Flash-heat regeneration of used lithium-ion battery anodes
This technology recycles degraded battery electrodes by exposing them to an extreme, ultra-fast heat treatment—reaching temperatures above 1000 K in under a second and cooling just as rapidly. This 'thermal shock' burns off the chemical impurities that accumulate inside electrodes during normal charge-discharge cycles and restores the electrode's active material close to its original state. The process is designed to work on graphite and similar anode materials from lithium-ion batteries. The result is a regenerated electrode material that could be reintroduced into new battery production, reducing dependence on virgin mined materials.
What you could build
A direct electrode regeneration service or inline processing unit sold to battery recyclers and cell manufacturers, allowing them to reclaim anode material from end-of-life EV and consumer electronics batteries instead of smelting or discarding it. Battery recycling firms and battery gigafactory operators would be the primary buyers.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense contractors and naval shipyards in Virginia with battery-powered systems, plus data center operators requiring UPS battery maintenance, could have operational interest; battery recycling infrastructure investment in the mid-Atlantic region is also an emerging angle.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Liangbing HU, Xizheng WANG, Tangyuan LI, Feng LIN, Lei TAO
- Filed
- Patent pending — filed May 10, 2024
- Status
- Application
- Publication number
- US20240379936A1
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.