Iron, Cobalt, Or Nickel Compound Patents (Class 252/521.2)
  • Publication number: 20130062582
    Abstract: A mixed metal oxide having the formula xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMO2 formed efficiently and in a reduced number of steps by at least partially drying an aqueous metal hydroxide mixture to form a mixed metal precursor, and then reacting the mixed metal precursor to form the mixed metal oxide. The aqueous metal hydroxide mixture includes lithium, manganese, and one or more additional metals in stoichiometric proportions indicated by the formula xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMO2, where 0<x<1 and M represents manganese and the one or more additional metals. In some cases, the aqueous metal hydroxide mixture is formed by preparing an aqueous metal salt solution including lithium, manganese, and the one or more additional metals in stoichiometric proportions indicated by the formula xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiMO2, and combining the aqueous metal salt solution with ammonium hydroxide to form the aqueous metal hydroxide mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Haitao Huang, Yazid Saidi
  • Publication number: 20130065130
    Abstract: An electrode (110) is provided that may be used in an electrochemical device (100) such as an energy storage/discharge device, e.g., a lithium-ion battery, or an electrochromic device, e.g., a smart window. Hydrothermal techniques and vacuum filtration methods were applied to fabricate the electrode (110). The electrode (110) includes an active portion (140) that is made up of electrochemically active nanoparticles, with one embodiment utilizing 3d-transition metal oxides to provide the electrochemical capacity of the electrode (110). The active material (140) may include other electrochemical materials, such as silicon, tin, lithium manganese oxide, and lithium iron phosphate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
    Inventor: ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, LLC
  • Patent number: 8394299
    Abstract: Provided is a transition metal precursor comprising a composite transition metal compound represented by Formula I, as a transition metal precursor used in the preparation of a lithium-transition metal composite oxide: M(OH1?x)2??(1) wherein M is two or more selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr and transition metals of period 2 in the Periodic Table of the Elements; and 0<x<0.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Suk Shin, Sung Kyun Chang, Hong-Kyu Park, Seung Tae Hong, Sinyoung Park, Youngsun Choi
  • Patent number: 8394291
    Abstract: Processes produce a lithium vanadium fluorophosphate or a carbon-containing lithium vanadium fluorophosphate. Such processes include forming a solution-suspension of precursors having V5+ that is to be reduced to V3+. The solution-suspension is heated in an inert environment to drive synthesis of LiVPO4F such that carbon-residue-forming material is also oxidized to precipitate in and on the LiVPO4F forming carbon-containing LiVPO4F or CLVPF. Liquids are separated from solids and a resulting dry powder is heated to a second higher temperature to drive crystallization of a product. The product includes carbon for conductivity, is created with low cost precursors, and retains a small particle size without need for milling or other processing to reduce the product to a particle size suitable for use in batteries. Furthermore, the process does not rely on addition of carbon black, graphite or other form of carbon to provide the conductivity required for use in batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Zhenhua Mao, Mark W. Carel, Daniel H. Irvin, David W. Westphal
  • Publication number: 20130052529
    Abstract: A particulate mixture etc., which can be used as a precursor of lithium transition metal silicate-type compound of small particle size and low crystallinity, is provided. Further, a cathode active material that can undergo charge-and-discharge reaction in room temperature, and comprises lithium transition metal silicate-type compound, is provided. It is a mixture of silicon oxide particulates, transition metal oxide particulates, and lithium transition metal silicate particulates, and its powder X-ray diffraction measurement shows diffraction peaks near 2?=33.1° and near 2?=35.7°, and said silicon oxide particulates and said transition metal oxide particulates are amorphous, and said lithium transition metal silicate particulates are in a microcrystalline or amorphous state. Furthermore, a cathode active material obtained by grinding the active material aggregate obtained by heat-treating this particulate mixture is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michio OHKUBO, Takeshi YAGI, Michihiro SHIMADA, Naoki UNO, Yosuke HIRAYAMA, Takeshi NISHIMURA, Toshio TANI
  • Publication number: 20130029221
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition for electrodes comprising a material M selected from a nickel-based hydroxide and a hydrogen-fixing alloy, and a pentavalent niobium oxide Nb2O5 of monoclinic structure. The invention also proposes a positive electrode for an alkaline accumulator and a negative electrode for a nickel-metal hydride accumulator comprising the composition according to the invention as well as an alkaline accumulator comprising at least one electrode according to the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: SAFT
    Inventors: Patrick BERNARD, Lionel GOUBAULT, Stephane GILLOT
