IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,744,259
Granted Patent B2
US 12,744,259 · App. 18/003,661 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

System and methods for detecting and mitigating lithium plating

Inventors: Wenxiao Huang (Stanford, CA); Yi Cui (Stanford, CA)
Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
H01M10/44H01M10/0525H01M10/48H01M50/105H01M2220/20
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 12,744,259
App. No.
18/003,661
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for battery charging includes at least one processor; and at least one memory including instructions which when executed causes the at least one processor to a least: determine, based on a first output from a charging source and a second output from a pressure sensor, a differential pressure with respect to charge. Such systems are applicable to methods of charging batteries and can be used in charging batteries in electric cars and mobile devices.

Claims (42)

1 . A method of charging a battery comprising:

determining, based on a first output from a charging source and a second output from a pressure sensor mechanically coupled to a battery, a differential pressure with respect to charge;

determining a maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge; and

charging at or below the maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge until the battery has a target state of charge;

wherein the differential pressure with respect to charge (dP/dQ) is computed from a gradient of pressure with respect to time (dP/dt) and current (I) via dP/dQ=(1/I)(dP/dt).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery comprises an metal ion selected from group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, aluminum, vanadium, iron, cerium, nickel, cadmium, magnesium, zinc, and combinations thereof.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery is a pouch cell that is expandable.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is disposed externally on a surface of the pouch cell and the pressure sensor and the pouch cell are disposed within a constrained volume.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the battery has a substantially fixed volume and the pressure sensor is disposed internally in the battery.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a signal to the charging source to reduce the rate of charging if a value of the differential pressure with respect to charge exceeds the maximum value.

8 . A system for onboard battery management in an electric vehicle comprising:

at least one onboard processor; and

at least one memory including instructions which when executed causes the at least one onboard processor to at least:

determine, based on a first output from a charging source and a second output from a pressure sensor mechanically coupled to a rechargeable car battery, a differential pressure with respect to charge;

determine a maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge; and charge the rechargeable car battery at or below the maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge until the rechargeable car battery has a target state of charge;

wherein the at least one onboard processor carries out instructions to determine a differential pressure with respect to charge based on output from the pressure sensor and the charging source during charging; and

wherein values of the differential pressure with respect to charge are stored in the at least one memory;

wherein the differential pressure with respect to charge (dP/dQ) is computed from a gradient of pressure with respect to time (dP/dt) and current (I) via dP/dQ=(1/I)(dP/dt).

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the rechargeable car battery is a lithium ion battery.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the rechargeable car battery is a pouch cell that is expandable.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the pressure sensor is disposed externally on a surface of the pouch cell and the pressure sensor and the pouch cell are disposed within a constrained volume.

12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the battery has a fixed volume and the pressure sensor is disposed internally in the battery.

13 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions further cause to be carried out a measurement of a maximum value for the differential pressure with respect to charge, the maximum value indicative of metal ion plating.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause to be sent a signal to the charging source to reduce the rate of charging if a value of the differential pressure with respect to charge exceeds the maximum value.

15 . A system for battery charging comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including instructions which when executed causes the at least one processor to at least:

determine, based on a first output from a charging source and a second output from a pressure sensor, a differential pressure with respect to charge;

determine a maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge; and

charge a battery at or below the maximum value of differential pressure with respect to charge until the battery has a target state of charge;

wherein the differential pressure with respect to charge (dP/dQ) is computed from a gradient of pressure with respect to time (dP/dt) and current (I) via dP/dQ=(1/I)(dP/dt).

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein one or more values of differential pressure with respect to charge are stored in the at least one memory.

17 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising a battery, wherein the pressure sensor is mechanically coupled with a portion of the battery, and the at least one processor is electronically coupled with the pressure sensor and the charging source.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the battery comprises a metal or metal ion selected from group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, aluminum, vanadium, iron, cerium, nickel, cadmium, magnesium, zinc, and combinations thereof.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the battery is a lithium ion battery.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the battery is a pouch cell that is expandable.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the pressure sensor is disposed on a surface of the pouch cell, and wherein the pressure sensor and the pouch cell are disposed within a constrained volume by a one or more constraining walls.

22 . The system of claim 21 , wherein a metal plate is disposed between the pouch cell and the pressure sensor.

23 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the battery has a substantially fixed volume and the pressure sensor is disposed internally in the battery.

