Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector and a second current collector. The batteries may include an anode material coupled with the first current collector. The batteries may include a cathode material coupled with the second current collector. The batteries may also include a polymeric material coupled between the cathode material and the anode material. The polymeric material may be characterized by a cationic backbone. The polymeric material may be configured to selectively provide anionic transport across the polymeric material while limiting cationic transport across the polymeric material.

Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector, and may include a separator. The battery cell may include a first active material disposed between the first current collector and the separator. The battery cell may include an electrolyte diffusion material disposed between the first active material and the first current collector.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for depositing materials on both sides of a web while it passes a substantially vertical direction are provided. In particular embodiments, a web does not contact any hardware components during the deposition. A web may be supported before and after the deposition chamber but not inside the deposition chamber. At such support points, the web may be exposed to different conditions (e.g., temperature) than during the deposition. Also provided are substrates having materials deposited on both sides that may be fabricated by the methods and apparatuses.

Abstract: A system for enhanced object detection and identification is disclosed. The system provides new capabilities in object detection and identification. The system can be used with a variety of vehicles, such as autonomous cars, human-driven motor vehicles, robots, drones, and aircraft and can detect objects in adverse operating conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or sun glare. Enhanced object detection can also be used to detect objects in the environment around a stationary object. Additionally, such systems can rapidly identify and classify objects based on the encoded information in the emitted or reflected signals from the materials.

Abstract: Energy storage systems, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure that may transfer heat from a battery cell or cell block to a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure may substantially maintain an interfacial temperature during a temperature increase from the battery cell or cell block.

Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector and a second current collector. The batteries may include an anode material coupled with the first current collector. The batteries may include a cathode material coupled with the second current collector. The batteries may also include a separator positioned between the cathode material and the anode material. The batteries may include a hydrogen-scavenger material incorporated within the anode active material or the cathode active material. The hydrogen scavenger material may absorb or react with hydrogen at a temperature above or about 20° C.

Abstract: Provided are battery electrode structures that maintain high mass loadings (i.e., large amounts per unit area) of high capacity active materials in the electrodes without deteriorating their cycling performance. These mass loading levels correspond to capacities per electrode unit area that are suitable for commercial electrodes even though the active materials are kept thin and generally below their fracture limits. A battery electrode structure may include multiple template layers. An initial template layer may include nanostructures attached to a substrate and have a controlled density. This initial layer may be formed using a controlled thickness source material layer provided, for example, on a substantially inert substrate. Additional one or more template layers are then formed over the initial layer resulting in a multilayer template structure with specific characteristics, such as a surface area, thickness, and porosity.

Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.

Abstract: Batteries are described that include a cathode material, and anode material, and a polymeric material that separates the cathode material from the anode material. The polymeric material has hydroxide ion conductivity of at least about 50 mS/cm, and a diffusion ration of hydroxide ions to at least one type of metal ion of at least about 10:1. Also described are methods of making a battery that include forming a layer of polymeric material between a first electrode and second electrode of the battery. In additional methods, the polymeric material is coated on at least one of the electrodes of the battery. In further methods, the polymeric material is admixed with at least one of the electrode materials to make a composite electrode material that is incorporated into the electrode.

Abstract: An electrode includes one or more intermediate layers positioned between a substrate and an electrochemically active material. Intermediate layers may be made from chromium, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, nickel, molybdenum, lithium, as well as other materials and their combinations. In certain embodiments, an active material includes one or more high capacity active materials, such as silicon, tin, and germanium. These materials tend to swell during cycling and may loose mechanical and/or electrical connection to the substrate. A flexible intermediate layer may compensate for swelling and provide a robust adhesion interface. Methods of fabricating electrodes involve forming metal silicide nanostructures.

Abstract: Provided are examples of electrochemically active electrode materials, electrodes using such materials, and methods of manufacturing such electrodes. Electrochemically active electrode materials may include a high surface area template containing a metal silicide and a layer of high capacity active material deposited over the template. The template may serve as a mechanical support for the active material and/or an electrical conductor between the active material and, for example, a substrate. Due to the high surface area of the template, even a thin layer of the active material can provide sufficient active material loading and corresponding battery capacity. As such, a thickness of the layer may be maintained below the fracture threshold of the active material used and preserve its structural integrity during battery cycling.

