US 11,996,540 B2
Method and apparatus for making lithium ion battery electrodes
Xiaohong Gayden, West Bloomfield, MI (US)
Assigned to INTECELLS, INC., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed by Intecells, Inc., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/124,350.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/951,398, filed on Dec. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0193986 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01)
CPC H01M 4/0435 (2013.01) [H01M 4/0404 (2013.01); H01M 4/0419 (2013.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a first pair of opposing calendering rolls;
a path defined between the first pair of opposing calendering rolls for advancing a lithium ion cell substrate between the first pair of opposing calendering rolls;
at least one atmospheric plasma generator connected to a supply of particles of a first electrode material, wherein the at least one atmospheric plasma generator is positioned to deposit the particles of the first electrode material into a gap defined between a first side of the lithium-ion cell substrate and a first one of the first pair of opposing calendering rolls, and wherein the particles of the first electrode material comprise a first active electrode material and a first metal;
wherein the first pair of opposing calendering rolls are operable to press the deposited particles of the first electrode material into an electrode layer on the first side of the lithium-on cell substrate,
a second pair of opposing calendering rolls, wherein the path is further defined between the second pair of opposing calendering rolls;
at least one atmospheric plasma generator connected to a supply of particles of a second metal, wherein the at least one atmospheric plasma generator is positioned to deposit the particles of the second metal into a gap defined between the electrode layer and a first one of the second pair of opposing calendering rolls, and
wherein the second metal is suitable for a current collector layer; and wherein the second pair of opposing calendering rolls are operable to press the deposited particles of the second metal into a current collector layer on the electrode layer.