# US 12,119,456 B2 · Nanoparticle compositions and methods for enhancing lead-acid batteries > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,456 B2 - Document ID: US12119456B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/144,572 - Filed: 2023-05-08 - Published: 2023-11-30 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-28 - Assignees: Evoq Nano, Inc. - Applicants: Evoq Nano, Inc. - Inventors: William H. Niedermeyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119456B2 ## CPC - H01M 10/08: Selection of materials as electrolytes - H01M 4/20: of pasted electrodes - H01M 4/5825: {Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines} - H01M 4/626: {Metals} - H01M 4/628: {Inhibitors, e.g. gassing inhibitors, corrosion inhibitors} - H01M 10/54: Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators - H01M 2300/0011: Sulfuric acid-based - Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries - Y02W 30/84: Recycling of batteries or fuel cells - 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 - Y02W: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT ## Abstract This disclosure relates to compositions and methods for improving the performance of batteries, such as lead-acid batteries, including reviving or rejuvenating a partially or totally dead battery, by adding an amount of nonionic, ground state metal nanoparticles to the electrolyte of the battery, and optionally recharging the battery by applying a voltage. The metal nanoparticles may be gold and coral-shaped and are added to provide a concentration within the electrolyte of 100 ppb to 2 ppm or more (e.g., up to 5 ppm, 10 ppm, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, or 100 ppm). The metal nanoparticles may be added to battery electrode paste applied to the electrodes to enhance newly manufactured or remanufactured batteries. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of rejuvenating and/or improving performance of a battery having an electrolyte solution, comprising: providing a battery having an electrolyte solution; adding an amount of nonionic, ground state gold or gold alloy nanoparticles to the electrolyte solution so as to bring the concentration of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles within the electrolyte solution to at least 100 ppb and up to 100 ppm, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are formed by laser ablation so as to have a smooth surface with no external bond angles or edges; and the nonionic, ground state gold or gold alloy nanoparticles rejuvenating or improving the performance of the battery. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the battery is a lead-acid battery. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are added to the electrolyte solution using a composition consisting of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles and at least one of water or sulfuric acid. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the addition of the nanoparticles to the electrolyte solution increases a fully charged resting voltage of the battery as compared to a fully charged resting voltage of the battery prior to addition of the nanoparticles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the addition of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles to the electrolyte solution increases a cranking amps or cold cranking amps rating of the battery as compared to a cranking amps or cold cranking amps rating of the battery prior to addition of the nanoparticles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the addition of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles to the electrolyte solution increases a reserve capacity of the battery as compared to a reserve capacity of the battery prior to addition of the nanoparticles. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an average cell voltage of the battery is increased to 2.6 V and/or is increased by 8 to 25%. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles comprise spherical-shaped nanoparticles having a mean diameter of 3 nm to 20 nm, wherein the spherical-shaped nanoparticles have no surface edges or external bond angles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles have a concentration within the electrolyte solution of at least 100 ppb and up to 50 ppm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles have a concentration within the electrolyte solution of at least 100 ppb and up to 25 ppm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles have a concentration within the electrolyte solution of at least 100 ppb and up to 10 ppm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles have a concentration within the electrolyte solution of at least 100 ppb and up to 5 ppm. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising recharging the lead-acid battery by applying a voltage. ### Claim 14 A lead-acid battery having improved performance, comprising: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; an electrolyte in electrical contact with the positive and negative electrodes; and a plurality of nonionic gold or gold alloy nanoparticles dispersed within the electrolyte at a concentration of at least 100 ppb, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are formed by laser ablation so as to have a smooth surface with no external bond angles or edges. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lead-acid battery of claim 14, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles have a concentration within the electrolyte of at least 100 ppb and up to 100 ppm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The lead-acid battery of claim 14, wherein the electrolyte consists of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles and at least one of water or sulfuric acid, and optionally lead sulfate. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing an enhanced battery electrode paste comprising: providing a battery electrode paste formed from lead oxide, sulfuric acid, and water to form one or more lead sulfate compounds selected from PbO·PbSO4 (monobasic lead sulfate), 2PbO·PbSO4 (dibasic lead sulfate), 3PbO·PbSO4 (tribasic lead sulfate), and 4PbO·PbSO4 (tetrabasic lead sulfate); and adding nonionic, ground state gold or gold alloy nanoparticles to yield the enhanced battery electrode paste, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are formed by laser ablation so as to have a smooth surface with no external bond angles or edges. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the nonionic, ground state gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are added before, during, or after forming the one or more lead sulfate compounds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles are added using a composition consisting of the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles and at least one of water or sulfuric acid. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the gold or gold alloy nanoparticles comprise spherical-shaped nanoparticles having a mean diameter of 3 nm to 20 nm, wherein the spherical-shaped nanoparticles have no surface edges or external bond angles.