2026-08-04

Li-Ion Battery Technology
Patent Highlights – Free Version

Electron blocking cyanonitrosyl molybdate interlayers for sulfide solid electrolyte sheets, ZIF-derived porous carbon scaffolds for silane-infiltrated silicon-carbon anodes, and rapid-quench sulfate precipitation of Li-rich layered oxide precursors

Prospective High Impact Advancements

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Electrolytes

Solid & Semi-Solid

CATL

Cs_1.1Fe_0.95[Mo(CN)₅(NO)]·4H₂O electron blocking layer (10 μm, 1 × 10⁻¹⁰ S/cm electronic conductivity) electrodeposited onto a 60 μm Li₆PS₅Cl–styrene-butadiene rubber base layer

Retention: 87.4% @200 cycles

Hefei Guoxuan

Janus bilayer solid electrolyte spin-coated in situ onto NCM811: polyacrylonitrile + 20 mass% Nb-doped Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ facing the positive electrode, polyethylene oxide–succinonitrile + 60 mass% Nb-doped LLZO facing lithium metal

Retention: 94.2% @300 cycles

Solid Power

Pouch with a rigid contoured tab conforming section (convex-to-concave profile) seating the pinched current collector region of the cell stack, reducing bending stress during vacuum sealing

Cell format: stress-relieving tab seat geometry

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Anode

Negative Electrode

LG Chem

ZIF-11-derived carbon porous body (KOH 1 : 3, 800°C; BET 1,450 m²/g) infiltrated with monosilane at 425°C, inheriting a polyhedral 3–7 μm particle habit without a classification step

Init. capacity: 1,610 mAh/g, FCE 89.7%

Umicore

Spacer-free composite of bead-milled silicon (d₉₀ 115 nm) in a purely pitch-derived soft carbon matrix (C/Si 0.86, BET 2.8 m²/g), omitting graphite and graphene spacer particles

Avg. CE: 99.82% over cycles 5–50

Shanghai Xiangfenghua

HF-etched porous nano-silicon coated with MAH-g-PEO (maleic anhydride grafted poly(ethylene oxide), 30 nm) and given a pre-formed LiF-rich interphase (8 nm, 65 mass% LiF) by holding at 0.9 V before electrode fabrication

Retention: 93% @200 cycles

Cathode

Positive Electrode

LG Energy Solution

Quenching a 35 mass% Ni-Mn-Co sulfate solution from 40°C to 20°C within 1 second to precipitate single-phase (Ni_0.15Mn_0.75Co_0.1)SO₄ as a Li-rich layered oxide precursor, replacing chelated co-precipitation

Init. capacity: 300.3 mAh/g @0.1 C discharge

POSCO Holdings

Atomic layer deposition at 200°C (trimethylaluminum / water vapor, up to 100 cycles) forming a 1–2 nm Al₂O₃ layer on W-doped Li-rich, Mn-rich layered oxide

Surface Mn³⁺: 74.24%

BASF Shanshan

Dilute sulfuric acid etching creating a nanoporous surface layer (10–200 nm pores over 10–30% of the particle radius) on Li-rich, Mn-rich oxide, sealed by a PVDF-derived fluorocarbon coating sintered at 300°C

Retention: 92.1% @500 cycles

Benchmarking Experiments in Patents ⓘ

Cycle Retention with Electron Blocking Interlayer (CATL)

87.4%

73.8%

10 μm Cs_1.1Fe_0.95[Mo(CN)₅(NO)]·4H₂O electron blocking layer on the 60 μm Li₆PS₅Cl–styrene-butadiene rubber base layer vs. Li₆PS₅Cl–styrene-butadiene rubber sheet alone • capacity retention after 200 cycles, 0.33 C charge / 0.33 C discharge, 2.0–4.8 V, 15 MPa, Li-rich NMC + InCl₃ / silicon-carbon cells

Half-Cell Capacity of ZIF-Derived Silicon-Carbon Composite (LG Chem)

