# Making Solid-State Battery Electrodes That Don't Swell and Crack > 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. - **Patent:** US 11239459 - **Original title:** Low-expansion composite electrodes for all-solid-state batteries - **Owner:** GM Global Technology Operations - **Granted:** 2022 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 6 - **Field:** automotive, energy, materials, consumer_electronics, semiconductors ## What it does This patent describes a composite electrode for all-solid-state batteries, which are a new type of battery that uses solid materials instead of liquids. The electrode is made of "solid-state electroactive material particles" that change size when the battery charges and discharges, and "solid-state electrolyte particles" mixed in (Claim 1). The clever part is that each electroactive particle has "internal pores formed therein," like tiny sponges. There are also spaces, called "interparticle porosity," between the electroactive and electrolyte particles (Claim 1). These internal pores and interparticle spaces work together to absorb the expansion and contraction of the electroactive material, preventing the electrode from swelling outwards, cracking, or falling apart (Abstract, Claim 1). For example, an electrode might use silicon particles with 10% to 75% internal porosity, mixed with solid electrolyte particles, leaving 5% to 40% space between them (Claim 2, Abstract). ## What it does NOT cover - Does not cover electrodes for traditional lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolytes. - Does not cover solid-state electrodes that lack both internal pores within the electroactive particles and interparticle porosity between the electroactive and electrolyte particles. - Does not cover electrodes where the electroactive material is a solid block without a network of internal pores. - Does not cover battery chemistries that do not cycle lithium ions, as the patent specifically mentions "cycles lithium ions" (Claim 1). - Does not cover electrodes where the solid-state electroactive material and solid-state electrolyte are not in particle form and intermingled. ## The clever bit The truly novel aspect is the dual-level porosity: internal pores within each electroactive particle and additional spaces between these particles and the solid electrolyte. This allows the electroactive material to expand inwards into its own pores, while the interparticle spaces further buffer any remaining outward expansion, preventing overall electrode damage. ## Real-world examples 1. Future electric vehicle batteries 2. High-performance portable electronics 3. Grid-scale energy storage systems 4. Aerospace and defense applications requiring high energy density ## Why it matters Solid-state batteries promise safer, higher-energy-density power for electric vehicles and portable electronics. However, a major challenge is that electrode materials expand and contract significantly during use, which can damage the battery and shorten its life. This patent from GM addresses this critical problem by designing electrodes that can withstand these volumetric changes, potentially making solid-state batteries more durable and reliable for widespread adoption. ## Frequently asked questions ### What does Making Solid-State Battery Electrodes That Don't Swell and Crack cover? 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. ### Who owns patent US 11239459? GM Global Technology Operations owns this patent, granted in 2022. ### When does this patent expire? This patent is expected to expire on October 18, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain. ### What is patent US 11239459 cited by? This patent has been cited by 6 later patents that build on its ideas. ### What problem does this patent solve? Solid-state batteries promise safer, higher-energy-density power for electric vehicles and portable electronics. However, a major challenge is that electrode materials expand and contract significantly during use, which can damage the battery and shorten its life. This patent from GM addresses this critical problem by designing electrodes that can withstand these volumetric changes, potentially making solid-state batteries more durable and reliable for widespread adoption. ### What does this patent NOT cover? Does not cover electrodes for traditional lithium-ion batteries that use liquid electrolytes. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11239459/low-expansion-composite-electrodes-for-all-solid-state-batteries **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US11239459 --- _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 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. - [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. - [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 Lithium-Cobalt Battery Cathodes Were Invented](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4302518/lithium-ion-battery-cathode) — This 1981 patent details the chemistry behind the lithium-cobalt oxide cathodes that power almost every modern smartphone, laptop, and electric vehicle. - [How Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes Are Made](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4357215/lithium-ion-cathode-goodenough) — A foundational 1982 method for creating the materials used in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries by removing ions at low temperatures.