Patents Issued in April 9, 2015
  • Publication number: 20150099144
    Abstract: A battery for use in an electronic device having a user-accessible battery compartment, including a connection module accommodatable in the battery compartment, and an extension module attached to and in electrical connection with the connection module. The extension module is larger than the battery compartment, such that, when the battery in installed, the connection module is disposed in the battery compartment, and the extension module covers the battery compartment and a portion of the electronic device other than the battery compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: ZeroLemon LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Ching Yat CHAN, Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20150099145
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly including first and second electrodes; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate having a short-circuit opening; a first terminal coupled to the first electrode; a second terminal coupled to the second electrode; and a short-circuit member at the cap plate, corresponding to the short-circuit opening, and configured to deform to electrically couple the first and second electrodes; and a short-circuit protrusion at the second terminal and configured to contact the short-circuit member, wherein a surface roughness of the short-circuit protrusion is greater than that of the cap plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Min-Hyung Guen, Yong-Chul Seo
  • Publication number: 20150099146
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery module having a through type cool channel for preventing contaminated air generated from a pouch type cell from being introduced into a vehicle, and more particularly, a secondary battery module having a through type cool channel capable of preventing contaminated air generated from battery cells from being introduced into a vehicle and easily cooling heat generated from the battery cells, by sealing an electrode assembly, in which a plurality of battery cells are stacked, by a case, forming a separate gas discharge pipe in the case to discharge the gases to a designated place, and coupling both ends of a partition tube having a cool channel formed therein to contact the battery cells and communicate with an outside of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deok Soo Kim, Hyuk Chan Tae, Ji Seok Lee, Dong Hun Lim
  • Publication number: 20150099147
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a prismatic battery cell including a pouch-shaped battery cell having an electrode assembly mounted in a pouch-shaped battery case, a cell case, in which the pouch-shaped battery cell is mounted, the cell case having a polyhedral shape, and a terminal case including external input and output terminals, to which electrode terminals of the pouch-shaped battery cell are coupled, the terminal case being coupled to one end of the cell case, the terminal case having a polyhedral shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Byung O KONG, Dal Mo KANG, Jun Yeob SEONG, Youngsop EOM
  • Publication number: 20150099148
    Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery including an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly, including a cap plate having a short-circuit hole, configured to seal the case. The secondary battery includes a first connection plate at an exterior surface of the case and coupled to the electrode assembly, a capacitive member between the first connection plate and the cap plate, and a short-circuit unit including an inversion plate positioned in the short-circuit hole, and a second connection plate at an exterior side surface of the case spaced apart from the cap plate and extending over at least a portion of the short-circuit hole, the second connection plate being coupled to the electrode assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minyeol Han
  • Publication number: 20150099149
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode; a case accommodating the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled to the case; and a connection member electrically connecting the first electrode and the cap plate, wherein the connection member is configured to be deformed to electrically disconnect the first electrode and the cap plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang-Won Byun, Jeong-Won Oh, Young-Sik Moon, Sang-Kyoon Park
  • Publication number: 20150099150
    Abstract: Electrochemical systems for harvesting heat energy, and associated electrochemical cells and methods, are generally described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Seok Woo Lee, Yuan Yang, Hadi Ghasemi, Gang Chen, Yi Cui
  • Publication number: 20150099151
    Abstract: A battery includes a first mechanical coupling unit and a second mechanical coupling unit. The first coupling unit includes a plurality of mechanical coupling pins (18). Each of the mechanical coupling pins (18) includes a pin head (22) and a pin shaft (20). The pin heads (22) have a greater diameter than the pin shafts (20). The second mechanical coupling unit includes a plurality of capture elements (24, 26) configured to capture heads of mechanical coupling pins of a first mechanical coupling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: PAG LTD.
