bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Protecting Battery and Energy Technology: Trade Secrets
Authors: Aruda Kenneth 
Published: February 2020

Protecting Battery and Energy Technology: Trade Secrets

by Charles Collins-Chase, and Kenneth Aruda, Ph.D.

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP

Patents and trade secrets coexist as separate intellectual property regimes, and as a result, businesses and inventors must often choose between patent and trade secret protection. Recent legislative changes, including the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) in 2016 directly affect this choice.
Manufacturers have long faced a dilemma when trying to protect some of their most valuable assets—the manufacturing methods behind their products. Method patents can be difficult to draft, license, and assert. But trade secrets offer limited protection absent misappropriation. The DTSA aims to place trade secrets on equal footing with other forms of intellectual property by creating a new federal civil cause of action for trade secret misappropriation, and includes an ex parte seizure provision and whistleblower protections.
Under current legislation, the prior user defense preserves the right to continue the practice of a trade secret invention in the United States despite subsequent issuance of a third party patent. The availability of this defense limits the need to patent every commercial improvement and simplifies freedom to operate analysis for commercial processes.
With these advantages in mind, for technologies such as catalysis, electrode production processes, and complex processing of gas diffusion layers, trade secrets could in some instances be a desirable alternative to patents. One should consider developing a trade secret protection plan that fits your business, and assess the sensitivity level of various types of information and establishing security measures that should be in place at each level. To qualify as a trade secret, federal law requires that “reasonable measures” be taken to keep the information secret. This presentation aims to inform how courts have treated various types of secrecy measures mentioned in recent cases.
Degradation of Separator after Calendar Ageing in 18650 Li-Ion Battery: Impact on Safety and Performances
Authors: Fleury Xavier , Geniès Sylvie , Thivel Pierre-Xavier 
Published: February 2020

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) are the most popular types of rechargeable battery with their superior gravimetric and volumetric capacities for electric and hybrid vehicles. But more than energy density, cost, lifetime or recyclability, safety issues is the most challenging parameter to investigate especially after ageing. Even if separator is considered as electrochemically inert, it play a major role in all of these properties. It is so crucial to evaluate its evolution in time, to observe its degradation and its impact on safety and performances of LIBs.
The aim of this study is to determine the evolution of chemical, morphological and mechanical properties of a polyethylene separator under two different ageing conditions: calendar ageing and fast charge cycling in 18650 LFP/G batteries systems. Its porosity is evaluated by Helium pycnometry, its mechanical properties by tensile test. Surface chemical composition is also investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman spectroscopy. Surface state is observed by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and by atomic-force microscopy (AFM). Electrochemical performances are analyzed by impedance spectroscopy and C-rate tests to investigate the consequences of the separator ageing. Safety tests are also performed by overcharge in an Accelerating Rate Calorimeter (ARC) and by in-situ dendrites growing in coin cells.
First results show a decrease of the separators porosity after calendar ageing which causes a decrease of the cell performances at high capacity rate. A deposit is observed on the extreme surface. A mechanistic model of ageing will be proposed which integrate a porosity gradient and an evolution in time.
Effective Transport Property Simulation on Three-Phase Mesoscale Electrode Reconstructions across Manufacturing Parameters
Authors: Trembacki Bradley L. , Noble David R. , Ferraro Mark E. , Brunini Victor E. , Roberts Scott A. 
Published: February 2020

Advances in the three-dimensional imaging and subsequent computational representation of lithium-ion battery electrodes have made it possible to perform detailed simulations on reconstructed electrode mesostructures. These particle-scale simulation capabilities can be utilized to analyze the effect of the manufacturing process and can also inform macroscale (cell- or module-level) battery models, most notably through effective transport properties. For these simulations to be realistic and accurate, quality computational meshes and sufficient domain sizes (1000+ active material particles) must be achieved.
Additionally, imaging techniques, such as x-ray tomography, that can provide sufficiently large domain sizes are often unable to clearly differentiate between the non-active electrode phases (binder, conductive additive, and void/electrolyte). This forces models to make assumptions about the morphology of non-active phases or neglect their contributions altogether. Our recent work has focused on addressing these challenges, and we have developed a novel “binder bridge” placement algorithm to introduce a composite binder morphology to a large many-particle domain that mimics morphologies seen in high-resolution imaging where nonactive phases can be differentiated.
We use this approach to study the effect of the electrode manufacturing process on effective electrode properties by simulating electrodes manufactured using various calendaring pressures and slurry compositions.
Tungsten Trixode Nanoparticles-Carbon Nanohorns Composite As Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Sahu Sumit Ranjan , Rikka Vallabha Rao , Prathap Haridoss , Gopalan Raghavan , Prakash Raju 
Published: February 2020

Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) are currently the most promising energy storage systems used in wide range of applications from portable electronic devices to electric vehicles. Tungsten oxide (WO3) has recently been studied as anode material for LIB due to its high theoretical capacity of 693 mAhg-1 and four times higher volumetric capacity than that of graphite. Due to its high melting point (1473 °C) and strong mechanical stability, WO3 could be used as safe anode material for LIB. However, large first cycle irreversibility as well as long-term cyclic stability are the major bottlenecks associated with this material. Several approaches like controlling morphology, creating oxygen vacancy and composite with carbon materials have been tried to overcome these problems.
Herein, we have investigated the effect of carbon nanohorns (CNH) addition on the irreversibility and long-term cyclic stability of WO3. CNH is a well-studied material as a composite with metal oxides, enhances the cyclic stability of metal oxides due to its good electric conductivity, large surface area and mechanical strength. WO3 was synthesized via microwave synthesis method and CNH were prepared by arc-discharge method. Both the materials were characterized by XRD, Raman spectroscopy, BET analysis, SEM and TEM. WO3 showed spherical morphology with a uniform particle size of <200 nm. Pure WO3 showed first discharge capacity of 887 mAhg-1 at a current density 50 mAg-1 in a voltage range between 0.05 and 3.0V. It showed a capacity of ~235 mAhg-1 after 100 cycles. Electrochemical performance of WO3 was studied by addition of 10, 20, 30 wt% of CNH. Among all, 30 wt % CNH composite electrode exhibited a first discharge capacity of ~998 mAhg-1 and a capacity of ~650 mAhg-1 after 100 cycles at a current density 50 mAg-1. The electrochemical performance of the composites with 10 and 20 wt% of CNH have also been studied. The results of the rate capability and long-term stability of the composites will be discussed in detail during the presentation.
Amorphous Niobium Oxide Thin Film As Anode for High Rate Lithium Ion Battery
Authors: Kimble Ke'La Amonzie , Adams Jada Imari , Abiade Asha Ain , Tran Nam Xuan , Adkins Joshua Willis , Dangerfield Aaron , Meda Lamartine 
Published: February 2020

Electrochemical pseudo-capacitor materials that can deliver high power and store high capacity energy for applications that required faster rate performance than traditional energy storage battery are needed. Amorphous Nb2O5 has been evaluated as a pseudo-capacitor. Amorphous thin film (550 nm) was synthesized by RF magnetron sputtering. The morphology of the Nb2O5 nanoparticle thin films was smooth as evaluating in field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) with nanoparticle size ranged between 5 and 15 nm. A cross-sectional FE-SEM image shows thickness was approximately 550 nm with excellent adhesion to the SS substrates. XPS revealed that the as-deposited materials are Nb2O5.
To understand the electrochemical redox reactions, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic discharge-charge (GDC) experiments were performed at different rates. The CVs were performed at scan rates of 0.1, 1, 2, and 5 mV/s. For example, for the scan rate at 1 mV/s a sharp peak current is observed at ~0.85 V during the first cycle which has been assigned to the formation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and reduction of Nb+5 to Nb+4. As the cathodic sweep continues to zero volt no conversion reaction took place. The anodic sweep shows two broad and weak peak currents at ~0.7 and ~1.5 V. During the second cycle, the peak current at ~0.85 V disappeared which is typical of irreversibility and loss of capacity in the first cycle. All subsequent cycles were smooth with quasi rectangular CV curves which indicated the pseudo-capacitive characteristics of amorphous Nb2O5. This is opposite to sharp peak currents typically observed in CV that are characteristics of battery electrodes. Ex-situ XPS were performed on the sample stopped at 1.0 V during the reverse potential sweep and 1.84 V during the forward potential sweep. A very thick SEI layer was observed when the sample was stopped and analyzed at 1.0 V. NbOx was observed after fifteen minutes of sputtering at 1 KeV Ar+ and Nb+4/+5 after 90 min of sputtering. The SEI is composed of carbonates (Li2CO3), aliphatic carbon species, and fluorides (LiF). The capacity observed during the first cycle was 436 mAh/g at C/3 rate. After 100 cycles, the coulumbic efficiency was maintained at 100% and the capacity retention was 160 mAh/g. The materials responded very well to different cycling rates.

