Granted Patent B2

US 12,418,027 · App. 17/672,960 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Inventors: You Li (Sunnyvale, CA); Jesse Baucom (Sunnyvale, CA); Elena Rogojina (San Jose, CA); Chandra B. KC (San Jose, CA); Jingning Shan (San Jose, CA); Jerzy Gazda (Austin, TX); Ratnakumar Bugga (Arcadia, CA)

Assignee: Lyten, Inc.

H01M4/62H01M10/0525H01M2004/027

Abstract

Claims (15)

1. A lithium-sulfur battery comprising:

a cathode;

an anode structure positioned opposite to the cathode, the anode structure comprising:

a single layer of solid lithium;

a solid-electrolyte interphase layer formed on the single layer of solid lithium; and

a protective layer formed on and at least partially disposed within the solid-electrolyte interphase layer responsive to operational discharge-charge cycling of the lithium-sulfur battery, the protective layer comprising:

a polymeric backbone chain formed of interconnected carbon atoms collectively defining a cooperative segmental mobility of the protective layer;

a plurality of additional polymeric chains cross-linked to one another and to at least some carbon atoms of the polymeric backbone chain; and

a plasticizer dispersed throughout the protective layer and configured to separate at least some of the plurality of additional polymeric chains and increase the cooperative segmental mobility of the protective layer;

a separator positioned between the anode structure and the cathode; and

an electrolyte dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode structure, wherein the protective layer is characterized by a glass transition temperature of between 60° C. and 81° C. and forms a cross-linked three-dimensional (3D) polymeric lattice characterized by chemical resistance to dissolution in the electrolyte.

2. The lithium-sulfur battery of claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is configured to melt at the glass transition temperature.

3. The lithium-sulfur battery of claim 1 , wherein an increase in the glass transition temperature is associated with a decrease in the cooperative segmental mobility of the protective layer.

4. The lithium-sulfur battery of claim 3 , wherein the decrease in the cooperative segmental mobility of the protective layer is associated with a decrease in a lithium ion (Li + ) conductivity associated with the protective layer.

5. The lithium-sulfur battery of claim 1 , wherein an increase in an amount of the plasticizer is associated with an increase in a lithium ion (Li + ) conductivity associated with the protective layer.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (7)

References Cited (103)