Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising cyanate based compounds are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte comprising at least two electrolyte co-solvents, wherein at least one electrolyte co-solvent comprises a cyanate based compound.

Abstract: Electrolyte formulations for energy storage devices are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, where one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte composition. Electrolyte formulations as described herein are electrolyte compositions comprising two or more components such as solvents, co-solvents, salts and/or additives. In some embodiments, three or more, four or more, five or more, six or more, seven or more, or eight or more components are included in the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising an ether compound are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from ether compounds.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electrode can include a current collector, a composite material in electrical communication with the current collector, and at least one phase configured to adhere the composite material to the current collector. The current collector can include one or more layers of metal, and the composite material can include electrochemically active material. The at least one phase can include a compound of the metal and the electrochemically active material. In some embodiments, a composite material can include electrochemically active material. The composite material can also include at least one phase configured to bind electrochemically active particles of the electrochemically active material together. The at least one phase can include a compound of metal and the electrochemically active material.

Abstract: Methods and systems for forming electrochemical cells are provided. An electrochemical cell may be provided, with the electrochemical cell including a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte. At least the first electrode is a silicon-dominant electrode. A formation process may be used for the electrochemical cell, with the processing including at least a charge step that includes providing a formation charge current at greater than about 1C to the electrochemical cell, where providing the formation charge current includes charging to a partial formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for state-of-charge balancing in battery management systems for Si/Li batteries. State-of-charge (SOC) of one or more lithium-ion cells may be assessed, and based on the assessing of the SOC, the one or more lithium-ion cells may be controlled. The controlling may include setting or modifying one or more operating parameters of at least one lithium-ion cell, and the controlling may be configured to equilibrate the SOC of the one or more lithium-ion cells or to modify an SOC of at least one lithium-ion cell so that the one or more lithium-ion cells have a balanced SOC.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising a sulfonate ester compound are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from a sulfonate ester compound.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an electrode can include a first and second conductive layer. At least one of the first and second conductive layers can include porosity configured to allow electrolyte to flow therethrough. The electrode can also include an electrochemically active layer having electrochemically active material sandwiched between the first and second conductive layers. The electrochemically active layer can be in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers.

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: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising linear carbonate compounds.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising fluorinated polymers. The electrolytes may be used in an energy storage device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, where at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the electrolyte.

Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal curing of water soluble polymers for silicon dominant anodes to improve the mechanical properties of the anode and electrochemical performance of a battery are provided.

Abstract: An energy storage device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a self-supporting composite material film, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte in contact with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the separator, wherein the electrolyte comprises at least one of a fluorine-containing cyclic carbonate, a fluorine-containing linear carbonate, and a fluoroether. The composite material film having greater than 0% and less than about 90% by weight of 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 that holds the composite material film together such that the silicon particles are distributed throughout the composite material film.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising metal sulfide compounds are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from a metal sulfide compound.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising alkoxyethane based compounds are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte comprising at least two electrolyte co-solvents, wherein at least one electrolyte co-solvent comprises an alkoxyethane based compound.

Abstract: The present application describes the use of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) fluorinating precursor and/or an SEI fluorinating compound to coat an electrode material and create an artificial SEI layer. These modifications may increase surface passivation of the electrodes, SEI robustness, and structural stability of the silicon-containing electrodes.

Abstract: Silicon particles for use in an electrode in an electrochemical cell are provided. The silicon particles may have outer regions extending about 20 nm deep from the surfaces, the outer regions comprising an amount of aluminum such that a bulk measurement of the aluminum comprises at least about 0.01% by weight of the silicon particles. The bulk measurement of the aluminum may provide the amount of aluminum present at least in the outer 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: Single Li-ion conducting solid-state polymer electrolytes for use in energy storage devices are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, where at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte. Electrolytes may include all-solid-state polymer electrolytes, quasi-solid polymer electrolytes and/or polymer gel electrolytes. The single Li-ion conducting solid-state polymer electrolytes can improve the electrochemical performances and safety of Si anode-based Li-ion batteries.

Abstract: Methods of recycling silicon from lithium-ion batteries having silicon-based electrodes are disclosed. Batteries and methods of manufacturing batteries from the recycled silicon are also disclosed. A method of recycling may include discharging each of one or more batteries to below a threshold voltage and disassembling each of the one or more batteries to collect source material from silicon-based electrodes of the one or more batteries. The source material may include silicon from the silicon-based electrodes. The method may further include rinsing the source material in alcohol to obtain a solution and extracting recycled silicon from the solution by heating the silicon for a first period of time and leaching the silicon in an acid for a second period of time. In some methods, the heating occurs before the leaching. In other embodiments, the leaching occurs before the heating.