Granted Patent B2

US 12,725,835 · App. 19/205,858 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Jared Long (Sunnyvale, CA); Amruth Bhargav (Mountain View, CA); Babu Ganguli (Santa Clara, CA); Alexander Klevay (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: LYTEN, INC.

H01M10/0569H01M10/0427H01M10/052H01M10/0567H01M10/0568H01M10/643H01M10/647H01M2300/0028

Abstract

Claims (86)

1 . An electrolyte system for stationary storage application, comprising:

at least one solvent comprising at least one ether, wherein the at least one ether is selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane (DME), dioxolane (DOL), and combinations thereof;

at least one electron withdrawing compound;

at least one lithium ion-transporting compound; and

at least one sacrificial additive comprising dicyandiamide (DCDA), wherein the at least one sacrificial additive is configured to undergo sequential decomposition during battery cycling, wherein the sequential decomposition is controlled by respective breakdown rates of each sacrificial additive;

wherein the electrolyte system is configured to facilitate lithium polysulfide conversion via redox reactions.

2 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one solvent comprises at least one ether; and

the at least one ether is selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane (DME), dioxolane (DOL), and combinations thereof.

3 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one electron withdrawing compound comprises at least one compound characterized by an alpha-hydrogenated, beta-functionalized motif; and

the at least one electron withdrawing compound is selected from the group consisting of bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluororopyl ether (TTE), and combinations thereof.

4 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one lithium ion-transporting compound comprises at least one lithium salt; and

the at least one lithium salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI), lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and combinations thereof.

5 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one sacrificial additive is selected from the group consisting of dicyandiamide (DCDA), guanidine nitrate, and combinations thereof; and

the at least one sacrificial additive is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 M to about 0.2 M.

6 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one chalcogenide, wherein:

the at least one chalcogenide is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl diselenide (DMDSe), diphenyl diselenide (DPDSe), and combinations thereof; and

the at least one chalcogenide is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.0 wt %.

7 . The electrolyte system of claim 6 , wherein:

the at least one solvent is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 vol % to about 75 vol % of the electrolyte system;

the at least one electron withdrawing compound is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 vol % to about 75 vol % of the electrolyte system; and

the at least one lithium ion-transporting compound is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 M to about 10 M.

8 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein the sequential decomposition is predetermined and comprises:

a first regime characterized by rapid breakdown of initial sacrificial additives;

a second regime characterized by gradual decomposition of secondary additives; and

a third regime characterized by slow, continuous breakdown of long-lasting additives.

9 . The electrolyte system of claim 8 , wherein:

the first regime corresponds to formation of a primary solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer;

the second regime corresponds to reinforcement or modification of the primary SEI layer; and

the third regime corresponds to maintenance of a protective interface over extended cycling periods.

10 . The electrolyte system of claim 9 , wherein the electrolyte system is configured to respond dynamically to changing operational conditions, including temperature fluctuations and varying charge/discharge rates, to maintain optimal additive breakdown and SEI formation throughout battery cycling.

11 . An electrolyte system, comprising:

at least one solvent comprising at least one ether, wherein the at least one ether is selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane (DME), dioxolane (DOL), and combinations thereof;

at least one electron withdrawing compound;

at least one lithium ion-transporting compound;

at least one sacrificial additive comprising dicyandiamide (DCDA); and

a self-evolving electrode-electrolyte interface formed on an electrode surface by a breakdown of the at least one sacrificial additive, wherein the electrode-electrolyte interface provides ultra-high cycle life comprising greater charge-discharge cycles with less capacity fade compared to conventional electrolyte systems for stationary storage applications;

wherein the electrolyte system is configured to facilitate lithium polysulfide conversion via redox reactions.

12 . The electrolyte system of claim 11 , wherein:

the at least one solvent comprises at least one ether selected from the group consisting of dimethoxyethane (DME) and dioxolane (DOL); and

the at least one electron withdrawing compound comprises at least one compound characterized by an alpha-hydrogenated, beta-functionalized motif.

