Methods and devices for electrochemical relithiation of lithium-ion batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11870044-B2
Application number	US-202117514004-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2021
Priority date	Oct 30, 2020
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

Among other things, the present disclosure relates to re-purposing used lithium-ion batteries. The present disclosure includes treating an electrode using a solvent prior to electrochemically relithiating the electrode. In some embodiments, the relithiation may be done using a roll-to-roll device, wherein the electrode may be secured on a first pin and a second pin, then it may be unwound and submerged in an electrolyte solution. Lithium ions may be inserted into the electrode using a voltage. The layer of lithium may provide lithium ions to the electrode.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for repurposing a lithium-ion battery, the method comprising, in order:
removing at least a portion of the electrode of the lithium battery;
treating the portion of the electrode;
recasting the portion of the electrode; and
relithiating the electrode; wherein:
the lithium-ion battery comprises a wound or jelly roll design,
a terminal is configured to provide the voltage,
the voltage is configured to motivate at least one lithium ion to move from the layer of lithium, through the electrolyte solution, and to the electrode, and
the relithiating comprises:
securing a first end of the electrode to a first pin;
securing a second end of the electrode to a second pin;
positioning a chamber containing a layer of lithium and an electrolyte solution between the first pin and the second pin; and
extending at least a portion of the electrode through the chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrode comprises a cathode or a material capable of performing as a cathode.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the treating comprises exposing the portion of the electrode to a solvent.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the solvent comprises a ketone.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ketone comprises acetone.

6. The method of claim 3 , wherein the exposing comprises at least one of sonicating, stirring, or soaking the portion of the electrode in the solvent.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lithium-ion battery comprises a layer of foil, and
the removing comprises scraping the electrode from the layer of foil.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the lithium-ion battery comprises a layer of foil, and
the recasting comprises attaching the electrode on the layer of foil.

9. A device for repurposing a jelly roll lithium-ion battery, the device comprising:
a first pin configured to secure a first end an electrode of the jelly roll lithium-ion battery;
a second pin configured to secure a second end of the electrode;
a chamber containing a layer of lithium and an electrolyte solution and positioned between the first pin and the second pin; and
a terminal configured to provide a voltage to the layer of lithium; wherein:
at least a portion of the electrode is configured to extend through the chamber, and
the voltage is configured to motivate at least one lithium ion to move from the layer of lithium, through the electrolyte solution, and to the electrode.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the electrode is a cathode or a material capable of performing as a cathode.

11. The device of claim 9 , wherein:
the electrolyte solution comprises a lithium salt.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein:
the lithium salt comprises at least one of lithium chloride, lithium carbonate, lithium fluoride, lithium hexafluoride, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, or lithium chlorate.

13. The device of claim 9 , further comprising:
a polymer positioned between the layer of lithium and the portion of the electrode.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein:
the polymer comprises at least one of polyethylene, polypropylene, or polystyrene.

15. The device of claim 9 , wherein:
the voltage comprises a constant voltage.

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein the constant voltage is in the range of about 1 V to about 10 V.

17. The device of claim 9 , wherein the chamber comprises a substantially inert and non-corrosive material.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the chamber comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).

Assignees

• Alliance Sustainable Energy

Inventors

• Smith Kandler Alan
• SANTHANAGOPALAN Shriram
• Sunderlin Nathaniel Alexander
• COLCLASURE Andrew Michael
• Ban Chunmei
• Li Xuemin
• Netter Judy C
• Finegan Donal Patrick
• Fink Kaitlin Elizabeth
• Coyle Jaclyn Elizabeth

Classifications

• H01M10/54 Primary

  Reclaiming serviceable parts of waste accumulators · CPC title

• H01M4/049

  Manufacturing of an active layer by chemical means · CPC title

• H01M4/139

  Processes of manufacture · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/0587

  of accumulators having only wound construction elements, i.e. wound positive electrodes, wound negative electrodes and wound separators · CPC title