# US 11,309,580 B2 · Methods of forming electrochemical cells

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- Number: US 11,309,580 B2
- Document ID: US11309580B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/997,177
- Filed: 2020-08-19
- Published: 2020-12-03
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-07
- Assignees: Enevate Corporation
- Applicants: Enevate Corporation
- Inventors: Benjamin Yong Park; Ian Russell Browne; Heidi Leighette Anderson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11309580B2

## CPC

- H01M 10/0525: Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
- H01M 4/133: Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
- H01M 4/386: {Silicon or alloys based on silicon}
- H01M 10/058: Construction or manufacture
- H01M 10/446: {Initial charging measures}
- H01M 2004/027: {Negative electrodes}
- H01M 2004/028: {Positive electrodes}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- 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

Methods of forming electrochemical cells are described. In some embodiments, the method can include providing an electrochemical cell having an electrode with at least about 20% to about 99% by weight of silicon. The method can include providing a formation charge current at greater than about 1C to the electrochemical cell. Alternatively or additionally, the method can include providing a formation charge current at a substantially constant charge voltage to the electrochemical cell.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
providing an electrochemical cell comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least the first electrode comprises at least about 20% to about 99% by weight of silicon;
a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the separator; and
providing a formation process comprising a charge step, a rest step, and a discharge step, the charge step comprising providing a formation charge current at greater than about 1C to the electrochemical cell, wherein the formation process is completed in more than 3 minutes and less than 210 minutes.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the formation charge current is provided at less than or equal to about 20C.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the formation charge current is provided at greater than about 2C.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the formation charge current is provided at less than or equal to about 20C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the formation charge current is provided for about 3 minutes to about 60 minutes.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the formation charge current comprises charging to partial formation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein charging to partial formation comprises charging to about 10% to about 90% of total capacity of the electrochemical cell.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein charging to partial formation comprises charging to about 20% to about 70% of the total capacity of the electrochemical cell.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein charging to partial formation comprises charging to about 30% to about 50% of the total capacity of the electrochemical cell.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the formation charge current comprises providing a substantially constant formation charge current.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein providing the formation charge current comprises providing the formation charge current at a charge voltage from about 3 volts to about 6 volts.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electrochemical cell is a lithium-ion battery and providing the formation charge current comprises providing the formation charge current with substantially no lithium plating.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is an anode.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises a silicon-dominant electrode.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 30% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 40% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 50% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 60% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 70% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the first electrode comprises the silicon at about 80% to about 99% by weight.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrode further comprises graphite.