Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery including an anode structure, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. A protective layer may form within the anode structure responsive to operational discharge-charge cycling of the lithium-sulfur battery. The protective layer may include a polymeric backbone chain formed of interconnected carbon atoms collectively defining a segmental motion of the protective layer. Additional polymeric chains may be cross-linked to one another and at least some carbon atoms of the polymeric backbone chain. Each additional polymeric chain may be formed of interconnected monomer units. A plasticizer may be dispersed throughout the protective layer without covalently bonding to the polymeric backbone chain. The plasticizer may separate adjacent monomer units of at least some additional polymeric chains. Increasing separation of adjacent monomer units increases a cooperative segmental mobility of the additional polymeric chains and ionic conductivity of the protective layer.

Abstract: An lithium-sulfur battery including an anode structure, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. The electrolyte may be dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode. An artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) may form on the anode, and a protective layer (e.g., that may be pinhole free) may form within and/or on the A-SEI to face the cathode. The protective layer may be formed from carbonaceous materials, which may provide exposed carbon atoms grafted with one or more ions, such as fluorine anions (F?), uniformly dispersed throughout the protective layer. In addition, the protective layer may include polymeric chains positioned generally opposite to each other. The polymeric chains may cross-link upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) energetic radiation to form a three-dimensional (3D) lattice having a defined cross-linking density suitable to trap one or more anions during discharge-charge operational cycling of the lithium-sulfur battery.

Abstract: A print material includes a vinylic molecule, a vinylic cross-linker molecule having a plurality of vinyl groups, a quantum dot, a light-scattering particle having a surface composition, and a dispersant having a chemical affinity matched to the surface composition. Methods of making and using such print materials are also described.

Abstract: A battery is disclosed that includes an anode, a graded interface layer disposed on the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The anode may output lithium ions during cycling of the battery. A graded interface layer may be disposed on the anode and include a tin fluoride layer. A tin-lithium alloy region may form between the tin fluoride layer and the anode. The tin-lithium alloy region may produce a lithium fluoride uniformly dispersed between the anode and the tin fluoride layer during operational cycling of the battery. The electrolyte may disperse throughout the cathode and the anode. The separator may be positioned between the anode and cathode. In some aspects, the battery may also include lithium electrodeposited on one or more exposed surfaces of the anode.

Abstract: An lithium-sulfur battery including an anode, a cathode, and a solid-state electrolyte is provided. The anode may be formed as a single layer of lithium and/or as a cavity. In some aspects, the cavity may receive lithium deposits based on lithium output from the cathode. The cathode may be formed from a composition of matter including pores. A solid-state electrolyte may be dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode. The solid-state electrolyte may be formed as a membrane and may provide ionic conduction capabilities associated with a separator. The solid-state electrolyte includes a polymer matrix formed of glass fibers interconnected with each other. The polymer matrix has an ionic conductivity and includes polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), polyetheramine having repeated oxypropylene units in its backbone, and one or more lithium-containing salts including one or more of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) or lithium iodide (LiI).

Abstract: Methods include producing tunable carbon structures and combining carbon structures with a polymer to form a composite material. Carbon structures include crinkled graphene. Methods also include functionalizing the carbon structures, either in-situ, within the plasma reactor, or in a liquid collection facility. The plasma reactor has a first control for tuning the specific surface area (SSA) of the resulting tuned carbon structures as well as a second, independent control for tuning the SSA of the tuned carbon structures. The composite materials that result from mixing the tuned carbon structures with a polymer results in composite materials that exhibit exceptional favorable mechanical and/or other properties. Mechanisms that operate between the carbon structures and the polymer yield composite materials that exhibit these exceptional mechanical properties are also examined.

