POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140335392 | BI-POLAR PROTECTED ELECTRODES AND MULTI-CELL STACKS - Water activated alkali metal battery cells, protected anode bi-polar electrodes and multi-cell stacks are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells, bi-polar electrode and multi-cell stacks include a protected anode and a cathode having a solid phase electro-active component material that is reduced during cell discharge. | 11-13-2014 |
20140272524 | PROTECTED LITHIUM ELECTRODES BASED ON CERAMIC MEMBRANES - Disclosed are ionically conductive membranes for protection of active metal anodes and methods for their fabrication. The membranes may be incorporated in active metal negative electrode (anode) structures and battery cells. In accordance with the invention, the membrane has the desired properties of high overall ionic conductivity and chemical stability towards the anode, the cathode and ambient conditions encountered in battery manufacturing. The membrane is capable of protecting an active metal anode from deleterious reaction with other battery components or ambient conditions while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to facilitate manufacture and/or enhance performance of a battery cell in which the membrane is incorporated. | 09-18-2014 |
20140162108 | LITHIUM BATTERY WITH HERMETICALLY SEALED ANODE - Protected anode architectures provide a hermetic enclosure for an active metal (e.g., alkali metal, such as lithium) anode inside an anode compartment. The compartment is substantially impervious to ambient moisture and battery components such as catholyte (electrolyte about the cathode, and in some aspects catholyte may also comprise dissolved or suspended redox active species and redox active liquids), and prevents volatile components of the protected anode, such as anolyte (electrolyte about the anode), from escaping, while allowing for active metal ion transport between the anode and cathode into and out of the anode compartment. | 06-12-2014 |
20140057182 | OXYGEN-CARRYING COMPOUNDS IN LI/AIR BATTERIES - Active metal oxygen battery cells and active metal oxygen battery flow systems are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells and flow systems include an active metal anode and a cathode in contact with an organic liquid phase oxygen-carrying compound for storing and delivering molecular oxygen to the cathode whereon the molecular oxygen is electro-reduced during cell discharge. | 02-27-2014 |
20140004447 | ACTIVE METAL FUEL CELLS | 01-02-2014 |
20130302704 | LITHIUM BATTERY WITH HERMETICALLY SEALED ANODE - Protected anode architectures for active metal anodes have a polymer adhesive seal that provides a hermetic enclosure for the active metal of the protected anode inside an anode compartment. The compartment is substantially impervious to ambient moisture and battery components such as catholyte (electrolyte about the cathode), and prevents volatile components of the protected anode, such as anolyte (electrolyte about the anode), from escaping. The architecture is formed by joining the protected anode to an anode container. The polymer adhesive seals provide a hermetic seal at the joint between a surface of the protected anode and the container. | 11-14-2013 |
20130295471 | CATHODE ARCHITECTURES FOR ALKALI METAL / OXYGEN BATTERIES - Electrochemical energy storage devices, such as alkali metal-oxygen battery cells (e.g., non-aqueous lithium-air cells), have a cathode architecture with a porous structure and pore composition that is tailored to improve cell performance, especially as it pertains to one or more of the discharge/charge rate, cycle life, and delivered ampere-hour capacity. A porous cathode architecture having a pore volume that is derived from pores of varying radii wherein the pore size distribution is tailored as a function of the architecture thickness is one way to achieve one or more of the aforementioned cell performance improvements. | 11-07-2013 |
20130224593 | COMPLIANT SEAL STRUCTURES FOR PROTECTED ACTIVE METAL ANODES - Protected anode architectures have ionically conductive protective membrane architectures that, in conjunction with compliant seal structures and anode backplanes, effectively enclose an active metal anode inside the interior of an anode compartment. This enclosure prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment external to the anode compartment, which may include aqueous, ambient moisture, and/or other materials corrosive to the active metal. The compliant seal structures are substantially impervious to anolytes, catholyes, dissolved species in electrolytes, and moisture and compliant to changes in anode volume such that physical continuity between the anode protective architecture and backplane are maintained. The protected anode architectures can be used in arrays of protected anode architectures and battery cells of various configurations incorporating the protected anode architectures or arrays. | 08-29-2013 |
