| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20110159365 | TEMPLATE ELECTRODE STRUCTURES FOR DEPOSITING ACTIVE MATERIALS - Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110229761 | INTERCONNECTING ELECTROCHEMICALLY ACTIVE MATERIAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Provided are various examples of lithium electrode subassemblies, lithium ion cells using such subassemblies, and methods of fabricating such subassemblies. Methods generally include receiving nanostructures containing electrochemically active materials and interconnecting at least a portion of these nanostructures. Interconnecting may involve depositing one or more interconnecting materials, such as amorphous silicon and/or metal containing materials. Interconnecting may additionally or alternatively involve treating a layer containing the nanostructures using various techniques, such as compressing the layer, heating the layer, and/or passing an electrical current through the layer. These methods may be used to interconnect nanostructures containing one or more high capacity materials, such as silicon, germanium, and tin, and having various shapes or forms, such as nanowires, nanoparticles, and nano-flakes. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20120301789 | TEMPLATE ELECTRODE STRUCTURES FOR DEPOSITING ACTIVE MATERIALS - Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20130194716 | SOLID STATE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - Described in this patent application are devices for energy storage and methods of making and using such devices. In various embodiments, blocking layers are provided between dielectric material and the electrodes of an energy storage device. The block layers are characterized by higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material. There are other embodiments as well. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130344383 | TEMPLATE ELECTRODE STRUCTURES FOR DEPOSITING ACTIVE MATERIALS - Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140170493 | NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION REACTIONS - The disclosure is related to battery systems. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide a nanostructured conversion material for use as the active material in battery cathodes. In an implementation, a nanostructured conversion material is a glassy material and includes a metal material, one or more oxidizing species, and a reducing cation species mixed at a scale of less than 1 nm. The glassy conversion material is substantially homogeneous within a volume of 1000nm | 06-19-2014 |
| 20140234715 | PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR CONVERSION MATERIAL CATHODES - Battery systems using coated conversion materials as the active material in battery cathodes are provided herein. Protective coatings may be an oxide, phosphate, or fluoride, and may be lithiated. The coating may selectively isolate the conversion material from the electrolyte. Methods for fabricating batteries and battery systems with coated conversion material are also provided herein. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140317912 | NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION REACTIONS - The disclosure is related to battery systems. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide a nanostructured conversion material for use as the active material in battery cathodes. In an implementation, a nanostructured conversion material is a glassy material and includes a metal material, one or more oxidizing species, and a reducing cation species mixed at a scale of less than 1 nm. The glassy conversion material is substantially homogeneous within a volume of 1000 nm | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140322603 | NANOSTRUCTURED MATERIALS FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CONVERSION REACTIONS - The disclosure is related to battery systems. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide a nanostructured conversion material for use as the active material in battery cathodes. In an implementation, a nanostructured conversion material is a glassy material and includes a metal material, one or more oxidizing species, and a reducing cation species mixed at a scale of less than 1 nm. The glassy conversion material is substantially homogeneous within a volume of 1000 nm | 10-30-2014 |
| 20140363740 | SOLID STATE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - Solid state energy storage systems and devices are provided. A solid state energy storage devices can include an active layer disposed between conductive electrodes, the active layer having one or more quantum confinement species (QCS), such as quantum dots, quantum particles, quantum wells, nanoparticles, nanostructures, nanowires and nanofibers. The solid state energy storage device can have a charge rate of at least about 500 V/s and an energy storage density of at least about 150 Whr/kg. | 12-11-2014 |
| 20150235768 | SOLID STATE ENERGY STORAGE DEVICES - Described in this patent application are devices for energy storage and methods of making and using such devices. In various embodiments, blocking layers are provided between dielectric material and the electrodes of an energy storage device. The block layers are characterized by higher dielectric constant than the dielectric material. There are other embodiments as well. | 08-20-2015 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090087380 | Polymer devices for therapeutic applications - Multi-layered polymer devices having three-dimensional containers for holding a therapeutic and/or imaging agent are provided. The devices have a high loading ratio of agent to polymer material for effective treatment. Delivery wings or regions with channels connected to the containers are also incorporated in the devices. The delivery wings can be flexible and insertable into hollow instruments, such as a needle. Anchoring structures are also provided for fixing the position of the device after injection into a subject. The polymer layers of the device can be biodegradable. Biodegradable materials can also be used to provide controlled release of agents, such as for immunizations and other therapeutic or non-therapeutic applications. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090087712 | Fabrication method of thin film solid oxide fuel cells - A silicon-based solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with high surface area density in a limited volume is provided. The structure consists of a corrugated nano-thin film electrolyte and a silicon supportive layer on a two-stage silicon wafer through-hole to maximize the electrochemically active surface area within a given volume. The silicon supportive layer is done by boron-etch stop technique with diffusion doping. The fabrication of two-stage wafer through hole combines deep reactive ionic etching (DRIE) and KOH wet etching of silicon for a wafer through hole containing two difference sizes. By these design and fabrication methods, the absolute electrochemically active area can be as high as five times of that of the projected area. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20110111296 | OPEN STRUCTURES IN SUBSTRATES FOR ELECTRODES - Provided are conductive substrates having open structures and fractional void volumes of at least about 25% or, more specifically, or at least about 50% for use in lithium ion batteries. Nanostructured active materials are deposited over such substrates to form battery electrodes. The fractional void volume may help to accommodate swelling of some active materials during cycling. In certain embodiments, overall outer dimensions of the electrode remain substantially the same during cycling, while internal open spaces of the conductive substrate provide space for any volumetric changes in the nanostructured active materials. In specific embodiments, a nanoscale layer of silicon is deposited over a metallic mesh to form a negative electrode. In another embodiment, a conductive substrate is a perforated sheet with multiple openings, such that a nanostructured active material is deposited into the openings but not on the external surfaces of the sheet. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110111300 | INTERMEDIATE LAYERS FOR ELECTRODE FABRICATION - Provided are novel electrodes for use in lithium ion batteries. An electrode includes one or more intermediate layers positioned between a substrate and an electrochemically active material. Intermediate layers may be made from chromium, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, nickel, molybdenum, lithium, as well as other materials and their combinations. An intermediate layer may protect the substrate, help to redistribute catalyst during deposition of the electrochemically active material, improve adhesion between the active material and substrate, and other purposes. In certain embodiments, an active material includes one or more high capacity active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. These materials tend to swell during cycling and may loose mechanical and/or electrical connection to the substrate. A flexible intermediate layer may compensate for swelling and provide a robust adhesion interface. Provided also are novel methods of fabricating electrodes containing one or more intermediate layers. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20120045670 | AUXILIARY ELECTRODES FOR ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS CONTAINING HIGH CAPACITY ACTIVE MATERIALS - Provided are novel electrochemical cells that include positive electrodes, negative electrodes containing high capacity active materials such as silicon, and auxiliary electrodes containing lithium. An auxiliary electrode is provided in the cell at least prior to its formation cycling and is used to supply lithium to the negative electrode. The auxiliary electrode may be then removed from the cell prior or after formation. The transfer of lithium to the negative electrode may be performed using a different electrolyte, a higher temperature, and/or a slower rate than during later operational cycling of the cell. After this transfer, the negative electrode may remain pre-lithiated during later cycling at least at a certain predetermined level. This pre-lithiation helps to cycle the cell at more optimal conditions and to some degree maintain this cycling performance over the operating life of the cell. Also provided are methods of fabricating such cells. | 02-23-2012 |
| 20120100438 | COMPOSITE STRUCTURES CONTAINING HIGH CAPACITY POROUS ACTIVE MATERIALS CONSTRAINED IN SHELLS - Provided are novel electrode material composite structures containing high capacity active materials formed into porous base structures. The structures also include shells that encapsulate these porous base structures. During lithiation of the active material, the shell mechanically constrains the porous base structure. The shell allows lithium ions to pass through but prevents electrolyte solvents from interacting with the encapsulated active material. In certain embodiments, the shell contains carbon, while the porous base structure contains silicon. Although silicon tends to swell during lithiation, the porosity of the base structure and/or void spaces inside the shell helps to accommodate this additional volume within the shell without breaking it or substantially increasing the overall size of the composite structure. This allows integration of the composite structures into various types of battery electrodes and cycling high capacity active materials without damaging the electrodes' internal structures and deteriorating cycling characteristics of batteries. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120121989 | ELECTROLYTES FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - Provided are novel electrolytes for use in rechargeable lithium ion cells containing high capacity active materials, such as silicon, germanium, tin, and/or aluminum. These novel electrolytes include one or more pyrocarbonates and, in certain embodiments, one or more fluorinated carbonates. For example, dimethyl pyrocarbonate (DMPC) may be combine with mono-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). Alternatively, DMPC or other pyrocarbonates may be used without any fluorinated carbonates. A weight ratio of pyrocarbonates may be between about 0% and 50%, for example, about 10%. Pyrocarbonates may be combined with other solvents, such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and/or ethyl-methyl carbonate (EMC). Alternatively, pyrocarbonates may be used without such solvents. Experimental results conducted using electrochemical cells with silicon based electrodes demonstrated substantial improvements in cycle life when pyrocarbonate containing electrolytes were used in comparison with pyrocarbonate free electrolytes. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20130149860 | Metal Silicide Nanowire Arrays for Anti-Reflective Electrodes in Photovoltaics - A method of fabricating single-crystalline metal silicide nanowires for anti-reflective electrodes for photovoltaics is provided that includes exposing a surface of a metal foil to oxygen or hydrogen at an elevated temperature, and growing metal silicide nanowires on the metal foil surface by flowing a silane gas mixture over the metal foil surface at the elevated temperature, where spontaneous growth of the metal silicide nanowires occur on the metal foil surface, where the metal silicide nanowires are post treated for use as an electrode in a photovoltaic cell or used directly as the electrode in the photovoltaic cell. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20140272564 | IRON, FLUORINE, SULFUR COMPOUNDS FOR BATTERY CELL CATHODES - Provided herein are energy storage device cathodes with high capacity electrochemically active material including compounds that include iron, fluorine, sulfur, and optionally oxygen. Batteries with active materials including a compound of the formula FeF | 09-18-2014 |
| 20160049655 | DOPED CONVERSION MATERIALS FOR SECONDARY BATTERY CATHODES - Battery systems using doped conversion materials as the active material in battery cathodes are provided herein. Doped conversion material may include a defect-rich structure or an amorphous or glassy structure, including at least one or more of a metal material, one or more oxidizing species, a reducing cation species, and a dopant. Methods for fabricating batteries and battery systems with doped conversion material are also provided herein. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160049693 | ELECTROLYTES FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES - Provided are novel electrolytes for use in rechargeable lithium ion cells containing high capacity active materials, such as silicon, germanium, tin, and/or aluminum. These novel electrolytes include one or more pyrocarbonates and, in certain embodiments, one or more fluorinated carbonates. For example, dimethyl pyrocarbonate (DMPC) may be combine with mono-fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). Alternatively, DMPC or other pyrocarbonates may be used without any fluorinated carbonates. A weight ratio of pyrocarbonates may be between about 0% and 50%, for example, about 10%. Pyrocarbonates may be combined with other solvents, such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and/or ethyl-methyl carbonate (EMC). Alternatively, pyrocarbonates may be used without such solvents. Experimental results conducted using electrochemical cells with silicon based electrodes demonstrated substantial improvements in cycle life when pyrocarbonate containing electrolytes were used in comparison with pyrocarbonate free electrolytes. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160064725 | COMPOSITE STRUCTURES CONTAINING HIGH CAPACITY POROUS ACTIVE MATERIALS CONSTRAINED IN SHELLS - Provided are novel electrode material composite structures containing high capacity active materials formed into porous base structures. The structures also include shells that encapsulate these porous base structures. During lithiation of the active material, the shell mechanically constrains the porous base structure. The shell allows lithium ions to pass through but prevents electrolyte solvents from interacting with the encapsulated active material. In certain embodiments, the shell contains carbon, while the porous base structure contains silicon. Although silicon tends to swell during lithiation, the porosity of the base structure and/or void spaces inside the shell helps to accommodate this additional volume within the shell without breaking it or substantially increasing the overall size of the composite structure. This allows integration of the composite structures into various types of battery electrodes and cycling high capacity active materials without damaging the electrodes' internal structures and deteriorating cycling characteristics of batteries. | 03-03-2016 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090100774 | VARIABLE ANGLE FORMLINER - A formliner and master mold are disclosed. The master mold corresponds with the formliner, which includes a plurality of courses, each course having a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and configured to receive a decorative brick, and a plurality of ridges arranged and disposed to separate the pockets. In the embodiment, each pocket has an angle of rotation in the range of about −5.0° to about 5.0° and the angle of rotation of at least one pocket is other than 0°. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20120216477 | VARIABLE RIDGE FORMLINER - A formliner and master mold are disclosed. The master mold corresponds with the formliner, which includes a plurality of courses, each course having a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and configured to receive a decorative brick, and a plurality of ridges arranged and disposed to separate the pockets. In the embodiment, the ridge lattice has a first ridge having a dimension that differs from a same dimension of a second ridge or a portion of the first ridge. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20140138877 | FORMLINER MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A process of manufacturing a formliner is disclosed. The process includes applying a formliner material to a mold, the mold having pocket molds for producing formliner pockets and a lattice of ridge molds for producing formliner ridges, then forming the formliner, and then demolding the formliner from the mold to produce the formliner having the formliner pockets and the formliner ridges. The lattice of the ridge molds have texture for producing texture in the formliner ridges and/or the mold includes a rigid high-density urethane closed cell foam or a rigid polyisocyanurate foam. | 05-22-2014 |
| 20140138878 | OVERLAPPING FORMLINER MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A process of manufacturing an overlapping formliner is disclosed. The process includes applying a formliner material to a mold, the mold having pocket molds for producing formliner pockets and a lattice of ridge molds for producing formliner ridges, then forming the overlapping formliner, the overlapping formliner having a varied ridge width being configured to be positioned to overlap an adjacent formliner, and then demolding the formliner from the mold to produce the formliner having the formliner pockets and the formliner ridges. | 05-22-2014 |