Abstract: A disclosed battery may include an anode, a polymeric network disposed over one or more exposed surfaces of the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte at least partially dispersed throughout the cathode, and a separator. The anode may include an alkali metal that can release alkali ions during operational discharge-charge cycling of the battery. The polymeric network may include carbonaceous materials grafted with fluorinated polymer chains cross-linked with each other. The fluorinated polymer chains may produce an alkali-metal containing fluoride in response to operational cycling of the battery. Formation of the alkali-metal containing fluoride may suppress alkali metal dendrite formation from the anode such that lithium is consumed to form lithium fluoride rather than forming lithium-containing dendritic structures. The separator may be positioned between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.

Abstract: A composition of matter may include pores and non-tri-zone particles and tri-zone particles. In one implementation, each tri-zone particle may include carbon fragments intertwined with each other and separated from one another by mesopores. Each tri-zone particle may also include a deformable perimeter that may coalesce with adjacent non-tri-zone particles or tri-zone particles. In some aspects, the tri-zone particles may include aggregates formed by a multitude of the tri-zone particles joined together. In some aspects, mesopores may be interspersed throughout the aggregates. Each tri-zone particle may also include agglomerates, where each agglomerate includes a multitude of the aggregates joined together. In some aspects, macropores may be interspersed throughout the aggregates.

Abstract: Ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, curable ink compositions containing the ligand-capped scattering nanoparticles, and methods of forming films from the ink compositions are provided. Also provided are cured films formed by curing the ink compositions and photonic devices incorporating the films. The ligands bound to the inorganic scattering nanoparticles include a head group and a tail group. The head group includes a polyamine chain and binds the ligands to the nanoparticle surface. The tail group includes a polyalkylene oxide chain.

Abstract: A composition of matter may include pores and non-tri-zone particles and tri-zone particles. In one implementation, each tri-zone particle may include carbon fragments intertwined with each other and separated from one another by mesopores. Each tri-zone particle may also include a deformable perimeter that may coalesce with adjacent non-tri-zone particles or tri-zone particles. In some aspects, the tri-zone particles may include aggregates formed by a multitude of the tri-zone particles joined together. In some aspects, mesopores may be interspersed throughout the aggregates. Each tri-zone particle may also include agglomerates, where each agglomerate includes a multitude of the aggregates joined together. In some aspects, macropores may be interspersed throughout the aggregates.

Abstract: A battery is disclosed that includes an anode, a graded interface layer disposed on the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The anode may output lithium ions during cycling of the battery. A graded interface layer may be disposed on the anode and include a tin fluoride layer. A tin-lithium alloy region may form between the tin fluoride layer and the anode. The tin-lithium alloy region may produce a lithium fluoride uniformly dispersed between the anode and the tin fluoride layer during operational cycling of the battery. The electrolyte may disperse throughout the cathode and the anode. The separator may be positioned between the anode and cathode. In some aspects, the battery may also include lithium electrodeposited on one or more exposed surfaces of the anode.

Abstract: A disclosed battery may include an anode, a polymeric network disposed over one or more exposed surfaces of the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte at least partially dispersed throughout the cathode, and a separator. The anode may include an alkali metal that can release alkali ions during operational discharge-charge cycling of the battery. The polymeric network may include carbonaceous materials grafted with fluorinated polymer chains cross-linked with each other. The fluorinated polymer chains may produce an alkali-metal containing fluoride in response to operational cycling of the battery. Formation of the alkali-metal containing fluoride may suppress alkali metal dendrite formation from the anode such that lithium is consumed to form lithium fluoride rather than forming lithium-containing dendritic structures. The separator may be positioned between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A battery is disclosed that includes an anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, a protective sheath disposed on the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The anode may be arranged in a lattice configuration and include carbonaceous materials. The separator may be disposed between the anode and cathode. The protective sheath may include a tri-functional epoxy compound and a di-amine oligomer-based compound that can chemically react with each other. In this way, the protective sheath may prevent polysulfide migration within the battery based on chemical binding between the protective sheath and one or more lithium-containing polysulfide intermediates. The electrolyte may disperse within the cathode and contact the anode. In one implementation, a polymeric network may be deposited over one or more exposed surfaces of the anode. The polymeric network may have fluorinated polymer chains grafted with carbonaceous materials and be cross-linked with each another.

