Abstract: A protective structure for use with metallic lithium (or other alkali or alkali earth metals) and its method of manufacture are provided. The protective structure may include a substantially continuous and substantially nonporous buffer layer disposed on the metallic lithium layer which is conductive to lithium ions. A substantially continuous and substantially nonporous protective layer may be disposed on the buffer layer.

Abstract: Articles containing electrodes and current collectors arranged such that at least one electrode can be electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device, and associated systems and methods, are provided. In some cases, the articles contain substrates for which a change in volume of the substrate causes at least one electrode to become electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device. In certain cases, heating the substrate causes the change in volume of the substrate. Articles and electrochemical devices containing electrodes, current collectors, heaters, and/or sensors and associated systems and methods, are also provided. Electrochemical devices containing electrodes and current collectors arranged in a folded configuration, and associated articles, systems and methods, are also provided.

Abstract: A battery pack comprising a substrate comprising a battery power bus integrated into the substrate; and a pack controller; and at least one electrochemical cell connected directly to the substrate. A printed circuit board comprising a power bus integrated into the printed circuit board, wherein the power bus is connected to and configured to transfer power to and/or from at least one electrochemical cell; and at least one controller configured to control the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management system comprising at least one electrochemical cell; and a substrate directly connected to the at least one electrochemical cell and configured to transfer heat, power, and signals between the substrate and the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management method. A method of assembling a battery pack, comprising attaching at least one electrochemical cell of the battery pack directly to a substrate at least in part by welding.

Abstract: Anode tab extensions, and associated articles and methods are generally described. Methods for electrically coupling anode portions within electrochemical devices, and associated articles and systems, are generally described. In some cases, an electrically non-conductive layer is disposed between multiple anode portions that are to be coupled. In some cases, the method comprises welding metal extension tabs to the multiple anodes to establish electrical connection between the multiple anodes that are separated by one or more electrically non-conductive layers and the anode terminal.

Abstract: Articles and methods related to electrochemical cells and/or electrochemical cell components (such as electrodes) comprising species comprising a conjugated, negatively-charged ring comprising a nitrogen atom and/or reaction products of such species are generally provided. The electrochemical cell may comprise an electrode (e.g., a cathode) comprising a protective layer comprising a species comprising a conjugated, negatively-charged ring comprising a nitrogen atom and/or a reaction product thereof.

Abstract: Articles, compositions, and methods involving ionically conductive compounds are provided. In some embodiments, the ionically conductive compounds are useful for electrochemical cells. The disclosed ionically conductive compounds may be incorporated into an electrochemical cell (e.g., a lithium-sulfur electrochemical cell, a lithium-ion electrochemical cell, an intercalated-cathode based electrochemical cell) as, for example, a protective layer for an electrode, a solid electrolyte layer, and/or any other appropriate component within the electrochemical cell. In certain embodiments, electrode structures and/or methods for making electrode structures including a layer comprising an ionically conductive compound described herein are provided.

Abstract: Articles and methods involving protective membranes for electrochemical cells are generally provided. In some embodiments, a composite protective layer comprising particles and a polymeric binder may be disposed on an electroactive material. The particles may be reactive with lithium, may capable of intercalating lithium, and/or may comprise intercalated lithium. In some embodiments, the electroactive material may be in the form of a first electroactive layer, and a second electroactive layer may be disposed on the composite protective layer. Certain embodiments relate to activating a composite protective layer by intercalating lithium into particles within the layer and/or by reacting the particles with lithium metal.

Abstract: Electrolytes, articles, and methods for reducing gases produced during the operation of an electrochemical cell are generally described. The inclusion of silylated sulfonic acid esters can reduce the amount of gases produced in an electrochemical cell (e.g., a battery).

Abstract: Multiplexing systems for batteries of electrochemical cells and associated methods are generally described. Multiplexing systems may be used to improve certain properties of electrochemical cells, such as cycle life and/or safety, during cycling of the battery, according to some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments improvements in electrochemical cell and/or battery performance are provided that are associated with management of charging and discharging of electrochemical cells by the multiplexing system.

Abstract: Articles and methods including additives in electrochemical cells, are generally provided. As described herein, such electrochemical cells may comprise an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte, and optionally a separator. In some embodiments, at least one of the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, and/or the optional separator may comprise an additive and/or additive precursor. For instance, in some cases, the electrochemical cell comprises an electrolyte and an additive and/or additive precursor that is soluble with and/or is present in the electrolyte. In some embodiments, the additive precursor comprises a disulfide bond. In certain embodiments, the additive is a carbon disulfide salt. In some cases, the electrolyte may comprise a nitrate.

Abstract: Treatment of electrode materials with poly(phosphate sulfate)s, and related articles and methods, are generally described. Some embodiments are associated with reduced gas generation during charge-discharge cycling of electrochemical cells. resulting from the treatment of the electrode materials.

