{
  "patent_number": "US 10593988",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source",
  "original_title": "Electrochemical cell for lithium-based batteries",
  "summary": "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.",
  "what_it_does": "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).",
  "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)."
  ],
  "filed": "2015-05-28",
  "granted": "2020-03-17",
  "expires": "2035-05-28",
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "GM Global Technology Operations",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/gm-global-technology-operations",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "John S. Wang",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/john-s-wang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Xingcheng Xiao",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/xingcheng-xiao"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 11,
  "tags": [
    "automotive",
    "energy",
    "consumer_electronics",
    "materials",
    "semiconductors"
  ],
  "abstract": "An electrochemical cell is formed. The cell includes a non-lithium negative electrode in contact with a lithium ion permeable negative electrode current collector, and a positive electrode disposed in contact with a lithium ion permeable positive electrode current collector. The non-lithium negative electrode and the positive electrode are lithium ion permeable. The cell also has a lithium source electrode including lithium ions. A respective microporous polymer separator is disposed between the lithium source electrode and each of the negative and positive electrodes; or a first separator is disposed between the lithium source electrode and one of the negative and positive electrodes, and a second separator is disposed between the negative and positive electrodes. An electrolyte is introduced into the electrochemical cell. A voltage potential is applied across the electrochemical cell to pre-lithiate any of the non-lithium negative electrode and positive electrode with lithium ions from the lithium source electrode.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10593988/electrochemical-cell-for-lithium-based-batteries",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10593988/electrochemical-cell-for-lithium-based-batteries/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10593988",
  "relatedPatents": [
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      "patentNumber": "10566652",
      "countryCode": "US",
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  ]
}