    Inventor: John Paul Lavender
  • Publication number: 20150099152
    Abstract: A method for connecting poles of two battery cells includes using a connecting element, which is configured as a stranded wire and connects the poles of the battery cells to one another. The stranded wire is connected directly to a pole of a battery cell in a welding area with a laser beam for forming a laser beam weld.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Bantel, Heinz Neubert, Reiner Ramsayer, Friedheim Guenter, Sonja Dudziak
  • Publication number: 20150099153
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plate or electrode for a lead-acid battery includes a grid of lead alloy material, a paste of active material applied to the grid of lead alloy material, and a nonwoven fiber mat disposed at least partially within the paste of active material. The nonwoven fiber mat includes a plurality of fibers, a binder material that couples the plurality of fibers together, and a conductive material disposed at least partially within the nonwoven fiber mat so as to contact the paste of active material. In some embodiments, the nonwoven fiber mat may have an electrical resistant of less than about 100,000 ohms per square to enable electron flow on a surface of the nonwoven fiber mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: JOHNS MANVILLE
    Inventors: Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G. Dietz
  • Publication number: 20150099154
    Abstract: The electric storage device is provided with a case body and an electrode assembly accommodated in the case body. The electrode assembly includes positive and negative electrode sheets each having an active material layer. The case body includes at least one primary inner wall surface, at least one secondary inner wall surface, and corner surfaces. A plane that includes the boundary line between a primary inner wall surface and the corresponding corner surface and faces the corresponding secondary inner wall surface is defined as an imaginary boundary plane. An edge of the active material layer of a positive electrode sheet facing the corresponding secondary inner wall surface is positioned on the surface of the imaginary boundary plane, or is positioned in a region spaced further apart from the secondary inner wall surface facing the edge than the position of the imaginary boundary plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Motoaki Okuda, Atsushi Minagata, Hiroyasu Nishihara
  • Publication number: 20150099155
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a nonwoven fiber mat for reinforcing a plate or electrode of a lead-acid battery includes a plurality of glass fibers and an acid resistant binder that couples the plurality of glass fibers together. The nonwoven fiber mat also includes a wetting component that is applied to the glass fibers and/or nonwoven fiber mat to increase the wettability of the nonwoven fiber mat such that the nonwoven fiber mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 0.5 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes conducted according to method ISO8787. The wetting component may be dissolvable in an acid solution of the lead-acid battery such that a significant portion of the nonwoven fiber mat is lost due to dissolving of the wetting component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: JOHNS MANVILLE
    Inventors: Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G. Dietz, III
  • Publication number: 20150099156
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resin (a) as a binder for binding filler particles to a surface of a separator substrate for a nonaqueous-electrolyte secondary battery. The use of this resin (a) makes it possible to give a separator excellent in heat resistance. The resin (a) is a copolymer including a structural unit (1) derived from vinyl alcohol, and a structural unit (2) derived from a metal salt of acrylic acid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Junji Suzuki, Chikara Murakami
  • Publication number: 20150099157
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an absorptive glass mat (AGM) battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonwoven fiber separator positioned between the electrodes. The separator includes a mixture of glass fibers having diameters between about 8 ?m to 13 ?m and glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 ?m and a silane sizing. An acid resistant binder bonds the glass fibers to form the separator. A wetting component is applied to the separator to increase the wettability such that the separator has or exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes. A conductive material is disposed on at least one surface of the separator such that when the separator is positioned adjacent an electrode, the conductive material contacts the electrode. An electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square enables electron flow about mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Ketzer, Gerold Albert, Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G. Dietz, III
  • Publication number: 20150099158
    Abstract: The present invention provides a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having an electrode body formed by stacking a positive electrode, a separator and a negative electrode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The separator has a separator substrate made and a first porous heat resistance layer formed on a surface of the substrate on a side facing the positive electrode. A surface of the negative electrode on a side facing the separator is formed by a second porous heat resistance layer. The first and second porous heat resistance layers satisfy: (1) an average thickness of the first porous heat resistance layer is greater than that of the second porous heat resistance layer; (2) an average particle diameter of an inorganic filler contained in the first porous heat resistance layer is greater than that of an inorganic filler contained in the second porous heat resistance layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Kosuke IWASE