20130122344 | AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE LITHIUM SULFUR BATTERIES - Provided are lithium sulfur battery cells that use water as an electrolyte solvent. In various embodiments the water solvent enhances one or more of the following cell attributes: energy density, power density and cycle life. Significant cost reduction can also be realized by using an aqueous electrolyte in combination with a sulfur cathode. For instance, in applications where cost per Watt-Hour (Wh) is paramount, such as grid storage and traction applications, the use of an aqueous electrolyte in combination with inexpensive sulfur as the cathode active material can be a key enabler for the utility and automotive industries, providing a cost effective and compact solution for load leveling, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. | 05-16-2013 |
20130122334 | AQUEOUS ELECTROLYTE LITHIUM SULFUR BATTERIES - Provided are lithium sulfur battery cells that use water as an electrolyte solvent. In various embodiments the water solvent enhances one or more of the following cell attributes: energy density, power density and cycle life. Significant cost reduction can also be realized by using an aqueous electrolyte in combination with a sulfur cathode. For instance, in applications where cost per Watt-Hour (Wh) is paramount, such as grid storage and traction applications, the use of an aqueous electrolyte in combination with inexpensive sulfur as the cathode active material can be a key enabler for the utility and automotive industries, providing a cost effective and compact solution for load leveling, electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. | 05-16-2013 |
20130059177 | LI-ION/POLYSULFIDE FLOW BATTERY - Li-Ion/Polysulfide flow battery systems are provided to achieve high energy density and long service life. The system is configured to minimize corrosion of the lithium electrode by providing an electrochemical reactor comprising a first and a second electrode configured in spaced apart relation defining an inter-electrode channel through which the sulfur electrolyte is caused to flow. | 03-07-2013 |
20130045428 | AQUEOUS LITHIUM AIR BATTERIES - Aqueous Li/Air secondary battery cells are configurable to achieve high energy density and prolonged cycle life. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. The aqueous catholyte comprises an evaporative-loss resistant and/or polyprotic active compound or active agent that partakes in the discharge reaction and effectuates cathode capacity for discharge in the acidic region. This leads to improved performance including one or more of increased specific energy, improved stability on open circuit, and prolonged cycle life, as well as various methods, including a method of operating an aqueous Li/Air cell to simultaneously achieve improved energy density and prolonged cycle life. | 02-21-2013 |
20130004852 | PROTECTED LITHIUM ELECTRODES HAVING A POLYMER ELECTROLYTE INTERLAYER AND BATTERY CELLS THEREOF - Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided. | 01-03-2013 |
20120289887 | ELECTROTRANSPORT DEVICES, METHODS AND DRUG ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES - A drug electrode assembly usefully employed in an electrotransport device for the delivery of drugs across a tissue surface includes an electrode, a drug reservoir which stores the drug (including an ionized (e.g., anionic) or neutrally charged drug species), and a liquid impermeable solid-state assist ion conducting barrier layer interposed between the electrode and the drug reservoir. The barrier layer can be a single-ion conductor of a specific (unique) species of ion called the assist ion. During drug delivery, the assist ion moves across the barrier layer into or out of the drug reservoir, and as the assist ion crosses the barrier layer/drug reservoir interphase, the drug species moves to the tissue surface. The assist ion can be, for example, sodium ions (Na | 11-15-2012 |