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Stretchable Array of Wirelessly Charged High Performance Micro-Supercapacitors with Solar Cells for Wireless Powering of the Integrated Strain Sensor
Authors: Yun Junyeong , Song Changhoon , Park Heun , Jeong Yu Ra , Jin Sang Woo , Oh Seung Yun , Ha Jeong Sook 
Published: February 2020

Along with the increasing demands for wearable health care and biomedical applications, there has been extensive research on the development of various stretchable electronic devices with mechanical stability even under deformations caused by body or skin movements. Also, energy storage devices which can be integrated with the stretchable active sensor devices have been actively studied for the practical utilization of wearable electronics without any wire-connected external power sources. Among various candidates for integrated energy storage devices, high performance solid-state micro-supercapcitors (MSCs) have been extensively investigated. Furthermore, integration of those MSCs with photovoltaic devices is expected to provide the power for the sensors, leading to the wirelessly driven skin-attachable health monitoring sensor system.
In this work, we report on the fabrication of stretchable array of high performance solid-state MSCs which can be charged via integration with Si-based commercial solar cell so that those can power the integrated strain sensor. The planar MSC consists of electrodes of potentiostatically deposited polypyrrole on spray coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes film and gel-type electrolyte of LiCl/polyvinyl alcohol with redox additive of 1-Methyl-3-propylimidazolium iodide. The fabricated MSC shows areal capacitance 5.2 mF cm-2 at a current density of 100 µA cm-2. The MSC retains 80% of initial capacitance after 5000 charge/discharge cycles at a current density of 100 µA cm-2. A strain sensor was fabricated with a composite film of fragmentized graphene foam and PDMS. Such fabricated MSCs, strain sensor, and the solar cell were integrated on a single deformable polymer substrate with embedded stiff platforms of SU-8 via long serpentine interconnections of Ti/Pt metal film for mechanical stability under stretching. After 1000 repetitive biaxial stretching/releasing cycles by 30%, there appeared no noticeable change in the charge/discharge behaviors. Furthermore, the photo-charge/discharge characteristics and electrochemical performance remained stable under biaxial stretching of 30 %. With the energy stored in MSCs using the solar cell, the integrated strain sensor could detect the externally applied strain and the arterial pulse after attachment of the whole integrated system onto the wrist of the author.
This work successfully demonstrates the potential application of our stretchable self-charging power/sensor system to skin-attachable health monitoring devices.
Polymeric Binder Distribution within LiCoO2 Electrodes By Using a Surface and Interfacial Cutting Analysis System (SAICAS)
Authors: Byun Seoungwoo , Roh Youngjoon , Kim Seokwoo , Jin Dahee , Choi Jaecheol , Ryou Myung-Hyun , Lee Yong Min 
Published: February 2020

Polymeric binder distribution of lithium-ion battery (LIB) electrodes becomes as important as using high-capacity electrode materials for highly loaded electrodes. Because, the electrode coating layer can be delaminated from the current collector within the service time unless the binder is well-dispersed. However, due to the limitation of usable analysis tools, to get some information on binder distribution remains one of the unresolved issues in LIBs. Fortunately, we have started to analyse these issues using a new tool, surface and interfacial cutting analysis system (SAICAS, Daipla Witnes, Japan), to measure adhesion properties of LIB composite electrodes as a function of depths. The adhesion strength measured by SAICAS is approximately proportional to the binder content, the polymeric binder distribution within the electrodes can be unveiled with a SAICAS.
In this study, we fabricated two LiCoO2 positive electrodes dried at different temperatures, 130 and 230oC. They were used to analyse the polymeric binder distribution in the electrode by using SAICAS. First, their adhesion strengths were carefully measured at every 10 μm depth from the electrode surface. At the same time, both surface/cross-sectional SEM images and corresponding EDS atomic mapping were confirmed to find correlation with adhesion strength. Finally, their electrochemical property changes such as cycle life, rate capability, DC-IR, etc. at room and high temperatures were also discussed.
Development of Formvar-Based Membranes with Controlled Porosities for Microfluidics and Large-Area Graphene Transfer
Authors: Dervishi Enkeleda , Auchter Eric , Marquez Justin , Stevens Garrison , Li Nan , Mcculloch Quinn , Sheehan Chris , Chamberlin Rebecca , Yarbro Stephen 
Published: February 2020

