Patents by Inventor Shuru Chen

Shuru Chen 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).

  • Patent number: 12113163
    Abstract: A system for coating a separator for a battery includes a separator feed and collection assembly configured to dispense the separator, a coating distribution device configured to flow a coating material toward the separator, and an electric field generator configured to generate an electric field in a gap between the coating distribution device and the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ruchira Dharmasena, Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai, Sanaz Ketabi
  • Patent number: 11984599
    Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell is provided herein. The electrode component includes a current collector having a first surface, a metal oxide layer disposed on the first surface of the current collector, and a lithium-containing layer bonded to the first surface of the current collector. The metal oxide layer includes a plurality of features. A method for manufacturing such an electrode component is also provided herein. The method includes directing a laser beam toward the first surface of the current collector in the presence of oxygen to form the metal oxide layer on the first surface and applying the lithium-containing layer to the metal oxide layer thereby bonding the lithium-containing layer with the current collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fang Dai, Hongliang Wang, Shuru Chen, Qinglin Zhang, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20240039118
    Abstract: A separator for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions includes a microporous layer and one or more fire suppression layers disposed on at least one of a first side or an opposite second side of the microporous layer. The one or more fire suppression layers include a ceramic material having interconnected open pores and a cyclophosphazene disposed within the interconnected open pores of the ceramic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yifan ZHAO, Xingcheng XIAO, Shuru CHEN
  • Patent number: 11852457
    Abstract: A system for measuring a thickness of a coating arranged on an anode substrate includes an optical measurement system configured to transmit a light signal having a known first polarization toward the anode substrate through the coating such that the light signal is reflected from the surface of the anode substrate, a detection module positioned to receive the reflected light signal and configured to determine a second polarization of the reflected light signal that is different from the first polarization and measure a polarization difference between the first polarization and the second polarization, and a measurement module configured to receive the measured polarization difference, calculate the thickness of the coating based on the measured polarization difference, and generate an output based on the calculated thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fang Dai, Hongliang Wang, Shuru Chen, Mei Cai
  • Patent number: 11784349
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium metal battery including a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and a lithium salt dissolved or ionized in the nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent. The nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent includes a cyclic carbonate, an acyclic carbonate, and an acyclic fluorinated ether. The lithium salt includes an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Meinan He, Mei Cai, Shuru Chen
  • Publication number: 20230287153
    Abstract: Methods for forming sulfur polyacrylonitrile are provide. In certain variations, the method includes contacting sulfur and polyacrylonitrile to form an admixture, sealing a container holding the admixture, heating the admixture to a first temperature venting the container holding the admixture to release gases generated during the heating of the admixture to the first temperature, re-sealing the container holding the admixture, and heating the admixture to a second temperature. In other variations, the method includes contacting sulfur and polyacrylonitrile to form an admixture, heating the admixture to a first temperature, sealing a container holding the admixture, and heating the admixture to a second temperature. The second temperature is greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Robert D. SCHMIDT, Shuru CHEN, Fang DAI, Mei CAI
  • Publication number: 20230282808
    Abstract: A method for forming a protective electrode coating on an electrode to be used in a lithium-sulfur battery is provided. The method includes contacting one or more surfaces of the electrode with a polymeric admixture, and polymerizing the polymeric admixture to form the protective electrode coating. The polymeric admixture includes a plurality of monomers, for example heterocyclic acetal monomers and/or cyclic ether monomers, and a lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate (LiDFOB) initiator. In certain instances, the polymeric admixture may also include a structural additive and/or a lithium salt. The contacting may include applying a thin film on the one or more surfaces of the electrode, and the polymerization may be heat activated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Sanaz KETABI, Shuru CHEN, Fang DAI, Mei CAI
  • Patent number: 11735776
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrolyte system may include an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents may include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may include an ether solvent, a carbonate solvent, or a mixture of ether and carbonate solvents. The second solvent may include a fluorinated ether. A molar ratio of the aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt to the first solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1.2 to less than or equal to about 1:2. A molar ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1 to less than or equal to about 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shuru Chen, Meinan He, Fang Dai, Mark Verbrugge, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20230246295
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a coated separator including a porous separator and a ceramic coating disposed on one or more surfaces thereof. The ceramic coating includes a ceramic material and an additive selected from the group consisting of: lithium nitrate (LiNO3), lithium phosphate (LiPO3), lithium orthophosphate (Li3PO4), lithium difluoro (oxalate) borate (LiDBoB), cyclic sulfone, polysulfide, lithium halide salts, and combinations thereof. In certain variations, the coated separator is prepared by contacting the porous separator with a slurry including the ceramic material and the additive. In other variations, the coated separator is prepared by forming a ceramic coating on one or more surfaces of a porous separator and contacting the porous separator with the additive, for example by immersing, or alternatively, a spraying process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Xingcheng XIAO, Yifan ZHAO, Biqiong WANG, Shuru CHEN, Mei CAI
  • Publication number: 20230231135