Abstract: A battery pack comprising a substrate comprising a battery power bus integrated into the substrate; and a pack controller; and at least one electrochemical cell connected directly to the substrate. A printed circuit board comprising a power bus integrated into the printed circuit board, wherein the power bus is connected to and configured to transfer power to and/or from at least one electrochemical cell; and at least one controller configured to control the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management system comprising at least one electrochemical cell; and a substrate directly connected to the at least one electrochemical cell and configured to transfer heat, power, and signals between the substrate and the at least one electrochemical cell. A thermal management method. A method of assembling a battery pack, comprising attaching at least one electrochemical cell of the battery pack directly to a substrate at least in part by welding.

Abstract: Articles and methods for forming protective layers for use in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a protective layer may comprise a ceramic (e.g., comprising an alkali metal carbonate and/or an alkaline earth metal carbonate) and a plurality of ionically insulating particles (e.g., comprising aluminum oxide). The ceramic may coat at least a portion of the surfaces of the ionically insulating particles, and the ionically insulating particles may strain this portion of the crystal lattice structure of the ceramic, thus increasing the ion conductivity of the protective layer compared to an otherwise equivalent protective layer absent the ceramic coating.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to control the cell such that, for at least a portion of a charge cycle, the cell is charged at a charging rate or current that is lower than a discharging rate or current of at least a portion of a previous discharge cycle. An electrochemical cell management method. An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to induce a discharge of the cell before and/or after a charging step of the cell. An electrochemical cell management method. An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to: monitor at least one characteristic of the cell and, based on the at least one characteristic of the cell, induce a discharge and/or control a charging rate or current of the cell.

Abstract: Batteries including electrochemical cells, associated components, and arrangements thereof are generally described. In some aspects, batteries with phase change materials that can facilitate heat transfer within the battery (e.g., from an electrochemical cell to a component of a housing of the battery) are described. In some instances, the phase change material is in thermal communication with a thermally conductive solid article portion (e.g., a cooling fin). In some embodiments, the batteries include a multiplexing switch apparatus. Such a multiplexing switch apparatus may be used to selectively discharge one or more electrochemical cells of the battery.

Abstract: Batteries including electrochemical cells, associated components, and arrangements thereof are generally described. In some aspects, batteries with housings that undergo relatively little expansion and contraction even in cases where electrochemical cells in the battery undergo a relatively high degree of expansion and contraction during charging and discharging are provided. Batteries configured to apply relatively high magnitudes and uniform force to electrochemical cells in the battery, while in some cases having high energy densities and a relatively low pack burden, are also provided. In certain aspects, arrangements of electrochemical cells and associated components are generally described. In some aspects, thermally conductive solid articles that can be used for aligning components of the battery are described. In some aspects, thermally insulating and compressible components for battery packs are generally described.

Abstract: Batteries including electrochemical cells, associated components, and arrangements thereof are generally described. In some aspects, batteries with housings that undergo relatively little expansion and contraction even in cases where electrochemical cells in the battery undergo a relatively high degree of expansion and contraction during charging and discharging are provided. Batteries configured to apply relatively high magnitudes and uniform force to electrochemical cells in the battery, while in some cases having high energy densities and a relatively low pack burden, are also provided. In certain aspects, arrangements of electrochemical cells and associated components are generally described. In some aspects, thermally conductive solid articles that can be used for aligning components of the battery are described. In some aspects, thermally insulating and compressible components for battery packs are generally described.

Abstract: Articles and methods involving electrochemical cells and/or electrochemical cell preproducts comprising passivating agents are generally provided. In certain embodiments, an electrochemical cell includes first and second passivating agents. In some embodiments, an electrochemical cell may include a first electrode comprising a first surface, a second electrode (e.g., a counter electrode with respect to the first electrode) comprising a second surface, a first passivating agent configured and arranged to passivate the first surface, and a second passivating agent configured and arranged to passivate the second surface.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to control the cell such that, for at least a portion of a charge cycle, the cell is charged at a charging rate or current that is lower than a discharging rate or current of at least a portion of a previous discharge cycle. An electrochemical cell management method. An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to induce a discharge of the cell before and/or after a charging step of the cell. An electrochemical cell management method. An electrochemical cell management system comprising an electrochemical cell and at least one controller configured to: monitor at least one characteristic of the cell and, based on the at least one characteristic of the cell, induce a discharge and/or control a charging rate or current of the cell.

Abstract: Batteries including electrochemical cells, associated components, and arrangements thereof are generally described. In some aspects, batteries with housings that undergo relatively little expansion and contraction even in cases where electrochemical cells in the battery undergo a relatively high degree of expansion and contraction during charging and discharging are provided. Batteries configured to apply relatively high magnitudes and uniform force to electrochemical cells in the battery, while in some cases having high energy densities and a relatively low pack burden, are also provided. In certain aspects, arrangements of electrochemical cells and associated components are generally described. In some aspects, thermally conductive solid articles that can be used for aligning components of the battery are described. In some aspects, thermally insulating and compressible components for battery packs are generally described.