  • Patent number: 8349221
    Abstract: A method of producing Prussian blue metal complex nanoparticles and Prussian blue metal complex nanoparticles obtained by the method, a dispersion of the nanoparticles, a method of regulating the color of the nanoparticles, and an electrode and a transmitted light-regulator each using the nanoparticles. Prussian blue metal complex nanoparticles are produced by: mixing an aqueous solution containing a metal cyano complex anion having metal atom MA as a central metal and an aqueous solution containing a cation of metal atom MB; thereby precipitating the crystal of a Prussian blue metal complex having the metal atom MA and the metal atom MB; and then mixing the Prussian blue metal complex with an aqueous solution containing a metal cyano complex anion having the metal atom MC as a central metal and/or an aqueous solution containing a cation of the metal atom MD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Tohru Kawamoto, Hisashi Tanaka, Shigeo Hara, Masato Kurihara, Masatomi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8343390
    Abstract: A powderous lithium transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure Li1+aM1?aO2±bM?kSm with ?0.03<a<0.06, b?0, 0?m?0.6, m being expressed in mol %, M being a transition metal compound, consisting of at least 95% of either one or more elements of the group Ni, Mn, Co and Ti; M? being present on the surface of the powderous oxide, and consisting of either one or more elements of the group Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce and Zr, wherein: either k=0 and M=Ni1?c?dMncCOd, with 0<c<1, and 0<d<1; or 0.015<k<0.15, k being expressed in wt % of said lithium transition metal oxide; characterized in that for said powderous oxide, the X-ray diffraction peak at 44.5±0.3 degree, having as index 104, measured with K alpha radiation, has a FWHM value of ?0.1 degree. By optimizing the sintering temperature of the metal oxide the FWHM value can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Jens Martin Paulsen, Thomas Lau, HeonPyo Hong, JiHye Kim
  • Patent number: 8343389
    Abstract: A composition that contains nickel oxyhydroxide, nickel metal, ruthenium oxide (Ru02) and a binder is prepared as the cathode for a nickel-zinc battery. Metal oxide or hydroxide with a rare earth oxide may be included in the cathode to improve the electrode capacity and shelf life. Optionally, zinc oxide is added to the cathode to facilitate charger transfer and improve the characteristics of high rate discharging. The cathode significantly increases the charging efficiency, promotes the overpotential of oxygen evolution, and intensifies the depth of discharging, thereby increasing the overall efficiency and lifespan of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Fuyuan Ma
  • Publication number: 20120326102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which attains a lithium ion battery having high safety. The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Lix(NiyM1-y)Oz (wherein M represents Mn and Co, x denotes a number of 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number of 0.8±0.025, and z denotes a number of 1.8 to 2.4). When a lithium ion battery using a positive electrode mix produced by the positive electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material in a ratio by weight of 91%, 4.2%, and 4.8%, respectively, is charged to 4.3V, and then an electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving 1 M-LiPF6 in a mixture solvent of ethylene carbonate (EC)-dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (volume ratio 1:1) is used based on 1.0 mg of the positive electrode mix to measure the obtained lithium ion battery by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) performed at a temperature rise rate of 5° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohito Satoh
  • Publication number: 20120326101
    Abstract: The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which attains a lithium ion battery having high safety. The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Lix(NiyM1-y)Oz (wherein M represents Mn and Co, x denotes a number of 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number of 0.8±0.025, and z denotes a number of 1.8 to 2.4). After a lithium ion battery using a positive electrode mix produced by the positive electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material in a ratio by weight of 91%, 4.2%, and 4.8%, respectively, is charged to 4.3 V, an accumulated calorific value in a temperature range from 170 to 300° C., which is obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) performed at a temperature rise rate of 5° C./min using an electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving 1 M-LiPF6 in a mixture solvent of ethylene carbonate (EC)-dimethyl carbonate (DMC) (volume ratio 1:1) based on 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: JX NIPPON MINING & METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirohito Satoh
  • Patent number: 8337727
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to positive electrode material used for Li-ion batteries, a precursor and process used for preparing such materials, and Li-ion battery using such material in its positive electrode. The disclosure describes a higher density LiCoO2 positive electrode material for lithium secondary batteries, with a specific surface area (BET) below 0.2 m2/g, and a volumetric median particle size (d50) of more than 15 ?m. This product has, improved specific capacity and rate-capability. Other embodiments of the disclosure are an aggregated Co(OH)2, which is used as a precursor, the electrode mix and the battery manufactured using abovementioned LiCoO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Zhaohui Chen, Robert Ellenwood
