Abstract: This disclosure provides a sensor for detecting an analyte. The sensor can include an antenna and sensing material both disposed on a substrate, where the sensing is electrically coupled to the antenna. The sensing material can include a carbon structure including a multi-modal distribution of pore sizes that define a surface area including bonding sites configured to interact with one or more additives and the analyte. The carbon structure is configured to generate a resonant signal indicative of one or more characteristics of the analyte in response to an electromagnetic signal. The carbon structure can include distinctly sized interconnected channels defined by the surface area and configured to be infiltrated by the analyte, and exposed surfaces configured to adsorb the analyte. Each of the interconnected channels can include microporous pathways and/or mesoporous pathways, which can increase a responsiveness of the sensing material proportionate to the analyte within the carbon structure.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a lithium (Li) ion battery that includes an anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, a porous separator positioned between the anode and the cathode, and a liquid electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode. The anode includes an electrically conductive substrate. A first film is deposited on the electrically conductive substrate. The first film includes a first concentration of carbon particles in contact with each other and defines a first electrical conductivity for the first film. Each of the carbon particles includes a plurality of aggregates formed of few layer graphene sheets. The plurality of aggregates form a porous structure configured to undergo a lithiation, which can include any one or more of an intercalation operation or a plating operation. The anode and the cathode can include an electroactive material. The porous structure can provide conduction between the few layer graphene sheets.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems and methods of manufacturing an anode, which can include nucleating a plurality of carbon particles at a first concentration level, forming a first film on a sacrificial substrate based on the first concentration level, each of the carbon particles defined by a plurality of aggregates formed of few layer graphene sheets fused together, defining a porous structure based on the few layer graphene sheets; and infusing a molten lithium (Li) metal into the porous structure. A plurality of interconnected porous channels can be defined based on the plurality of carbon particles. A second film can be formed by nucleating the carbon particles at a second concentration level on the first film. The first film can be configured to provide a first electrical conductivity and the second film can be configured to provide a second electrical conductivity different than the first electrical conductivity.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an electrochemical cell electrode including a film layer deposited on an electrically conductive substrate. The film layer includes a concentration of carbon aggregates formed from a plurality of few layer graphene sheets orthogonally fused together. A porous structure is defined by the plurality of few layer graphene sheets and is configured to any provide for electrical conduction between contact points between any two or more of the plurality of few layer graphene sheets or host an electroactive material. The electrochemical cell electrode can be an anode. The electroactive material can include an elemental lithium (Li) interspersed in a D-spacing between adjacent few layer graphene sheets in the anode. An additional film can be deposited on the film. The film can be configured to provide a first electrical conductivity and the additional film can be configured to provide a second electrical conductivity different from the first electrical conductivity.

Abstract: Batteries including an electrolyte with a ternary solvent package are disclosed. In various implementations, a lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte include a ternary solvent package. The anode may be positioned opposite to the cathode. The cathode may include a plurality of regions. Each region may be defined by two or more core-shell structures adjacent to and in contact with each other. The electrolyte may be interspersed throughout the cathode and be in contact with the anode. The ternary solvent package may include 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), and/or one or more additives, such as lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and 4,4?-thiobisbenzenethiol (TBT) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and approximately 0.01 mol of dissolved lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).

Abstract: A container includes a surface and an electromagnetic state sensing device including one or more resonance portions printed on the surface of the container. Each resonance portion may include an assembly of 3D carbon-containing structures that convey information of a stored item by resonating at a predetermined frequency in response to an electromagnetic radiation ping received from a user device. The resonance portions may include at least a first resonance portion configured to convey product identification information of the stored item and a second resonance portion configured to convey product state information of the stored item. The first resonance portion conveys product identification information of the stored item in response to a first electromagnetic radiation ping having a first frequency, and the second resonance portion conveys product state information of the stored item in response to a second electromagnetic radiation ping having a second frequency different than the first frequency.

