Patents by Inventor Sherman H. Zeng

Sherman H. Zeng 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: 20240387854
    Abstract: A prismatic battery cell is provided. The prismatic battery cell includes a hard outer case including an internal volume and an electrode stack or a jelly roll electrode disposed within the internal volume. The prismatic battery cell further includes a foam structure disposed within the internal volume. The foam structure is configured for applying a desirable pressure upon the electrode stack or the jelly roll electrode and for compressing when the electrode stack or the jelly roll electrode expands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sherman H. Zeng, Liang Xi, Binsong Li, SriLakshmi Katar
  • Publication number: 20240234885
    Abstract: A battery cell comprises an electrode stack including A anode electrodes with A anode current collectors. A external tabs extend from the first side of the A anode electrodes. C cathode electrodes include C cathode current collectors and C external tabs. A separator comprises a continuous sheet interleaved between the anode electrodes and the C cathode electrodes. The A external tabs of the A anode electrodes are folded along the separator on the first side of the A anode electrodes. The C external tabs of the C cathode electrodes are folded along the separator on the second side the C cathode electrodes. The electrode stack is arranged in a housing. First and second tab positioning members including first and second external lead tabs are connected to the A external tabs and the C external tabs, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Jingyuan LIU, John Christian KALIL, Sherman H. ZENG, Hadley GRIFFIN, Haijing Liu
  • Publication number: 20240234953
    Abstract: A coated polymer separator for a battery cell is provided. The coated polymer separator includes a polymer separator including a first primary surface and a second primary surface. The coated polymer separator further includes a ceramic-based composite coating disposed on the first primary surface and the second primary surface. The ceramic-based composite coating includes lithiated zeolite particles and particles of a second ceramic material including an oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Mei Cai, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Publication number: 20240072331
    Abstract: A battery includes B groups of battery cells that are arranged adjacent to one another in a stacking direction, wherein B is an integer greater than one. The B groups of battery cells include B first battery cells each having a first shape, including first groups of external tabs and defining first recesses, respectively, and B second battery cells having the first shape, including second groups of external tabs, and defining second recesses, respectively. The B second battery cells are inverted and arranged adjacent to the B first battery cells in B planes that are arranged transverse to the stacking direction. The first recesses of the B first battery cells and the second recesses of the B second battery cells define a central tunnel running through the B groups of battery cells. The central tunnel is configured to receive a temperature adjustment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Jingyuan LIU, Sherman H. Zeng, Haijing Liu, John Christian Kalil
  • Publication number: 20240072390
    Abstract: A bipolar battery cell includes a stack including N current collectors, M anode electrodes, S separators, and C cathode electrodes, where N, M, S and C are integers greater than one. A first positioning member is arranged on one side of the stack and includes a first planar portion and a first slot in the first planar portion. A first one of the C current collectors extends through the first slot in the first planar portion and is folded. The first positioning member further includes a first rail portion and a second rail portion. The first rail portion and the second rail portion extend from the first planar portion. A first external tab is arranged between the first rail portion and the second rail portion and connected to the first one of the C current collectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Jingyuan LIU, Sherman H. Zeng, Zhe Li, Qili Su, Haijing Liu
  • Publication number: 20240038962
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a separating layer that physically separates the first and second electrodes, and a porous layer disposed between the separating layer and the first electrode. The porous layer includes a porous material having a plurality of pores and a lithiating material that at least partially fills the pores of the plurality. The porous layer can be a continuous coating disposed on a surface of the separating layer opposing the first electrode or a continuous coating disposed on a surface of the first electrode opposing the separating layer. The porous material can include zeolites, aerogels, silicon oxides, porous aluminum oxides, titanium oxides, manganese oxides, and/or magnesium oxides. The lithiating material can include lithium peroxide and can fill between about 30 and about 60% of the pores of the porous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng XIAO, Sherman H. ZENG, Meinan HE
  • Publication number: 20230378609
    Abstract: A system including a lithium-ion battery is provided. The system includes two electrodes, which include an anode and a cathode. The system further includes an electrolyte and a planar separator disposed between the anode and the cathode. The planar separator includes a first planar face, a second planar face, a layer of porous ceramic material coating the first planar face, and lithium deposited upon the layer of porous ceramic material. The lithium is in contact with one of the two electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sherman H. Zeng, Xingcheng Xiao
  • Patent number: 11682787
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for a lithium battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a polymeric separator, and composite flame retardant particles including a particulate host material and a flame retardant material carried by the particulate host material. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within the electrochemical cell along a lithium-ion transport path or an electron transport path that extends through or between one or more components of the electrochemical cell. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within polymeric portions of a laminate structure that defines a housing in which the electrochemical cell is enclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Mei Cai, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11637285
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to over-lithiated positive electroactive materials for use within an electrochemical cell. For example, the electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode that includes an over-lithiated positive electroactive material that includes one of LixMn2O4 (where 1.05?x?1.30) and LiMn(2?x)NixO4 (where 0?x?0.5). The electrochemical cell can include a negative electrode that includes a silicon-containing negative electroactive material having a Columbic Efficiency greater than or equal to about 80% and less than or equal to about 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mary E. Fortier, Bing Tan, Li Yang, Umamaheswari Viswanathan, Vijay P. Saharan, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Publication number: 20230030003
    Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a thermal energy storage member in thermal contact with the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy storage member includes an adsorption chamber and an adsorbent material disposed within the adsorption chamber. The adsorbent material is configured to receive thermal energy generated by the plurality of battery cells during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy received by the adsorbent material during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells regenerates the adsorbent material and transitions the adsorbent material from an energy released state, in which an adsorbate is physically adsorbed on surfaces of the adsorbent material, to an energy storage state, in which the adsorbent material is substantially free of the adsorbate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sherman H. Zeng, Xingcheng Xiao, Mei Cai, Scott W. Lananna, Yangbing Zeng
  • Publication number: 20220367848
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that includes a double-sided electrode. The double-sided electrode includes a first electroactive material layer, a second electroactive material layer, and a current collector disposed between the first and second electroactive material layers. Each of the first and second electroactive material layers may include a plurality of electroactive material sub-films and a plurality of buffer layers disposed between adjacent electroactive material sub-films. The electrochemical cell further includes a first single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the first electroactive material layer; a first separator physically separating the first single-sided electrode and the first electroactive material layer; a second single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the second electroactive material layer; and a second separator physically separating the second single-sided electrode and the second electroactive material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dewen KONG, Haijing LIU, Meiyuan WU, Xiaochao QUE, Sherman H. ZENG, Xiaosong HUANG
  • Publication number: 20220359959
    Abstract: A lithium-ion electrochemical cell assembly includes a first electrode having a first polarity and a first current collector defining a first electrically conductive tab at an edge of the first electrode. The first electrically conductive tab is substantially covered by a first insulation material. A second electrode has the first polarity and a second current collector defining a second electrically conductive tab at an edge of the second electrode. The second electrically conductive tab is substantially covered by a second insulation material. A weld nugget is formed through at least a portion of the first insulation material and the second insulation material that joins the first electrically conductive tab to the second electrically conductive tab together. Methods of forming lithium-ion electrochemical cells are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sherman H. ZENG, Youngnam KIM, Christopher SCHLAUPITZ, Xingcheng XIAO
  • Patent number: 11417888
    Abstract: An electrode including an electrode active material and a ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger is provided. The ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger includes M2SiO3, MAlO2, M2O—Al2O3—SiO2, or combinations thereof, where M is lithium (Li), sodium (Na), or combinations thereof. Methods of making the electrode are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Jin Liu, Jiagang Xu, Mei Cai, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Publication number: 20220200039
    Abstract: An electrochemical cell for a lithium battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a polymeric separator, and composite flame retardant particles including a particulate host material and a flame retardant material carried by the particulate host material. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within the electrochemical cell along a lithium-ion transport path or an electron transport path that extends through or between one or more components of the electrochemical cell. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within polymeric portions of a laminate structure that defines a housing in which the electrochemical cell is enclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng Xiao, Mei Cai, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Publication number: 20220109151
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to over-lithiated positive electroactive materials for use within an electrochemical cell. For example, the electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode that includes an over-lithiated positive electroactive material that includes one of LixMn2O4 (where 1.05?x?1.30) and LiMn(2?x)NixO4 (where 0?x?0.5). The electrochemical cell can include a negative electrode that includes a silicon-containing negative electroactive material having a Columbic Efficiency greater than or equal to about 80% and less than or equal to about 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mary E. FORTIER, Bing TAN, Li YANG, Umamaheswari VISWANATHAN, Vijay P. SAHARAN, Sherman H. ZENG
  • Publication number: 20210408524
    Abstract: A lithium ion batteries and electric vehicles including lithium ion batteries are provided. An exemplary lithium ion battery includes a cathode including a cathode active material comprising at least 50 wt. %, based on a total weight of the cathode active material, of LiFexMn(1-x)PO4, wherein X is from 0.01 to 0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Mary E. Fortier, Bing Tan, Li Yang, Uma Viswanathan, Vijay P. Saharan, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11205798
    Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain solid-state electrode material and are separated with solid-state electrode material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhe Li, Dave G. Rich, Haijing Liu, Dewen Kong, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11171330
    Abstract: A method of forming batteries includes feeding a foil through a coating machine. The movement of the foil defines a foil direction. The method applies a first coating band and a second coating band to the foil. The second coating band is spaced from the first coating band by a first tab gap. The foil is cut substantially perpendicular to the foil direction to separate a first coated blank. The first coated blank is cut separate the first coating band and a first portion of the first tab gap, and to separate the second coating band and a second portion of the first tab gap. A first electrode is formed from the first coating band and the first portion of the first tab gap, and a second electrode is formed from the second coating band and the second portion of the first tab gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Hsu, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11171365
    Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain quasi-solid-state electrode material and are separated with a layer of quasi-solid-state electrolyte material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location, number and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhe Li, Dave G. Rich, Haijing Liu, Dewen Kong, Sherman H. Zeng
  • Patent number: 11171329
    Abstract: A battery includes a first mono cell formed from a first electrode foil having a first body and a first tab, and a first coating. The first body has long edges and short edges, and a length-to-width ratio of the first body is at least five. The first tab extends from one of the long edges of the first body entirely between one of the short edges a midpoint of the long edge. A second electrode foil has similar structure to the first electrode foil and coating, but a second tab is aligned opposite the first tab along the short edges. A second mono cell has similar structure. A third tab and a fourth tab of the second mono cell are on an opposing side of the midpoint of the long edges from the first tab and the second tab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Sherman H. Zeng, Chih-Cheng Hsu