24 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to perform one or more measurements to determine a maximum value for differential pressure with respect to charge that is indicative of metal ion plating.

25 . The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one processor is further caused to at least reduce the rate of charging if a value of a measured differential pressure with respect to charge exceeds the maximum value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 28, 2022
From: HUANG, WENXIAO; CUI, YI
To: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 062228/0386 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63047139 · Jul 1, 2020
Related Publication 20230246254A1 · Aug 3, 2023
References Cited (28)
US 20140333312A1 · Schlag et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20170203667A1 · He · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20170324122A1 · Poirier · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190181652A1 · Komiyama · 2019 [cited by examiner]
Bitzer, B. et al. (Sep. 2014). “A new method for detecting lithium plating by measuring the cell thickness,” [cited by applicant]
Burns, J. C. et al. (2015). “In-situ detection of lithium plating using high precision coulometry,” [cited by applicant]
Campbell, I. D. et al. (2019). “How observable is lithium plating? Differential voltage analysis to identify and quantify lithium plating following fast charging of cold lithium-ion batteries,” [cited by applicant]
Cannarella, J. et al. (Jan. 1, 2014). “Stress evolution and capacity fade in constrained lithium-ion pouch cells,” [cited by applicant]
Chu, Z. et al. (2018). “Testing lithium-ion battery with the internal reference electrode: An insight into the blocking effect,” [cited by applicant]
Downie, L. E. et al. (Feb. 5, 2013). “In situ detection of lithium plating on graphite electrodes by electrochemical calorimetry,” [cited by applicant]
Gallagher, K. G. et al. (Oct. 17, 2012). “A volume averaged approach to the numerical modeling of phase-transition intercalation electrodes presented for Li [cited by applicant]
He, Y. et al. (Oct. 14, 2019). “Origin of lithium whisker formation and growth under stress,” [cited by applicant]
Koyama, Y. et al. (Jan. 10, 2006). “Harnessing the actuation potential of solid-state intercalation compounds,” [cited by applicant]
Li, Y. et al. (Oct. 17, 2018). “Correlating Structure and Function of Battery Interphases at Atomic Resolution Using Cryoelectron Microscopy,” [cited by applicant]
Lin, D. et al. (Mar. 7, 2017). “Reviving the lithium metal anode for high-energy batteries,” [cited by applicant]
Liu, Y. et al. (Jun. 3, 2019). “Challenges and opportunities towards fast-charging battery materials,” [cited by applicant]
Louli, A. J. et al. (Mar. 20, 2019). Operando Pressure Measurements Reveal Solid Electrolyte Interphase Growth to Rank Li-Ion Cell Performance. [cited by applicant]
Maire, P. et al. (Sep. 25, 2008). “Colorimetric determination of lithium content in electrodes of lithium-ion batteries,” [cited by applicant]
McKinsey & Company (Jan. 4, 2017). “Electrifying insights: How automakers can drive electrified vehicle sales and profitability,” located at <https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/elec… [cited by applicant]
Missyul, A. et al. (2017). “XRD study of phase transformations in lithiated graphite anodes by Rietveld method,” [cited by applicant]
Ren, D. et al. (2018). “Investigation of lithium plating-stripping process in Li-ion batteries at low temperature using an electrochemical model,” [cited by applicant]
Shahan, Z. (Dec. 5, 2019). “Tesla Model 3=⅛ Of World's EV Sales In 2019,” located at <https://cleantechnica.com/2019/12/05/tesla-model-3-13-percent-world-ev-sales-2019/>, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Shi, F. et al. (Nov. 14, 2017, e-published Oct. 30, 2017). “Strong texturing of lithium metal in batteries,” [cited by applicant]
Spingler, F. B. et al. (Jul. 31, 2018). “Optimum fast charging of lithium-ion pouch cells based on local volume expansion criteria,” [cited by applicant]
Wang, Q. et al. (Jun. 15, 2012). “Thermal runaway caused fire and explosion of lithium ion battery,” [cited by applicant]
Wang, C. et al. (Apr. 2016). “Failure prediction of high-capacity electrode materials in lithium-ion batteries,” [cited by applicant]
Yang, X.-G. et al. (Jul. 10, 2018, e-published Jun. 25, 2018). “Fast charging of lithium-ion batteries at all temperatures,” [cited by applicant]
Yin, X. et al. (Aug. 2018). “Insights into morphological evolution and cycling behaviour of lithium metal anode under mechanical pressure,” [cited by applicant]