Abstract: Batteries including an electrolyte with a ternary solvent package are disclosed. In various implementations, a lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte include a ternary solvent package. The anode may be positioned opposite to the cathode. The cathode may include a plurality of regions. Each region may be defined by two or more core-shell structures adjacent to and in contact with each other. The electrolyte may be interspersed throughout the cathode and be in contact with the anode. The ternary solvent package may include 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), and/or one or more additives, such as lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and 4,4?-thiobisbenzenethiol (TBT) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and approximately 0.01 mol of dissolved lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).

Abstract: This disclosure provides a tire formed of a body having multiple plies and a tread that surrounds the body. The plies and/or the treads and/or other surfaces of the tire include one or more resonators that respond to being interrogated by an externally generated excitation signal. Multiple resonators formed of electrically-conducting materials are disposed (e.g., printed) on the plies and/or tread and/or other surfaces of the tire. Each of a group of multiple resonators can be individually configured to respond to different frequencies of the excitation signal such that the presence of a response (e.g., a measured attenuation of the excitation signal return) or lack of response (e.g., based on comparison of the excitation signal return to calibration curves) from individual ones of the multiple resonators can be combined to form a serial number that is unique to the tire or other elastomer-containing component (e.g., belts, hoses, etc.) being interrogated.

Abstract: Disclosed apparatuses, systems, and materials relate to the disassociation of feedstock species (such as those in gaseous form) into constituent components, and may include an energy generator configured to provide a microwave energy. A first chamber defines a first volume and is configured to guide the microwave energy along the first chamber as a sinusoidal wave having an energy maxima at a point along the first chamber. A second chamber contains a plasma plume and is positioned substantially proximal to the first chamber, and is configured to enable propagation of the microwave energy through the first chamber and the second chamber such that the microwave energy demonstrates, at a radial center of the second chamber, a coaxial energy maxima configured to ignite the plasma plume contained in the second chamber. Carbon-containing materials may be formed by controlling flow parameters of the feedstock species into the first or second chamber.

Abstract: In some implementations, a metal air battery includes a body defined by a metal anode and a cathode, a first separator layer disposed on the metal anode, a second separator layer disposed on the cathode, and a plurality of beads disposed within the body. The beads may confine a liquid electrolyte, and may be configured to release the liquid electrolyte into interior portions of the battery in response to a compression of the cathode into the body of the battery.

Abstract: In some implementations, a metal air battery includes an anode and an cathode opposite to the anode. The cathode may be formed as a textured carbon-based scaffold and include an opening into the metal air battery. The metal air battery may include a nano-fibrous membrane (NFM) containing a liquid electrolyte and a functionalized carbon structure may be disposed between the cathode and the NFM. The functionalized carbon structure may allow moisture and oxygen from ambient air to permeate through the NFM and diffuse throughout the textured scaffold of the cathode. A moisture barrier layer may be laminated over the cathode and positioned, by a user, in one of two states. When in a first state, the moisture barrier layer may seal the opening. When in a second state, the moisture barrier layer may allow the moisture and the oxygen to enter the textured scaffold.

Abstract: A method of producing a structured composite material is described. A porous media is provided, an electrically conductive material is deposited on surfaces or within pores of the plurality of porous media particles, and an active material is deposited on the surfaces or within the pores of the plurality of porous media particles coated with the electrically conductive material to coalesce the plurality of porous media particles together and form the structured composite material.

Abstract: In some implementations, a metal air battery includes a metal anode, a cathode, a body, a nano-fibrous membrane (NFM), and a hygroscopic interphase layer disposed between the cathode and the NFM. The cathode may be a carbon-based textured scaffold including a plurality of macroporous pathways to distribute oxygen and water vapor supplied by ambient air throughout the cathode and into interior portions of the body. The NFM may include dry salts to produce a liquid electrolyte when exposed to water vapor delivered by the macroporous pathways of the cathode. The hygroscopic interphase layer may include a plurality of microporous pathways configured to drain excess quantities of the water vapor from the cathode and hydrate the dry salts with the water vapor.