  • Patent number: 8329071
    Abstract: Multicomponent nanoparticles materials and apparatuses and processes therefor are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, separate particles generated from solution or suspension or by flame synthesis or flame spray pyrolysis, and the resultant particles are mixed in chamber prior to collection or deposition. In another aspect of the disclosure, nanoparticles are synthesized in stagnation or Bunsen flames and allowed to deposit by thermophoresis on a moving substrate. These techniques are scalable allowing mass production of multicomponent nanoparticles materials and films. The foregoing techniques can be used to prepare composites and component devices comprising one or more lithium based particles intimately mixed with carbon particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hestia Tec, LLC
    Inventors: Hai Wang, Denis Phares
  • Publication number: 20120308915
    Abstract: A cathode material for a fuel cell, the cathode material including a first metal oxide having a perovskite structure; and a second metal oxide having a spinel structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hee-jung PARK, Soo-yeon SEO, Kyoung-seok MOON, Huangang SHI, Dengjie CHEN, Zongping SHAO
  • Patent number: 8323532
    Abstract: A lamellar-type oxide, in particular used as active material of a positive electrode for a lithium battery and to a method for synthesizing such an oxide. The oxides are used as active materials for the positive electrode of a lithium battery. With such oxides, the specific capacity of a lithium battery is improved and stabilized on cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Sébastien Patoux, Carole Bourbon
  • Patent number: 8313672
    Abstract: A kind of manufacturing method for dual functions with varistor material and device has one of the characteristics among capacitance, inductance, voltage suppressor and thermistor in addition to surge absorbing characteristic, which microstructural compositions include a glass substrate with high resistance and three kinds of low-resistance conductive or semiconductive particles in micron, submicron and nanometer size uniformly distributed in the glass substrate to provide with good surge absorbing characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Leader Well Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Wen Tan, Jie-An Zhu, Li-Yun Zhang
  • Patent number: 8309839
    Abstract: A method of improving the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) of a high-efficiency thermoelectric material is disclosed. The method includes the addition of fullerene (C60) clusters between the crystal grains of the material. It has been found that the lattice thermal conductivity (?L) of a thermoelectric material decreases with increasing fullerene concentration, due to enhanced phonon-large defect scattering. The resulting power factor (S2/?) decrease of the material is offset by the lattice thermal conductivity reduction, leading to enhanced ZT values at temperatures of between 350 degrees K and 700 degrees K.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Lidong Chen, Xun Shi, Jihui Yang, Gregory P. Meisner
  • Patent number: 8303855
    Abstract: The invention covers a powderous lithium transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure Li1+aM1?aO2+bM?k Sm with ?0.03<a<0.06, b?0, M being a transition metal compound, consisting of at least 95% of either one or more elements of the group Ni, Mn, Co and Ti; M? being present on the surface of the powderous oxide, and consisting of either one or more elements from (IUPAC) of the Periodic Table, each of said Group 2, 3, or 4 elements having an ionic radius between 0.7 and 1.2 Angstrom, M? however not comprising Ti, with 0.015<k<0.15, k being expressed in wt %, and 0.15<m?0.6, m being expressed in mol %. The addition M? (like Y, Sr, Ca, Zr, . . . ) improves the performance as cathode in rechargeable lithium batteries. In a preferred embodiment a content of 250-400 ppm calcium and 0.2-0.6 mol % of sulfur is used. Particularly, a significantly lower content of soluble base and a dramatically reduced content of fine particles are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore
    Inventors: Jens Martin Paulsen, Thomas Lau
  • Publication number: 20120270109
    Abstract: Amorphous or partially amorphous nanoscale ion storage materials are provided. For example, lithium transition metal phosphate storage compounds are nanoscale and amorphous or partially amorphous in an as-prepared state, or become amorphous or partially amorphous upon electrochemical intercalation or de-intercalation by lithium. These nanoscale ion storage materials are useful for producing devices such as high energy and high power storage batteries.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: A123 SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Yet-Ming CHIANG, Anthony E. PULLEN, Nonglak MEETHONG
  • Publication number: 20120267580
    Abstract: Provided herein are electroactive agglomerated particles, which comprise nanoparticles of a first electroactive material and nanoparticles of a second electroactive materials, and processes of preparation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: AMERICAN LITHIUM ENERGY CORP.
