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US 11,111,590 B2Granted
Lithium metal synthesis
AssigneeUchicago Argonne, LLC
InventorsJohn N. Hryn, Patricia Anne Ignacio-deLeon, Li Tang, Daniel Yoav Arenas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.
Claims18
A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
- a cathodic half-cell comprising:
- a cathode half-cell housing;
- a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
- a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder;
- and
- a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
- an anodic half-cell comprising:
- an anode half-cell housing;
- an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
- an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder;
- and
- an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing;
- and
- an ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, the ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane having a plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within a polymeric matrix selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene, and having lithium ions bound to the plurality of ion-conducting particles of the organic/inorganic membrane via electrostatic forces, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymeric matrix, the ion-permeable organic/inorganic hybrid membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both;
- wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.
12 more elements
A system for lithium metal synthesis comprising:
- a cathodic half-cell comprising:
- a cathode half-cell housing;
- a cathode electrode holder engaged with the cathodic half-cell housing;
- a cathode electrode engaged with the electrode holder;
- and
- a catholyte disposed within the cathode half-cell housing;
- an anodic half-cell comprising:
- an anode half-cell housing;
- an anode electrode holder engaged with the anodic half-cell housing;
- an anode electrode engaged with the electrode holder;
- and
- an anolyte disposed within the anodic half-cell housing;
- and
- an ion-permeable membrane comprising:
- a polymeric matrix;
- a plurality of ion-conducting particles having lithium bound thereto via electrostatic forces, the plurality of ion-conducting particles disposed within the polymeric matric, the plurality of ion-conducting particles forming ion conducting channels in the polymeric matrix;
- a plurality of ion-conducting particles deposited within the polymeric matrix, the plurality of ion-conducting particles having lithium ions bound thereto via electrostatic forces;
- the ion-permeable membrane positioned between the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell with cathodic side exposed to the catholyte and an anodic side exposed to the anolyte, the ion-permeable membrane separating the anolyte from the catholyte and impermeable to both;
- wherein the cathodic half-cell is in electrical communication with the anodic half-cell by an electrical connection external to the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode configured for the flow of electrons.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.