Patents by Inventor Zonghai Chen

Zonghai 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: 9300000
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous redox flow battery comprising a negative electrode immersed in a non-aqueous liquid negative electrolyte, a positive electrode immersed in a non-aqueous liquid positive electrolyte, and a cation-permeable separator (e.g., a porous membrane, film, sheet, or panel) between the negative electrolyte from the positive electrolyte. During charging and discharging, the electrolytes are circulated over their respective electrodes. The electrolytes each comprise an electrolyte salt (e.g., a lithium or sodium salt), a transition-metal free redox reactant, and optionally an electrochemically stable organic solvent. Each redox reactant is selected from an organic compound comprising a conjugated unsaturated moiety, a boron cluster compound, and a combination thereof. The organic redox reactant of the positive electrolyte is selected to have a higher redox potential than the redox reactant of the negative electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew N. Jansen, John T. Vaughey, Zonghai Chen, Lu Zhang, Fikile R. Brushett
  • Patent number: 9184428
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to electrolytes containing anion receptor additives to enhance the power capability of lithium-ion batteries. The anion receptor of the present invention is a Lewis acid that can help to dissolve LiF in the passivation films of lithium-ion batteries. Accordingly, one aspect the invention provides electrolytes comprising a lithium salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and an anion receptor additive; and wherein the electrolyte solution is substantially non-aqueous. Further there are provided electrochemical devices employing the electrolyte and methods of making the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Publication number: 20150287987
    Abstract: An active material for an electrochemical device wherein a surface of the active material is modified by a surface modification agent, wherein the surface modification agent is an organometallic compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 9130241
    Abstract: Lithium-air cells employing poly(ethyleneoxide) phosphate-based electrolytes may be prepared and exhibit improved charge carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Patent number: 9065115
    Abstract: A method includes modifying a surface of an electrode active material including providing a solution or a suspension of a surface modification agent; providing the electrode active material; preparing a slurry of the solution or suspension of the surface modification agent, the electrode active material, a polymeric binder, and a conductive filler; casting the slurry in a metallic current collector; and drying the cast slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 8968940
    Abstract: A compound has general Formula I, II, III, or IV: where X and Y are independently a group of Formula (A): and Z a group of Formula (B): The compounds may be used in electrolytes and electrochemical devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Zhang, Zhengcheng Zhang, Khalil Amine, Zonghai Chen
  • Publication number: 20140023941
    Abstract: A lithium-air cell includes a negative electrode; an air positive electrode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte which includes an anion receptor that may be represented by one or more of the formulas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Zonghai chen, Zhengcheng Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130273441
    Abstract: Lithium-air cells employing poly(ethyleneoxide) phosphate-based electrolytes may be prepared and exhibit improved charge carrying capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Publication number: 20130224538
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous redox flow battery comprising a negative electrode immersed in a non-aqueous liquid negative electrolyte, a positive electrode immersed in a non-aqueous liquid positive electrolyte, and a cation-permeable separator (e.g., a porous membrane, film, sheet, or panel) between the negative electrolyte from the positive electrolyte. During charging and discharging, the electrolytes are circulated over their respective electrodes. The electrolytes each comprise an electrolyte salt (e.g., a lithium or sodium salt), a transition-metal free redox reactant, and optionally an electrochemically stable organic solvent. Each redox reactant is selected from an organic compound comprising a conjugated unsaturated moiety, a boron cluster compound, and a combination thereof. The organic redox reactant of the positive electrolyte is selected to have a higher redox potential than the redox reactant of the negative electrolyte.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC
    Inventors: Andrew N. JANSEN, John T. VAUGHEY, Zonghai CHEN, Lu ZHANG, Fikile R. BRUSHETT
  • Patent number: 8475688
    Abstract: Lithium-air cells using poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO) siloxane-based or poly(ethyleneoxide) phosphate-based electrolytes may be prepared and exhibit improved charge carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Publication number: 20130078532
    Abstract: An electrolyte includes a lithium salt; a polar aprotic solvent; a primary redox shuttle; and a lithium borate cluster salt. The lithium borate cluster salt may be compound of formula Li2B12X12-nHn, LixX10-nHn, where X is F, Cl, Br, or I; and n is an integer ranging from 0 to 12, inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Patent number: 8367253
