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# c12) United States Patent Visco et al. 

# (54) AQUEOUS LITHIUM AIR BATTERIES 

(75) Inventors: Steven J. Visco, Berkeley, CA (US); Yevgeniy S. Nimon, Danville, CA (US); Lutgard C. De Jonghe, Lafayette, CA (US); Alexei Petrov, Walnut Creek, CA (US); Nikolay Goncharenko, Walnut Creek, CA (US) 

(73) Assignee: POLYPLUS BATTERY COMPANY, Berkeley, CA (US) 

( *) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 448 days. 

(21) Appl. No.: 13/588,911 

Aug. 17, 2012 (22) Filed: 

## (65) Prior Publication Data 

US 2013/0045428 Al Feb. 21, 2013 

(60) Provisional application No. 61/525,634, filed on Aug. 19, 2011. 

(51) Int. Cl. 

<img src='content_image/938645.jpg'>

(52) U.S. Cl. CPC .... H0JM 12108 (2013.01); H0JM 2300/0005 (2013.01); Y02E 60/128 (2013.01) 

( 58) Field of Classification Search CPC ......... H0lM 12/08; H0lM 2300/0005; H0lM 12/06; H01M 2004/024; Y02E 60/128 USPC ......................................... 429/405, 500, 535 See application file for complete search history. 

## Related U.S. Application Data 

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# (IO) Patent No.: US 9,660,311 B2 

# May 23, 2017 (45) Date of Patent: 

## (56) References Cited 

<img src='content_image/938646.jpg'>

International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 18, 2005 from International Application No. PCT/US2004/033372. 

Primary Examiner - Nicholas P D’ Aniello 

Assistant Examiner - Ling R Zeng 

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm - Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP 

## (57) ABSTRACT 

Aqueous Li/ Air secondary battery cells are configurable to achieve high energy density and prolonged cycle life. The cells include a protected a lithium metal or alloy anode and an aqueous catholyte in a cathode compartment. The aque› ous catholyte comprises an evaporative-loss resistant and/or polyprotic active compound or active agent that partakes in the discharge reaction and effectuates cathode capacity for discharge in the acidic region. This leads to improved performance including one or more of increased specific energy, improved stability on open circuit, and prolonged cycle life, as well as various methods, including a method of operating an aqueous Li/ Air cell to simultaneously achieve improved energy density and prolonged cycle life. 

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US009660311B2 

## U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS 

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## FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS 

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## OTHER PUBLICATIONS 

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## 31 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets 