Abstract: A disclosed battery may include an anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, a protective sheath disposed on the cathode, an electrolyte, and a separator. A polymeric network disposed on the anode and may include carbonaceous materials grafted with a plurality of fluorinated polymer chains cross-linked into a lattice. The lattice may produce an alkali metal fluoride in response to operational cycling of the battery. The alkali metal fluoride may be configured to suppress alkali metal dendrite formation from the anode. The protective sheath disposed on the cathode may include a tri-functional epoxy compound and a di-amine oligomer-based compound that can chemically react with each other. The electrolyte may disperse throughout the cathode and contact with the anode. As a result, the electrolyte may transport the alkali ions between the cathode and the anode. The separator may be positioned between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A composition of matter suitable for incorporation into a battery electrode is disclosed. In some implementations, the composition of matter may include pores that may be defined in size or shape by several carbonaceous particles. Each of the particles may have multiple regions such that adjacent regions are separated from each other by some of the pores. Deformable regions may be distributed throughout a perimeter of each of the particles, for example, to accommodate coalescence of multiple adjacent particles. The composition of matter may also include a plurality of aggregates and a plurality of agglomerates, where each aggregate includes a multitude of the particles joined together, and each agglomerate includes a multitude of the aggregates joined together.

Abstract: Batteries including an electrolyte with a ternary solvent package are disclosed. In various implementations, a lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte include a ternary solvent package. The anode may be positioned opposite to the cathode. The cathode may include a plurality of regions. Each region may be defined by two or more core-shell structures adjacent to and in contact with each other. The electrolyte may be interspersed throughout the cathode and be in contact with the anode. The ternary solvent package may include 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), and/or one or more additives, such as lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and 4,4?-thiobisbenzenethiol (TBT) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and approximately 0.01 mol of dissolved lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).

Abstract: Batteries including an electrolyte with a ternary solvent package are disclosed. In various implementations, a lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte include a ternary solvent package. The anode may be positioned opposite to the cathode. The cathode may include a plurality of regions. Each region may be defined by two or more core-shell structures adjacent to and in contact with each other. The electrolyte may be interspersed throughout the cathode and be in contact with the anode. The ternary solvent package may include 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), and/or one or more additives, such as lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and 4,4?-thiobisbenzenethiol (TBT) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and approximately 0.01 mol of dissolved lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).

Abstract: Batteries including an electrolyte with a ternary solvent package are disclosed. In various implementations, a lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte include a ternary solvent package. The anode may be positioned opposite to the cathode. The cathode may include a plurality of regions. Each region may be defined by two or more core-shell structures adjacent to and in contact with each other. The electrolyte may be interspersed throughout the cathode and be in contact with the anode. The ternary solvent package may include 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,3-Dioxolane (DOL), tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME), and/or one or more additives, such as lithium nitrate (LiNO3), and 4,4?-thiobisbenzenethiol (TBT) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), and approximately 0.01 mol of dissolved lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI).

Abstract: Disclosed apparatuses, systems, and materials relate to the disassociation of feedstock species (such as those in gaseous form) into constituent components, and may include an energy generator configured to provide a microwave energy. A first chamber defines a first volume and is configured to guide the microwave energy along the first chamber as a sinusoidal wave having an energy maxima at a point along the first chamber. A second chamber contains a plasma plume and is positioned substantially proximal to the first chamber, and is configured to enable propagation of the microwave energy through the first chamber and the second chamber such that the microwave energy demonstrates, at a radial center of the second chamber, a coaxial energy maxima configured to ignite the plasma plume contained in the second chamber. Carbon-containing materials may be formed by controlling flow parameters of the feedstock species into the first or second chamber.