9 patents in this list

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Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have emerged as critical materials for next-generation battery electrodes, offering theoretical capacities exceeding 600 mAh/g. Recent laboratory tests demonstrate that structured TMD foams can accommodate volume changes during cycling while maintaining electrical conductivity, and when combined with graphene interfaces, they enable charging rates up to 10 times faster than traditional graphite anodes.

The fundamental challenge lies in optimizing TMD structures and interfaces to maximize both ion transport and structural stability during repeated charge-discharge cycles.

This page brings together solutions from recent research—including hierarchical TMD foam architectures, metallic-phase TMD cathode substrates, graphene-TMD heterostructures, and high-mass-loading electrode designs. These and other approaches focus on practical pathways to incorporate TMDs into commercial battery systems while maintaining their promising performance characteristics.

1. Rechargeable Battery with Aluminum Anode, Transition Metal Cathode, and Aluminum-Containing Electrolyte

EQONIC GROUP LTD, 2024

A rechargeable battery that uses aluminum as the anode instead of lithium, along with specific cathode materials and an aluminum-containing electrolyte. The aluminum anode provides higher charge/discharge rates, longer lifespan, and improved safety compared to lithium-ion batteries. The cathode materials are transition metal dichalcogenides (MX2) or oxides (MOz) that intercalate anions. The electrolyte contains aluminum ions that reversibly deposit/dissolve at the aluminum anode and intercalate/deintercalate at the cathode. The aluminum electrolyte avoids the issues of liquid electrolytes like flammability and leakage.

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2. Hierarchical Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Foam Anodes with Nanometer-Sized Channels and Interconnected Cell Structure

KING ABDULLAH UNIV OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO, 2024

Structured transition metal dichalcogenide foams for high-performance battery anodes that can withstand excessive volume expansion during cycling. The foams have a hierarchical 3D structure with channels and interconnected cells made of TMD layers. The channels have nanometer-sized internal diameters. The foam anodes provide high capacity, high yield, and dynamic recovery. The foams are made by chemically exfoliating TMD, jetting it onto a substrate, dewetting to form layers, and applying voltage to spray particles between layers.

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3. Graphene-Coated Molybdenum Disulfide Composite Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RES, KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH, 2023

High-performance hybrid composite for lithium-ion batteries that has improved capacity and charging speed compared to traditional graphite anodes. The composite is made by coating graphene onto a layer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) to create a heterostructure. This composite anode has higher capacity and faster charging than pure graphite anodes due to the intercalation reaction between the MoS2 and lithium ions. The MoS2 layer enhances lithium ion intercalation into the graphite. The composite can be manufactured at scale using simple methods without requiring high pressures or temperatures.

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4. All-Solid-State Lithium-Sulfur Battery with Transition Metal Chalcogenide and Graphene-Enhanced Cathode

INST PHYSICS CAS, INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, 2020

High-energy density all-solid-state lithium-sulfur batteries with high sulfur loading and improved performance by using a transition metal chalcogenide cathode material with both ionic and electronic conductivity. The cathode material is composed of embedded lithium storage transition metal chalcogenide compounds like Mo6S8, sulfur, and graphene/carbon nanotubes. The chalcogenide provides ionic and electronic conductivity, reducing the need for electrolyte and conductive additives in the cathode. This allows higher sulfur loading and improves energy density compared to conventional cathode materials.

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5. Protective Anode Formed via Electrochemical Cycling in Carbon Dioxide-Infused Electrolyte with Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Cathode

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS, 2019

Protective anode for metal-based batteries like lithium-air, lithium-sulfur, and metal-ion batteries that can significantly improve cycle life without compromising performance. The protective anode is made by discharging and charging a cathode with transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) and an anode with a metal, such as lithium, in an electrolyte with carbon dioxide dissolved. The cycling forms a protective layer on the anode containing Li2CO3. The protective anode can be removed and used in a regular battery with the TMDC cathode and electrolyte, providing improved cycle life compared to regular lithium anodes.

6. Few-Layer Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries

TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, 2017

Anode materials for lithium-ion batteries with high capacity and low electrode potential for improved safety and performance. The anode materials are transition metal dichalcogenides like TiS2 in a few-layer configuration. Few-layer TiS2 has a lower lithiation potential compared to bulk TiS2, making it usable as an anode material in lithium-ion cells. The few-layer structure enables higher capacity and lower potential compared to bulk TiS2, which is limited to cathode use due to high lithiation potential.

7. Nanocrystalline Metal Dichalcogenides with Expanded Atomic Spacing and Defected Structure for Enhanced Pseudocapacitive Charge Storage

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, 2017

Highly defected nanocrystalline metal dichalcogenides like MoS2 with expanded atomic spacing for pseudocapacitive energy storage. The defected structure provides access to interlayer crystals and facilitates pseudocapacitive charge storage. The nanocrystal electrodes have high power density due to synergy between the nanostructure and composite electrode architecture. The defected nanocrystals can reversibly store high capacities in seconds, cycle thousands of times, and operate at high voltages without crystal destruction.

US2017162875A1-patent-drawing

8. Lithium Secondary Battery with Transition Metal Chalcogen Negative Electrode and Anion-Absorbing Carbon Positive Electrode

YUASA BATTERY CO LTD, YUASA CORP, 2003

A lithium secondary battery with improved discharge capacity, output density, storage stability, and cycle life compared to conventional lithium batteries. The key feature is using a transition metal chalcogen compound as the negative electrode material instead of graphite. These compounds can absorb and release lithium ions like graphite, but at higher potentials. This prevents lithium plating on the negative electrode during charging. The positive electrode uses a carbon material that can absorb and release anions, balancing the charge transfer. This reduces concentration gradients of electrolyte salt during charging and discharging, improving cycle life and storage stability.

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9. Layered Chalcogenide Electrode with Transition Metal Substitution for Enhanced Ion Intercalation Reversibility

BELL TELEPHONE LABOR INC, BELL TELEPHONE LABORATORIES INC, 1978

Improving the reversibility and cycling performance of nonaqueous cells using layered chalcogenide positive electrode materials like LiVS2 or LiCrS2 by substituting some of the transition metal atoms in the chalcogenide with other metals like Mn, Fe, Ni, or Co. This allows easier and more complete intercalation of lithium or sodium ions during charging and discharging compared to pure vanadium or chromium chalcogenides. The substituted chalcogenides have weaker and broader intermediate phases as the lithium concentration varies, making the intercalation process more reversible.

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