Abstract: Methods of removing a passivation layer on a lithium-containing electrode and preparing a protective coating on the lithium-containing electrode by applying a graphene source are provided herein. A lithium-containing electrode with the protective coating including graphene and lithium-containing electrochemical cells including the same are also provided herein.

Abstract: The present technology relates to gel electrolytes for using in lithium-ion electrochemical cells and methods of forming the same. For example, the method may include adding one or more gelation reagents to an electrochemical cell including one or more liquid electrolyte precursors. The one or more gelation reagents include one or more initiators and one or more crosslinking agents. Each of the one or more initiators may be one of a thermal initiator and an actinic/electron beam initiator.

Abstract: A thermal insulation component according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a matrix, a crosslinking precursor, and a crosslinking initiator. The matrix includes a thermal insulation material having a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to about 5 W/mK. The crosslinking precursor is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking precursor includes at least one of an acrylate functional group or a methacrylate functional group. The crosslinking initiator is embedded in the matrix. The crosslinking initiator is configured to decompose to initiate crosslinking of the crosslinking precursor. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides an electronics assembly including an electronic component and a thermal insulation material in thermal communication with the electronic component. In certain aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of manufacturing the thermal insulation component.

Abstract: A method for preparing an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The method includes lithiating an electroactive material using a first electrolyte and contacting the lithiated electroactive material and a second electrolyte to form the electrochemical cell. Lithiating the electroactive material includes contacting the electroactive material and a first electrolyte to form a pretreated electroactive material; contacting a lithium source and the pretreated electroactive material; and applying a pressure to the lithium source and the pretreated electroactive material so as to form a lithiated electroactive material. The first electrolyte includes greater than or equal to about 10 wt. % to less than or equal to about 50 wt. % of one or more solvents selected, including for example, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). The second electrolyte includes less than or equal to about 5 wt. % of cyclic carbonates and, in certain aspects, one or more electrolyte additives.

Abstract: A method of applying a homogenous film coating to a constituent particle of component includes setting up a target element in a sputtering chamber. The method also includes arranging a receptacle in the sputtering chamber. The method additionally includes arranging the constituent particle on the receptacle. The method also includes bombarding the target element via energetic particles to eject material from the target element and deposit the material onto the constituent particle. The method further includes agitating the receptacle during the bombarding to apply the material to the constituent particle as the homogenous film coating. The method may be used to apply a homogenous thin film coating to a sulfur-infused constituent particle for a sulfur cathode in a lithium-sulfur battery.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing sulfur electrodes include providing an electrode, wherein the electrode includes a current collector having a first surface, and a sulfur-based host material applied to the first surface of the current collector, wherein the sulfur-based host material comprises one or more sulfur compounds, one or more electrically conductive carbon materials, and one or more binders. The methods further include forming a plurality of channels within the sulfur-based host material using a laser or electron beam, wherein the plurality of channels define a plurality of host material columns, each column having one or more exterior surfaces contiguous which one or more of the channels which extend outward from the first surface of the current collector. Each of the one or more exterior surfaces can define a heat affected zone comprising a higher concentration of sulfur than the host material column prior to forming the plurality of channels.

Abstract: An electrode component for an electrochemical cell is provided herein. The electrode component includes a current collector having a first surface, a metal oxide layer disposed on the first surface of the current collector, and a lithium-containing layer bonded to the first surface of the current collector. The metal oxide layer includes a plurality of features. A method for manufacturing such an electrode component is also provided herein. The method includes directing a laser beam toward the first surface of the current collector in the presence of oxygen to form the metal oxide layer on the first surface and applying the lithium-containing layer to the metal oxide layer thereby bonding the lithium-containing layer with the current collector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multilayer panel, comprising: a center layer comprising graphene, wherein the center layer comprises a first surface and an opposing second surface; a first polymer layer deposited on the first surface of the center layer and a second polymer layer deposited on the second surface of the center layer; and a first glass layer deposited on an outer surface of the first polymer layer and a second glass layer deposited on an outer surface of the second polymer layer; wherein the first polymer layer, the second polymer layer, or any combination(s) thereof comprise carbon filler.

Abstract: Systems and methods of providing an electrolyte membrane for metal batteries are described. According to aspects of the disclosure, a battery cell includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane therebetween. The electrolyte membrane is formed from a mixture including a matrix precursor portion and an electrolyte portion. In some aspects, the membrane is polymerized after being applied to the battery component.

Abstract: An electrode including an electrode active material and a ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger is provided. The ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger includes M2SiO3, MAlO2, M2O—Al2O3—SiO2, or combinations thereof, where M is lithium (Li), sodium (Na), or combinations thereof. Methods of making the electrode are also provided.