Abstract: A system for enhanced object detection and identification is disclosed. The system provides new capabilities in object detection and identification. The system can be used with a variety of vehicles, such as autonomous cars, human-driven motor vehicles, robots, drones, and aircraft and can detect objects in adverse operating conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or sun glare. Enhanced object detection can also be used to detect objects in the environment around a stationary object. Additionally, such systems can rapidly identify and classify objects based on the encoded information in the emitted or reflected signals from the materials.

Abstract: Energy storage systems, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure that may transfer heat from a battery cell or cell block to a heat exchange fluid. The heat exchanger or fluid delivery structure may substantially maintain an interfacial temperature during a temperature increase from the battery cell or cell block.

Abstract: A system for enhanced object detection and identification is disclosed. The system provides new capabilities in object detection and identification. The system can be used with a variety of vehicles, such as autonomous cars, human-driven motor vehicles, robots, drones, and aircraft and can detect objects in adverse operating conditions such as heavy rain, snow, or sun glare. Enhanced object detection can also be used to detect objects in the environment around a stationary object. Additionally, such systems can rapidly identify and classify objects based on the encoded information in the emitted or reflected signals from the materials.

Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector and a second current collector. The batteries may include an anode material coupled with the first current collector. The batteries may include a cathode material coupled with the second current collector. The batteries may also include a polymeric material coupled between the cathode material and the anode material. The polymeric material may be characterized by a cationic backbone. The polymeric material may be configured to selectively provide anionic transport across the polymeric material while limiting cationic transport across the polymeric material.

Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector and a second current collector. The batteries may include an anode material coupled with the first current collector. The batteries may include a cathode material coupled with the second current collector. The batteries may also include a separator positioned between the cathode material and the anode material. The batteries may include a hydrogen-scavenger material incorporated within the anode active material or the cathode active material. The hydrogen scavenger material may absorb or react with hydrogen at a temperature above or about 20° C.

Abstract: Batteries are described that include a cathode, an anode, and a separator that electrically insulates the cathode from the anode. The separator includes a cation exchange membrane positioned between a first anion exchange membrane and a second anion exchange membrane, and has a hydroxide ion conductivity of at least about 10 mS/cm, and a diffusion ratio of hydroxide ions to at least one type of metal ion of at least about 100:1. Also described are methods of making a battery that include forming a separator between a cathode electrode and an anode electrode. The separator includes a cation exchange membrane positioned between a first anion exchange membrane and a second anion exchange membrane. The methods also include contacting the cathode electrode with a cathode current collector and the anode electrode with an anode current collector, where the cathode and anode currently collectors are electrically insulated from each other by a spacer material.

Abstract: Batteries are described that include a cathode material, and anode material, and a polymeric material that separates the cathode material from the anode material. The polymeric material has hydroxide ion conductivity of at least about 50 mS/cm, and a diffusion ration of hydroxide ions to at least one type of metal ion of at least about 10:1. Also described are methods of making a battery that include forming a layer of polymeric material between a first electrode and second electrode of the battery. In additional methods, the polymeric material is coated on at least one of the electrodes of the battery. In further methods, the polymeric material is admixed with at least one of the electrode materials to make a composite electrode material that is incorporated into the electrode.

Abstract: Energy storage devices, battery cells, and batteries of the present technology may include a first current collector, and may include a separator. The battery cell may include a first active material disposed between the first current collector and the separator. The battery cell may include an electrolyte diffusion material disposed between the first active material and the first current collector.

Abstract: Battery systems using coated conversion materials as the active material in battery cathodes are provided herein. Protective coatings may be an oxide, phosphate, or fluoride, and may be lithiated. The coating may selectively isolate the conversion material from the electrolyte. Methods for fabricating batteries and battery systems with coated conversion material are also provided herein.