20120270112 | SUBSTANTIALLY IMPERVIOUS LITHIUM SUPER ION CONDUCTING MEMBRANES - A composite solid electrolyte includes a monolithic solid electrolyte base component that is a continuous matrix of an inorganic active metal ion conductor and a filler component used to eliminate through porosity in the solid electrolyte. In this way a solid electrolyte produced by any process that yields residual through porosity can be modified by the incorporation of a filler to form a substantially impervious composite solid electrolyte and eliminate through porosity in the base component. Such composites may be made by disclosed techniques. The composites are generally useful in electrochemical cell structures such as battery cells and in particular protected active metal anodes, particularly lithium anodes, that are protected with a protective membrane architecture incorporating the composite solid electrolyte. | 10-25-2012 |
20120219842 | PROTECTED LITHIUM ELECTRODES HAVING TAPE CAST CERAMIC AND GLASS-CERAMIC MEMBRANES - Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided. | 08-30-2012 |
20120094194 | LITHIUM/SULFUR BATTERY WITH HERMETICALLY SEALED ANODE - Protected anode architectures for active metal anodes have a polymer adhesive seal that provides an hermetic enclosure for the active metal of the protected anode inside an anode compartment. The compartment is substantially impervious to ambient moisture and battery components such as catholyte (electrolyte about the cathode), and prevents volatile components of the protected anode, such as anolyte (electrolyte about the anode), from escaping. The architecture is formed by joining the protected anode to an anode container. The polymer adhesive seals provide an hermetic seal at the joint between a surface of the protected anode and the container. | 04-19-2012 |
20120094188 | SOLID STATE BATTERY - Disclosed are ionically conductive membranes for protection of active metal anodes and methods for their fabrication. The membranes may be incorporated in active metal negative electrode (anode) structures and battery cells. In accordance with the invention, the membrane has the desired properties of high overall ionic conductivity and chemical stability towards the anode, the cathode and ambient conditions encountered in battery manufacturing. The membrane is capable of protecting an active metal anode from deleterious reaction with other battery components or ambient conditions while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to facilitate manufacture and/or enhance performance of a battery cell in which the membrane is incorporated. | 04-19-2012 |
20120009469 | ACTIVE METAL / AQUEOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND SYSTEMS - Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided. | 01-12-2012 |
20110269031 | ACTIVE METAL FUEL CELLS - Active metal fuel cells are provided. An active metal fuel cell has a renewable active metal (e.g., lithium) anode and a cathode structure that includes an electronically conductive component (e.g., a porous metal or alloy), an ionically conductive component (e.g., an electrolyte), and a fluid oxidant (e.g., air, water or a peroxide or other aqueous solution). The pairing of an active metal anode with a cathode oxidant in a fuel cell is enabled by an ionically conductive protective membrane on the surface of the anode facing the cathode. | 11-03-2011 |
20110269007 | HIGH RATE SEAWATER ACTIVATED LITHIUM BATTERY CELLS BI-POLAR PROTECTED ELECTRODES AND MULTI-CELL STACKS - Water activated alkali metal battery cells, protected anode bi-polar electrodes and multi-cell stacks are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells, bi-polar electrode and multi-cell stacks include a protected anode and a cathode having a solid phase electro-active component material that is reduced during cell discharge. | 11-03-2011 |
20110179636 | INTERCALATION ANODE PROTECTION FOR CELLS WITH DISSOLVED LITHIUM POLYSULFIDES - Battery cells having lithium intercalation anodes protected by surface coatings and active sulfur cathodes, and methods for their fabrication, provide improved battery cell performance. | 07-28-2011 |
20110054561 | IMPLANTABLE ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY, IMPLANTABLE ELECTROCHEMICAL POWER CELLS AND IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE ASSEMBLIES - Electrochemical power cells having an open-cell architecture for electrically powering an implantable medical device system include a first and a second electrode assembly, wherein at least one is a biocompatible hermetically sealed anode assembly (e.g., that of a lithium anode assembly). The power cell can be a biological lithium semi-fuel cell in which a bodily constituent partakes in the cell discharge reaction at the cathode as an active reagent. The active cathode reagent can be oxygen supplied from the body. In a particularly suitable application, the biological lithium semi-fuel cell provides electrical power to a cardiac pacemaker device, such as for a novel cardiac pacemaker system. | 03-03-2011 |
