IP Library Granted Patent US 12,362,379
Granted Patent B2
US 12,362,379 · App. 17/196,658 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Pressure regulation system for silicon dominant anode lithium-ion cell

Inventors: Benjamin Yong Park (Mission Viejo, CA); Sung Won Choi (San Diego, CA); Rahul R. Kamath (Mission Viejo, CA)
Assignee: Enevate Corporation
H01M10/0525H01M4/134H01M50/20H01M50/333H01M2220/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,362,379
App. No.
17/196,658
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure herein pertains to a pressure regulation system for use in a silicon dominate anode lithium-ion cell. The pressure regulation system regulates a lifetime pressure on the lithium-ion cell in order to correct for capacity loss and mechanical failure due the expansion of silicon during operation. The pressure regulation system along with a housing maintains a certain pressure range on the lithium-ion cells during the cycling and the operational life of the energy storage device.

Claims (20)

1. A battery comprising: a plurality of lithium-ion cells each comprising a silicon-dominant anode having an active material with greater than 50% silicon; a housing surrounding the plurality of lithium-ion cells; a first silicone spring layer arranged between the housing and one of the plurality of lithium-ion cells, wherein a heat-sink layer is positioned between at least one pair of the plurality of lithium-ion cells;

wherein a surface of the first silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer that contacts a cell of the plurality of lithium-ion cells has a same area as a cell surface in contact with the first silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer; and a second silicone spring layer between pairs of the lithium-ion cells, wherein the second silicone spring layer has a first compression level corresponding to a first predefined range of states of charge, and a second compression level corresponding to a second predefined range of states of charge during lithiation/delithiation cycling, wherein the first and second compression levels are based on a thickness and density of the second silicone spring layer and a pressure from the housing, and wherein the second silicone spring layer has spring back behavior of less than 15% of its original thickness of the second silicone spring layer between the pairs of lithium-ion cells after lithiation/delithiation cycling based on the first compression level.

2. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second silicone spring layer comprises an open pore silicone foam.

3. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second silicone spring layer has a spring back behavior with a compression of less than about 8% after cycling.

4. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein a pressure exerted on the plurality of cells during cycling is at least 30 kPa.

5. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second silicone spring layer has a density from about 0.05 g/cc to about 1 g/cc.

6. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium-ion cells have a cycle expansion of between about 3% and about 15%.

7. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium-ion cells have a lifetime expansion of about 5% to about 30% measured at 100% state of charge.

8. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the first or second silicone spring layer has a thickness of from about 0.5 mm to about 3.5 mm.

9. A method of energy storage, the method comprising: providing a plurality of lithium-ion cells each comprising a silicon-dominant anode having an active material with greater than 50% silicon; providing a housing surrounding the plurality of lithium-ion cells; providing a silicone spring layer between pairs of the lithium-ion cells, wherein a heat-sink layer is positioned between at least one pair of the plurality of lithium-ion cells;

wherein a surface of the silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer that contacts a cell of the plurality of lithium-ion cells has a same area as a cell surface in contact with the silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer; compressing the silicone spring layer to a first compression level corresponding to a first predefined range of states of charge during an initial stage; and compressing the silicone spring layer to a second compression level corresponding to a second predefined range of states of charge during lithiation/delithiation cycling, wherein the first and second compression levels are based on a thickness and density of the silicone spring layer and a pressure from the housing, and wherein the silicone spring layer has spring back behavior of less than 15% of its original thickness between the pairs of lithium-ion cells after lithiation/delithiation cycling based on the first compression level.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the silicone spring layer comprises an open pore silicone foam.

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the silicone spring layer has a spring back behavior with a compression of less than about 8% after cycling.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein a pressure exerted on the plurality of cells during cycling is at least 30 kPa.

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein at least one silicone spring layers is between the housing and one of the plurality of lithium-ion cells.

14. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the silicone spring layer has a density from about 0.05 g/cc to about 1 g/cc.

15. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the lithium-ion cells have a cycle expansion of between about 3% and about 15%.

16. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the lithium-ion cells have a lifetime expansion of about 5% to about 30% measured at 100% state of charge.

17. A battery comprising: a plurality of lithium-ion cells each comprising a silicon-dominant anode having an active material with greater than 50% silicon; a housing surrounding the plurality of lithium-ion cells; a first silicone spring layer arranged between the housing and one of the plurality of lithium-ion cells, wherein a heat-sink layer is positioned between at least one pair of the plurality of lithium-ion cells; wherein a surface of the first silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer that contacts a cell of the plurality of lithium-ion cells has a same area as a cell surface in contact with the first silicone spring layer and the heat sink layer; and a second silicone spring layer between pairs of the lithium-ion cells, wherein the first silicone spring layer has a first compression level corresponding to a first predefined range of states of charge, and a second compression level corresponding to a second predefined range of states of charge during lithiation/delithiation cycling, wherein the first and second compression levels are based on a thickness and density of the first silicone spring layer and a pressure from the housing, and wherein the first silicone spring layer has spring back behavior of less than 15% of an original thickness of the first silicone spring layer between the pairs of lithium-ion cells after lithiation/delithiation cycling based on the first compression level.

18. The battery according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined range of states of charge is between about 30-50%.

Assignments (1)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2026
From: ENEVATE CORPORATION
To: MCANDREWS, HELD & MALLOY LTD.
Reel/Frame 075093/0935 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16723967 · Dec 20, 2019
Related Publication 20210202981A1 · Jul 1, 2021
References Cited (7)
US 20100304203A1 · Buck et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20120282506A1 · Hohenthanner · 2012 [cited by examiner]
US 20140266066A1 · Turon Teixidor · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20150017504A1 · Isshiki · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20170317324A1 · Westermeier · 2017 [cited by examiner]
DE 102015011895 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Notification of Transmittal of The International Search Report And the Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority, or the Declaration, mailed Mar. 12, 2021, For International Application PCT/US20/63451, In… [cited by applicant]