Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to electrode coatings and methods of coating electrodes. In an embodiment, a method of depositing a structure on a lithium ion battery (LIB) anode is provided. The method includes accelerating particles in a working gas through a convergent-divergent nozzle to a process velocity that is from a critical velocity of the particles to an erosion velocity of the LIB anode, the particles comprising a metal and/or a Group III-VI element; heating or cooling the particles in the working gas at a softening temperature; ejecting the particles in the working gas from a nozzle outlet of the convergent-divergent nozzle, the particles ejected at the process velocity, wherein at least a portion of the particles are in solid phase when ejected from the convergent-divergent nozzle; and depositing a first structure on the LIB anode, the first structure comprising the metal and/or the Group III-VI element.

Abstract: A processing system for processing a flexible substrate is described. The processing system includes a vacuum chamber having a wall with an opening for the flexible substrate, a substrate support for supporting the flexible substrate during transportation of the flexible substrate through the opening, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one of a property of the flexible substrate and a property of one or more coatings on the flexible substrate. The measurement assembly and the substrate support are attached to the wall.

Abstract: Interfacial films, which are both electronic conducting and ion conducting, for anode films are provided. The one or more protective films described herein may be mixed conduction materials, which are both electronic conducting and ion-conducting. The one or more protective films described herein may include materials selected from lithium transition metal dichalcogenides, Li9Ti5O12, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide includes a transition metal dichalcogenide having the formula MX2, wherein M is selected from Ti, Mo, or W and X is selected from S, Se, or Te. The transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from TiS2, MoS2, WS2, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from lithium-titanium-disulfide (e.g., LiTiS2), lithium-tungsten-disulfide (e.g., LiWS2), lithium-molybdenum-disulfide (e.g., LiMoS2), or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating electrodes used in energy storage devices are provided. In some implementations a surface of the electrode is activated for (a) a pre-treatment process to remove loosely held particles from the electrode surface; (b) a pre-treatment process to activate the surface of the electrode material for improved bonding or wetting for subsequently deposited materials; (c) a post-treatment of the pre-lithiation layer to improve subsequent bonding with additionally deposited layer, for example, passivation layers; and/or (d) a post-treatment of the pre-lithiation layer to improve/accelerate absorption of the lithium into the underlying electrode material.

Abstract: Interfacial films, which are both electronic conducting and ion conducting, for anode films are provided. The one or more protective films described herein may be mixed conduction materials, which are both electronic conducting and ion-conducting. The one or more protective films described herein may include materials selected from lithium transition metal dichalcogenides, Li9Ti5O12, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide includes a transition metal dichalcogenide having the formula MX2, wherein M is selected from Ti, Mo, or W and X is selected from S, Se, or Te. The transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from TiS2, MoS2, WS2, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from lithium-titanium-disulfide (e.g., LiTiS2), lithium-tungsten-disulfide (e.g., LiWS2), lithium-molybdenum-disulfide (e.g., LiMoS2), or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Metrology systems and processing methods for continuous lithium ion battery (LIB) anode pre-lithiation and solid metal anode protection are provided. In some embodiments, the metrology system integrates at least one complementary non-contact sensor to measure at least one of surface composition, coating thickness, and nanoscale roughness. The metrology system and processing methods can be used to address anode edge quality. The metrology system and methods can facilitate high quality and high yield closed loop anode pre-lithiation and anode protection layer deposition, alloy-type anode pre-lithiation stage control improves LIB coulombic efficiency, and anode coating with pinhole free and electrochemically active protection layers resist dendrite formation.

Abstract: A method and system for forming lithium anode devices are provided. In one embodiment, the methods and systems form pre-lithiated Group-IV alloy-type nanoparticles (NP's), for example, Li—Z where Z is Ge, Si, or Sn. In another embodiment, the methods and systems synthesize Group-IV nanoparticles and alloy the Group-IV nanoparticles with lithium. The Group-IV nanoparticles can be made on demand and premixed with anode materials or coated on anode materials. In yet another embodiment, the methods and systems form lithium metal-free silver carbon (“Ag—C”) nanocomposites (NC's). In yet another embodiment, a method utilizing silver (PVD) and carbon (PECVD) co-deposition to make anode coatings that can regulate lithium nucleation energy to minimize dendrite formation is provided.

Abstract: Exemplary processing methods may include translating a lithium film beneath a first showerhead. The methods may include introducing an oxidizer gas through the first showerhead onto the lithium film. The methods may include forming an oxide monolayer on the lithium film. The oxide monolayer may be or include the oxidizer gas adsorbed on the lithium film. The methods may include translating the lithium film beneath a second showerhead after forming the oxide monolayer. The methods may include introducing a carbon source gas through the first showerhead onto the lithium film. The methods may also include converting the oxide monolayer into a carbonate passivation layer through reaction of the oxide monolayer with the carbon source gas.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for coating flexible substrates are provided. A coating system includes an unwinding module housing a feed reel capable of providing a continuous sheet of flexible material, a winding module housing a take-up reel capable of storing the continuous sheet of flexible material, and a processing module arranged downstream from the unwinding module. The processing module includes a plurality of sub-chambers arranged in sequence, each configured to perform one or more processing operations to the continuous sheet of flexible material. The processing module includes a coating drum capable of guiding the continuous sheet of flexible material past the plurality of sub-chambers along a travel direction. The sub-chambers are radially disposed about the coating drum and at least one of the sub-chambers includes a deposition module. The deposition module includes a pair of electron beam sources positioned side-by-side along a transverse direction perpendicular to the travel direction.

