Abstract: A method for reducing residual water content in a battery material includes placing the battery material having residual water adsorbed therein in a channel substantially sealed from an ambient environment. A gaseous mixture is caused to flow through the battery material in the channel. The gaseous mixture includes an organic solvent vapor present in an amount effective to hydrogen bond with at least some water molecules from the battery material. The gaseous mixture is caused to flow through the battery material for a predetermined amount of time, at a predetermined temperature, and at a predetermined pressure. The organic solvent vapor having at least some water molecules bonded thereto is removed from the battery material. The removing takes place for a predetermined amount of time, at a predetermined temperature, and at a predetermined pressure, thereby forming the battery material having reduced residual water content.

Abstract: Individual electrodes for a solid-state lithium-ion battery cell may be formed, for example, by elevated temperature consolidation in air of a mixture of resin-bonded, electrode active material particles, oxide solid electrolyte particles, and particles of a non-carbon electronic conductive additive. Depending on the selected compositions of the electrode materials and the solid electrolyte, one or both of the cathode and anode layer members may be formed to include the non-carbon electronic conductive additive. The battery cell is assembled with the solid-state electrodes placed on opposite sides of a consolidated layer of oxide electrolyte particles. The electronic conductivity of at least one of the cathode and anode is increased by the incorporation of particles of a selected non-carbon electronic conducive additive with the respective electrode particles.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts, and a fastener. The insulative housing has a plurality of contact-receiving passageways and a positioning slot recessed upwards from a bottom face thereof, the positioning slot is communicated with the contact-receiving passageways. The fastener is assembled into the positioning slot before the contacts being inserted into the insulative housing. Each contact defines a stopping portion and an elastic locking arm, the locking arm extends backwards to form a free end, and the free ends of the locking arms are locking with the insulative housing to realize a pre-position between the contacts and the housing, after the contacts assembled into the insulative housing, the fastener is pressed upwards into the positioning slot fully and abutting against a rear end of the stopping portion to form a secondary positioning.

Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain quasi-solid-state electrode material and are separated with a layer of quasi-solid-state electrolyte material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location, number and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.

Abstract: A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain solid-state electrode material and are separated with solid-state electrode material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.

Abstract: A battery enclosure shaped and sized to accept and surround a battery includes an outer case defining an aperture and having a base forming a bottom of the battery enclosure, the case having a first wall connected to a second wall, the second wall connected to a third wall, and a fourth wall portion connected to the first and third walls, each of the first, second, third, and fourth walls extending orthogonally from the base. The battery enclosure including a separable outer lid shaped to fit around the aperture of the case. The outer case and the outer lid having a material having thermal conductivity of less than about 0.3 W/mK, the battery enclosure has an air inlet selectively providing airflow to the battery enclosure and an air outlet selectively providing airflow from the battery enclosure, the outer case has a first thickness, the outer lid portion has a second thickness.

Abstract: Provided are capacitor-assisted lithium batteries (CAB), comprising an electrolyte comprising one or more lithium salts, and one or more sulfone molecules, wherein the one or more sulfone molecules comprise sulfolane, a substituted sulfolane, and/or a substituted SO2. The electrolyte may further include one or more solvents. The sulfone-based electrolyte inhibits or prevents undesired gas generation.

Abstract: An assembled electrochemical cell is formed comprising an anode containing sub-micrometer and micrometer-size particles of an anode material for cyclically intercalating and de-intercalating lithium ions or sodium ions, a cathode containing like-sized particles of a cathode material for intercalating and de-intercalating the ions utilized in the anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte composed for transporting ions between the anode and cathode. Nanometer-size particles of a basic metal oxide or a metal nitride are mixed with at least one of (i) the particles of electrode material for at least one of the anode and cathode and (ii) the electrolyte. The composition and the amount of the metal oxide or metal nitride is determined for chemically neutralizing acidic contaminants formed in the operation of the electrochemical cell, adsorbing incidental water, and to generally prevent degradation of the respective electrode materials.

