Nanomaterial integration into lithium-ion batteries presents substantial challenges for energy density enhancement. Current commercial EV batteries achieve 250-300 Wh/kg at the cell level, but silicon-oxide composites and nanostructured electrode materials have demonstrated the potential to reach 400-450 Wh/kg in laboratory settings. Despite these promising results, volume expansion during cycling—particularly in silicon-based anodes which can expand by 300%—creates mechanical stress that compromises electrode integrity and leads to capacity fade over multiple charge-discharge cycles.

The fundamental challenge lies in maintaining nanomaterial structural stability and effective ion transport pathways while simultaneously increasing active material loading and minimizing parasitic reactions at expanded material interfaces.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including boron nitride nanosheet composite electrolytes, silicon-oxide/graphite composites with specialized binder systems, carbonaceous material conductive pathways, and fibrous silicon structures with controlled expansion properties. These and other approaches focus on practical implementations that balance the theoretical capacity advantages of nanomaterials with the cycling stability requirements for commercial EV applications.

1. Lithium-Ion Battery Negative Electrodes with Silicon Oxide and Graphite Composition

IONBLOX INC, 2024

Lithium-ion batteries with enhanced cycling performance through negative electrodes incorporating high-capacity silicon oxide active materials. The electrodes achieve superior cycling stability by incorporating a blend of silicon oxide and graphite with a significant component of graphite. The binder characteristics also contribute to the cycling stability. The electrolyte formulations employ fluoroethylene carbonate as the solvent and exclude other unstable components, ensuring the electrodes maintain their structural integrity during cycling. The combination of silicon oxide and graphite active materials, along with optimized binder blends, enables batteries with cycling capabilities exceeding 800 cycles at reasonable discharge rates.

US11973178B2-patent-drawing

2. Composite Solid Electrolyte with High Ceramic Content and Boron Nitride Nanosheets for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries

GUANGDONG UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, 2024

High ceramic content composite solid electrolyte for all-solid-state lithium batteries that provides better performance compared to traditional solid electrolytes. The composite electrolyte is prepared by milling amorphous boron nitride (BN) nanosheets and mixing them with a polymer electrolyte like PVDF-HFP. The composite has high ionic conductivity, stability, and lithium ion migration number due to the fast ion diffusion channels, large volume expansion space, and surface defects of the BN nanosheets. The composite also has wide electrochemical windows and interface stability between the electrode and electrolyte.

3. Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes with Nanostructured Materials Exhibiting Increased Surface Area and Enhanced Electrical Conductivity

DR SHAIK HUSSAIN VALI, 2024

Enhancing lithium-ion battery performance through nanostructured electrode materials that significantly increase energy density, enable faster charging, and enhance safety. The nanostructured materials, engineered at the nanoscale, exhibit unique properties including increased surface area, improved electrical conductivity, and enhanced thermal management capabilities. These properties enable the development of lithium-ion batteries with enhanced energy density, faster charging rates, and improved safety features compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The nanostructured electrodes address critical challenges such as capacity fading, charging speed limitations, and thermal runaway concerns, making them a critical component in the development of high-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and portable electronics.

4. Negative Electrode for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Silicon Oxide, Nanoscale Conductive Carbon, and Dual-Polymer Binder

ZENLABS ENERGY INC, 2023

Negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries that combines high capacity silicon oxide active materials with improved cycling stability through specific design features. The electrode comprises from 75% to 92% silicon oxide, 1% to 7% nanoscale conductive carbon, and 6% to 20% polymer binder, with a blend of mechanically strong polyimide and elastic polymer binder. The design incorporates a blend of silicon oxide and graphite, with nanoscale carbon for enhanced conductivity, and a polymer binder with specific mechanical properties that enhance electrode lamination and electrical conductivity. This combination enables significant capacity retention and improved cycling stability compared to conventional silicon-based electrodes, while maintaining high energy density.

US11742474B2-patent-drawing

5. Lithium-Sulfur Battery with Carbonaceous Material-Based Conductive Pathways in Jelly Roll Design

LYTEN INC, 2023

Lithium-sulfur battery with enhanced electrical conductivity through carbonaceous materials replacing anode tabs. The battery features a jelly roll design where carbonaceous materials replace traditional anode tabs, creating a conductive pathway between cathode and anode while maintaining mechanical integrity. The carbonaceous materials are integrated into the battery structure through a slurry process, enabling precise control of sulfur loading and distribution. This design approach addresses the polysulfide shuttle effect, enables higher sulfur utilization, and maintains cell stability during operation.

US11600876B2-patent-drawing

6. Lithium Secondary Battery with Concentration Gradient Cathode and Silicon-Carbon Composite Anode

SK ON CO LTD, 2023

Lithium secondary battery with enhanced capacity and thermal stability. The battery incorporates lithium metal oxide cathode active material with a concentration gradient region between the center and surface, and anode comprising silicon-based and carbon-based active materials. The gradient creates a localized concentration gradient in the cathode material, while the anode's composition with higher silicon content and carbon content provides enhanced thermal stability. The battery achieves improved energy density, capacity retention, and temperature resistance compared to conventional designs.