Abstract: A processing system for processing a flexible substrate is described. The processing system includes a vacuum chamber having a wall with an opening for the flexible substrate, a substrate support for supporting the flexible substrate during transportation of the flexible substrate through the opening, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one of a property of the flexible substrate and a property of one or more coatings on the flexible substrate. The measurement assembly and the substrate support are attached to the wall.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a pre-lithiated electrode structure are provided. The method includes supplying a first continuous web substrate from an unwinder roller to a winder roller. The first continuous web substrate includes a layer of lithium metal. The method further includes supplying a second continuous web substrate comprising a layer of patterned anode material adjacent to the first continuous web substrate. The first continuous web substrate and the second continuous web substrate are wound together on the unwinder roller, wherein a surface of the layer of anode material contacts a surface of the layer of lithium metal. Pressure is applied to the first continuous web substrate and the second continuous web substrate to pre-lithiate the patterned anode material, wherein applying pressure comprises tensioning at least one of the unwinder roller and the winder roller.

Abstract: Interfacial films, which are both electronic conducting and ion conducting, for anode films are provided. The one or more protective films described herein may be mixed conduction materials, which are both electronic conducting and ion-conducting. The one or more protective films described herein may include materials selected from lithium transition metal dichalcogenides, Li9Ti5O12, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide includes a transition metal dichalcogenide having the formula MX2, wherein M is selected from Ti, Mo, or W and X is selected from S, Se, or Te. The transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from TiS2, MoS2, WS2, or a combination thereof. The lithium transition metal dichalcogenide may be selected from lithium-titanium-disulfide (e.g., LiTiS2), lithium-tungsten-disulfide (e.g., LiWS2), lithium-molybdenum-disulfide (e.g., LiMoS2), or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuous web processing systems for pre-lithiating Li-ion battery substrates is provided. The modular processing system comprises a common transfer chamber body defining a transfer volume. The system further comprises a first vertical chamber body defining a first processing volume and positioned on the common transfer chamber body. The transfer volume is in fluid communication with the first processing volume. The system further comprises a second vertical chamber body defining a second processing volume and positioned on the common transfer chamber body. The transfer volume is in fluid communication with the second processing volume. The system further comprises a reel-to-reel system operable to transport a continuous flexible substrate having an electrode structure formed thereon.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery includes Li3+xGexAs1-xS4 where x=0 to 0.50. The value of x can be a range of any high value and any lower value from 0 to 0.50. For example, x can be 0.25 to 0.50, and x can be 0.3 to 0.4, among many other possible ranges. In one embodiment x=0.33 such that the solid electrolyte is Li3.334Ge0.334As0.666S4. A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery can include LiAsS4 wherein ½ to ? of the As is substituted with Ge. A lithium battery and a method for making a lithium battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid state lithium carbon monofluoride battery includes an anode comprising Li, a solid electrolyte, and a cathode including CFx and LPS. The cathode can also include a carbon compound. The solid electrolyte can include LPS. The LPS can include ?-Li3PS4. The cathode LPS can include ?-Li3PS4. A method of making a battery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium-sulfur battery includes particles of a lithium ion conducting oxide composition embedded within a lithium ion conducting sulfide composition. The lithium ion conducting oxide composition can be Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO). The lithium ion conducting sulfide composition can be ?-Li3PS4 (LPS). A lithium ion battery and a method of making a solid electrolyte for a lithium ion battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method comprising forming a template forming a template from a template precursor, wherein the template contains an entrapped ceramic precursor, which can be further processed to form a ceramic solid, such as an oxide ceramic solid. In one embodiment, the template precursor is a hydrogel precursor and the template is a hydrogel template. The hydrogel template can include, for example, agarose, chitosan, alginate or a photo-initiating receptive hydrogel template such as a functionalized poly(ethylene glycol). Various devices, including electrolyte interfaces and energy storage devices, as well as thermoelectric devices are also provided. In one embodiment, the oxide ceramic solid is a cubic garnet having a nominal formula of Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO).

Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery includes Li3+xGexAs1?xS4 where x=0 to 0.50. The value of x can be a range of any high value and any lower value from 0 to 0.50. For example, x can be 0.25 to 0.50, and x can be 0.3 to 0.4, among many other possible ranges. In one embodiment x=0.33 such that the solid electrolyte is Li3.334Ge0.334As0.666S4. A solid electrolyte for a lithium battery can include LiAsS4 wherein ½ to ? of the As is substituted with Ge. A lithium battery and a method for making a lithium battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A Li7P2S8I electrolyte for a battery is disclosed. The electrolyte can be a single phase of Li7P2S8I. A battery having a Li7P2S8I electrolyte is disclosed. A method of making a battery including a Li7P2S8I electrolyte is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid state lithium carbon monofluoride battery includes an anode comprising Li, a solid electrolyte, and a cathode including CFx and LPS. The cathode can also include a carbon compound. The solid electrolyte can include LPS. The LPS can include ?-Li3PS4. The cathode LPS can include ?-Li3PS4. A method of making a battery is also disclosed.