    Inventors: Jiang Fan, Robert M. Spotnitz
  • Patent number: 8288053
    Abstract: This invention provides a nickel oxide powder material, a production process thereof with high efficiency, a raw material composition for use in the same, and an anode material using the nickel oxide powder material. The nickel oxide powder material, when used as an anode material for a solid oxide fuel cell, can reduce heat shrinkage percentage in calcination to reduce a shrinkage difference from other component, and can suppress the occurrence of cracking, delamination, warpage and the like during calcining. Also in power generation after re-reduction after exposure of the anode once to an oxidizing atmosphere, for example, due to the disruption of the fuel supply, deterioration of microstructure of the anode can be suppressed, and the voltage drop percentage of the cell can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norimichi Yonesato, Hiroyuki Toya, Kazuomi Ryoshi, Tai Ito, Shoji Futaki
  • Patent number: 8282855
    Abstract: The composite positive active material of a lithium battery is composed of a main active material containing lithium and a sheathing active material containing lithium, whose particle diameter is far smaller than that of the main active material. A pulp containing these two active materials is sprayed and dried to form a mixed powder. The composite positive active material is obtained by means of sintering the mixed powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Vista Advance Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yu-Ta Tu
  • Patent number: 8268198
    Abstract: Provided is a precursor for the preparation of a lithium transition metal oxide that is used for the preparation of a lithium transition metal oxide as a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery, through a reaction with a lithium-containing compound, wherein the precursor contains two or more transition metals, and sulfate ion (SO4)-containing salt ions derived from a transition metal salt for the preparation of the precursor have a content of 0.1 to 0.7% by weight, based on the total weight of the precursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Suk Shin, Sung kyun Chang, Hong-Kyu Park, Sinyoung Park, Youngsun Choi, Seung Tae Hong, Hyo-shik Kil
  • Publication number: 20120217452
    Abstract: Provided are a mixed cathode active material including lithium manganese oxide expressed as Chemical Formula 1 and a stoichiometric spinel structure Li4Mn5O12 having a plateau voltage profile in a range of 2.5 V to 3.3 V, and a lithium secondary battery including the mixed cathode active material. The mixed cathode material and the lithium secondary battery including the same may have improved safety and simultaneously, power may be maintained more than a required value by allowing Li4Mn5O12 to complement low power in a low state of charge (SOC) range. Therefore, a mixed cathode active material able to widen an available SOC range and a lithium secondary battery including the mixed cathode active material may be provided and properly used in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or electric vehicle (EV).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventors: Jung Hwan PARK, Song Taek Oh, Geun Chang Chung, Su Hwan Kim, Juichi Arai
  • Publication number: 20120183850
    Abstract: Disclosed are: a positive electrode mixture which provides a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery that is capable of exhibiting high output at high current rate; and a positive electrode. Specifically disclosed is a positive electrode mixture which contains a positive electrode active material powder, a conductive agent, a binder and a solvent. The positive electrode active material powder is composed of particles having an average particle diameter of 0.05-1 ?m (inclusive) and has a tap density of 0.8-3.0 g/cm3. The amount of the conductive agent relative to 100 parts by weight of the positive electrode active material powder is 0.5-20 parts by weight; the amount of the binder relative to 100 parts by weight of the positive electrode active material powder is 0.5-10 parts by weight; and the amount of the solvent relative to 100 parts by weight of the positive electrode active material powder is 10-120 parts by weight. The positive electrode mixture has a viscosity of 1,000-25,000 mPa·s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takitaro Yamaguchi, Jun-ichi Kageura
