Granted Patent B2

US 12,577,114 · App. 18/042,173 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Inventors: Abirami Dhanabalan (Bothell, WA); Avery J. Sakshaug (Snohomish, WA); Henry R. Costantino (Woodinville, WA)

Assignee: GROUP14 TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

C01B33/035C01B32/354B82Y30/00B82Y40/00C01P2002/02C01P2004/61C01P2006/12C01P2006/14C01P2006/40

Abstract

Claims (29)

1 . A silicon-carbon composite, comprising:

a. a carbon scaffold comprising a pore volume, wherein the pore volume comprises greater than 70% microporosity;

b. a silicon content of 40% to 60% by weight;

c. a Z of less than 10, wherein Z=1.875×[(M1100−M)/M1100]×100, wherein M1100 is a mass of the silicon-carbon composite at 1100° C. and M is the minimum mass of the silicon-carbon composite between 800° C. and 1100° C. when the silicon-carbon composite is heated under air from about 25° C. to about 1100° C., as determined by thermogravimetric analysis;

d. a surface area less than 30 m 2 /g; and

e. a φ of greater than or equal to 0.1, wherein φ=(Max peak height dQ/dV in Regime I)/(Max peak height dQ/dV in Regime III), wherein dQ/dV is measured in a half-cell coin cell, and Regime I is 0.8 V-0.4 V and Regime III is 0.15 V-0 V.

2 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein the pore volume comprises greater than 80% microporosity.

3 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 2 , wherein the pore volume comprises greater than 90% microporosity.

4 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 2 , wherein the pore volume comprises greater than 95% microporosity.

5 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , further comprising a surface area less than 10 m 2 /g.

6 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 2 , further comprising a surface area less than 10 m 2 /g.

7 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 3 , further comprising a surface area less than 10 m 2 /g.

8 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein the Z is less than 5.

9 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 2 , wherein the Z is less than 5.

10 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 3 , wherein the Z is less than 5.

11 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a Dv50 ranging from 5 nm to 20 microns.

12 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 2 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a Dv50 ranging from 5 nm to 20 microns.

13 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 3 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a Dv50 ranging from 5 nm to 20 microns.

14 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a capacity of greater than 900 mAh/g.

15 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 2 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a capacity of greater than 900 mAh/g.

16 . The silicon carbon composite of claim 3 , wherein the silicon-carbon composite comprises a capacity of greater than 900 mAh/g.

17 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , further comprising lithium ions.

18 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 2 , further comprising lithium ions.

19 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 3 , further comprising lithium ions.

20 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein φ≥0.11.

21 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein φ≥0.12.

22 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein φ≥0.13.

23 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein φ≥0.14.

24 . The silicon-carbon composite of claim 1 , wherein φ≥0.15.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (400)