Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

Abstract: The invention relates to lithium ion batteries and, more particularly, to lithium ion conducting composite polymer electrolyte separators. The separators include a nanofiber mat composed of electrospun nanofibers. The nanofibers include a polymer having one or more polar halogen groups, a lithium-containing solid or liquid electrolyte and nanoparticle filler. The polymer, electrolyte and filler are combined to form a solution that is subjected to the electro-spinning process to produce electrospun nanofibers in the form of the mat.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode an anode positioned opposite the cathode. The anode includes a hybrid artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) layer encapsulating the anode. The hybrid A-SEI layer includes a first active component, a second active component disposed on the first active component, and a plurality of carbon-containing aggregates interwoven throughout the first and second active components and configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a porous carbon-based structure configured to expand in a presence of polysulfide (PS) shuttle within one or more portions of the battery. An electrolyte is dispersed between the anode and the cathode and in contact with both the anode and the cathode. The plurality of carbon-containing aggregates can include a polymer, which includes a cross-linked polymeric network.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

Abstract: The invention relates to composite multilayer lithium ion battery anodes that include a porous metal alloy foam, and a lithium ion conductor coating applied to the metal alloy foam. The metal alloy foam can include structurally isomorphous alloys of lithium and, optionally, lithium and magnesium. The lithium ion conductor coating can include ternary lithium silicate, such as, lithium orthosilicate. Lithium ions from the ternary lithium silicate may be deposited within the pores of the metal alloy foam. Optionally, the lithium ion conductor coating may include a dopant. The dopant can include one or more of magnesium, calcium, vanadium, niobium and fluorine, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery comprising a cathode and an anode positioned opposite the cathode. A hybrid artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) layer is deposited on the anode and includes a plurality of active components. A blended material is interwoven throughout the plurality of active components and configured to inhibit growth of Lithium (Li) dendritic structures from the anode to the cathode. The blended material includes a combination of crystalline sp2-bound carbon domains of graphene sheets and a plurality of flexible wrinkle areas positioned at joinder points of two of more of the crystalline sp2-bound carbon domains of graphene sheets and a polymeric matrix configured to bind the plurality of active components and the blended material together. An electrolyte is in contact with the hybrid A-SEI and the cathode and a separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The blended material includes curable carboxylate salts of metals.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an electrode having a carbon-based structure with a plurality of localized reaction sites. An open porous scaffold is defined by the carbon-based structure and can confine an active material in the localized reaction sites. A plurality of engineered failure points is formed throughout the carbon-based structure and can expand in a presence of volumetric expansion associated with polysulfide shuttle. The open porous scaffold can inhibit a formation of interconnecting solid networks of the active material between the localized reaction sites. The plurality of engineered failure points can relax or collapse during an initial activation of the electrode. The open porous scaffold can define a hierarchical porous compliant cellular architecture formed of a plurality of interconnected graphene platelets fused together at substantially orthogonal angles.

Abstract: The invention provides electro-catalyst compositions for an anode electrode of an acid mediated proton exchange membrane-based water electrolysis system. The compositions include a noble metal component selected from the group consisting of iridium oxide, ruthenium oxide, rhenium oxide and mixtures thereof, and a non-noble metal component selected from the group consisting of tantalum oxide, tin oxide, niobium oxide, titanium oxide, tungsten oxide, molybdenum oxide, yttrium oxide, scandium oxide, cooper oxide, zirconium oxide, nickel oxide and mixtures thereof. Further, the non-noble metal component can include a dopant. The dopant can be at least one element selected from Groups III, V, VI and VII of the Periodic Table. The compositions can be prepared using any solution based methods involving a surfactant approach or a sol gel approach. Further, the compositions are prepared using noble metal and non-noble metal precursors.

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 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode an anode positioned opposite the cathode. The anode includes a hybrid artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) layer encapsulating the anode. The hybrid A-SEI layer includes a first active component, a second active component disposed on the first active component, and a plurality of carbon-containing aggregates interwoven throughout the first and second active components and configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a porous carbon-based structure configured to expand in a presence of polysulfide (PS) shuttle within one or more portions of the battery. An electrolyte is dispersed between the anode and the cathode and in contact with both the anode and the cathode. The plurality of carbon-containing aggregates can include a polymer, which includes a cross-linked polymeric network.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

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 a battery comprising a cathode and an anode positioned opposite the cathode. A hybrid artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) layer is deposited on the anode and includes a plurality of active components. A blended material is interwoven throughout the plurality of active components and configured to inhibit growth of Lithium (Li) dendritic structures from the anode to the cathode. The blended material includes a combination of crystalline sp2-bound carbon domains of graphene sheets and a plurality of flexible wrinkle areas positioned at joinder points of two of more of the crystalline sp2-bound carbon domains of graphene sheets and a polymeric matrix configured to bind the plurality of active components and the blended material together. An electrolyte is in contact with the hybrid A-SEI and the cathode and a separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The blended material includes curable carboxylate salts of metals.

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: This disclosure provides an electrode having a carbon-based structure with a plurality of localized reaction sites. An open porous scaffold is defined by the carbon-based structure and can confine an active material in the localized reaction sites. A plurality of engineered failure points is formed throughout the carbon-based structure and can expand in a presence of volumetric expansion associated with polysulfide shuttle. The open porous scaffold can inhibit a formation of interconnecting solid networks of the active material between the localized reaction sites. The plurality of engineered failure points can relax or collapse during an initial activation of the electrode. The open porous scaffold can define a hierarchical porous compliant cellular architecture formed of a plurality of interconnected graphene platelets fused together at substantially orthogonal angles.