  • Patent number: 8221656
    Abstract: A secondary battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics and the storage characteristics is provided. The secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, and an electrolytic solution. The anode contains an anode active material containing a material that is capable of inserting and extracting an electrode reactant and has at least one of metal elements and metalloid elements. Further, the electrolytic solution contains a solvent containing a sulfone compound having a structure in which —S(?O)2—S—C(?O)— bond is introduced to a benzene skeleton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Ihara, Hiroyuki Yamaguchi, Tadahiko Kubota
  • Patent number: 8211336
    Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery which is suppressed in increase of internal resistance, while having high capacity retention rate and small battery swelling even after a long use. Specifically disclosed is a method for manufacturing a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, which is characterized by using a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material having an ?-NaFeO2 crystal structure and the following chemical composition: LixMnaNibCocOd (wherein 0<x<1.3, a+b+c=1, 1.7?d?2.3), while satisfying |a?b|<0.03 and 0.33?c<1, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing an unsaturated sultone and a sulfate ester compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd.
    Inventors: Hanako Miyasaka, Takaaki Iguchi, Junichi Kuratomi, Sumio Mori
  • Publication number: 20120153231
    Abstract: A cathode material structure and a method for preparing the same are described. The cathode material structure includes a material body and a composite film coated thereon. The material body has a particle size of 0.1-50 ?m. The composite film has a porous structure and electrical conductivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Tsung-Hsiung Wang, Jing-Pin Pan, Chung-Liang Chang, Yu-Ling Lin
  • Publication number: 20120152354
    Abstract: Growth and characterization of low cost, and high efficiency micro- and nanostructured p-n heterojunction solar cells through eutectic solidification are provided. Eutectic solidification results in self-assembly of lamellar or rod-like domains with length scales from hundreds of nanometers to micrometers that can be used for efficient extraction of minority carriers in metallurgical-grade materials. The material having a eutectic or near-eutectic composition can be used in making a low-cost and efficient inorganic solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Inventor: Akram Boukai
  • Patent number: 8202365
    Abstract: In a process for producing an oriented inorganic crystalline film, a non-monocrystalline film containing inorganic crystalline particles is formed on a substrate by a liquid phase technique using a raw-material solution which contains a raw material and an organic solvent, where the inorganic crystalline particles have a layered crystal structure and are contained in the raw material. Then, the non-monocrystalline film is crystallized by heating the non-monocrystalline film to a temperature equal to or higher than the crystallization temperature of the non-monocrystalline film so that part of the inorganic crystalline particles act as crystal nuclei.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Umeda, Hiroyuki Hirai, Atsushi Tanaka, Katsuhiro Kohda, Kohei Higashi, Hiroshi Sunagawa
  • Patent number: 8197719
    Abstract: Provided herein are electroactive agglomerated particles, which comprise nanoparticles of a first electroactive material and nanoparticles of a second electroactive materials, and processes of preparation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: American Lithium Energy Corp.