Abstract: A system for forming an electrode for a lithium-ion battery cell includes an electrode material, a material-supply mechanism, a wetting mechanism, a debris-generating tool, and a conditioner. The material-supply mechanism is configured to deliver the electrode material. The wetting mechanism is configured to receive the electrode material from the material-supply mechanism and apply a solution to the electrode material to produce a wet precursor. The debris-generating tool is configured to remove a portion of the electrode material from the wet precursor to form a pre-electrode. The conditioner is configured to eliminate the solution from the pre-electrode and thereby form the electrode.

Abstract: At least one of the anode and cathode of a lithium-ion processing electrochemical cell are prepared with a layer of mixed partides of both active lithium battery electrode materials and lithium ion adsorbing capacitor materials, or with co-extensive, contiguous layers of battery electrode particles in one layer and capacitor particles in the adjoining layer. The proportions of active battery electrode particles and active capacitor particles in one or both of the electrodes are predetermined to provide specified energy density (Wh/kg) and power density (W/kg) properties of the cell for its intended application.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery is provided that includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and a polymer separator soaked in an electrolyte solution, the polymer separator being disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The positive electrode includes an active material of lithium manganese oxide, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide, or combinations thereof. The negative electrode includes lithium titanate. A method of making the lithium ion battery is also provided.

Abstract: A method for reducing residual water content in a battery material includes placing the battery material having residual water adsorbed therein in a channel substantially sealed from an ambient environment. A gaseous mixture is caused to flow through the battery material in the channel. The gaseous mixture includes an organic solvent vapor present in an amount effective to hydrogen bond with at least some water molecules from the battery material. The gaseous mixture is caused to flow through the battery material for a predetermined amount of time, at a predetermined temperature, and at a predetermined pressure. The organic solvent vapor having at least some water molecules bonded thereto is removed from the battery material. The removing takes place for a predetermined amount of time, at a predetermined temperature, and at a predetermined pressure, thereby forming the battery material having reduced residual water content.

Abstract: A system for forming an electrode for a lithium-ion battery cell includes an electrode material, a material-supply mechanism, a wetting mechanism, a debris-generating tool, and a conditioner. The material-supply mechanism is configured to deliver the electrode material. The wetting mechanism is configured to receive the electrode material from the material-supply mechanism and apply a solution to the electrode material to produce a wet precursor. The debris-generating tool is configured to remove a portion of the electrode material from the wet precursor to form a pre-electrode. The conditioner is configured to eliminate the solution from the pre-electrode and thereby form the electrode.

Abstract: An assembled electrochemical cell is formed comprising an anode containing sub-micrometer and micrometer-size particles of an anode material for cyclically intercalating and de-intercalating lithium ions or sodium ions, a cathode containing like-sized particles of a cathode material for intercalating and de-intercalating the ions utilized in the anode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte composed for transporting ions between the anode and cathode. Nanometer-size particles of a basic metal oxide or a metal nitride are mixed with at least one of (i) the particles of electrode material for at least one of the anode and cathode and (ii) the electrolyte. The composition and the amount of the metal oxide or metal nitride is determined for chemically neutralizing acidic contaminants formed in the operation of the electrochemical cell, adsorbing incidental water, and to generally prevent degradation of the respective electrode materials.

Abstract: Layers of particles of positive or negative electrode materials for lithium-secondary cells are deposited on porous separator layers or current collector films using atmospheric plasma practices for the deposition of the electrode material particles. Before the deposition step, the non-metallic electrode material particles are coated with smaller particles of an elemental metal. The elemental metal is compatible with the particulate electrode material in the operation of the electrode and the metal particles are partially melted during the atmospheric deposition step to bond the electrode material particles to the substrate and to each other in a porous layer for infiltration with a liquid lithium ion-containing electrolyte. And the metal coating on the particles provides suitable electrical conductivity to the electrode layer during cell operation.