Abstract: An electrode assembly includes a current collector, a lithium metal foil, and an alloyed interface that chemically binds the current collector and the lithium metal foil. In certain variations, the alloyed interface includes an intermediate layer disposed between the current collector and the lithium metal foil, a portion of the current collector adjacent to the intermediate layer is alloyed with the indium, gallium, or alloy of indium and gallium defining the intermediate layer, and a portion of the lithium metal foil adjacent to the intermediate layer is alloyed with the indium, gallium, or alloy of indium and gallium defining the intermediate layer. In other variations, the alloyed interface includes a copper-lithium alloy.

Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.

Abstract: An electrode assembly that includes a current collector, a lithium foil, and a solid solution interface that chemically binds the current collector and the lithium foil is provided. The solid solution interface includes a portion of the current collector that is impregnated with lithium atoms diffused from the lithium foil. In some variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes heating a precursor electrode assembly that includes a current collector and a lithium metal film to a temperature that is less than a melting point of lithium, so that lithium atoms diffuse into the current collector during the heating. In other variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes disposing a molten lithium onto a heated current collector to form a precursor electrode assembly, and cooling the assembly to form a lithium metal layer that is chemically bonded to the current collector.

Abstract: A method of making a battery current collector foil includes heat treating a foil sheet and mechanically roughening the heat treated foil sheet to create a surface roughness of between 2-4 ?m. The heat treating and mechanical roughening of the foil sheet provides improved coating adhesion. One of an anode and cathode coating is then applied to the roughened, heat treated, foil sheet.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a lithiophilic-supported current collector for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The lithiophilic-supported current collector includes a current collector substrate and a lithiophilic material. The lithiophilic material includes an element selected from the group consisting of: indium, lead, bismuth, gold, and combinations thereof. In certain variations, the lithiophilic material defines a lithiophilic layer disposed on or adjacent to one or more surfaces of the current collector substrate. In other variations, the current collector substrate has one or more porous surfaces and the lithiophilic material coats the one or more porous surfaces.

Abstract: A steel workpiece includes an alloy substrate comprising iron, about 1.4 to about 2.0 weight percent aluminum, and about 0 to about 1.0 weight percent silicon. The steel workpiece further includes a coating comprising zinc. A method of spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a pair of the steel workpieces includes providing the stack-up, contacting first and second electrodes to the steel workpieces, passing an electrical current through the stack-up, forming a weld nugget from molten mixing of the alloy substrates of the pair of steel workpieces, forming a boundary layer between the coating and the alloy substrate from dispersion of the coating into the alloy substrate and reaction of the zinc with the aluminum and the silicon to prevent molten mixing of the coating within the alloy substrate, and ceasing passage of the electrical current.

Abstract: An electrode including an electrochemical layer defining a surface having a plurality of dimples formed thereon is provided. The dimples have an average lateral size greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 100 ?m, and an average depth greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 50 ?m. In certain variations, the dimples are formed in situ by applying a current to the electrochemical layer. In other variations, the dimples are formed by moving a roller having a plurality of shapes defined thereon along one or more surfaces of the electrochemical layer. In still other variations, the dimples are formed by contacting one or more surfaces of the electrochemical layer with a chemical etchant.

Abstract: A steel workpiece includes an alloy substrate comprising iron, about 1.4 to about 2.0 weight percent aluminum, and about 0 to about 1.0 weight percent silicon. The steel workpiece further includes a coating comprising zinc. A method of spot welding a workpiece stack-up that includes a pair of the steel workpieces includes providing the stack-up, contacting first and second electrodes to the steel workpieces, passing an electrical current through the stack-up, forming a weld nugget from molten mixing of the alloy substrates of the pair of steel workpieces, forming a boundary layer between the coating and the alloy substrate from dispersion of the coating into the alloy substrate and reaction of the zinc with the aluminum and the silicon to prevent molten mixing of the coating within the alloy substrate, and ceasing passage of the electrical current.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of manufacturing a vehicle body structure component. The method includes extruding a tube to include at least one reinforced region extending along a length of the tube. The tube has a first thickness in the at least one reinforced region and a second thickness in other regions of the tube. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness. The method further includes cutting a blank from the tube such that the blank includes at least a portion of the at least one reinforced region and forming the blank into a desired shape of the component.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of preparing a metal sheet. The method includes extruding a component along an extrusion axis. The component has a wall at least partially defining an interior region. The component includes a metal. The method further includes unfurling the wall to form a sheet precursor. The sheet precursor has a first thickness and a first transverse dimension. The method further includes rolling the sheet precursor along a rolling axis to form the metal sheet. The metal sheet has a second thickness perpendicular to the rolling axis. The second thickness is less than the first thickness. The second transverse dimension is parallel to the rolling axis. The second transverse dimension is greater than the first transverse dimension. In certain aspects, the metal includes lithium and the metal sheet is a lithium metal electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a structural assembly including a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall partially defining an interior region. The plurality of panels are disposed at least partially in the interior region and coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel coupled to the first panel. The first panel includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a first surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface and the second surface cooperate to define a first corrugation extending in a first direction between the first side and the second side. The second panel includes a third surface defining a plurality of depressions and a fourth surface opposite the third surface defining a plurality of protrusions. The plurality of protrusions are complementary to the plurality of depressions.