EP4113659A1-patent-drawing

7. Negative Electrode for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Silicon Oxide-Graphite Composite and Dual-Polymer Binder System

ZENLABS ENERGY INC, 2021

Negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries that combines high capacity silicon oxide active materials with improved cycling stability through specific electrode design features. The electrode comprises silicon oxide, graphite, nanoscale carbon, and a polymer binder, with the polymer binder comprising at least 50% polyimide and a distinct second polymer binder with an elastic modulus of no more than 2.4 GPa. The design incorporates a blend of silicon oxide and graphite with a significant component of graphite, along with a binder blend that provides both mechanical strength and adhesion. The electrode achieves remarkable cycling stability, maintaining over 80% of its capacity after 450 cycles at 2.3V-4.35V, while delivering high energy density.

US2021336251A1-patent-drawing

8. Negative Electrode with Silicon Oxide and Graphite Composite Featuring High-Strength Polymer Binder for Enhanced Cycling Stability

ZENLABS ENERGY INC, 2021

Negative electrode for lithium-ion batteries that achieves high cycling stability through a novel design combining silicon oxide active material with graphite. The electrode comprises silicon oxide (SiOx) as the primary active material, with graphite and nanoscale carbon contributing to electrical conductivity, and a high-performance polymer binder. The binder blend incorporates a high-strength polymer with an elastic modulus of 2.4 GPa, enabling laminated electrode structure. This design enables significant capacity retention during cycling, with cells achieving over 600 charge/discharge cycles while maintaining over 80% of initial capacity. The design is compatible with conventional positive electrode materials, including nickel-rich lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, and can be adapted for various battery formats.

9. Fibrous Silicon Precursor Anode with Porous Silica-Based Fiber for Lithium-Ion Batteries

UNIFRAX I LLC, 2021

Silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries that achieve improved cycle life and capacity compared to conventional anodes. The anode comprises a fibrous silicon precursor, which is processed through a series of chemical reduction steps to produce a porous silica-based fiber. The fiber is then washed and purified to create a highly porous structure with interconnected pores, where silicon is present in concentrations greater than 20 weight percent. This unique fiber architecture enables enhanced lithium-ion intercalation and capacity retention, while maintaining superior mechanical strength and thermal stability.

10. Silicon-Graphite Composite Anode with Interlayer Fiber Restraint and Controlled Expansion via Calcination Process

CHINA LITHIUM BATTERY TECHNOLOGY CO LTD, 2021

Silicon-graphite composite for lithium battery anodes that enhances anode performance through controlled expansion and intercalation resistance. The composite incorporates a silicon source fiber into an interlayer structure of flake graphite, where the fiber is restrained through an interfacial force to prevent excessive expansion during cycling. The composite is prepared through a novel calcination process that maintains the fiber's integrity while promoting controlled expansion and intercalation.

11. Nanocomposites of Reduced Graphene Oxide and Hexagonal Boron Nitride with 2D Layer Synergy

SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO, 2021

Nanocomposites comprising 2D carbon and 2D boron nitride materials, where the carbon material is reduced graphene oxide and the boron nitride material is hexagonal boron nitride, exhibit enhanced thermal stability, mechanical strength, and electrochemical performance. The 2D materials work synergistically to improve the nanocomposite's thermal resistance, surface area, and electrochemical properties, particularly under high temperature and pressure conditions. The nanocomposite can be used as an electrode material in lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, enabling safe and reliable operation at elevated temperatures and pressures.

12. Composite Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode with Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Integrated Polythiophene Binder

GEORGIA TECH RES INST, 2021

Composite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries that overcome conventional issues of cracking and pulverization during repeated charge-discharge cycles. The electrodes feature a conductive anode material, a charge-conducting binder, and a network of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) bound to the binder's surface. The binder, a conjugated polythiophene, specifically interacts with the nanotube surface, effectively capturing and stabilizing the nanotubes while maintaining electrical conductivity. This architecture enables suppressed electrode breakdown, reduced electrode thickness variations, and enhanced SEI formation, leading to improved battery performance and durability.

13. Flexible Supercapacitor Electrodes with Nanomaterials in Controlled Orientations on Flexible Substrates

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, ANALOG DEVICES INC, 2020

Flexible supercapacitor electrodes featuring nanomaterials arranged in controlled orientations on flexible substrates. The electrodes exhibit superior performance characteristics, including enhanced ion transport pathways and improved energy density, due to the deliberate arrangement of nanomaterials with specific orientations. The arrangement enables conformal conforming of conductive nanotubes or other materials to the flexible substrate surface, while maintaining mechanical stability under operational conditions.

US2020365335A1-patent-drawing

14. Flexible Supercapacitors with Carbon-Based Electrodes and Solid Electrolytes Featuring Pseudocapacitive Charging Mechanisms

ARTURO ISAIAS MARTINEZ ENRIQUEZ, 2020

Flexible supercapacitors with high energy density and power density, enabling applications requiring rapid charging and discharging. The supercapacitors employ carbon-based electrodes, including graphene and ceramic nanoparticles, and solid electrolytes, eliminating the need for lithium. The electrodes are combined with separators, polymers, and acid solutions to form a flexible battery architecture. The supercapacitors achieve exceptional performance through pseudocapacitive charging mechanisms, enabling applications like electronic devices, automotive systems, and medical devices.

