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  • Materials Research

    The Materials Research group specializes in the synthesis and electrochemical characterization of advanced battery materials for a number of energy storage applications with a focus on transportation.
  • Positive electrodes for secondary batteries containing lithium source material
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,012,091 and US Patent 9,478,794
    • Electroactive Materials for Rechargeable Batteries (ANL-IN-12-086)
    • Method to compensate anode for initial irreversible capacity loss 
    • Enables lithium- deficient cathode materials through lithium source 

    An as-prepared cathode for a secondary battery, the cathode including an alkaline source material including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

     

     

  • A cathode coating that leads to faster battery charging and discharging without a loss in performance
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,559,354 B2
    • Cathode Coating (ANL-IN-09-061)

    The Invention 

    Charge and discharge capacity of pristine, 250ºC dry air and 250ºC He/5%H2 heated Li1.12Mn0.55Ni0.145Co0.1O2 showing better perf

    Two processes are provided. In the first process, an electro-active material is heated and exposed to a reducing gas to form a surface-treatment layer on the electro-active material. The reducing gas comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, an alkane, an alkyne, or an alkene. The process also includes introducing an inert gas with the reducing gas. The surface-treated, electro-active material may be used in a variety of applications such as in a rechargeable lithium battery. 

    The second process includes mixing an electro-active material and a reducing agent to form a surface treatment layer on the electro-active material; and then removing the reducing agent. Removal includes vacuuming, filtering, or heating. The reducing agent is hydrazine, NaH, NaBH4, LiH, LiAlH4, CaH2, oxalic acid, formic acid, diisobutylaluminium hydride, zinc amalgam, diborane, a sulfites, dithiothreitol, or Sn/HCl, Fe/HCl. The partially reduced electro-active material can be used in a variety of applications such as a rechargeable lithium battery, a primary lithium battery, or a secondary lithium battery. 

    Benefits 

    Increased electrical conductivity of cathode materials, which improves the rate capability of the material. By this process the battery can be charged or discharged faster without losing its electrochemical performance. 

    Applications and Industries 

    Coatings for electrodes used in batteries for 

    • Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; 
    • Portable electronic devices; 
    • Medical devices; and 
    • Space, aeronautical, and defense-related devices. 

    Developmental Stage 

    Proof of concept 

  • Increased safety and security from battery gas release
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,825,287
    • Surface Modification Agents for Lithium Batteries (ANL-IN-08-026)

    The Invention 

    A process to modify the surface of the active material used in an electrochemical device. The modification agent can be a silane, organometallic compound, or a mixture of two or more of such compounds. Both negative and positive electrodes for lithium-ion batteries can be made from the surface-modified active materials. Surface modification can be accomplished by either adding the agent to a non-aqueous electrolyte used in constructing a battery, or by treating the materials in a gas phase or in a solution. 

    Benefits 

    Schematic of surface modification for battery materials.
    • Increased safety and life of lithium-ion batteries, as the surface modification prevents a catalytic reaction in lithium-ion cells that generates hydrogen gas, which can lead to substantial power fade of the cell and potential explosions. 
    • Includes methods and molecules as additives that enable electrode modification.

    Applications and Industries 

    Coatings for electrodes used in batteries for 

    • Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; 
    • Portable electronic devices; 
    • Medical devices; and 
    • Space, aeronautical, and defense-related devices.

    Developmental Stage 

    Reduced to practice 

  • Safe, stable and high capacity cathodes for lithium-Ion batteries using a unique materials gradient
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 8,591,774 B2
    • Model for the Fabrication of Tailored Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries (ANL-IN-10-036)

    2012 R&D 100 Award Winner

    The Invention 

    Calculated concentration profile depicting the relative concentration of Mn and Ni fed to the reactor as a function of time.

    A unique method to control the composition gradient of materials in lithium-ion cathodes. The material particles created using this method are nickel-rich on the inside for a high capacity battery, and manganese-rich on the exterior surface for increased safety and stability. 

    The process includes combining a first transition metal compound with a second transition metal compound to form a transition metal source solution, and combining that solution with a precipitating agent to form a precursor solution. The radius of precipitating particles consists of a transition metal oxide core and at least two layers of transition metal oxide. The particles have a transition metal concentration gradient in which the ratio of the first transition metal to the second transition metal is inversely proportional to the radius of the particle over at least a portion of the radius. The transition metal used in the first and second transition metal compounds include manganese, cobalt, nickel, chromium, vanadium, aluminum, zinc, sodium, titanium or iron. The first and second transition metal compounds can also include, but are not limited to, metal sulfates, nitrates, halides, acetates or citrates. 

    Cartoon qualitatively illustrating the transition metal composition at the surface and interior of a particle formed with a cont

    Benefits 

    • Creates a gradient of different materials for increased safety and stability; 
    • Gradient runs throughout the entire radius of the particle; 
    • Particles are ideally small, 10-20 microns in size; and 
    • Leads to high-capacity batteries. 