    Abstract: An electrode includes an electroactive material layer and a protective layer disposed on or adjacent to a surface of the electroactive material layer. The protective layer includes a polymerized cyclic ether and a salt dispersed therewithin. The salt includes a nitrate salt and a phosphate salt. The salt may also include a Lewis acid salt. The protective layer is formed by disposing a solution, including the salt and solvent, on or adjacent to the surface of the electroactive material layer, and polymerizing the solvent. The solvent includes the cyclic ether, and also, one or more organic phosphates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yifan ZHAO, Xingcheng XIAO, Shuru CHEN, Mei CAI
  • Publication number: 20230194242
    Abstract: A system for measuring a thickness of a coating arranged on an anode substrate includes an optical measurement system configured to transmit a light signal having a known first polarization toward the anode substrate through the coating such that the light signal is reflected from the surface of the anode substrate, a detection module positioned to receive the reflected light signal and configured to determine a second polarization of the reflected light signal that is different from the first polarization and measure a polarization difference between the first polarization and the second polarization, and a measurement module configured to receive the measured polarization difference, calculate the thickness of the coating based on the measured polarization difference, and generate an output based on the calculated thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Fang DAI, Hongliang WANG, Shuru CHEN, Mei CAI
  • Publication number: 20230187607
    Abstract: A method of preparing a lithium metal electrode for an electrochemical cell, such as a lithium metal battery, includes introducing a treatment gas into a chamber including an electrode precursor. The treatment gas may include a reactant gas and/or a plasma. The electrode precursor includes lithium metal and a passivation layer. The method further includes forming the lithium metal electrode by contacting the treatment gas with the passivation layer to remove at least a portion of the passivation layer. The present disclosure also provides pretreated electrodes and electrode assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Biqiong WANG, Fang DAI, Shuru CHEN, Mei CAI
  • Publication number: 20230121883
    Abstract: A system for coating a separator for a battery includes a separator feed and collection assembly configured to dispense the separator, a coating distribution device configured to flow a coating material toward the separator, and an electric field generator configured to generate an electric field in a gap between the coating distribution device and the separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ruchira DHARMASENA, Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai, Sanaz Ketabi
  • Publication number: 20230064146
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrolyte system may include an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents may include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may include an ether solvent, a carbonate solvent, or a mixture of ether and carbonate solvents. The second solvent may include a fluorinated ether. A molar ratio of the aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt to the first solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1.2 to less than or equal to about 1:2. A molar ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1 to less than or equal to about 1:4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shuru CHEN, Meinan HE, Fang DAI, Mark VERBRUGGE, Mei CAI
  • Patent number: 11522221
    Abstract: The present technology relates to gel electrolytes for using in lithium-ion electrochemical cells and methods of forming the same. For example, the method may include adding one or more gelation reagents to an electrochemical cell including one or more liquid electrolyte precursors. The one or more gelation reagents include one or more initiators and one or more crosslinking agents. Each of the one or more initiators may be one of a thermal initiator and an actinic/electron beam initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fang Dai, Shuru Chen, Mei Cai
  • Patent number: 11502287
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, a porous or non-porous metal substrate may be provided. A precursor solution may be applied to a surface of the metal substrate. The precursor solution may comprise a chalcogen donor compound dissolved in a solvent. The precursor solution may be applied to the surface of the metal substrate such that the chalcogen donor compound reacts with the metal substrate and forms a conformal metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate. A conformal lithium metal layer may be formed on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Fang Dai, Shuru Chen, Meinan He, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20220320584
    Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium metal battery including a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and a lithium salt dissolved or ionized in the nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent. The nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent includes a cyclic carbonate, an acyclic carbonate, and an acyclic fluorinated ether. The lithium salt includes an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Meinan He, Mei Cai, Shuru Chen
  • Patent number: 11424509
    Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ruchira R. Dharmasena, Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai
  • Publication number: 20220255187
    Abstract: A method for coating a separator for a battery includes creating an electrostatic field and disposing a substrate material within the electrostatic field. The method further includes applying a coating material to the substrate material in a presence of the electrostatic field and drying the coating material upon the substrate material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Ruchira R. Dharmasena, Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai
  • Patent number: 11342549
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to sulfur-containing electrodes and methods for forming the same. For example, the method may include disposing an electroactive material on or near a current collector to form an electroactive material layer having a first porosity and applying pressure and heat to the electroactive material layer so that the electroactive material layer has a second porosity. The first porosity is greater than the second porosity. The electroactive material may include a plurality of electroactive material particles and one or more salt additives. The method may further include contacting the electroactive material layer and an electrolyte such that the electrolyte dissolves the plurality of one or more salt particles so that the electroactive material layer has a third porosity. The third porosity may be greater than the second porosity and less than the first porosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Shuru Chen, Fang Dai, Mei Cai