Abstract: Batteries including an ex-situ electrodeposition of lithium are disclosed. In various implementations, a battery may include a cathode, an anode, and a lithium layer. The anode may be positioned opposite the cathode. The anode may include a first thin film deposited on a current collector. The first thin film may include a first plurality of aggregates decorated with a first plurality of metal nanoparticles and joined together to define a first porous structure having a first conductivity. A second thin film may be deposited on the first thin film and may include a second plurality of aggregates decorated with a second plurality of metal nanoparticles and joined together to define a second porous structure having a second conductivity that is different than the first conductivity. The lithium layer may be deposited on the first and second porous structures and may have a thickness greater than 20 microns.

Abstract: Sensors for detecting analytes are disclosed. In various implementations, the sensing device may include a substrate and a sensor array. The sensor array may be arranged on the substrate, and may include a plurality of sensors. In some implementations, at least two of the sensors may include a first carbon-based sensing material disposed between a first pair of electrodes, and a second carbon-based sensing material disposed between a second pair of electrodes. The first carbon-based sensing material may be configured to detect a presence of each analyte of a group of analytes, and the second carbon-based sensing material may be configured to confirm the presence of each analyte of a subset of the group of analytes. In some instances, the group of analytes includes at least twice as many different analytes as the subset of analytes.

Abstract: A sensing device for detecting analytes within a package or container is disclosed. In various implementations, the sensing device may include a substrate, one or more electrodes, and a sensor array. The sensor array may be disposed on the substrate, and may include a plurality of carbon-based sensors coupled to the one or more electrodes. The carbon-based sensors may be configured to react with unique groups of analytes in response to an electromagnetic signal received from an external device. In some instances, a first sensor may be configured to detect a presence of each analyte of a group of analytes, and a second sensor may be configured to confirm the presence of each analyte of a subset of the group of analytes.

Abstract: A sensing device configured to monitor a battery pack is disclosed. The sensing device may include a plurality of carbon-based sensors enclosed within the battery pack. Each sensor coupled may be between a corresponding pair of electrodes, and may include a plurality of 3D graphene-based sensing materials. In some instances, the 3D graphene-based sensing materials of a first sensor may be functionalized with a first material configured to detect a presence of each analyte of a first group of analytes, and the 3D graphene-based sensing materials of a second sensor may be functionalized with a second material configured to detect a presence of each analyte of a second group of analytes.

Abstract: A container for storing one or more items is disclosed. The container may include a surface defining a volume of the container and a label printed on the container. In various implementations, the label includes a substrate, a plurality of carbon-based sensors printed on the substrate, and one or more electrodes printed on the substrate. The sensors may be collectively configured to detect a presence of one or more analytes within the container. Each sensor may be configured to react with a unique group of analytes in response to an electromagnetic signal received from an external device. The electrodes may be configured to provide one or more output signals indicating the presence or absence of the one or more analytes within the container.

Abstract: Methods include receiving a request from a user device to download an application and providing access to the application in response to the request. The application is configured to transmit a first electromagnetic radiation and receive, from an electromagnetic state sensing device (EMSSD) that is affixed to product packaging, a first electromagnetic radiation return signal. The first electromagnetic radiation return signal is transduced by the EMSSD to produce an electromagnetic radiation signal that encodes first information comprising a product identification code.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a lithium ion battery includes a first substrate, a cathode, a second substrate, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is arranged on the first substrate and can contain a cathode mixture including LixSy, wherein x is from 0 to 2 and y is from 1 to 8, and a first particulate carbon. The anode is arranged on the second substrate and can contain an anode mixture containing silicon particles, and a second particulate carbon. The electrolyte can contain a solvent and a lithium salt and is arranged between the cathode and the anode. In some embodiments, the first particulate carbon or the second particulate carbon contains carbon aggregates comprising a plurality of carbon nanoparticles, each carbon nanoparticle comprising graphene. In some embodiments, the particulate carbon contains carbon meta particles with mesoporous structures.