1,610 mAh/g

550 mAh/g

KOH activation of the carbonized ZIF-11 body at 1 : 3 mass ratio, 800°C (1,450 m²/g) before monosilane infiltration vs. carbonized ZIF-11 without the KOH heat-treatment step (390 m²/g) • discharge capacity in half-cells against lithium metal

Cycle Retention with Pre-Formed LiF Interphase (Shanghai Xiangfenghua)

93%

62%

Electrodeposited LiF-rich interphase (8 nm, 65 mass% LiF, 0.9 V hold) on MAH-g-PEO (maleic anhydride grafted poly(ethylene oxide)) coated porous nano-silicon vs. same coated particles without the electrodeposited interphase • capacity retention after 200 cycles, CR2032 half-cells against lithium metal

Gassing Suppression by Fluorocarbon Surface Coating (BASF Shanshan)

3.7 mL/Ah

14.6 mL/Ah

PVDF-derived fluorocarbon coating (0.3 mass% PVDF, 300°C, 5 hours) on the acid-etched nanoporous Li-rich, Mn-rich oxide vs. acid-etched material without the coating • gas generation after 28 days storage at 60°C, graphite pouch full cells (lower is better)

Recently Published Company Chapters

Newly added to the Solid-state / Semi-solid Li-ion Battery Innovation & Patent Review – patent-derived analysis of product development approaches, scale-up questions and concept-level synergies.

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Japan

FDK

Technology Assessment: Can a co-fired oxide chip that trades absolute energy density for reflow-solderability and elevated-temperature operation reach a market large enough to sustain it? The chapter examines how a single-step co-sintering approach positions against the interface-stability and yield questions it creates, how a scarce-element cost floor shapes the electrolyte roadmap, and how public statements align with what the patent portfolio reveals about development priorities.

Product Development Pathway
(5 R&D Concepts)

Substituted NASICON-type oxide electrolyte: a reformulated phosphate composition that lowers dependence on a scarce, cost-dominant constituent while holding ionic conductivity at the level of the incumbent material and staying compatible with the cathode through firing. Co-fired monolithic chip architecture: cathode, separator, anode and current collectors consolidated in one sintering step into a rigid, pressure-free surface-mount body suited to standard board assembly. Further concepts address interfacial-resistance growth at the cathode during elevated-temperature cycling, anode particle engineering for rate capability, and encapsulation integrity against cracking and moisture ingress at the package boundary.

Potential Synergies to Deliver Well-Rounded Cells for Application

A single co-sintering window binds electrolyte, both electrode interfaces and the protective shell into one process step – so each concept must earn its place within shared firing constraints, aligning cost, rate, high-temperature endurance and package robustness.

Read Full Chapter →

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China

SVOLT Energy Technology

Technology Assessment: Can a semi-solid platform engineered for compatibility with existing liquid-cell production lines carry the lithium-metal architecture its patent filings pursue – and where does a parallel high-capacity silicon anode route potentially fit alongside it? The chapter examines how near-term vehicle supply complements longer-term all-solid-state development, and how public positioning compares with what the patent portfolio reveals about development priorities.

Product Development Pathway
(5 R&D Concepts)

Transfer-printed composite separator coating – a pre-formed layer cast on a carrier film at metered areal density and hot-press-laminated onto the electrode, decoupling layer uniformity from electrode surface roughness and positioning the coating as a platform rather than a fixed chemistry. Separator-free covalently anchored gel architecture – reactive inorganic functional layers on both electrodes bond into an in-situ formed gel network, removing the inert polyolefin separator and its resistance and volume penalty. Further concepts address electrolyte flammability against a metallic anode, volume-change management in high-capacity anode particles, and the removal of long thermal processing steps from cell fabrication.

Potential Synergies to Deliver Well-Rounded Cells for Application

A transferred interface layer, an anchored gel network and a low-temperature fabrication route sharing one process window – aligning separator elimination, electrolyte substitution and line throughput so safety, energy density and manufacturability advance together.

Read Full Chapter →