South 8 Technologies, Inc.

University of California

Cyrus Sam Rustomji

Jungwoo Lee

James Royer

Ying Shirley Meng

Frederick Krause

Yangyuchen Yang

Maciej Lisiak

Daniel Davies

Andrea Biondi

Denton Iverson

Lasantha Korala

Jeremy Intrator

Sungho Jin

Joseph Wang

Taekyoung Kim

Jungmin You

Miguel Ceja

Duyoung Choi

Nick Wayland

Christine Frandsen

Kadir Toksoy

Michael J Tauber

Elena Machado

Cheong-Kyun Ryoo

A safe electrolyte comprising a liquefied gas solvent that will transition from a liquid state to a gas state ('gas off') at a pressure of 100 kPa and at a temperature of 293.15 K is disclosed. The electrolyte is a mixture of a compressed gas solvent and a salt, and includes a hydrocarbon solvent of a sufficient concentration to promote solubility of the salt into the compressed gas solvent without phase separation. The molar ratio of the hydrocarbon solvent to the compressed gas solvent is in a range of 10:90 to 90:10. The hydrocarbon solvent may be selected to lower the global warming potential (GWP) of the electrolyte by at least 10%. This safe electrolyte can be used to manufacture an electrochemical energy storage device.

Chemically inert additives for electrochemical cells

Disclosed are novel electrolytes, and techniques for making and devices using such electrolytes, which are based on compressed-gas solvents. Unlike conventional electrolytes, the disclosed electrolytes are based on 'compressed-gas solvents' mixed with various salts, referred to as “compressed gas electrolytes.” Various embodiments of a compressed-gas solvent includes a material that is in a gas phase and has a vapor pressure above atmospheric pressure at a room temperature. The disclosed compressed-gas electrolytes can have wide electrochemical potential windows, high conductivity, low temperature capability and/or high-pressure solvent properties. Examples of a class of compressed gases that can be used as solvent for electrolytes include hydrofluorocarbons, in particular fluoromethane, difluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane, and pentafluoroethane. Also disclosed are battery structures and supercapacitor structures that use compressed gas solvent-based electrolytes, and techniques for constructing such energy storage devices. Techniques for electroplating difficult-to-deposit materials using compressed-gas electrolytes as an electroplating bath are also disclosed.

Electrochemical devices comprising compressed gas solvent electrolytes

The present invention discloses methods and materials for adding a polymer material to a liquified gas electrolyte solution for use in an electrochemical energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery or a related technology to further improve the battery cell's safety properties. An example device includes an ionically conducting electrolyte comprised of a liquefied gas solvent, a salt, and a polymer. The liquefied gas solvent has a vapor pressure above 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K, and the polymer is at a low enough concentration that it is fully dissolved into the liquefied gas solvent. The device may include an anode, a cathode, and a separator layer in contact with the ionically conducting electrolyte. A housing may enclose the ionically conducting electrolyte, the anode, the cathode and the separator layer.

Electrolyte chemical formulations incorporating polymers

Methods and structures are disclosed to dispense a liquefied gas solution from a liquefied gas solution (LGE) container. The LGE container comprises a temperature sensor to detect the temperature of the liquefied gas solution within the LGE container. The LGE container temperature is controlled using a temperature control element and a processor connected to the temperature sensor and to the temperature control element. The LGE is transferred from the container into a secondary container through a valve. The method includes the following steps: (a) opening the valve to allow the LGE to flow from the LGE container into the secondary container; (b) taking readings from the temperature sensor; and (c) based on the temperature readings, heating the LGE container to maintain the temperature of the LGE container at a predetermined temperature or within a predetermined temperature range.

Liquefied gas solution container apparatus and method for dispensing

Mechanisms and methods for pressurized fluid injection and sealing into containment vessels using a divided valve mechanism are disclosed. The invention describes designs and methods in which a valve may be plugged by an actuator, and then the valve and actuator are disjoined, allowing the containment vessel to then be sealed but without the additional mass or volume of the actuation mechanism and without fluid loss from the containment vessel.

Mechanisms and methods for pressurized fluid injection and sealing

A setup for preparing a liquified gas electrolyte (LGE) is disclosed. The setup includes a solvent container that contains a liquified gas solvent, a condensing container with an inlet, an outlet and an electrolyte container. The condensing container may contain a salt. The condensing container also has a heat sink and a heating element to raise and lower its internal temperature. A first valve fluidly connects the solvent container to the inlet, and a second valve fluidly connects the electrolyte container to the outlet. The setup has at least two configurations: a solvent transfer configuration, and a salt transfer configuration.

