IP Library Granted Patent US 12,463,215
Granted Patent B2
US 12,463,215 · App. 16/706,234 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Method and system for sulfur and sulfur-containing chemicals as cathode additives for silicon anode-based lithium ion batteries

Inventors: Liwen Ji (San diego, CA); Benjamin Park (Mission Viejo, CA); Jeremy Chang (Irvine, CA)
Assignee: Enevate Corporation
H01M4/5815H01M4/505H01M4/525H01M10/0525H01M10/0565
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,463,215
App. No.
16/706,234
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for sulfur-containing chemicals as cathode additives for silicon-based lithium ion batteries may include a silicon-based anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. The cathode may include an active material and a sulfur-containing additive. The cathode active material may include one or more of nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), and lithium manganese oxide (LMO). The sulfur-containing additive may include elemental sulfur and/or Li 2 S. The sulfur-containing additive may include one or more of lithium polysulfides (Li 2 S n , where n=2-8), polysulfides, and organic polysulfides. The sulfur-containing additive may include one or more of metal sulfides, transition metal polysulfide complexes, S-containing organic polymers or copolymer, polymeric sulfur, and transition metal sulfides. The sulfur-containing additive may include 5% or less by weight of the active material, or 1% or less by weight of the active material.

Claims (23)

1 . A battery, the battery comprising:

a silicon-based anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an active material and a sulfur-containing additive;

wherein said sulfur-containing additive is a transition metal polysulfide complex and wherein said transition metal polysulfide complex is (C 5 H 5 ) 2 TiS 5 , [Ni(S 4 ) 2 ] 2− , or [Pt(S 5 ) 3 ] 2− ;

wherein the sulfur-containing additive comprises 5% or less by weight of the active material;

wherein the cathode active material comprises one or more of: nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), Ni-rich layered oxides, Li-rich layered oxides, and spinel oxides LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 ; and

wherein the anode comprises an active material that comprises between 50% to 95% silicon by weight.

2 . The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the sulfur-containing additive comprises 1% or less by weight of the active material.

3 . The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises a lithium ion battery.

4 . The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a liquid, solid, or gel.

5 . A method of forming a battery, the method comprising:

forming a battery comprising a silicon-based anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an active material and a sulfur-containing additive;

wherein said sulfur-containing additive is a transition metal polysulfide complex and wherein said transition metal polysulfide complex is (C 5 H 5 ) 2 TiS 5 , [Ni(S 4 ) 2 ] 2− , or [Pt(S 5 ) 3 ] 2− ;

wherein the sulfur-containing additive comprises 5% or less by weight of the active material;

wherein the cathode active material comprises one or more of: nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), Ni-rich layered oxides, Li-rich layered oxides, and spinel oxides LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 ; and

wherein the anode comprises an active material that comprises between 50% to 95% silicon by weight.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the sulfur-containing additive comprises 1% or less by weight of the active material.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the battery comprises a lithium ion battery and the electrolyte comprises a liquid, solid, or gel.

8 . A battery, the battery comprising:

a battery comprising a silicon-dominant anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, wherein the cathode comprises an active material and a sulfur-containing additive;

wherein said sulfur-containing additive is a transition metal polysulfide complex and wherein said transition metal polysulfide complex is (C 5 H 5 ) 2 TiS 5 , [Ni(S 4 ) 2 ] 2− , or [Pt(S 5 ) 3 ] 2− ;

and wherein the sulfur-containing additive comprises 5% or less by weight of the active material;

wherein the cathode active material comprises one or more of: nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), Ni-rich layered oxides, Li-rich layered oxides, and spinel oxides LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 ; and

wherein the anode comprises an active material that comprises between 50% to 95% silicon by weight.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2026
From: ENEVATE CORPORATION
To: MCANDREWS, HELD & MALLOY LTD.
Reel/Frame 075093/0935 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 25, 2025
From: JI, LIWEN; PARK, BENJAMIN; CHANG, JEREMY
To: ENEVATE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 071833/0176 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210175504A1 · Jun 10, 2021
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