Valence Technology, Inc.

Jeffrey L Swoyer

Jeremy Barker

M Yazid Saidi

Porter H Mitchell

Feng Gao

George William Adamson

Ming Dong

Titus Faulkner

Yazid M Saidi

Ming Kai Dong

Yazid Saidi

Mohamed-Yazid Saidi

Allan Dirilo

Wade W Guindy

Haitao Huang

Peikang Liu

J Lee Morris

Biying Huang

Frederik Flemming

Arnie Stux

Jerry Barker

M Yazid Saldi

Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Synthesis of metal compounds under carbothermal conditions

Methods for producing an electrode active material precursor, comprising;

Product and method for the processing of precursors for lithium phosphate active materials

Active materials for rechargeable batteries have a general formulaA(MO)M'XOwhere A represents an alkali metal or mixture of alkali metals, a is greater than about 0.1 and less than or equal to about 2; MO is an ion containing a transition metal M not in its highest oxidation state, M&#x2032; represents a metal, or mixture of metals, and b is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1, c is less than 1 wherein a, b and c are selected so as to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound, and X is phosphorus, arsenic, or sulfur, or mixtures thereof. Preferred active materials are alkali metal vanadyl metal phosphates of general formula A(VO)M&#x2032;POwhere a and b are both greater than 0 and c may be zero or greater. New synthetic routes are provided to alkali metal mixed metal phosphates where at least one of the starting materials is a metal-oxo group (MO), where M represents a metal in a +5 oxidation state. Reductive methods are provided for reacting a metal-oxo phosphate with an alkali metal compound in the presence of reducing carbon. The carbothermal reduction step can for example result in the reduction of a +5 metal to a +4 state or lower.

Battery active materials and methods for synthesis

Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, and a phosphate or similar moiety, of the formula:AMPSiO

Alkali/transition metal phosphates and related electrode active materials

Sodium ion batteries are based on sodium based active materials selected among compounds of the general formula AM(XY)Z, wherein A comprises sodium, M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, Z is OH or halogen, and XYrepresents phosphate or a similar group. The anode of the battery includes a carbon material that is capable of inserting sodium ions. The carbon anode cycles reversibly at a specific capacity greater than 100 mAh/g.

Sodium ion batteries

Methods for producing an electrode active material precursor, comprising:

The present invention relates to a method for preparing an electroactive metal polyanion or a mixed metal polyanion comprising forming a slurry comprising a polymeric material, a solvent, a polyanion source or alkali metal polyanion source and at least one metal ion source; heating said slurry at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove the solvent and form an essentially dried mixture; and heating said mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce an electroactive metal polyanion or electroactive mixed metal polyanion. In an alternative embodiment the present invention relates to a method for preparing a metal polyanion or a mixed metal polyanion which comprises mixing a polymeric material with a polyanion source or alternatively an alkali metal polyanion source and a source of at least one metal ion to produce a fine mixture and heating the mixture to a temperature higher than the melting point of the polymeric material, milling the resulting material and then heating the milled material. It is another object of the invention to provide electrochemically active materials produced by said methods. The electrochemically active materials so produced are useful in making electrodes and batteries.

Synthesis of cathode active materials

A method for carrying out solid state reactions under reducing conditions is provided. Solid state reactants include at least one inorganic metal compound and a source of reducing carbon. The reaction may be carried out in a reducing atmosphere in the presence of reducing carbon. Reducing carbon may be supplied by elemental carbon, by an organic material, or by mixtures. The organic material is one that can form decomposition products containing carbon in a form capable of acting as a reductant. The reaction proceeds without significant covalent incorporation of organic material into the reaction product. In a preferred embodiment, the solid state reactants also include an alkali metal compound. The products of the method find use in lithium ion batteries as cathode active materials. Preferred active materials include lithium-transition metal phosphates and lithium-transition metal oxides. In a preferred embodiment, the reaction product contains carbon particles intimately mixed among crystals of the active materials.

Methods of making transition metal compounds useful as cathode active materials

The present invention relates to novel battery having a first electrode comprising an electrode active material represented by the general formula AM(XY)Z, a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to the first electrode; and an electrolyte.

Alkali/transition metal HALO-and hydroxy-phosphates and related electrode active materials

The invention provides new and novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates which, upon electrochemical interaction, release lithium ions, and are capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates. The lithium-metal-fluorophosphates comprise lithium and at least one other metal besides lithium.

Lithium metal fluorophosphate and preparation thereof

The present invention relates to novel electrode active materials represented by the general formula AM(XY)Z, wherein:

Alkali/transition metal halo-and hydroxy-phosphates and related electrode active materials

Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, and a phosphate or similar moiety, of the formula:AMPSiOwherein

Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4&#x2013;11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Growing community of inventors

Henderson, NV, United States of America

Jeffrey L Swoyer