# Boosting Solid-State Batteries with a Capacitor Interlayer > This patent describes a solid-state battery design that includes a special capacitor-like layer between the main battery parts to improve performance and stability. - **Patent:** US 11145922 - **Original title:** Solid-state battery having a capacitor-assisted interlayer - **Owner:** GM Global Technology Operations - **Granted:** 2021 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 14 - **Field:** automotive, consumer_electronics, energy, materials, semiconductors ## What it does The patent details a solid-state battery cell (Claim 1) that includes an anode, a cathode, and a solid-state electrolyte layer between them. The key feature is a "capacitor assisted interlayer" (Claim 1) placed between either the anode and the solid-state electrolyte (Claim 2) or the cathode and the solid-state electrolyte (Claim 3), or both (Claim 4). This interlayer is designed to be in "intimate contact" with both surfaces (Claim 2). It is made from specific materials like polymer-based compounds (e.g., polyethylene oxide with LiTFSI), inorganic compounds (e.g., Li2S-P2S5-P2O5), or hybrid materials (Claim 6, 7), and crucially, it contains a capacitor anode or cathode active material (Claim 5, 12). For example, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery could have this interlayer between its anode and the solid-state electrolyte, where the interlayer itself contains activated carbon as a capacitor anode active material (Claim 11, 12). ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover solid-state batteries that do not include a capacitor-assisted interlayer between an electrode and the solid-state electrolyte layer (Claim 1). - Does not cover interlayers that are purely separators and do not contain a capacitor anode or cathode active material (Claim 9, 6, 7). - Does not cover a capacitor-assisted interlayer that is not in intimate contact with both the electrode and the solid-state electrolyte layer (Claim 2, 3, 4). - Does not cover batteries that rely solely on liquid electrolytes without the specified solid-state components and interlayer (Claim 10 implies a hybrid, but the core is solid-state). - Does not cover capacitor-assisted interlayers that do not include at least one of the specified polymer-based, inorganic, or polymer-inorganic hybrid materials (Claim 6, 7). ## The clever bit The novelty lies in integrating a capacitor-like layer directly into the battery's interface. This "capacitor assisted interlayer" (Claim 1) acts as a buffer, potentially improving ion transport, reducing interfacial resistance, and enhancing the stability and lifespan of the solid-state battery by managing charge flow at critical junctions. ## Real-world examples 1. Electric vehicle battery packs 2. High-performance portable electronic devices 3. Grid energy storage systems 4. Drones and aerial vehicles ## Why it matters Solid-state batteries are a promising technology for electric vehicles and portable electronics, offering potential improvements in safety, energy density, and charging speed compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. A major challenge in solid-state batteries is the interface between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes, which can lead to high resistance and poor performance. This patent addresses this issue by introducing a specialized interlayer to improve ion transport and overall battery stability, which is crucial for making these advanced batteries practical for widespread use. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Boosting Solid-State Batteries with a Capacitor Interlayer cover? This patent describes a solid-state battery design that includes a special capacitor-like layer between the main battery parts to improve performance and stability. ### Who owns patent US 11145922? GM Global Technology Operations owns this patent, granted in 2021. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on November 14, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 11145922 cited by? This patent has been cited by 14 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Solid-state batteries are a promising technology for electric vehicles and portable electronics, offering potential improvements in safety, energy density, and charging speed compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. A major challenge in solid-state batteries is the interface between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes, which can lead to high resistance and poor performance. This patent addresses this issue by introducing a specialized interlayer to improve ion transport and overall battery stability, which is crucial for making these advanced batteries practical for widespread use. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover solid-state batteries that do not include a capacitor-assisted interlayer between an electrode and the solid-state electrolyte layer (Claim 1). **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11145922/solid-state-battery-having-a-capacitor-assisted-interlayer **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11145922 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [How a Hybrid Layer Stops Metal Growths in Lithium Batteries](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10566652/lithium-metal-battery-with-hybrid-electrolyte-system) — This patent describes a special multi-layered electrolyte system for lithium metal batteries that uses a stiff, hybrid material to block dangerous metal growths, aiming for safer, higher-energy batteries. - [Making Solid-State Battery Electrodes That Don't Swell and Crack](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11239459/low-expansion-composite-electrodes-for-all-solid-state-batteries) — This patent describes a special design for solid-state battery electrodes that uses tiny internal holes and spaces between particles to prevent them from expanding and cracking during charging and discharging. - [How to Build Solid-State Batteries with Tiny Holes for Better Electrolyte](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11942620/solid-state-battery-with-uniformly-distributed-electrolyte-and-methods-of-fabric) — This patent describes a method for manufacturing solid-state batteries by punching small holes through battery electrodes and then filling these holes with a liquid that hardens into a solid electrolyte, aiming for more efficient power delivery. - [Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10593988/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. - [How to Make Lithium-Sulfur Batteries Last Longer Using Polymer Coatings](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12266789/merlin-engine) — A new way to coat sulfur battery cores with a special polymer to prevent them from degrading, helping them hold a charge for more cycles.