    Applications and Industries 

    The particles can be used to create composite cathodes in batteries for 

    • Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; 
    • Portable electronic devices; 
    • Medical devices; and 
    • Space, aeronautical, and defense-related devices. 

    Developmental Stage 

    Reduced to practice 

  • Low-cobalt lithium metal oxide electrodes having higher voltage, increased stability, and contain less expensive manganese (Mn) for use in rechargeable lithium cells and batteries
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    Low-Cobalt, Manganese-Rich Cathodes for Lithium-ion Batteries
    • ANL-IN-04-076 & ANL-IN-08-087 entitled MANGANESE OXIDE COMPOSITE ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES
    Layered-spinel electrodes for lithium batteries
    • ANL-IN-14-108
    Stabilized electrodes for lithium batteries
    • ANL-IN-15-067
    Stabilized lithium cobalt oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries
    • ANL-IN-17-037
    Disordered rock salt electrodes for lithium batteries
    • ANL-IN-18-140

     

    Technology Overview 

    A representative phase space defining the the layered-layered-spinel” electrode material.

    Argonne’s family of manganese and lithium rich materials includes a range of cathode structures, including layered-type structures, spinel-type structures, rocksalt-type structures, and combinations thereof. For example, layered-layered-spinel” materials with high-rate and stable voltage that are composed of lithium manganese nickel oxides have been discovered and can be used to replace high-energy multi- component layered-layered” type or single-phase high-rate spinel-type structures for lithium cells and batteries. 
    See Surface structures, treatments and coatings for high-voltage lithium metal oxide electrodes for complementary surface treatment and coating technologies. 

    Benefits 

    • These new material compositions provide substantially higher capacities than state-of-the-art layered lithium/cobalt/nickel/oxide materials, such as nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC).
    • Due to the spinel component, these cathodes are endowed with high power where they can be charged and discharged rapidly. 
    • The multi-component nature of these materials can be optimized in the phase space in the figure according to the manufacturer’s needs. 
    • Manganese is less expensive to use and more chemically benign than cobalt or nickel. Either low-cost elements and/or other elements may be doped into the structure to provide better performance, at a lower cost, as needed.

    Applications and Industries 

    Electrodes used in batteries for: 

    • Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,
    • Stationary energy storage systems,
    • Portable electronic devices, 
    • Medical devices, and 
    • Space, aeronautical, and defense-related devices. 

    Developmental Stage 

    Ready for commercialization. 

  • Production process for low-cost, long-life, high-energy anodes with five times the specific energy
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 9,593,413 B2
    • Silicon-Graphene Anodes (ANL-IN-11-034)
    Junbing Yang, inventor of the Si-Graphene composite anodes, working on the composite materials synthesis.

    The Invention 

    An advanced gas phase deposition method to make silicon/carbon composite anodes that offer five times the specific energy of those currently used in lithium-ion batteries. The process embeds nanoscale silicon particles into the graphene layers, a key to longer cycle life and improved capacity. 

    This approach overcomes the traditional problems associated with high energy density anodes, such as massive volume expansion, high first cycle inefficiency and severe capacity fade. 

    Benefits 

    • Anodes made with this process have five times the specific energy of those made with carbon. 
    • When these new anodes are combined with high-energy composite cathodes, resulting batteries have more than double the energy density. 
    • The new process allows seamless integration with polycrystalline silicon manufacturing. 
    • The process allows low-cost silicon/carbon composite production. 

    Applications and Industries 

    • Electrodes used in batteries for 
    • Electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; 
    • Portable electronic devices; 
    • Medical devices; and 
    • Space, aeronautical, and defense-related devices. 

    Developmental Stage 

    Proof of Concept 

  • A protective coating that can greatly suppress the dendrite formation of lithium anodes and improve the lithium cycling stability
    Intellectual Property Available to License
    US Patent 10,553,874
    • Protective Coatings for Lithium Anodes (ANL-IN-16-168)

    Lithium metal is an attractive anode material for rechargeable batteries in terms of its extremely high theoretical capacity (3860 mAh/g) and the lowest negative potential (-3.040 V, versus the standard hydrogen electrode). However, lithium dendrite formations during electrochemical cycling cause severe capacity fade and cell failure due to electrical shorting or electrolyte consumption. This tricky problem has prevented the incorporation of lithium anodes in commercial rechargeable cells due to potential safety issues and limited cycling life. 

    This patent technology uses a protective coating that can greatly suppress the dendrite formation of lithium anodes and improve the lithium cycling stability. The protective coating is synthesized using a chemical vapor process that yields uniform and conformal films. The films are composed of a proprietary material that is mechanically robust to suppress lithium dendrites and has a high lithium ion conductivity and low electrical conductivity. The applications of rechargeable batteries with lithium anodes include portable devices and electric vehicles. 

    Divisional patent application 16/741,434