a second porous elastomeric layer. The second porous elastomeric layer includes siloxane and a plurality of electrically conductive particles. The multilayer coating is capable of reversibly elongating from a contracted state to an expanded state in at least one direction to minimize or prevent fracturing of the plurality of negative electroactive material particles during lithium ion cycling.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 28, 2022Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Meng Jiang, Lei Wang, Raghunathan K
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Patent number: 11316142Abstract: Methods for fabricating electrodes include coating a current collector with a slurry to form a coated current collector. The slurry includes a dry fraction, including silicon particles, polymeric binders, and one or more types of naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments, and one or more solvents. The coated current collector is heat treated to produce the electrode having a layer of silicon-based host material. The one or more naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments can include animal fibers, chitin, alginate, cellulose, keratin, and chitosan, and can have an average length of 1 ?m to 50 ?m and an average diameter of 1 nm to 500 nm. The dry fraction can include 5 wt. % to 95 wt. % silicon particles, 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % polymeric binders, and 1 wt. % to 20 wt. % naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments. The method can include assembling a battery cell by disposing the electrode and a positive electrode in electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLCInventors: Meng Jiang, Raghunathan K, Ion C. Halalay, Mark W. Verbrugge
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Publication number: 20220102725Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng XIAO, Mark W. VERBRUGGE, Xingyi YANG, Lei WANG, Raghunathan K.
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Publication number: 20220102704Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a negative electrode material and methods of preparation and use relating thereto. The electrode material comprises a plurality of electroactive material particles, where each electroactive material particle includes an electroactive material core and an electronically conductive coating. The method includes contacting an electroactive material precursor including a plurality of electroactive material particles with a solution so as to form an electronically conductive coating on each of the electroactive material particles. The solution includes a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF3 or TiF4), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), and vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5). The electronically conductive coating includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The plurality of first regions include lithium fluoride.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2020Publication date: March 31, 2022Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Mark W. VERBRUGGE, Xingcheng XIAO, Qinglin ZHANG, Xingyi YANG, Raghunathan K
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Publication number: 20210408518Abstract: A lithium metal oxide (LMO) cathode includes a current collector having a length defining a first end and a second end, a width, and a first side and a second side, LMO active material applied to the first side and the second side of the current collector such that the LMO active material applied to each respective side of the current collector has an inner face contiguous with the current collector and an outer face, and a plurality of channels extending widthwise across the cathode within the LMO active material applied to the first and second sides. The LMO active material on each current collector side can have a thickness of about 100 ?m to about 400 ?m. The channels on the same side of the current collector can be spaced apart by 0.1 mm to 10 mm. The channels can have widths of 10 ?m to 60 ?m.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2020Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Meixian Wang, Raghunathan K, MI Jimenez, Ion C. Halalay
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Publication number: 20210234153Abstract: A method of making an electrode material for an electrode in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided, where a protective coating is applied to an electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor may be a silicon-containing composition. The protective coating is selected from the group consisting of: an oxide-based coating, a fluoride-based coating, and a nitride-based coating. The method also includes lithiating the electrode precursor material in a continuous process. The continuous process is conducted in a reactor having a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber to form a lithiated electrode material comprising the protective coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng XIAO, Xingyi YANG, Raghunathan K, Mark W. VERBRUGGE
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Publication number: 20210151761Abstract: An electrode for a lithium-ion electrochemical cell includes a current collector and a first layer formed from a first electrode composition disposed on the current collector. The first electrode composition includes a binder component; a conductive filler component dispersed within the binder component; and an active material component dispersed within the binder component and the conductive filler component. The first electrode composition has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from and parallel to the first surface. The first electrode composition defines a plurality of pores between the first surface and the second surface having a tailored pore size distribution that includes at least a first pore size and a second pore size that is greater than the first pore size. The first electrode composition has a first porosity of at least 60%.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Niccolo Jimenez, Ion C. Halalay, Michael P. Balogh, Raghunathan K
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Publication number: 20210151787Abstract: Lithiated electrodes, electrochemical cells including lithiated electrodes, and methods of making the same are provided. The method includes lithiating at least one electrode in an electrochemical cell by applying current across a first current collector of the at least one electrode to a second current collector of an auxiliary electrode. The electrochemical cell may be disposed within a battery packaging and the auxiliary electrode may be disposed within the battery packaging adjacent to an edge of the electrochemical cell. The at least one electrode may include a first electroactive layer disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the first current collector, and the auxiliary electrode may include a second electroactive layer disposed at or near one or more surfaces of the second current collector. The method may further include extracting the auxiliary electrode from the battery packaging and sealing the battery packaging, which includes the pre-lithiated electrochemical cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Xingcheng XIAO, Xingyi YANG, Mark W. VERBRUGGE, Raghunathan K, Qinglin ZHANG
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Publication number: 20210083264Abstract: Methods for fabricating electrodes include coating a current collector with a slurry to form a coated current collector. The slurry includes a dry fraction, including silicon particles, polymeric binders, and one or more types of naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments, and one or more solvents. The coated current collector is heat treated to produce the electrode having a layer of silicon-based host material. The one or more naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments can include animal fibers, chitin, alginate, cellulose, keratin, and chitosan, and can have an average length of 1 ?m to 50 ?m and an average diameter of 1 nm to 500 nm. The dry fraction can include 5 wt. % to 95 wt. % silicon particles, 0.1 wt. % to 15 wt. % polymeric binders, and 1 wt. % to 20 wt. % naturally occurring carbonaceous filaments. The method can include assembling a battery cell by disposing the electrode and a positive electrode in electrolyte.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Meng Jiang, Raghunathan K, Ion C. Halalay, Mark W. Verbrugge
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Publication number: 20210057752Abstract: A negative electroactive material for use in a negative electrode of an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The negative electroactive material includes a particle defining a core region that includes silicon, silicon-containing alloys, tin-containing alloys, and combinations thereof. A porous, elastomeric multilayer coating is disposed on a surface of the core region that includes a first carbonaceous layer and a second porous elastomeric layer. The second porous elastomeric layer includes siloxane and a plurality of electrically conductive particles. The multilayer coating is capable of reversibly elongating from a contracted state to an expanded state in at least one direction to minimize or prevent fracturing of the plurality of negative electroactive material particles during lithium ion cycling.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2019Publication date: February 25, 2021Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Meng JIANG, Lei WANG, Raghunathan K