    Inventors: Jiang Fan, Robert M. Spotnitz
  • Patent number: 8192595
    Abstract: A transition metal/carbon nanotube composite includes a carbon nanotube and a transition metal oxide coating layer disposed on the carbon nanotube. The transition metal oxide coating layer includes a nickel-cobalt oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University
    Inventors: Ho-jung Yang, Hyo-rang Kang, Kwang-bum Kim, Jin-go Kim
  • Publication number: 20120134914
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cathode active material and a method to produce the same at low cost. The cathode powder comprises modified LiCoO2, and possibly a second phase which is LiM?O2 where M? is Mn, Ni, Co with a stoichiometric ratio Ni:Mn?1. The modified LiCoO2 is Ni and Mn bearing and has regions of low and high manganese content, where regions with high manganese content are located in islands on the surface. The cathode material has high cycling stability, a very high rate performance and good high temperature storage properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Jens Martin Paulsen, Hyunjoo JE, Maxime Blangero
  • Patent number: 8178009
    Abstract: There is provided a slurry for a secondary battery electrode and an electrode for a secondary battery that produce satisfactory charge-discharge characteristics for secondary batteries, as well as a secondary battery that exhibits satisfactory charge-discharge characteristics. The invention provides a slurry for a secondary battery electrode comprising an electrode active material and an ambient temperature molten salt composed of a cation component and an anion component, an electrode for a secondary battery wherein an electrode active material layer is formed by coating the slurry for a secondary battery electrode onto a current collector, a process for production of an electrode for a secondary battery whereby the slurry for a secondary battery electrode is coated onto a current collector metal foil to form a coated film, and a secondary battery comprising a positive electrode and/or negative electrode fabricated using the electrode for a secondary battery, and an electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8168150
    Abstract: The invention relates to binary, ternary and quaternary lithium phosphates of general formula Li(FexM1yM2z)PO4 wherein M1 represents at least one element of the group comprising Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr, and La; M2 represents at least one element of the group comprising Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr, and La; x=between 0.5 and 1, y=between 0 and 0.5, z=between 0 and 0.5, provided that x+y+z=1, or x=0, y=1 and z=0. The said lithium phosphates can be obtained according to a method whereby precursor compounds of elements Li, Fe, M1 and/or M2 are precipitated from aqueous solutions and the precipitation product is dried in an inert gas atmosphere or a reducing atmosphere at a temperature which is between room temperature and approximately 200° C. and tempered at a temperature of between 300° C. and 1000° C. The inventive lithium phosphates have a very high capacity when used as cathode material in lithium accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Zentrum fur Sonnenenergie-und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Wurttenberg, Gemeinnutzige Stiftung
    Inventors: Reinhard P. Hemmer, Giesela Arnold, Christian Vogler, Margret Wohlfahrt-Mehrens
  • Publication number: 20120088145
    Abstract: Disclosed is a powder comprising a lithium-containing compound and a nickel-containing mixed metal compound, and satisfying the following requirements of (1) and (2) when the powder is analyzed by plasma emission spectrometry of particles: (1) an absolute deviation of a synchronous distribution chart against an approximated straight-line is 0.10 or less, wherein the approximated straight-line is evaluated from a synchronous distribution chart obtained by plotting an emission intensity of lithium and an emission intensity of nickel of each particle composing of the powder, and (2) a release rate of lithium evaluated by the following formula is 80 or less: Release rate of lithium=(nb/na)×100 wherein, na is the number of particles containing lithium in the powder, and nb is the number of particles containing lithium and not containing nickel in the powder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: SUMITOMO CHEMICAL COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Shimano, Kensaku Horie, Toshinori Isobe
  • Publication number: 20120085977
    Abstract: A method of producing a nanocomposite thermoelectric conversion material includes preparing a solution that contains salts of a plurality of first elements constituting a thermoelectric conversion material, and a salt of a second element that has a redox potential lower than redox potentials of the first elements; precipitating the first elements, thereby producing a matrix-precursor that is a precursor of a matrix made of the thermoelectric conversion material, by adding a reducing agent to the solution; precipitating the second element in the matrix-precursor, thereby producing slurry containing the first elements and the second element, by further adding the reducing agent to the solution; and alloying the plurality of the first elements, thereby producing the matrix (70) made of the thermoelectric conversion material, and producing nano-sized phonon-scattering particles (80) including the second element, which are dispersed in the matrix (70), by filtering and washing the slurry, and then, heat-treating t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventors: Junya Murai, Takuji Kita
