Abstract: In various aspects, methods of making a silicon carbide or silicon nitride from rice hull ash (RHA) byproduct are provided. A treated silica depleted rice hull ash product (SDRHA) comprising silicon oxide at ?about 65% by weight and carbon ?about 35% by weight may be heated in an environment free of any additional carbon sources, but in an inert atmosphere, having a temperature of ?about 1,200° C. to ?about 1,700° C. for a carbothermal reaction that forms a product (e.g., nanocomposite product) comprising at least one of silicon carbide (SiC), silicon nitride (Si3N4), and silicon oxynitride (Si2N2O or non-stoichiometric SiNxO4-x, where x ranges from greater than 0 to less than 4). A negative electroactive material is also provided that includes silicon oxynitride (Si2N2O), which may be used in a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical device is disclosed. The electrode comprises a lithium host material; and a porous coating on the lithium host material. The porous coating can comprise a solid-state ion conducting electrolyte material selected from: (i) lithium aluminum oxides, (ii) lithium containing phosphates, (iii) LixPON wherein x is 1, 1.5, 3, or 6, (iv) LixSiPON wherein x is 1, 1.5, 3, or 6, (v) LixSiON wherein x is 2, 4, or 6, (vi) lithium lanthanum zirconium oxides, and (vii) mixtures of two or more of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi). The porous coating comprising the solid-state ion conducting electrolyte material may be formed from one or more precursors that form the porous coating comprising the solid-state ion conducting electrolyte material upon cycling of the electrochemical device.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing a precursor for making a polymer, glass, or ceramic material is provided. The method includes reacting OPCl3 with NH3 or MNH2, where M is Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, or combinations thereof, to form O?P(NH2)3. The method then includes either: (i) reacting the O?P(NH2)3 with M1NH2, where M1 is Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, or combinations thereof, to form the precursor; or (ii) heating the O?P(NH2)3 to form a branched or cyclomeric compound, and reacting the branched or cyclomeric compound with M1NH2, where M1 is Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Ba, or combinations thereof, to form the precursor. The precursor is an oligomer or a polymer. Uses for the precursor and the polymer, glass, or ceramic material as binders, sintering aids, adhesives, and electrolytes in battery components are also provided.

Abstract: An electrochemically active component is disclosed. The electrochemically active component includes a ceramic film having a thickness of less than or equal to about 100 ?m. The ceramic film can be composed of ??-Al2O3, LiCoO2—Li4SiO4—Li3PO4 (LSPO)-Ag, LiNi0.33Mn0.33CO0.33O2 (NMC)/xLi4Si04-(1?x)Li3P04 (LSPO)/Ag, wherein 0<x<1, Li3V04(LVO)/Li6.25Al0.25La3Zr2O12(Al:LLZO)/Ag, 12CaO-7Al2O3 (Ca12A7), or Mg0.5CexZr2?x(P04)3 (MZPCex), wherein 0<x<0.5. The electrochemically active component is a battery anode, a battery cathode, a battery ion conductor, a battery electron conductor, a thermal electric generator, a high temperature fuel cell, or a gate dielectric.