  • Publication number: 20150099159
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material includes LiMn1-xMxPO4 (wherein M represents at least one element selected from Mg, Fe, Ni, Co, Ti, and Zr; and 0?x<0.5) and has an average pore diameter of 8 nm or more and not more than 25 nm and a total pore volume of 0.05 cm3/g or more and not more than 0.3 cm3/g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Keigo HOSHINA, Hiroki INAGAKI, Norio TAKAMI, Kiyoshi KANAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150099160
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a negative electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte battery includes a titanium oxide compound having a crystal structure of monoclinic titanium dioxide. When a monoclinic titanium dioxide is used as the active material, the effective capacity is significantly lower than the theoretical capacity though the theoretical capacity was about 330 mAh/g. The invention comprises a titanium oxide compound which has a crystal structure of monoclinic titanium dioxide and a (001) plane spacing of 6.22 ? or more in the powder X-ray diffraction method using a Cu-K? radiation source, thereby making an attempt to improve effective capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Yasuhiro HARADA, Norio TAKAMI, Hiroki INAGAKI, Keigo HOSHINA
  • Publication number: 20150099161
    Abstract: To achieve a power storage unit that can be repeatedly bent without a large decrease in charge and discharge capacity. In the flexible power storage unit, the content of a binder in an active material layer containing an active material is greater than or equal to 1 wt % and less than or equal to 10 wt %, preferably greater than or equal to 2 wt % and less than or equal to 8 wt %, and more preferably greater than or equal to 3 wt % and less than or equal to 5 wt %.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Aya HITOTSUYANAGI, Teppei OGUNI, Takuya MIWA, Hiroyuki MIYAKE
  • Publication number: 20150099162
    Abstract: A continuable power module includes at least one battery. The battery includes a main body, a first electrode terminal, a second electrode terminal and a conducting terminal. The main body includes a connecting end and a continuing end opposite to the connecting end. The first electrode terminal is disposed at the connecting end, and the second electrode terminal is disposed at the continuing end. The structure of the second electrode terminal matches that of the first electrode terminal. The conducting terminal includes a secured end and a free end. The secured end is disposed at the continuing end, and the free end is detachably connected to the first electrode terminal. The conducting terminal is connected electrically to the first electrode terminal via the free end thereof, such that the continuing end of the one battery is connected to the connecting end of another battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: CHUN-HUNG WU
  • Publication number: 20150099163
    Abstract: A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a battery case, and a cap assembly. The electrode assembly includes first and second electrodes. The battery case accommodates the electrode assembly therein and has an opened surface. The cap assembly seals the battery case and includes first and second terminal portions coupled to the respective first and second electrodes. In the secondary battery, at least one of the first and second terminal portions is coupled to a variable member including a plurality of variable plates. Accordingly, the path and resistance of current may be varied in the secondary battery, so that it is possible to reduce or prevent generation of heat caused by overcurrent. Thus, it may be possible to reduce or prevent an explosion and fire of the battery, thereby improving the safety of the battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Kim, Hyun Soh
  • Publication number: 20150099164
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rechargeable battery that can improve sealing performance of a gasket and prevent a cap assembly from rotating with respect to a case. The rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly that includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator interposed between the anode and the cathode, a case that accommodates the electrode assembly, a cap assembly that is coupled with the case to close and seal the case and that has an electrode terminal, and a gasket that is provided between the cap assembly and the case. A protrusion is formed at a surface of the gasket. A ratio of a height of the protrusion to a half-width of the protrusion is about 0.5 to 0.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventor: Yoon-Cheol JEON
  • Publication number: 20150099165
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrolyte for a lithium-based energy storage device comprising at least one lithium salt, a solvent and at least one compound of general formula (1), and to their use in lithium-based energy storage devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Dippel, Alexandra Lex-Balducci, Martin Winter, Miriam Kunze, René Schmitz, Romek Ansgar Müller, Stefano Passerini, Nataliya Kalinovich, Gerd-Volker Röschenthaler, Tobias Böttcher
  • Publication number: 20150099166
    Abstract: A magnesium electrochemical cell having a positive electrode containing a carbon cluster compound as an active material is provided. In a preferred embodiment the carbon cluster material is a comminuted fullerene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruigang ZHANG, Fuminori MIZUNO
  • Publication number: 20150099167