Abstract: A method for forming a prelithiated, layered anode material includes contacting an ionic compound and a lithium precursor in an environment having a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 900° C. The ionic compound is a three-dimensional layered material represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and X is one of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and boron (B). The lithium precursor is selected from the group consisting of: LiH, LiC, LiOH, LiCl, and combinations thereof. The contacting of the ionic compound and the lithium precursor in the environment causes removal of cations from the ionic compound to create openings in interlayer spaces or voids in the three-dimensional layered material thereby defining a two-dimensional layered material and also causes introduction of lithium ions from the lithium precursor into the interlayer spaces or voids to form the prelithiated, layered anode material.

Abstract: A structural assembly includes a frame and a plurality of panels. The frame includes a wall that at least partially defines an interior region. The plurality of panels is disposed at least partially in the interior region and is coupled to the frame. The plurality of panels includes a first panel and a second panel. The first panel includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface defines a first plurality of depressions and the second surface defines a first plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The second panel includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface defines a second plurality of depressions. The fourth surface defines a second plurality of protrusions complementary to the first plurality of depressions. The first panel is coupled to the second panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a negative electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The negative electrode may include a negative electroactive material and a lithiation additive. The negative electroactive material may have a first cell voltage window. The lithiation additive may have a second cell voltage window. The second cell voltage window may be less than the first cell voltage window. When the electrochemical cell is operated in the second cell voltage window, the lithiation additive may lithiated the cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a layered anode material. The method includes contacting a precursor material and a first electrolyte. The precursor material is a layered ionic compound represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium and magnesium and X is one of silicon, germanium, and boron. The method further includes applying a first bias and/or current as the precursor material contacts the first electrolyte so as to remove cations from the precursor material to create a two-dimensional structure that defines the layered anode material. In certain variations, the method further include contacting the two-dimensional structure and a second electrolyte, and applying a second bias and/or current as the two-dimensional structure contacts the second electrolyte so as to cause lithium ions to move into interlayer spaces or voids created in the two-dimensional structure by the removal of the cations thereby forming the layered anode material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electroactive material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electroactive material includes a plurality of electroactive particles having an average diameter greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 50 ?m. Each electroactive particle includes a layered anode material defined by a two-dimensional allotrope. The two-dimensional allotrope includes a plurality of atomic layers that include a negative electroactive material selected from the group consisting of: silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), boron (B), and combinations thereof. In certain variations, the layered anode material may be prelithiated. For example, lithium ions may be dispersed between the atomic layers of the two-dimensional allotrope to pre-lithiate the layered anode material.

Abstract: A sheet metal assembly includes a drawn metal sheet constructed of a metal material. The drawn metal sheet defines a surface and includes one or more stiffening features disposed along the drawn metal sheet. The one or more stiffening features represents a raised area disposed along the surface of the drawn metal sheet. Each of the one or more stiffening features include a predefined draw depth ranging from about twenty millimeters to about eighty millimeters.

Abstract: A vertical pump features stationary bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, impellers and bottom wear-ring bearings. The stationary bowl assembly includes bowls, each bowl having a respective bowl bottom inside surface. The rotating power transmission shaft is configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly. The impellers are arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller bottom outside surface. Each bottom wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl bottom inside surface of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.

Abstract: A sensor device for monitoring bioelectric data from a human body includes a flexible dielectric substrate, a plurality of sensors (electrodes) distributed on the substrate for sensing the bioelectric data, and an electrically conductive network distributed on the substrate connecting the sensors to a terminal portion of the substrate. Integrated flexible joints permit a certain amount of elasticity in and allow relative movement between at least two of the sensors when the sensor device is placed onto the human body.

Abstract: A system for connecting remote equipment to a sensor device having a connector coupled to at least two terminals located on different portions of the sensor device. The portions of the sensor device may be an anterior portion and a posterior portion with each having at least one terminal. In turn, the terminals are nested on top of one another and at least one terminal is electrically accessible through a window region of the other portion. Further, the terminals are alignable with each other and with a connector by alignment indicators, which may provide a visual alignment indication for the terminals as well as a mechanical alignment of the connector with the sensor device.