20110039144 | IN SITU FORMED IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEMBRANES FOR PROTECTION OF ACTIVE METAL ANODES AND BATTERY CELLS - Disclosed are ionically conductive membranes for protection of active metal anodes and methods for their fabrication. The membranes may be incorporated in active metal negative electrode (anode) structures and battery cells. In accordance with the invention, the membrane has the desired properties of high overall ionic conductivity and chemical stability towards the anode, the cathode and ambient conditions encountered in battery manufacturing. The membrane is capable of protecting an active metal anode from deleterious reaction with other battery components or ambient conditions while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to facilitate manufacture and/or enhance performance of a battery cell in which the membrane is incorporated. | 02-17-2011 |
20110014522 | PROTECTED ACTIVE METAL ELECTRODE AND BATTERY CELL WITH IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE PREOTECTIVE ARCHITECTURE - Active metal and active metal intercalation electrode structures and battery cells having ionically conductive protective architecture including an active metal (e.g., lithium) conductive impervious layer separated from the electrode (anode) by a porous separator impregnated with a non-aqueous electrolyte (anolyte). This protective architecture prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment on the other (cathode) side of the impervious layer, which may include aqueous or non-aqueous liquid electrolytes (catholytes) and/or a variety electrochemically active materials, including liquid, solid and gaseous oxidizers. Safety additives and designs that facilitate manufacture are also provided. | 01-20-2011 |
20100273067 | ACTIVE METAL FUEL CELLS - Active metal fuel cells are provided. An active metal fuel cell has a renewable active metal (e.g., lithium) anode and a cathode structure that includes an electronically conductive component (e.g., a porous metal or alloy), an ionically conductive component (e.g., an electrolyte), and a fluid oxidant (e.g., air, water or a peroxide or other aqueous solution). The pairing of an active metal anode with a cathode oxidant in a fuel cell is enabled by an ionically conductive protective membrane on the surface of the anode facing the cathode. | 10-28-2010 |
20100112454 | COMPLIANT SEAL STRUCTURES FOR PROTECTED ACTIVE METAL ANODES - Protected anode architectures have ionically conductive protective membrane architectures that, in conjunction with compliant seal structures and anode backplanes, effectively enclose an active metal anode inside the interior of an anode compartment. This enclosure prevents the active metal from deleterious reaction with the environment external to the anode compartment, which may include aqueous, ambient moisture, and/or other materials corrosive to the active metal. The compliant seal structures are substantially impervious to anolytes, catholyes, dissolved species in electrolytes, and moisture and compliant to changes in anode volume such that physical continuity between the anode protective architecture and backplane are maintained. The protected anode architectures can be used in arrays of protected anode architectures and battery cells of various configurations incorporating the protected anode architectures or arrays. | 05-06-2010 |
20100104934 | ACTIVE METAL / AQUEOUS ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS AND SYSTEMS - Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided. | 04-29-2010 |
20090311605 | CATHODES AND RESERVOIRS FOR AQUEOUS LITHIUM/AIR BATTERY CELLS - Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090311603 | HIGH ENERGY DENSITY AQUEOUS LITHIUM/AIR BATTERY CELLS - Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090311596 | CATHOLYTES FOR AQUEOUS LITHIUM/AIR BATTERY CELLS - Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090311567 | HYDROGELS FOR AQUEOUS LITHIUM/AIR BATTERY CELLS - Li/air battery cells are configurable to achieve very high energy density. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. In addition to the aqueous catholyte, components of the cathode compartment include an air cathode (e.g., oxygen electrode) and a variety of other possible elements. | 12-17-2009 |