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material layer comprises positive electrode active material particles containing a Li compound or a Li solid solution selected from LixNiaCobMncO2, LixCobMncO2, LixNiaMncO2, LixNiaCobO2 and Li2MnO3 wherein 0.5?x?1.5, 0.1?a<1, 0.1?b<1, and 0.1?c<1, a bonding portion for bonding the positive electrode active material particles with each other and bonding the positive electrode active material particles with a current collector, and an organic coating layer for coating at least part of surfaces of at least the positive electrode active material particles. Having a high strength of bonding with the Li compound, the organic coating layer suppresses direct contact of the positive electrode active material particles and an electrolytic solution even when a lithium-ion secondary battery is used at a high voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI
    Inventors: Hiroki Oshima, Takeshi Maki, Yuki Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20150099168
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a separator for a lead-acid battery includes a membrane film of an ultra-high molecular weight polymer material (UHMWPE). Precipitated silica and glass fibers are disposed throughout the membrane film and held or maintained in position by the UHMWPE. The separator may have a thickness of between 1 and 50 mils and include between 10% and 30% by weight of the UHMWPE, between 40% and 80% by weight of the precipitated silica, between 5% and 25% by weight of processing oils, and between 1% and 30% by weight of the glass fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: JOHNS MANVILLE
    Inventors: Zhihua Guo, Guodong Zheng, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar
  • Publication number: 20150099169
    Abstract: An electrode for a battery includes a plurality of electrochemically active conversion-based particles coated by multilayer graphene, a plurality of carbon fibers, and a carbonaceous binder. The carbonaceous binder binds the active particles coated with the multilayer graphene to the plurality of carbon fibers. A battery containing the electrode and a method of making an electrode and a battery containing the electrode are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, Jagjit NANDA, Surendra Kumar MARTHA
  • Publication number: 20150099170
    Abstract: At least one foil surface of an aluminum foil is roughened; and in arithmetic mean roughnesses Ra, stipulated in JIS B 0601:2001, of the roughened surface(s), A, which is the arithmetic mean roughness Ra measured in a direction at a right angle to a rolling direction during foil rolling, and B, which is the arithmetic mean roughness Ra measured in a direction parallel to the rolling direction during foil rolling, satisfy the following relationships: 0.15 ?m?A?2.0 ?m; 0.15 ?m?B?2.0 ?m; and 0.5?B/A?1.5. Preferably 50-1000 ?g/m2 of oil is adhered to the roughened foil surface. The oil is preferably rolling oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: UACJ CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya Motoi, Yasushi Funato
  • Publication number: 20150099171
    Abstract: A battery electrode for a lithium ion battery that includes an electrically conductive substrate having an electrode layer applied thereto. The electrode layer includes an organic material having high alkalinity, or an organic material which can be dissolved in organic solvents, or an organic material having an imide group(s) and aminoacetal group(s), or an organic material that chelates with or bonds with a metal substrate or that chelates with or bonds with an active material in the electrode layer. The organic material may be guanidine carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: VERY SMALL PARTICLE COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Jose Antonio ALARCO, John Louis BRADLEY, Mark Ronald QUINLAN, Peter Cade TALBOT
  • Publication number: 20150099172
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Rowe, Nikhilendra Singh
  • Publication number: 20150099173
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for mass production of silicon nanowires and/or nanobelts. The invented method is a chemical etching process employing an etchant that preferentially etches and removes other phases from a multiphase silicon alloy, over a silicon phase, and allows harvesting of the residual silicon nanowires and/or nanobelts. The silicon alloy comprises, or is treated so as to comprise, one-dimensional and/or two-dimensional silicon nanostructures in the microstructure of the multi-phase silicon alloy prior to etching. When used as anode for secondary lithium batteries, the silicon nanowires or nanobelts produced by the invented method exhibit high storage capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Xueliang SUN, Yuhai HU, Xifei Li LI, Ruying LI, Quanmin YANG
  • Publication number: 20150099174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material, which comprises silicon monoxide substrate. Nano-Silicon material uniformly deposited on the silicon monoxide substrate and nanoscale conductive material coating layer on the surface of the silicon monoxide/Nano-Silicon. The preparation method of the silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material includes Nano-Silicon chemistry vapour deposition, nanoscale conductive material coating modification, screening and demagnetizing. The silicon monoxide composite negative electrode material has properties of high specific capacity (>1600 mAh/g), high charge-discharge efficiency of the first cycle (>80%) and high conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Shenzhen BTR New Energy Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Jianguo Ren, Dexin Yu, Min Yue
  • Publication number: 20150099175
