# US 9,520,617 B2 · Sulfolane mixtures as ambient aprotic polar solvents

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- Number: US 9,520,617 B2
- Document ID: US9520617B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/211,528
- Filed: 2014-03-14
- Published: 2014-10-30
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-03-14
- Assignees: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
- Applicants: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc
- Inventors: Emanuel I. Cooper
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520617B2

## CPC

- H01M 10/0569: characterised by the solvents
- C07D 333/48: by oxygen atoms
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

An improved solvent containing sulfolane and at least one dialkyl sulfone, preferably dimethyl sulfone, wherein the improved solvent is a liquid at room temperature and can be used for reaction media and electrochemistry.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mixture consisting of 85 wt % to 99 wt % of sulfolane and 1 wt %-15 wt % of at least one dialkyl sulfone, wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone has the formula R—(SO2)—R′, where R and R′ can be the same as or different from one another and can be any C1-C6 alkyl group.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone is selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfone, ethyl methyl sulfone, dipropyl sulfone, ethyl propyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, dibutyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mixture of claim 1, wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone comprises dimethylsulfone.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mixture of claim 1, wherein the mixture is substantially devoid of water.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The mixture of claim 1, wherein the mixture has a melting point between about 7° C. and about 20° C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The mixture of claim 1, wherein the mixture is a liquid at room temperature.

### Claim 7

A method of lowering the melting point of sulfolane, said method comprising preparing a mixture consisting of 85 wt % to 99 wt % of sulfolane and 1 wt %-15 wt % of at least one dialkyl sulfone, wherein the dialkyl sulfone has the formula R—(SO2)—R′, where R and R′ can be the same as or different from one another and can be any C1-C6 alkyl group.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the mixture of sulfolane and at least one dialkyl sulfone is substantially devoid of water.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the mixture of sulfolane and at least one dialkyl sulfone has a melting point between about 7° C. and about 20° C.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one dialkyl sulfone is selected from the group consisting of dimethylsulfone, ethyl methyl sulfone, dipropyl sulfone, ethyl propyl sulfone, diethyl sulfone, dibutyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.