# US 11,111,590 B2 · Lithium metal synthesis

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- Number: US 11,111,590 B2
- Document ID: US11111590B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/134,528
- Filed: 2018-09-18
- Published: 2020-03-19
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-09-18
- Assignees: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Applicants: Uchicago Argonne, LLC
- Inventors: John N. Hryn; Patricia Anne Ignacio-deLeon; Li Tang; Daniel Yoav Arenas
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11111590B2

## CPC

- C25C 1/02: of light metals
- C25C 7/02: Electrodes (consumable anodes for the refining the metals C25C1/00 - C25C5/00); Connections thereof
- C25C 7/04: Diaphragms; Spacing elements
- H01M 4/0452: {from solutions}
- H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/1395: of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- C25C: PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION, RECOVERY OR REFINING OF METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

System and methods for producing lithium metal from an anodic half-cell and a cathodic half-cell with a lithium permeable membrane therebetween.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.

### Claim 10

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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the cathode half-cell housing comprises glass and the anode half-cell housing comprises glass.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10 wherein the electrical connection further comprises a galvanostat positioned in electrical communication with the cathodic half-cell and the anodic half-cell and positioned there between.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the cathodic half-cell is in fluid communication with a catholyte supply system.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the anodic half-cell is in fluid communication with an anolyte supply system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, further comprising a peristaltic pump in communication with the anolyte supply system and configured to control flow of the anolyte.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the catholyte comprises lithium salts dissolved in an organic solvent.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the anolyte comprises an aqueous solution of lithium salts.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the anode comprises platinum or platinum-coated substrates.