Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for high volume roll-to-roll transfer lamination of electrodes for silicon-dominant anode cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for high volume roll-to-roll direct coating of electrodes for silicon-dominant anode cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for high volume roll-to-roll transfer lamination of electrodes for silicon-dominant anode cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multiple carbon precursors for enhanced battery electrode robustness may include an electrode having an active material on a current collector, the active material including two or more carbon precursor materials, and an additive, wherein the carbon precursor materials have different pyrolysis temperatures. A battery may include the electrode. The carbon precursor materials may include polyimide (PI) and polyamide-imide (PAI). The active material may be pyrolyzed at a temperature such that a first carbon precursor material is partially pyrolyzed and a second carbon precursor material is completely pyrolyzed. The carbon precursor materials may include two or more of PI, PAI, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and sodium alginate. The active material may include silicon constituting at least 50% of weight of a formed anode after pyrolysis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for control of furnace atmosphere for improving capacity retention of silicon-dominant anode cells. Furnace atmosphere may be controlled during processing of a silicon-dominated electrode in a furnace, with the processing including pyrolysis of the silicon-dominated electrode, and the controlling including setting or adjusting one or more of pressure of the furnace atmosphere, and composition of the furnace atmosphere.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuring anisotropic expansion of silicon-dominant anodes using particle size may include a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode, where the anode may include a current collector and an active material on the current collector. An expansion of the anode during operation may be configured by utilizing a predetermined particle size distribution of silicon particles in the active material. The expansion of the anode may be greater for smaller particle size distributions, which may range from 1 to 10 ?m. The expansion of the anode may be smaller for a rougher surface active material, which may be configured by utilizing larger particle size distributions that may range from 5 to 25 ?m. The expansion may be configured to be more anisotropic using more rigid materials for the current collector, where a more rigid current collector may comprise nickel and a less rigid current collector may comprise copper.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide for a silicon-carbon composite material that includes nanoparticulate (e.g., nanocrystalline) silicon derived from a reaction between a zintl salt and metal halide. The nanoparticulate silicon-carbon composite material can be used to provide electrode materials (e.g., anode) and cells.

Abstract: A nursing cover system includes a body comprising a first end opening defining a first edge perimeter at a first end of the body and a second end opening defining a second edge perimeter at a second opposing end of the body. The body defines an interior and an exterior. The system includes at least one access opening defined within the body between the first and second ends of the body, and at least one panel attached to the body. The panel is configured to at least partially obstruct a view from outside the exterior of the body to inside the interior of the body through at least one access opening.

Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal gradient during electrode pyrolysis may include fabricating the battery electrode by pyrolyzing an active material on a metal current collector, wherein the active material comprises silicon particles in a binder material, the binder material being pyrolyzed more than 75% at an outer surface and less than 50% at an inner surface in contact with the current collector. The active material may be pyrolyzed by electromagnetic radiation, which may be provided by one or more lasers, which may include one or more CO2 lasers. The electromagnetic radiation may be provided by one or more infrared lamps. An outer edge of the current collector may be gripped using a thermal transfer block that removes heat from the current collector during pyrolysis of the active material and subsequent cool down. Heat transfer plates may be placed on or adjacent to the active material during pyrolysis.

Abstract: Methods of forming carbon from cotton cloth and the product thereof are provided. The carbon described herein can be used as a structural component and/or as a conductive additive in various battery applications. The method of manufacturing a carbon comprises providing a cotton cloth and pyrolyzing the cotton cloth to form a carbon.

Abstract: Yes-associated protein (Yap), a downstream co-activator of the Hippo pathway, is highly expressed in the Treg cell subset, and is critical to maintain its suppressive activity. Originally discovered in Drosophila melanogaster, the Hippo signaling pathway is a major regulator of cellular growth and proliferation in mammals. Loss of Yap expression in Treg cells can lead to superior anti-tumor immune responses, and thus, Yap is an important immunotherapeutic target for cancer.

Abstract: Electrodes and methods of forming electrodes are described herein. The electrode can be an electrode of an electrochemical cell or battery. The electrode includes a current collector and a film in electrical communication with the current collector. The film may include a carbon phase that holds the film together. The electrode further includes an electrode attachment substance that adheres the film to the current collector.

Abstract: Composite materials and methods of forming composite materials are provided. The composite materials described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight silicon particles, and greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases. At least one of the one or more types of carbon phases can be a substantially continuous phase. The method of forming a composite material can include providing a mixture that includes a precursor and silicon particles, and pyrolyzing the precursor to convert the precursor into one or more types of carbon phases to form the composite material.

Abstract: Silicon particles for active materials and electro-chemical cells are provided. The active materials comprising silicon particles described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight silicon particles, the silicon particles having an average particle size between about 10 nm and about 40 ?m, and greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases, wherein at least one of the one or more types of carbon phases is a substantially continuous phase.

Abstract: Electrodes and methods of forming electrodes are described herein. The electrode can be an electrode of an electrochemical cell or battery. The electrode includes a current collector and a film in electrical communication with the current collector. The film may include a carbon phase that holds the film together. The electrode further includes an electrode attachment substance that adheres the film to the current collector.

Abstract: Composite materials and methods of forming composite materials are provided. The composite materials described herein can be utilized as an electrode material for a battery. In certain embodiments, the composite material includes greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight silicon particles, and greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of one or more types of carbon phases. At least one of the one or more types of carbon phases can be a substantially continuous phase. The method of forming a composite material can include providing a mixture that includes a precursor and silicon particles, and pyrolysing the precursor to convert the precursor into one or more types of carbon phases to form the composite material.

Abstract: A solar defrost panel has a photovoltaic panel with an integrated electrical defrost system. The electrical defrost system has an electrical heating element that overlays the photovoltaic panel. The electrical defrost system can remove snow, frost and ice from the solar defrost panel and prevent snow, frost and ice from accumulating on the solar defrost panel. The electrical defrost system can have a controller to automatically or manually control operation of the electrical heating element. The controller can be located inside of a building for convenience of the user. The solar defrost panel provides clearing of snow, frost and ice from the solar defrost panel which can allow the photovoltaic panel to operate effectively during winter and in cold climate regions.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an electrode includes a body of material formed in substantial part of carbon, the body having an exterior surface and an interior located within the exterior surface, and a plurality cavities located in the interior of the body. Each of the cavities is in communication with the exterior of the body and has an interior surface. The cavities can each be sized to accommodate a battery separator located therein and substantially covering the interior surface of the cavity.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a gas phase deposited porous separator is provided. The porous separator can be deposited onto an electrode. The electrode can include at least one cavity or protrusion, and the separator layer can be gas phase deposited onto a surface of the at least one cavity or protrusion. In certain embodiments, a method of gas phase depositing a separator layer is provided.

Abstract: C-MEMS architecture having carbon structures with high surface areas due to high aspect ratios and nanoscale surface enhancements, and improved systems and methods for producing such structures are provided. Specifically, high aspect ratio carbon structures are microfabricated by pyrolyzing a patterned carbon precursor polymer. Pyrolysing the polymer preferably comprises a multi-step process in an atmosphere of inert and forming gas at high temperatures that trail the glass transition temperature (Tg) for the polymer. The surface area of the carbon microstructures is increases by nanotexturing the surface through oxygen plasma exposure, and by integrating nanoscale structures with the carbon microstructures by exposing the carbon microstructures and a catalyst to hydrocarbon gas. In a preferred embodiment, the carbon microstructures are the source of carbon gas.