How a Two-Layer Coating Protects Lithium Battery Anodes
This patent describes a lithium battery cell design that uses two special protective layers on the anode to stop harmful growths called dendrites and make the battery last longer and work better, especially in solid-state batteries.
Original patent title: “Battery cell with anode protective layer”
This patent describes a lithium battery cell design that uses two special protective layers on the anode to stop harmful growths called dendrites and make the battery last longer and work better, especially in solid-state batteries. Granted to Robert Bosch in 2022 with 22 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a specific design for a lithium battery cell, focusing on its anode. The anode has an "anode current collector" (like a metal sheet) covered by two distinct "ad-layers" (thin coatings). The first ad-layer sits directly on the current collector and is designed to let lithium ions pass through while blocking electrical current, using materials like amorphous carbon or graphene oxide (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The second ad-layer, which is also conductive to lithium ions, acts as a protective shield, often made from metal oxide or nitride derivatives (Claim 2). These layers work together to prevent "dendrites," which are tiny, tree-like metal growths that can damage the battery and cause it to fail. For example, a battery built with these layers could maintain over 99.9% "coulombic efficiency" for 2000 charge/discharge cycles (Claim 13).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Battery cells that do not include both a first ad-layer that is electrically insulating and a second ad-layer that is a protective layer, as described in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
- Anode protective layers that are not conductive to lithium ions, as both the first and second ad-layers are specified to be (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Battery cells using liquid electrolytes, as the separator is specified to be a solid polymer, ceramic, or a combination thereof (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Protective layers made from materials outside the specific groups listed for the first ad-layer (amorphous carbon, boron nitride, graphene oxide) or the second ad-layer (metal oxide, nitride, phosphide derivatives) (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1, 2).
- Battery designs where the protective layers are not positioned between the anode current collector and the solid-state separator.
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 the specific combination and arrangement of two distinct ad-layers on the anode. One layer is specifically designed to be electrically insulating but lithium-ion conductive, while the second is a general protective layer also conductive to lithium ions. This dual-layer approach, with specific material choices, offers a robust defense against dendrite formation and degradation.
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
Solid-state batteries for electric vehicles
High-energy density batteries for portable electronics
Long-life batteries for grid storage
Next-generation smartphone batteries
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Solid-state batteries promise safer, higher-energy power sources, but a major challenge is the growth of lithium dendrites on the anode. These dendrites can pierce the solid separator, causing short circuits and battery failure. This patent addresses this fundamental problem by introducing a specific multi-layer anode protection strategy. By preventing dendrites and improving "coulombic efficiency," this technology is crucial for making solid-state batteries practical for widespread use in demanding applications like electric vehicles.
Filed
June 7, 2018
Granted
March 8, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major automotive companies and their battery partners, such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and Hyundai, are heavily investing in solid-state battery development. Battery manufacturers like QuantumScape, Solid Power, and CATL are actively researching and patenting solutions for dendrite suppression and improved solid-state battery performance, often involving advanced anode designs and protective layers. Robert Bosch GmbH, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is also a significant player in automotive technology and battery research.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the foundational intellectual property necessary for the commercialization of solid-state batteries. By offering a specific solution to the dendrite problem, it helps clear a significant hurdle for this technology. Its impact could enable the development of safer, higher-energy density batteries, potentially shifting market dominance in electric vehicles and portable electronics towards manufacturers who successfully implement such protective anode designs. It could also influence future battery material standards and research directions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a specific design for a lithium battery cell, focusing on its anode. The anode has an "anode current collector" (like a metal sheet) covered by two distinct "ad-layers" (thin coatings). The first ad-layer sits directly on the current collector and is designed to let lithium ions pass through while blocking electrical current, using materials like amorphous carbon or graphene oxide (Claim 1). The second ad-layer, which is also conductive to lithium ions, acts as a protective shield, often made from metal oxide or nitride derivatives (Claim 2). These layers work together to prevent "dendrites," which are tiny, tree-like metal growths that can damage the battery and cause it to fail. For example, a battery built with these layers could maintain over 99.9% "coulombic efficiency" for 2000 charge/discharge cycles (Claim 13).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific combination and arrangement of two distinct ad-layers on the anode. One layer is specifically designed to be electrically insulating but lithium-ion conductive, while the second is a general protective layer also conductive to lithium ions. This dual-layer approach, with specific material choices, offers a robust defense against dendrite formation and degradation.
What it does not cover
- Battery cells that do not include both a first ad-layer that is electrically insulating and a second ad-layer that is a protective layer, as described in Claim 1.
- Anode protective layers that are not conductive to lithium ions, as both the first and second ad-layers are specified to be (Claim 1).
- Battery cells using liquid electrolytes, as the separator is specified to be a solid polymer, ceramic, or a combination thereof (Claim 1).
- Protective layers made from materials outside the specific groups listed for the first ad-layer (amorphous carbon, boron nitride, graphene oxide) or the second ad-layer (metal oxide, nitride, phosphide derivatives) (Claim 1, 2).
- Battery designs where the protective layers are not positioned between the anode current collector and the solid-state separator.
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
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
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
$27K – $87K
Midpoint $55K · 11.7 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
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Subbaraman, R., Hellstrom, S., Srouji, A., KERKAMM, I., & Christensen, J. F. (2022). How a Two-Layer Coating Protects Lithium Battery Anodes (U.S. Patent No. 11,271,251). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11271251/battery-cell-with-anode-protective-layer
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 How a Two-Layer Coating Protects Lithium Battery Anodes cover?
This patent describes a lithium battery cell design that uses two special protective layers on the anode to stop harmful growths called dendrites and make the battery last longer and work better, especially in solid-state batteries.
Who owns patent US 11271251?
Robert Bosch owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 7, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Solid-state batteries promise safer, higher-energy power sources, but a major challenge is the growth of lithium dendrites on the anode. These dendrites can pierce the solid separator, causing short circuits and battery failure. This patent addresses this fundamental problem by introducing a specific multi-layer anode protection strategy. By preventing dendrites and improving "coulombic efficiency," this technology is crucial for making solid-state batteries practical for widespread use in demanding applications like electric vehicles.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Battery cells that do not include both a first ad-layer that is electrically insulating and a second ad-layer that is a protective layer, as described in Claim 1.
Patent monitoring