Apparatus and method of liquefied gas electrolyte preparation

A safe electrolyte comprising a liquefied gas solvent that will transition from a liquid state to a gas state ('gas off') at a pressure of 100 kPa and a temperature of 293.15 K is disclosed. A first mixture is formed from a first electrolyte component (one or more solvents) mixed with a second electrolyte component (one or more hydrocarbon co-solvents). The addition of the second electrolyte component (1) lowers the vapor pressure of the first mixture by at least 10% as compared to the vapor pressure of the first electrolyte component alone, when measured at 293.15 K, and (2) results in a vapor pressure of the first mixture above 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K. The second electrolyte component may also be selected to lower the global warming potential (GWP) of the first mixture by at least 10% as compared to the GWP of the first electrolyte component alone. The safe liquefied gas electrolyte is formed by mixing a third electrolyte component (one or more salts) to the first mixture. This safe liquefied gas electrolyte can then be used to manufacture an electrochemical energy storage device.

The present invention discloses methods and materials for adding a polymer material to a liquified gas electrolyte solution for use in an electrochemical energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery or a related technology to further improve the battery cell's safety properties. An example device includes an ionically conducting electrolyte comprised of a liquefied gas solvent, a salt, and a polymer. The liquefied gas solvent has a vapor pressure above 100 kPa at a temperature of 293.15 K, and the polymer is at a low enough concentration that it is fully dissolved in the liquefied gas solvent. The device may include an anode, a cathode, and a separator layer in contact with the ionically conducting electrolyte. A housing may enclose the ionically conducting electrolyte, the anode, the cathode and the separator layer.

The present invention discloses an electrochemical cell design that safely discharges after cell venting. The cell includes a housing and a lid assembly connected to the housing via a vent. The housing houses an electrode assembly with a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a separator. The first electrode is electrically connected to the housing, and the second electrode is electrically connected to the lid assembly structure. The cell has a non-venting configuration characterized by the vent connecting the lid assembly to the housing such that the internal pressure is maintained at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. A venting configuration is characterized by (A) the vent releasing the housing from the lid assembly when a predetermined internal pressure is exceeded; (B) venting the internal pressure; and (C) the venting dislodging the lid assembly such that it makes electrical contact with the housing, thus discharging the cell.

Battery cell design for improved safety

The present invention discloses ionically conducting electrolytes that include a liquefied gas solvent displaying low global warming potential (GWP) and low flammability while also generating favorable solid-electrolyte interphases in an electrochemical device to maintain high performance and cycle life. Ionically conducting electrolytes include a multi-component solvent mixture with a low-GWP solvent and non-low GWP solvent. The overall GWP of the multi-component solvent mixture is at least 50% less than the GWP of the non-low GWP solvent alone.

Electrolyte chemical formulations for energy storage devices

Chemical additives are disclosed to increase solubility of salts in liquefied gas electrolytes.

Chemical formulations for electrochemical device

A cap assembly is disclosed that creates a gas-tight seal with a cell can housing. The cap assembly has an outer surface, an inner surface and a perimeter edge. The cap assembly further includes an electrolyte injection port forming a port opening between the outer surface and the inner surface, a vent constructed to form a vent opening from the inner surface to the outer surface when a vent pressure differential is achieved between an outer surface pressure and an inner surface pressure. The vent is positioned (a) concentric to the electrolyte injection port, and (b) closer to the perimeter edge than the position of the electrolyte injection port.

Cap for electrochemical cell

Mechanisms and methods for injecting and sealing pressurized fluid into containment vessels using a divided valve mechanism are disclosed. The invention describes designs and methods in which a valve may be plugged by an actuator, and then the valve and actuator may then be disjoined, allowing the containment vessel to thereby be sealed without the additional mass or volume of the actuation mechanism and without fluid loss from the containment vessel.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for implementing electrochemical energy storage devices using a liquefied gas electrolyte. The mechanical designs of an electrochemical device to house a liquefied gas electrolyte as well as methods of filling and sealing said device are presented.

Electrochemical cell cap

A battery device is disclosed that includes an ionically conducting electrolyte comprising a mixture of a compressed gas solvent and one or more solid or liquid salts, wherein the compressed gas solvent comprises at least a first component that has a vapor pressure above 100 kPa at a room temperature of 293.15 K. The device also includes a housing enclosing the ionically conducting electrolyte under a pressurized condition to maintain the compressed gas solvent at a pressure higher than 100 kPa at a room temperature of 293.15 K. The device also includes at least two conducting electrodes in contact with the ionically conducting electrolyte.

Growing community of inventors

San Diego, CA, United States of America

Cyrus Sam Rustomji