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electrode material in which unevenness in a supporting amount of a carbonaceous film is less when using an electrode-active material having a carbonaceous film on a surface thereof as the electrode material, and which is capable of improving conductivity, and a method for producing the electrode material. The electrode material includes an aggregate formed by aggregating an electrode-active material in which a carbonaceous film is formed on a surface. In the electrode material, an average particle size of the aggregate is 0.5 to 100 ?m, a volume density of the aggregate is 50 to 80 vol % of a volume density in a case in which the aggregate is a solid, and 80% or more of the surface of the electrode-active material is covered with the carbonaceous film. Alternatively, the electrode material includes an aggregate formed by aggregating electrode-active material particles in which a carbonaceous film is formed on a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao KITAGAWA, Hirofumi YASUMIISHI, Masaru UEHARA
  • Publication number: 20150099176
    Abstract: A positive electrode active material includes LiMn1?xMxPO4 (wherein M represents at least one element selected from Mg, Fe, Ni, Co, Ti, and Zr; and 0?x<0.5); and 0.03% by weight or more and not more than 0.5% by weight of S (sulfur) and 0.03% by weight or more and not more than 0.5% by weight of N (nitrogen) relative to the weight of LiMn1?xMxPO4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Keigo HOSHINA, Hiroki INAGAKI, Norio TAKAMI, Kiyoshi KANAMURA
  • Publication number: 20150099177
    Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery disclosed in the present application includes: a positive electrode capable of absorbing and releasing lithium, containing a positive electrode active material composed of a lithium-containing transition metal oxide having a layered crystalline structure; and a negative electrode capable of absorbing and releasing lithium, containing a negative electrode active material composed of a lithium-containing transition metal oxide obtained by substituting some of Ti element of a lithium-containing titanium oxide having a spinel crystalline structure with one or more element different from Ti, wherein a retention of the negative electrode is set to be greater than a retention of the positive electrode, and an irreversible capacity rate of the negative electrode is set to be greater than an irreversible capacity rate of the positive electrode, whereby a discharge ends by negative electrode limitation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Natsumi GOTO, Takashi TAKEUCHI, Masaki HASEGAWA
  • Publication number: 20150099178
    Abstract: The volume density or weight density of lithium ions that can be received and released in and from a positive electrode active material is increased to achieve high capacity and high energy density of a secondary battery. In a lithium manganese composite oxide, each particle includes a first region including a crystal with a layered rock-salt crystal structure and a second region including a crystal with a spinel crystal structure. The second region is in contact with the outside of the first region. The lithium manganese composite oxide has high structural stability and high capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Takahiro KAWAKAMI, Tatsuya IKENUMA, Satoshi SEO
  • Publication number: 20150099179
    Abstract: To increase the volume density or weight density of lithium ions that can be received and released in and from a positive electrode active material to achieve high capacity and high energy density of a secondary battery. A lithium manganese composite oxide represented by LixMnyMzOw that includes a region belonging to a space group C2/c and is covered with a carbon-containing layer is used as the positive electrode active material. The element M is an element other than lithium and manganese. The lithium manganese composite oxide has high structural stability and high capacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Tatsuya IKENUMA, Shuhei YOSHITOMI, Takahiro KAWAKAMI, Yumiko YONEDA (Former family: SAITO), Yohei MOMMA
  • Publication number: 20150099180
    Abstract: Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be characterized by a high surface area and a high mesopore content. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be in agglomerated form. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as conductive additives. Dispersions of such compounds in a liquid medium in the presence of a surfactant may be used, for example, as conductive coatings. Polymer compounds filled with the surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be formed. Surface-modified carbon hybrid particles may be used, for example, as carbon supports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Dario Cericola, Giovanni Juri, Simone Zurcher, Michael E. Spahr
  • Publication number: 20150099181
    Abstract: A cathode active material is provided. The cathode active material includes: a composite oxide particle including at least lithium and cobalt; a coating layer which is provided in at least a part of the composite oxide particle and includes an oxide including lithium and a coating element of at least one of nickel and manganese; and a surface layer which is provided in at least a part of the coating layer and includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, tin, phosphorus, magnesium, boron, zinc, tungsten, aluminum, titanium, and zirconium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Haruo WATANABE, Tomoyo OOYAMA, Masanori SOMA, Kenji OGISU
  • Publication number: 20150099182
    Abstract: Methods for synthesizing metal nanoparticles and the nanoparticles so produced are provided. The methods include addition of surfactant to a novel reagent complex between zero-valent metal and a hydride. The nanoparticles produced by the method include oxide-free, zero-valent tin nanoparticles useful in fabricating a battery electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhilendra Singh, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Publication number: 20150099183
    Abstract: Electrodes employing as active material metal nanoparticles synthesized by a novel route are provided. The nanoparticle synthesis is facile and reproducible, and provides metal nanoparticles of very small dimension and high purity for a wide range of metals. The electrodes utilizing these nanoparticles thus may have superior capability. Electrochemical cells employing said electrodes are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhilendra Singh, Michael Paul Rowe