MX2019005591A-patent-drawing

15. Energy Storage Device with Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Arrays for Controlled Lithium-Ion Intercalation

TRAVERSE TECHNOLOGIES CORP, 2020

Energy storage devices with enhanced lithium-ion intercalation capabilities through the integration of nanoscale carbon nanotube structures with intercalation materials. The devices feature vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays on a conductive substrate, where the nanotube edges serve as active sites for intercalation of lithium ions. The intercalation material is applied in a controlled manner to the nanotube edges, allowing precise control over the intercalation process. The nanoscale structure enables efficient lithium storage and release, while the controlled intercalation process enables stable capacity retention over multiple charge cycles.

16. SiO/C/Cu Composite Material with Hydrothermal Synthesis and Cu Layer Deposition

HEFEI GUOXUAN HIGH TECH POWER ENERGY CO LTD, 2019

A novel SiO/C/Cu composite material for lithium-ion batteries that addresses the challenges of silicon anode degradation through improved conductivity, structural stability, and cycle performance. The material is prepared through a novel hydrothermal synthesis process followed by Cu layer deposition, resulting in a SiO/C/Cu composite with enhanced electrical conductivity, structural integrity, and reversible lithium insertion properties. This composite material enables high-capacity, long-cycle performance in lithium-ion batteries while maintaining superior cycle life compared to conventional silicon anodes.

CN110635129A-patent-drawing

17. Energy Storage Devices with Conversion-Type Electrodes Featuring Nanoscale Particle Size and Phase Transformation

SILA NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC, 2019

Energy storage devices, particularly rechargeable batteries, that achieve enhanced performance characteristics through the optimization of electrode materials and their processing conditions. The devices employ conversion-type electrodes with nanoscale particle sizes of 0.2-20 microns, which exhibit moderate volume changes during charging and discharging. These electrodes are formed through a novel approach involving conversion-type materials that undergo phase transformation during charging, followed by controlled processing to achieve the desired nanoscale particle size and density. The conversion-type materials are particularly effective in achieving high-capacity electrodes with moderate volume changes, enabling improved cycle stability and energy density compared to conventional intercalation-type electrodes.

US2019123339A1-patent-drawing

18. Positive Electrode Active Material with Nanometer Grain Size and Specific X-Ray Diffraction Half Width

SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO LTD, 2019

Improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries by optimizing the active material in the positive electrode. The active material has a grain size of 10-100 nm, a surface area of 10 m2/g or more, and an X-ray diffraction half width of 0.12-0.17 degrees. This optimizes the diffusion path for lithium ions, increasing the charging and discharging rate.

19. Metal Lithium Electrode with Nano-Carbon Coated Protective Layer for Uniform Lithium Deposition

SHANGHAI INSTITUTE OF CERAMICS CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 2019

Metal lithium negative electrode with enhanced protective layer for lithium-ion batteries, comprising a substrate and a nano-conductive carbon material-coated surface layer. The nano-carbon material, comprising carbon nanofibers or carbon nanotubes, is deposited on the substrate surface through a mixed solution process, forming a high surface area protective layer. This layer enhances lithium deposition uniformity and prevents dendrite formation while maintaining sufficient electrical conductivity. The resulting electrode exhibits improved safety characteristics compared to conventional lithium metal electrodes.

CN109273704A-patent-drawing

20. Graphene-Encapsulated Anode Materials with Carbon Matrix for Lithium-Ion Batteries

NANOTEK INSTRUMENTS INC, 2018

Graphene-protected electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries achieve high-capacity performance through a novel approach of encapsulating anode active materials within graphene matrices. The method involves dispersing the anode material in a graphene dispersion medium, followed by encapsulation of the dispersion in a carbon matrix. This composite structure provides enhanced mechanical stability, improved electrical conductivity, and enhanced thermal management properties compared to conventional cathode materials. The graphene matrix enables controlled expansion and contraction of the anode material during cycling, while the encapsulation provides a protective barrier against electrolyte degradation. The resulting composite electrode demonstrates superior performance characteristics, including enhanced reversible capacity, improved cycling stability, and increased rate capability, while maintaining the necessary lithium-ion conductivity.

21. Lithium-Ion Battery Cell with Gradient Nickel-Based Cathode and CNT-Si Composite Anode Structure

22. Double-Coated Nano-Silicon Anode Material with Copper and Conductive Protective Layers for Lithium-Ion Batteries

23. Mesoporous Silicon-Copper Composite Electrode via Magnesium Thermal and Hydrogen Reduction Process

24. Lithium-Carbon Composite Anode Material with Carbon-Adsorbed Lithium for Suppressed Dendrite Formation

25. Lithium Metal Battery with Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Composite Negative Electrode

Get Full Report

Access our comprehensive collection of 53 documents related to this technology

Identify Key Areas of Innovation in 2025