Abstract: A system for pump assist to maximize fuel consumption in a natural gas powertrain includes a fuel delivery system including a natural gas storage tank supplying a first natural gas flow, a pressure sensor disposed to provide data regarding a natural gas pressure within the storage tank, and a natural gas pump operable to selectively boost the first natural gas flow to create a second natural gas flow with increased pressure. The system further includes an engine operable to utilize one of the natural gas flows to provide an output torque and including a fuel injector and a computerized fuel system controller programmed to monitor the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank, compare the data regarding the natural gas pressure within the storage tank to a threshold cut-off pressure for the fuel injector, and command activation of the natural gas pump based upon the comparing.

Abstract: A porous separator for a lithium-containing electrochemical cell is provided herein. The porous separator includes a porous substrate and an active layer comprising lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles. Methods of manufacturing the porous separator and lithium-containing electrochemical cells including the porous separator are also provided herein.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by welding together a lithium metal layer and a metallic current collector layer. The lithium metal layer and the current collector layer may be arranged adjacent one another and in an at least partially lapped configuration such that faying surfaces of the layers confront one another and establish a faying interface therebetween at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an outer surface of the current collector layer at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal layer adjacent the faying surface of the current collector layer and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The laser beam may be terminated to solidify the molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal layer and the current collector layer together at the weld site.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery may comprise a negative electrode current collector and a three-dimensional columnar lithium metal layer formed on a surface of the current collector. The columnar lithium metal layer may comprise a plurality of lithium metal columns and may be formed on the current collector using an electrochemical deposition process. In such process, the current collector and a counter electrode may be at least partially submerged in a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution and an electrical potential may be established between the metal substrate and the counter electrode such that lithium ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced to metallic lithium and deposited on the surface of the current collector in the form of a three-dimensional columnar lithium metal layer. The electrolyte solution may comprise lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) in a solution of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and dimethyldicarbonate (DMDC).

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by joining together a metallic current collector piece and a lithium metal piece. The metallic current collector piece may be positioned adjacent the lithium metal piece in an at least partially lapped configuration at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an upper surface of the metallic current collector piece at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal piece adjacent the metallic current collector piece and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The second laser beam may be terminated to solidify the lithium metal molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal piece and the metallic current collector piece together at the weld site.

Abstract: A negative electrode according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a negative electroactive material and a layer. The negative electroactive material includes a lithium-aluminum alloy. The layer is disposed directly on at least a portion of the negative electroactive material and coupled to the negative electroactive material. The layer includes anodic aluminum oxide and has a plurality of pores. The present disclosure also provides an electrochemical cell including the negative electrode. In certain aspects, the negative electroactive material is electrically conductive and functions as a negative electrode current collector such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct negative electrode current collector component. In certain aspects, the layer is ionically conductive and electrically insulating and functions as a separator such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct separator component.

Abstract: Composite cathode-separator laminations (CSL) include a current collector with sulfur-based host material applied thereto, a coated separator comprising an electrolyte membrane separator with a carbonaceous coating, and a porous, polymer-based interfacial layer (PBIL) forming a binding interface between the carbonaceous coating and the host material. The host material includes less than about 6% polymeric binder, and less than about 40% electrically conductive carbon, with the balance comprising one or more sulfur compounds. The PBIL can have a thickness of less than about 5 ?m and a porosity of about 5% to about 40%. The host material can comprise less than about 40% conductive carbon (e.g., graphene) and have a porosity of less than about 40%. The carbonaceous coating (e.g., graphene) can have a thickness of about 1 ?m to about 5 ?m. The CSL can be disposed with an anode within an electrolyte to form a lithium-sulfur battery cell.

Abstract: A ceramic-coated separator for a lithium-containing electrochemical cell and methods of preparing the ceramic-coated separator are provided. The ceramic-coated separator may be manufactured by preparing a slurry that includes one or more lithiated oxides and a binder and disposing the slurry onto one or more surfaces of a porous substrate. The slurry may be dried to from a ceramic coating on the one or more surfaces of the porous substrate so as to create the ceramic-coated separator. The ceramic coating may include one or more lithiated oxides selected from Li2SiO3, LiAlO2, Li2TiO3, LiNbO3, Li3PO4, Li2CrO4, and Li2Cr2O7.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell may comprise exposing a surface of a metal substrate to a chalcogen in gas phase such that a metal chalcogenide layer forms on the surface of the metal substrate. A lithium metal foil may be laminated onto the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate such that a surface of the lithium metal foil physically and chemically bonds to the metal chalcogenide layer on the surface of the metal substrate.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell, a porous or non-porous electrically conductive metal substrate may be provided. A conformal metal chalcogenide layer may be formed on a surface of the metal substrate. The metal substrate with the conformal metal chalcogenide layer may be immersed in a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution comprising a lithium salt dissolved in a polar aprotic organic solvent. An electrical potential may be established between the metal substrate and a counter electrode immersed in the nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution such that lithium ions in the electrolyte solution are reduced to metallic lithium and deposited on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer to form a conformal lithium metal layer on the surface of the metal substrate over the metal chalcogenide layer.