# US 12,113,211 B2 · High energy density molten lithium-selenium batteries with solid electrolyte

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- Number: US 12,113,211 B2
- Document ID: US12113211B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/418,424
- Filed: 2019-12-13
- Published: 2022-03-10
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-12-13
- Assignees: MetaGenesis, Ltd.
- Applicants: MetaGenesis, Ltd.
- Inventors: Yang Jin; Kai Liu; Jialiang Lang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12113211B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/368: {Liquid depolarisers}
- C01G 35/006: {Compounds containing tantalum, with or without oxygen or hydrogen, and containing two or more other elements}
- H01M 4/38: of elements or alloys
- H01M 4/382: {Lithium (H01M4/405 takes precedence)}
- H01M 4/405: {Alloys based on lithium}
- H01M 4/625: {Carbon or graphite}
- H01M 4/669: {Steels}
- H01M 4/70: characterised by shape or form
- H01M 4/76: Containers for holding the active material, e.g. tubes, capsules
- H01M 10/0422: {Cells or battery with cylindrical casing}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 10/0562: Solid materials
- H01M 10/39: working at high temperature
- C01P 2004/03: obtained by SEM
- C01P 2006/40: Electric properties
- H01M 2300/0068: inorganic
- H01M 2300/0071: Oxides
- H01M 2300/0077: based on zirconium oxide
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

Molten lithium-sulfur and lithium-selenium electrochemical cells are disclosed. A solid electrolyte separates a molten lithium metal or molten lithium metal alloy 106 from a molten sulfur or molten selenium. The molten lithium-sulfur and lithium-selenium cells have low over potential, no side reaction, and no dendrite growth. These cells have high Coulombic efficiency and energy efficiency and thus provide new chemistries to construct high-energy, high-power, long-lifetime, low-cost and safe energy storage systems.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrochemical cell, comprising:
an anode comprising lithium metal or a lithium alloy;
a cathode comprising selenium; and
a solid electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode, wherein the solid electrolyte is capable of conducting lithium ions, and
a cathode current collector electrically connected with the cathode,
wherein at operating temperatures, the lithium metal or the lithium alloy is molten, the selenium is molten, and the solid electrolyte remains solid,
wherein the solid electrolyte comprises a garnet-type oxide, and the garnet-type oxide comprises Li7−xLa3Zr2−xTaxO12 wherein x is from 0.1 to 1.0, and
wherein the solid electrolyte is in a form of a tube and the anode is disposed within the tube, and the cathode current collector is in the form of a cylinder outside the tube, and the cathode is disposed between the tube and the cylinder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the garnet-type oxide comprises Li7−xLa2Zr2−xTaxO12 wherein x is from 0.4 to 0.6.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the garnet-type oxide comprises Li6.4La3Ta0.6Zr1.4O12, Li6.5La3Ta0.5Z1.5O12, or Li6.6La3Ta0.4Zr1.6O12.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, further comprising an anode current collector electrically connected with the anode.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the solid electrolyte has a relative density from 95% to 99.9%.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the cell is configured to operate at a temperature ranging from 120° C. to 600° C.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the cathode further comprises a carbon conductive additive.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The electrochemical cell of claim 7, wherein the selenium and carbon are mixed at a mole ratio (m(Se):m((C)) of 3:1 to 20:1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A power module, wherein the power module comprises one or more of the electrochemical cell of claim 1.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The power module of claim 9, further comprising a thermal source configured to heat the one or more electrochemical cells.