13 . The electrolyte system of claim 12 , wherein:

the at least one lithium ion-transporting compound comprises at least one lithium salt selected from the group consisting of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl) imide (LiTFSI) and lithium nitrate (LiNO3); and

the at least one sacrificial additive is selected from the group consisting of dicyandiamide (DCDA) and guanidine nitrate.

14 . The electrolyte system of claim 13 , wherein:

the at least one solvent is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 vol % to about 75 vol % of the electrolyte system;

the at least one electron withdrawing compound is present in an amount ranging from greater than 0 vol % to about 75 vol % of the electrolyte system; and

the at least one lithium ion-transporting compound is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 M to about 10 M.

15 . The electrolyte system of claim 14 , further comprising at least one chalcogenide selected from the group consisting of dimethyl diselenide (DMDSe) and diphenyl diselenide (DPDSe), wherein:

the at least one chalcogenide is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.0 wt %; and

the at least one sacrificial additive is present in an amount ranging from about 0.01 M to about 0.2 M.

16 . The electrolyte system of claim 15 , wherein the self-evolving electrode-electrolyte interface comprises:

a self-evolving solid electrolyte interphase (SEI);

a dynamic interfacial layer;

an adaptive electrode-electrolyte boundary layer;

a self-regenerating protective film;

an in-situ formed passivation layer;

a continuously evolving electrode surface layer;

a self-modifying electrode-electrolyte barrier;

an electrochemically-formed interface layer;

a dynamically-developing electrode protection layer; or

an adaptively-forming electrolyte-electrode interphase.

17 . The electrolyte system of claim 16 , wherein the self-evolving electrode-electrolyte interface is configured to:

mitigate polysulfide shuttling effects;

enhance long-term cycling stability;

improve capacity retention; and

maintain consistent ionic conductivity across a range of operating conditions.

18 . The electrolyte system of claim 17 , wherein the ultra-high cycle life comprises greater charge-discharge cycles with less capacity fade compared to conventional electrolyte systems without the at least one sacrificial additive.

19 . The electrolyte system of claim 18 , wherein:

the at least one electron withdrawing compound is selected to optimize electrolyte system performance at elevated temperatures; and

the electrolyte system is configured to utilize natural temperature increases during cycling to enhance mass transport and maintain optimal reaction kinetics.

20 . The electrolyte system of claim 19 , wherein the electrolyte system is configured to respond dynamically to changing operational conditions, including temperature fluctuations and varying charge/discharge rates, to maintain optimal additive breakdown and self-evolving electrode-electrolyte interface formation throughout battery cycling.

21 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one sacrificial additive comprises a combination of dicyandiamide (DCDA) and guanidine nitrate;

the guanidine nitrate is consumed preferentially during initial cycling to establish a foundational protective layer on an anode surface;

the dicyandiamide (DCDA) undergoes decomposition subsequent to substantial consumption of the guanidine nitrate, wherein the DCDA reacts with polysulfide species to generate nitrogen-containing and sulfur-containing compounds that modify the protective layer; and

wherein the electrolyte system exhibits a two-plateau discharge profile characteristic of lithium polysulfide conversion reactions.

22 . The electrolyte system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a selenium-containing compound present in an amount from about 0.1 wt % to about 3.0 wt %, wherein the selenium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of dimethyl diselenide (DMDSe) and diphenyl diselenide (DPDSe);

wherein the at least one electron withdrawing compound comprises a fluorinated ether co-solvent having the structure R1-O—R2, where R1 and R2 independently comprise C1-C4 alkyl groups with at least one hydrogen atom substituted by fluorine;

wherein the selenium-containing compound catalyzes reduction of soluble polysulfide intermediates to insoluble lithium sulfide species;

wherein the fluorinated ether co-solvent enhances solvation of long-chain polysulfides to maintain solution-phase reaction kinetics; and

wherein the electrolyte system exhibits a discharge profile having an upper plateau corresponding to solid-liquid polysulfide reactions and a lower plateau corresponding to liquid-to-solid polysulfide reactions, and wherein the selenium-containing compound improves kinetics of the lower plateau.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (121)