  • Patent number: 8153032
    Abstract: Transition metal hydroxide and oxide, method of producing the same, and cathode material containing the same are disclosed. One method includes coupling an alkaline solution to a transition metal salt solution under an inert gas atmosphere, whereby the alkaline solution includes an additive. A transition metal oxide may be prepared by heating the transition metal hydroxide under an oxygen gas atmosphere. Cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries may be prepared incorporating the transition metal hydroxide and oxide embodiments disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: BYD Company Limited
    Inventors: WenQiang Xia, ChaQing Xu, ZhanFeng Jiang
  • Publication number: 20120080649
    Abstract: A process for preparing transition metal particles with a gradient in composition from the core of the particle to the outer layers. In particular, the process involves contacting a first transition metal solution with a second transition metal solution to form a transition metal source solution under specific process conditions. The transition metal particles with desired composition gradients are precipitated from the transition metal source solution. The transition metal particles may be combined with metals such as lithium to form cathode active metal oxides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Gary M. Koenig, JR., Ilias Belharouak, Khalil Amine, Haixia Deng
  • Publication number: 20120077082
    Abstract: Electrodes for lithium batteries are coated via an atomic layer deposition process. The coatings can be applied to the assembled electrodes, or in some cases to particles of electrode material prior to assembling the particles into an electrode. The coatings can be as thin as 2 ?ngstroms thick. The coating provides for a stable electrode. Batteries containing the electrodes tend to exhibit high cycling capacities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Lee Se-Hee, Steven M. George, Andrew S. Cavanagh, Jung Yoon Seok, Anne C. Dillon
  • Publication number: 20120067408
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an absorber composition and photovoltaic device (PV) using the composition comprising nanoparticles and/or sintered nanoparticles comprising compounds having the formula MAxMByMCz(LAaLBb)4 where MA, MB and MC comprise elements chosen from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Sn and Pb, LA and LB are chalcogens and x is between 1.5 and 2.2, y and z are independently the same or different and are between 0.5 and 1.5 and (a+b)=1. Particularly preferred synthetic routes to uniform thin films in PV devices comprising sintered nanoparticles of Cu2ZnSnSe4 and Cu2ZnSnS4 are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: SOLEXANT CORP.
    Inventors: Charlie Hotz, Margaret Hines, Donald Zehnder, Damoder Reddy, Jing Tang
  • Patent number: 8129076
    Abstract: To accelerate a film formation rate in forming a negative electrode active material film by vapor deposition using an evaporation source containing Si as a principal component, and to provide an electrode for lithium batteries which is superior in productivity, and keeps the charge and discharge capacity at high level are contemplated. The method of manufacturing an electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes the steps of: providing an evaporation source containing Si and Fe to give a molar ratio of Fe/(Si+Fe) being no less than 0.0005 and no greater than 0.15; and vapor deposition by melting the evaporation source and permitting evaporation to allow for vapor deposition on a collector directly or through an underlying layer. The electrode for lithium batteries of the present invention includes a collector, and a negative electrode active material film which includes SiFeyOx (wherein, 0<x<2, and 0.0001?y/(1+y)?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Shibutani, Yuko Ogawa, Kazuyoshi Honda
  • Publication number: 20120052375
    Abstract: A positive electrode is disclosed for a non-aqueous electrolyte lithium rechargeable cell or battery. The electrode comprises a lithium containing material of the formula NayLixNizMn1-z-z?Mz?Od, wherein M is a metal cation, x+y>1, 0<z<0.5, 0?z?<0.5, y+x+1 is less than d, and the value of d depends on the proportions and average oxidation states of the metallic elements, Li, Na, Mn, Ni, and M, if present, such that the combined positive charge of the metallic elements is balanced by the number of oxygen anions, d. The inventive material preferably has a spinel or spinel-like component in its structure. The value of y preferably is less than about 0.2, and M comprises one or more metal cations selected preferably from one or more monovalent, divalent, trivalent or tetravalent cations, such as Mg2+, Co2+, Co3+, B3+, Ga3+, Fe2+, Fe3+, Al3+, and Ti4+.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Johnson, Sun-Ho Kang
  • Patent number: 8119095