    Abstract: The present invention relates in general to the field of lithium rechargeable batteries, and more particularly relates to the positive electrode design of lithium-ion batteries with improved high-rate pulse overcharge protection. Thus the present invention provides electrochemical devices containing a cathode comprising at least one primary positive material and at least one secondary positive material; an anode; and a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a redox shuttle additive; wherein the redox potential of the redox shuttle additive is greater than the redox potential of the primary positive material; the redox potential of the redox shuttle additive is lower than the redox potential of the secondary positive material; and the redox shuttle additive is stable at least up to the redox potential of the secondary positive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: U Chicago Argonne LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine
  • Publication number: 20120276450
    Abstract: A method includes modifying a surface of an electrode active material including providing a solution or a suspension of a surface modification agent; providing the electrode active material; preparing a slurry of the solution or suspension of the surface modification agent, the electrode active material, a polymeric binder, and a conductive filler; casting the slurry in a metallic current collector; and drying the cast slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 8292974
    Abstract: A method includes modifying a surface of an electrode active material including providing a solution or a suspension of a surface modification agent; providing the electrode active material; preparing a slurry of the solution or suspension of the surface modification agent, the electrode active material, a polymeric binder, and a conductive filler; casting the slurry in a metallic current collector; and drying the cast slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 8283074
    Abstract: Metal complex salts may be used in lithium ion batteries. Such metal complex salts not only perform as an electrolyte salt in a lithium ion batteries with high solubility and conductivity, but also can act as redox shuttles that provide overcharge protection of individual cells in a battery pack and/or as electrolyte additives to provide other mechanisms to provide overcharge protection to lithium ion batteries. The metal complex salts have at least one aromatic ring. The aromatic moiety may be reversibly oxidized/reduced at a potential slightly higher than the working potential of the positive electrode in the lithium ion battery. The metal complex salts may also be known as overcharge protection salts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Zhengcheng Zhang, Zonghai Chen
  • Publication number: 20120148731
    Abstract: A method includes modifying a surface of an electrode active material including providing a solution or a suspension of a surface modification agent; providing the electrode active material; preparing a slurry of the solution or suspension of the surface modification agent, the electrode active material, a polymeric binder, and a conductive filler; casting the slurry in a metallic current collector; and drying the cast slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Patent number: 8187746
    Abstract: An active material for an electrochemical device may have a surface modification agent that is a silane, organometallic compound, or a mixture of two or more of such compounds. Both negative and positive electrodes may be prepared from the surface modified active materials. The surface of an electrode may be modified by adding the surface modification agent to a non-aqueous electrolyte used in constructing a battery. An electrode or active material may be modified with a surface modification agent in either the gas phase or in solution. Slurries of the active agent may be prepared and the surface modification agent added, the slurry then be used to cast an electrode that is then dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Zonghai Chen, Khalil Amine, Ilias Belharouak
  • Publication number: 20110294018
    Abstract: A compound has general Formula I, II, III, or IV: where X and Y are independently a group of Formula (A): and Z a group of Formula (B): The compounds may be used in electrolytes and electrochemical devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Lu Zhang, Zhengcheng Zhang, Khalil Amine, Zonghai Chen
  • Publication number: 20110076572
    Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte includes an ionic electrolyte salt, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solvent that includes a mixture of siloxane or a silane or a mixture thereof, a sulfone, and a fluorinated ether or fluorinated ester or a mixture thereof, an ionic liquid, or a carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Zonghai Chen, Zhengcheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 7851092
    Abstract: The present invention is generally related to electrolytes containing novel redox shuttles for overcharge protection of lithium-ion batteries. The redox shuttles are capable of thousands hours of overcharge tolerance and have a redox potential at about 3-5.5 V vs. Li and particularly about 4.4-4.8 V vs. Li. Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides electrolytes comprising an alkali metal salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and a redox shuttle additive that is an aromatic compound having at least one aromatic ring with four or more electronegative substituents, two or more oxygen atoms bonded to the aromatic ring, and no hydrogen atoms bonded to the aromatic ring; and wherein the electrolyte solution is substantially non-aqueous. Further there are provided electrochemical devices employing the electrolyte and methods of making the electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: U Chicago Argonne LLC
    Inventors: Khalil Amine, Zonghai Chen, Qingzheng Wang