{
  "patent_number": "US 4302518",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Lithium-Cobalt Battery Cathodes Were Invented",
  "original_title": "Electrochemical cell with new fast ion conductors",
  "summary": "This 1981 patent details the chemistry behind the lithium-cobalt oxide cathodes that power almost every modern smartphone, laptop, and electric vehicle.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a method for creating a specific type of battery electrode material using a layered atomic structure known as alpha-NaCrO2. By using electrochemical extraction, the inventors removed lithium ions from the material at low temperatures, which was previously impossible using high-heat manufacturing methods. This creates a stable, rechargeable structure where lithium ions can move in and out of the cathode, allowing the battery to store and release energy efficiently. It specifically identifies lithium-cobalt and lithium-nickel oxides as the active materials for these cathodes.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover battery designs using liquid electrolytes exclusively.",
    "Does not cover non-layered crystal structures or different chemical formulas outside of AxMyO2.",
    "Does not cover the manufacturing of the anode component itself, only its use in conjunction with the claimed cathode.",
    "Does not cover high-temperature synthesis methods for these materials."
  ],
  "filed": "1980-03-31",
  "granted": "1981-11-24",
  "expires": "2000-03-31",
  "status": "expired",
  "holder": "Individual",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/individual",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Koichi Mizuchima",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/koichi-mizuchima"
    },
    {
      "name": "John B. Goodenough",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/john-b-goodenough"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 90,
  "tags": [
    "consumer_electronics",
    "energy",
    "materials",
    "automotive"
  ],
  "abstract": "There is interest in the use of solid-solution electrodes as a way of meeting the problems of conventional batteries; LiaTiS2 where O<a<1 is known in this respect and may be made by high temperature preparative routes. Fast ion conductors of the formula AxMyO2 where A is Li, Na or K, M is a transition metal e.g. Co or Ni, <x<1 and y APPROX 1 have been made for this purpose according to the invention. They cannot be made by high temperature routes when x is substantially less than 1 owing to stability problems. In the invention, they have been made by electrochemical extraction of A+ions from compounds of the formula Ax'MyO2 where O<x'<1, carried out at low temperature.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4302518/lithium-ion-battery-cathode",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4302518/lithium-ion-battery-cathode/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US4302518",
  "relatedPatents": [
    {
      "patentNumber": "4357215",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes Are Made",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4357215/lithium-ion-cathode-goodenough"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "4009052",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "Early Lithium-Ion Battery Design Using Chalcogenides",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4009052/rechargeable-lithium-battery"
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      "patentNumber": "10593988",
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    {
      "patentNumber": "10566652",
      "countryCode": "US",
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      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10566652/lithium-metal-battery-with-hybrid-electrolyte-system"
    },
    {
      "patentNumber": "10700376",
      "countryCode": "US",
      "title": "How to Fast-Charge Lithium Batteries Without Damaging Them",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10700376/methods-for-fast-charging-and-detecting-lithium-plating-in-lithium-ion-batteries"
    }
  ]
}