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite sintering materials using a carbon nanotube (including carbide nano particles, hereinafter the same) and a manufacturing method thereof, the method comprises the steps of: combining or generating carbon nanotubes in metal powers, a compacted product, or a sintered product; growing and alloying the carbon nanotubes by compacting or sintering the metal powers, the compacted product, or the sintered product; and strengthening the mechanical characteristics by repeatedly performing the sintering process and the combining process or the generating process of the carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: C & Tech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-chul Ahn, Sun-hwa Yang, Hyeung-eun Ahn
  • Publication number: 20120032165
    Abstract: Provided are an aqueous solution composition for fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor, a method for manufacturing a fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor using the same, and a thin film transistor including the same. The aqueous solution composition for fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor includes: a fluorine compound precursor made of one or two or more selected from the group consisting of a metal compound containing fluorine and an organic material containing fluorine; and an aqueous solution containing water or catalyst. The method for manufacturing a fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor, includes: preparing an aqueous solution composition for fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor, coating a substrate with the aqueous solution composition; and performing heat treatment on the coated substrate to form the fluorine doped metal oxide semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Byeong-Soo BAE, Jun-Hyuck JEON
  • Patent number: 8105508
    Abstract: The present invention relates to crystalline nanometric olivine-type LiFe1-xMnxPO4 powder with 0<x<1, with small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. The fine particle size is believed to account for excellent high-drain properties, while minimizing the need for conductive additives. The narrow distribution facilitates the electrode manufacturing process and ensures a homogeneous current distribution within the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Umicore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Stéphane Levasseur, Michèle Van Thournout, Pierre Gibot, Christian Masquelier
  • Patent number: 8080184
    Abstract: A compound of formula Li1+x(NiaMnbCocAly)1?xO2 wherein: a, b and c are non-zero; a+b+c+y=1; 1.05?(1+x)/(1?x)?1.25; 0.015?y(1?x); and the atomic amount of manganese representing from 95% to 100% of the atomic amount of nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Saft, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Umicore
    Inventors: Julien Breger, Frederic Castaing, Philippe Biensan, Jessica Bains, Laurence Croguennec, Claude Delmas, Stephane Levasseur
  • Patent number: 8075806
    Abstract: A method of making a treating wash includes mixing brass granules with acetone, mixing carbon nanotube material, iron pyrite granules and copper granules in the acetone brass mixture, and straining the liquid from the remaining solid material. Methods of treating materials such as brass granules, iron pyrite granules, carbon nanotube material, and brass granules comprises washing the materials in the treating wash, followed by straining and drying the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Kryron Global, LLC
    Inventor: John M. Bourque
  • Publication number: 20110297895
    Abstract: A method for making a lithium battery cathode material is disclosed. A mixed solution including a solvent, an iron salt material, and a phosphate material is provided. An alkaline solution is added into the mixed solution until the mixed solution has a pH value ranging from about 1.5 to 5. The iron salt react with the phosphate material to form a plurality of iron phosphate precursor particles which are added in a mixture of a lithium source solution and a reducing agent to form a lithium iron phosphate precursor slurry. The lithium iron phosphate precursor slurry is heat-treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: GAI YANG, CHANG-YIN JIANG, JIAN GAO, JIE-RONG YING, JIAN-JUN LI, XIANG-MING HE
  • Patent number: 8066916
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lithium secondary batteries and more specifically to positive electrode materials operating at potentials greater than 2.8 V vs. Li+/Li in non-aqueous electrochemical cells. In particular, the invention relates to crystalline nanometric olivine-type LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder with M is Co and/or Mn, and 0<x<1, with small particle size and narrow particle size distribution. A direct precipitation process is described, comprising the steps of:—providing a water-based mixture having at a pH between 6 and 10, containing a dipolar aprotic additive, and Li(I), Fe(II), P(V), and Co(II) and/or Mn(II) as precursor components;—heating said water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, thereby precipitating crystalline LiFe1-xMxPO4 powder. An extremely fine particle size is obtained of about 80 nm for Mn and 275 nm for Co, both with a narrow distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignees: Umicore, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Stephane Levasseur, Michèle Van Thournout, Pierre Gibot, Christian Masquelier