Ultra-thin and strong formvar-based membranes with controlled morphologies were developed via a simple synthesis technique. This thin hydrophilic and oleophilic polymer possesses very interesting morphological properties including being inert to most chemicals and resistant to radiation. Tunable porous membranes (porosity ranges from 20 to 60%) were synthesized by controlling the ratios of formvar, glycerol, and chloroform; and varying the sonication time. While the porosity can be altered, the hydrophilicity and oleophilicity is fundamental to the formvar itself and is independent of synthesis conditions. The formvar-based membranes were found to have an elastic modulus of 7.8 GPa (twice as high as previously reported values) with an average thickness of 125 nm. The figure below shows the SEM images of holey formvar structure (A) and lacey structure (B) along with a 3D render AFM image of a high porosity holey formvar sample (C). To demonstrate the versatility of this membrane, we performed chemical compatibility testing revealing that only chloroform had a destructive effect fully dissolving the formvar in a few minutes. High concentrations of HCl (above 6M) were found to have minor deleterious effects after an hour of exposure. Moreover, a numerical model was used to demonstrate the feasibility of the membranes with a range of porosity in realistic conditions in nano- and micro-devices. These thorough simulations revealed that the membrane with the highest porosity of ~50% exhibited the lowest probability of failure in a pressurized system.
Additionally, the unique mechanical properties and chemical resistivity of formvar, provide the opportunity for using these type of membranes in certain environmental conditions to transfer and handle various 2D materials, where other polymer types would not be suited for. More specifically, due to the ease at which formvar dissolves in chloroform, for the first time we utilize the formvar-based membranes for large-area graphene transfer. Compared to other polymer-based transfer techniques, our novel method allows for a cleaner and a faster transfer of graphene sheets onto a variety of substrates, including commercial TEM grids, silicon dioxide and glass. Various spectroscopy and microscopy analyses demonstrated the effectiveness of this formvar-based transfer technique for large-area crystalline graphene sheets. The formvar removal is one to two orders of magnitude faster than other reported PMMA-based transfer methods. Moreover, formvar can be applied to large-area graphene sheets limiting the transfer dimensions only to that of catalyst size utilized for graphene growth. Ultimately, the development of ultra-strong and versatile membrane materials can allow for major advances across a wide range of important applications in microscale to nanoscale fluidics and nano-electronic devices.

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(Invited) A Role of Graphene Fabricated on Surfaces of Metal Halide Perovskite Compounds. A First-Principles Study
Authors: Sugimoto Manabu 
Published: February 2020

Surface fabrication of metal halide perovskite compounds is a challenging issue to enhance energy conversion efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Since they are a multi-layered device and the energy band alignment are not necessarily perfectly matched between the adjacent layers, a buffer layer is expected to bring some beneficial effects by intervening between the layers. Such a layer might also give additional effects on surface passivation, surface protection against device deterioration, etc.
In this presentation, we report our first-principles study of graphene fabrication on metal halide perovskite compounds with some types of lattice defects. The sheet-type material has been experimentally reported to improve photovoltaic action of PSCs. Our interest on lattice defects are due to the experimental report indicating the existence of carrier traps near the surfaces of the perovskite compounds.
The present density functional calculations show that single vacancies arising from a loss of either iodine or lead atoms in methyl ammonium lead iodide can be carrier traps near the surface. The calculations on the system after graphene fabrication of the defective crystal predict that the surface coating would suppress carrier trapping at the lattice vacancies. The detailed numerical analyses clarify that electronic interaction by graphene would be significant for the suppression, and would explain a reason why the graphene fabrication of the surface was successful in the previous experiments.
Construction of 3D Carbon Nanostructure: Carbon Nanosheets Decorated Carbon Nanofiber As a Three-Dimensional Carbon Hybrid for High Performance Lithium-Sulfur Battery
Authors: Feng Shuo , Song Junhua , Du Dan , Lin Yuehe 
Published: February 2020

Among the emerging energy storage methods, lithium-sulfur battery (LiS) has drawn plenty of attentions due to its high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg-1),1 economical cost and environmental benignity. Nevertheless, the insulating nature of sulfur and notorious polysulfides shuttling result in a low sulfur utilization and short cycling life.2 To address these problems, carbon material has been confirmed as an ideal sulfur host to promote LiS’s performance because of their low cost, high conductivity and controllable structure such as carbon spheres, carbon nanotube/fibers and carbon nanosheets. For example, one-dimensional carbon nanotube can increase the sulfur utilization by providing better electrical conductivity. However, its “open-to-electrolyte” structures cannot effectively prevent shuttling effect.3 As for zero-dimension carbon materials, core/yolk shell carbon spheres in particular, are less capable of establishing conductive networks, which in turns, compromise the sulfur utilization and rate capability.4 Thus, it is of great necessity to develop three-dimensional (3D) carbon materials with multiple functions in order to achieve high-performance lithium-sulfur batteries.
Along this line, we prepared a three-dimensional carbon nanosheets modified carbon nanofiber (3DCNF) as high porosity sulfur host. After decorated with vertically aligned carbon nanosheets, the surface area of pristine carbon nanofiber was dramatically increased from 30 m2/g to 500 m2/g due to the expanded dimension. Although both 1D nanofiber and 2D nanosheets cannot effectively prevent polysulfides shuttling by themselves, the delicate combination of them endows new functions, where 3D carbon hybrid is capable of accommodating sulfur expansion and deterring polysulfides dissolution by the hierarchical porous structure and interconnected carbon nanosheets. At the same time, the 3D porous carbon nanofiber can also form conductive network that allows rapid electron transfer. With the structural advantages, the 3DCNF and sulfur composite delivered a capacity as high as 1266, 977 mAh/g at 0.1 and 0.5 C, respectively. After 500 cycles at 0.5 C, it still retains a capacity of 607 mAh/g (0.07% capacity fading per cycle), exhibiting excellent cycling capability.
Reference

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