Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source
This patent describes a method for building rechargeable lithium-based batteries with a special extra lithium source electrode inside that helps the main battery parts work better and last longer by giving them an initial charge of lithium ions.
Original patent title: “Electrochemical cell for lithium-based batteries”
This patent describes a method for building rechargeable lithium-based batteries with a special extra lithium source electrode inside that helps the main battery parts work better and last longer by giving them an initial charge of lithium ions. Granted to GM Global Technology Operations in 2020 with 23 claims and 11 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2035.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a method for forming an electrochemical cell, which is the basic unit of a battery. This cell includes at least one non-lithium negative electrode and at least one positive electrode, both designed to allow lithium ions to pass through. A key feature is a separate "lithium source electrode" placed within the cell, containing a specific amount of extra lithium ions (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Microporous polymer separators are arranged to keep the electrodes apart while allowing ion flow. After introducing an electrolyte, a voltage is applied across the cell to "pre-lithiate" (fill with lithium ions) either the non-lithium negative electrode or the positive electrode, using lithium ions from the dedicated lithium source electrode (Claim 1). This process forms a rechargeable battery that can then be cycled, and the pre-lithiation can even be repeated to "re-lithiate" the electrodes later. For example, a graphite negative electrode could be pre-lithiated by applying a voltage between 0.005V and 2.0V (Claim 2).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Batteries that are opened after the initial pre-lithiation step (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3).
- Batteries where the lithium source electrode contains less than 10% or more than 50% extra lithium ion capacity compared to the main electrodes (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Batteries where the lithium source electrode's projected area is less than 20% of the area of the main non-lithium negative or positive electrodes (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Battery manufacturing methods that do not include a separate, dedicated lithium source electrode within the cell.
- Pre-lithiation processes that do not involve applying a voltage potential across the electrochemical cell (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in integrating a sacrificial, precisely sized lithium source electrode *inside* the sealed battery cell, allowing for controlled pre-lithiation and even re-lithiation without needing to open the cell. This addresses the problem of irreversible lithium loss during initial cycles by providing a convenient, in-situ lithium reservoir.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
High-energy density lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles
Advanced lithium-ion batteries for grid energy storage
Next-generation consumer electronics batteries
Pouch cells, cylindrical cells, and coin cells (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3)
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Pre-lithiation is a crucial technique for improving the performance and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. Many electrode materials, especially silicon-based ones, lose a significant amount of lithium irreversibly during the very first charge-discharge cycles. This patent's method helps compensate for this initial lithium loss, leading to higher energy density and longer cycle life for the battery. This is particularly important for applications like electric vehicles, where long-lasting, high-capacity batteries are essential.
Filed
May 28, 2015
Granted
March 17, 2020
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
GM Global Technology Operations, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, continues to research and develop advanced battery technologies for electric vehicles. Other major automotive manufacturers like Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen, along with battery cell producers such as LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and Panasonic, are actively exploring and implementing various pre-lithiation strategies to enhance battery performance and extend vehicle range.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing effort to improve the energy density and cycle life of lithium-ion batteries, which are critical for the growth of the electric vehicle market and grid-scale energy storage. By enabling more effective pre-lithiation, it helps battery manufacturers overcome limitations of certain electrode materials, potentially leading to more robust and longer-lasting battery packs. This can reduce the cost of ownership for electric vehicles and accelerate the adoption of renewable energy storage solutions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a method for forming an electrochemical cell, which is the basic unit of a battery. This cell includes at least one non-lithium negative electrode and at least one positive electrode, both designed to allow lithium ions to pass through. A key feature is a separate "lithium source electrode" placed within the cell, containing a specific amount of extra lithium ions (Claim 1). Microporous polymer separators are arranged to keep the electrodes apart while allowing ion flow. After introducing an electrolyte, a voltage is applied across the cell to "pre-lithiate" (fill with lithium ions) either the non-lithium negative electrode or the positive electrode, using lithium ions from the dedicated lithium source electrode (Claim 1). This process forms a rechargeable battery that can then be cycled, and the pre-lithiation can even be repeated to "re-lithiate" the electrodes later. For example, a graphite negative electrode could be pre-lithiated by applying a voltage between 0.005V and 2.0V (Claim 2).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in integrating a sacrificial, precisely sized lithium source electrode *inside* the sealed battery cell, allowing for controlled pre-lithiation and even re-lithiation without needing to open the cell. This addresses the problem of irreversible lithium loss during initial cycles by providing a convenient, in-situ lithium reservoir.
What it does not cover
- Batteries that are opened after the initial pre-lithiation step (Claim 3).
- Batteries where the lithium source electrode contains less than 10% or more than 50% extra lithium ion capacity compared to the main electrodes (Claim 1).
- Batteries where the lithium source electrode's projected area is less than 20% of the area of the main non-lithium negative or positive electrodes (Claim 1).
- Battery manufacturing methods that do not include a separate, dedicated lithium source electrode within the cell.
- Pre-lithiation processes that do not involve applying a voltage potential across the electrochemical cell (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
22/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$109K – $349K
Midpoint $218K · 8.9 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
23 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wang, J. S., & Xiao, X. (2020). Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source (U.S. Patent No. 10,593,988). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10593988/electrochemical-cell-for-lithium-based-batteries
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source cover?
This patent describes a method for building rechargeable lithium-based batteries with a special extra lithium source electrode inside that helps the main battery parts work better and last longer by giving them an initial charge of lithium ions.
Who owns patent US 10593988?
GM Global Technology Operations owns this patent, granted in 2020.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on May 28, 2035, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 10593988 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 11 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Pre-lithiation is a crucial technique for improving the performance and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. Many electrode materials, especially silicon-based ones, lose a significant amount of lithium irreversibly during the very first charge-discharge cycles. This patent's method helps compensate for this initial lithium loss, leading to higher energy density and longer cycle life for the battery. This is particularly important for applications like electric vehicles, where long-lasting, high-capacity batteries are essential.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Batteries that are opened after the initial pre-lithiation step (Claim 3).
Same assignee
More from GM Global Technology Operations
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