20090297935 | IONICALLY CONDUCTIVE MEMBRANES FOR PROTECTION OF ACTIVE METAL ANODES AND BATTERY CELLS - Disclosed are ionically conductive membranes for protection of active metal anodes and methods for their fabrication. The membranes may be incorporated in active metal negative electrode (anode) structures and battery cells. In accordance with the invention, the membrane has the desired properties of high overall ionic conductivity and chemical stability towards the anode, the cathode and ambient conditions encountered in battery manufacturing. The membrane is capable of protecting an active metal anode from deleterious reaction with other battery components or ambient conditions while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to facilitate manufacture and/or enhance performance of a battery cell in which the membrane is incorporated. | 12-03-2009 |
20090286114 | ACTIVE METAL FUEL CELLS - Active metal fuel cells are provided. An active metal fuel cell has a renewable active metal (e.g., lithium) anode and a cathode structure that includes an electronically conductive component (e.g., a porous metal or alloy), an ionically conductive component (e.g., an electrolyte), and a fluid oxidant (e.g., air, water or a peroxide or other aqueous solution). The pairing of an active metal anode with a cathode oxidant in a fuel cell is enabled by an ionically conductive protective membrane on the surface of the anode facing the cathode. | 11-19-2009 |
20090071835 | ALLEVIATION OF VOLTAGE DELAY IN LITHIUM-LIQUID DEPOLARIZER/ELECTROLYTE SOLVENT BATTERY CELLS - Voltage delay in an active metal anode/liquid cathode battery cell can be significantly reduced or completely alleviated by coating the active metal anode (e.g., Li) surface with a thin layer of an inorganic compound with Li-ion conductivity using chemical treatment of Li surface. Particularly, preferred examples of such compounds include lithium phosphate, lithium metaphosphate, and/or their mixtures or solid solutions with lithium sulphate. These compounds can be formed on the Li surface by treatment with diluted solutions of the following individual acids: H | 03-19-2009 |
20090069740 | PROTECTED DONOR ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRO-TRANSPORT DRUG DELIVERY - This invention provides new and novel devices and methods for administering donor ions to a mammalian subject, especially the delivery of alkali, alkaline earth, transition metal ions and simple anions (donor ions) to a body component, for example across a body or tissue surface such as skin or a mucosal membrane, or for delivery of donor ions directly to bodily fluids in a controllable and reproducible manner. In certain embodiments the device comprises a donor electrode that is a source of a donor ion; a protective architecture that is ionically conductive to the donor ion, configured for application to a skin surface and positioned to isolate the donor electrode from the skin surface; and a counter electrode assembly configured for application to a skin surface, where the counter electrode assembly comprises a counter electrode operably coupled to the donor electrode. | 03-12-2009 |
20090005824 | ELECTROTRANSPORT DEVICES, METHODS AND DRUG ELECTRODE ASSEMBLIES - A drug electrode assembly usefully employed in an electrotransport device for the delivery of drugs across a tissue surface includes an electrode, a drug reservoir which stores the drug (including an ionized (e.g., anionic) or neutrally charged drug species), and a liquid impermeable solid-state assist ion conducting barrier layer interposed between the electrode and the drug reservoir. The barrier layer can be a single-ion conductor of a specific (unique) species of ion called the assist ion. During drug delivery, the assist ion moves across the barrier layer into or out of the drug reservoir, and as the assist ion crosses the barrier layer/drug reservoir interphase, the drug species moves to the tissue surface. The assist ion can be, for example, sodium ions (Na | 01-01-2009 |
20080318132 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PROTECTION OF ACTIVE METAL ANODES AND POLYMER ELECTROLYTES - Electrochemical structures with a protective interlayer for prevention of deleterious reactions between an active metal electrode and polymer electrolytes, and methods for their fabrication. The structures may be incorporated in battery cells. The interlayer is capable of protecting an active metal anode and a polymer electrolyte from deleterious reaction with one another while providing a high level of ionic conductivity to enhance performance of a battery cell in which the structure is incorporated. The interlayer has a high ionic conductivity, at least 10 | 12-25-2008 |