  • Publication number: 20150099184
    Abstract: A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on carbon nanofibers (CNF). The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the CNFs an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald A. Rojeski, Steven Klankowski, Jun Li
  • Publication number: 20150099185
    Abstract: Lithium ion batteries, electrodes, nanofibers, and methods for producing same are disclosed herein. Provided herein are batteries having (a) increased energy density; (b) decreased pulverization (structural disruption due to volume expansion during lithiation/de-lithiation processes); and/or (c) increased lifetime. In some embodiments described herein, using high throughput, water-based electrospinning process produces nanofibers of high energy capacity materials (e.g., ceramic) with nanostructures such as discrete crystal domains, mesopores, hollow cores, and the like; and such nanofibers providing reduced pulverization and increased charging rates when they are used in anodic or cathodic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yong Lak Joo, Nathaniel S. Hansen, Daehwan Cho, Kyoung Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20150099186
    Abstract: Provided herein are silicon nanocomposite nanofibers and processes for preparing the same. In specific examples, provided herein are nanocomposite nanofibers comprising continuous silicon matrices and nanocomposite nanofibers comprising non-aggregated silicon domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yong Lak Joo, Nathaniel S. Hansen, Daehwan Cho, Kyoung Woo Kim, Yong Seok Kim
  • Publication number: 20150099187
    Abstract: A battery electrode material includes: 1) primary particles formed of an electrochemically active material; and 2) a secondary particle defining multiple, discrete internal volumes, wherein the primary particles are disposed within respective ones of the internal volumes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Yi Cui, Nian Liu, Zhenda Lu, Jie Zhao
  • Publication number: 20150099188
    Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Niall Donnelly
  • Publication number: 20150099189
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a lead-acid battery having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator positioned between the electrodes to electrically insulate the electrodes. Battery includes a nonwoven fiber mat positioned adjacent an electrode. Mat includes a mixture of first glass fibers having diameters between 8 ?m to 13 ?m and second glass fibers having diameters of at least 6 ?m and a silane sizing. An acid resistant binder bonds the glass fibers to form mat. A wetting component is applied to increase the wettability such that mat exhibits an average water wick height of at least 1.0 cm after exposure to water for 10 minutes. A conductive material is disposed on a surface of mat such that when mat is adjacent an electrode, the conductive material contacts the electrode. An electrical resistance of less than 100,000 ohms per square enables electron flow about mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Michael Ketzer, Gerold Albert, Zhihua Guo, Souvik Nandi, Jawed Asrar, Albert G. Dietz, III
  • Publication number: 20150099190
    Abstract: Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Tim Holme, Niall Donnelly, Sriram Iyer, Adrian Winoto, Mohit Singh, Will Hudson, Dong Hee Anna Choi, Oleh Karpenko
  • Publication number: 20150099191
    Abstract: A homologous series of cyclic carbonate or propylene carbonate (PC) analogue solvents with increasing length of linear alkyl substitutes were synthesized and used as co-solvents with PC for graphite based lithium ion half cells. A graphite anode reaches a capacity around 310 mAh/g in PC and its analogue co-solvents with 99.95% Coulombic efficiency. Cyclic carbonate co-solvents with longer alkyl chains are able to prevent exfoliation of graphite when used as co-solvents with PC. The cyclic carbonate co-solvents of PC compete for solvation of Li ion with PC solvent, delaying PC co-intercalation. Reduction products of PC on graphite surfaces via single-electron path form a stable Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI), which allows the reversible cycling of graphite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Gao Liu, Hui Zhao, Sang-Jae Park
  • Publication number: 20150099192
    Abstract: A non-aqueous liquid electrolyte for a secondary battery, containing, in an aprotic solvent: an electrolyte; a particular nitrile compound; and a flame retardant composed of a particular phosphate compound or a phosphazene compound, in which the nitrile compound is contained in an amount of 0.1 parts by mass to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the flame retardant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiko YAWATA, Ikuo KINOSHITA
  • Publication number: 20150099193
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery that operates at a high voltage, has a high cycle life, and generates less gas, and an electrolytic solution for such a lithium ion secondary battery. An electrolytic solution for a non-aqueous energy storage device, comprising: a non-aqueous solvent; a lithium salt (A) having no boron atom; a predetermined lithium salt (B) containing a boron atom; and a compound (C) in which at least one of hydrogen atoms in an acid selected from the group consisting of proton acids having a phosphorus atom and/or a boron atom, sulfonic acids, and carboxylic acids is replaced with a substituent represented by formula (3): wherein R3, R4, and R5 each independently represent an organic group which has 1 to 10 carbon atoms and which may have a substituent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Hamasaki, Aya Inaba, Keiko Sumino, Yusuke Shigemori, Gang Cheng, Steven S. Kaye, Bin Li