Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for preparing an electroactive material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The method includes immersing a plurality of electroactive material particles in an aqueous solution and adding one or more fluorinated lithium salts to the aqueous solution to form a protective particle coating on each of the electroactive material particles of the plurality of electroactive material particles, where the plurality of electroactive material particles defines the electroactive material. The protective particle coatings are continuous coatings that cover greater than or equal to about 95% of a total exposed surface area of each electroactive material particle of the plurality of electroactive material particles.

Abstract: An electrode assembly that includes a current collector, a lithium foil, and a solid solution interface that chemically binds the current collector and the lithium foil is provided. The solid solution interface includes a portion of the current collector that is impregnated with lithium atoms diffused from the lithium foil. In some variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes heating a precursor electrode assembly that includes a current collector and a lithium metal film to a temperature that is less than a melting point of lithium, so that lithium atoms diffuse into the current collector during the heating. In other variations, a method for forming the electrode assembly includes disposing a molten lithium onto a heated current collector to form a precursor electrode assembly, and cooling the assembly to form a lithium metal layer that is chemically bonded to the current collector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a pre-lithiated layered anode material. The method includes removing cations from a precursor material including a layered ionic compound to form creates a two-dimensional structure that defines a layered anode material. The method further includes inserting lithium ions using an anion insertion wet-chemical process into the layered anode materials to form the pre-lithiated layered anode material. The anion insertion wet-chemical process can be the same as or different form the cation extraction wet-chemical process. In each instance, the precursor material is be represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and X is one of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and boron (B) and the precursor material has alternating layers of M and X.

Abstract: An electrode including an electrochemical layer defining a surface having a plurality of dimples formed thereon is provided. The dimples have an average lateral size greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 100 ?m, and an average depth greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 50 ?m. In certain variations, the dimples are formed in situ by applying a current to the electrochemical layer. In other variations, the dimples are formed by moving a roller having a plurality of shapes defined thereon along one or more surfaces of the electrochemical layer. In still other variations, the dimples are formed by contacting one or more surfaces of the electrochemical layer with a chemical etchant.

Abstract: A method for forming a prelithiated, layered anode material includes contacting an ionic compound and a lithium precursor in an environment having a temperature ranging from about 200° C. to about 900° C. The ionic compound is a three-dimensional layered material represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and X is one of silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), and boron (B). The lithium precursor is selected from the group consisting of: LiH, LiC, LiOH, LiCl, and combinations thereof. The contacting of the ionic compound and the lithium precursor in the environment causes removal of cations from the ionic compound to create openings in interlayer spaces or voids in the three-dimensional layered material thereby defining a two-dimensional layered material and also causes introduction of lithium ions from the lithium precursor into the interlayer spaces or voids to form the prelithiated, layered anode material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for forming a two-dimensional silicon oxide negative electroactive material. The methods include contacting a two-dimensional silicon allotrope and an oxidizing agent in an environment having a temperature of greater than or equal to about 25° C. to less than or equal to about 1,000° C., where the contacting of the two-dimensional silicon allotrope and the oxidizing agent causes the two-dimensional silicon allotrope to oxidize and form the two-dimensional silicon oxide negative electroactive material. In certain variations, the oxidizing agent includes oxygen and the contacting of the two-dimensional silicon allotrope and the oxidizing agent may include disposing the two-dimensional silicon allotrope in an oxygen-containing environment comprising less than or equal to about 21% of oxygen. In other variations, the oxidizing agent includes a wet chemical agent.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a negative electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The negative electrode may include a negative electroactive material and a lithiation additive. The negative electroactive material may have a first cell voltage window. The lithiation additive may have a second cell voltage window. The second cell voltage window may be less than the first cell voltage window. When the electrochemical cell is operated in the second cell voltage window, the lithiation additive may lithiated the cell.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a prelithiated, layered anode material. The method includes contacting a precursor material and an electrolyte that includes one or more lithium salts and one or more solvents. The electrolyte may have a molarity greater than or equal to about 0.1 M to less than or equal to a solubility limit of the one or more lithium salts in the one or more solvents. The precursor material may be a three-dimensional layered material and the contacting of the precursor material and the electrolyte causes removal of cations from the precursor material and introduction of lithium ions from the electrolyte into interlayer spaces or voids created by the removal of the cations to form the prelithiated, layered anode material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming a layered anode material. The method includes contacting a precursor material and a first electrolyte. The precursor material is a layered ionic compound represented by MX2, where M is one of calcium and magnesium and X is one of silicon, germanium, and boron. The method further includes applying a first bias and/or current as the precursor material contacts the first electrolyte so as to remove cations from the precursor material to create a two-dimensional structure that defines the layered anode material. In certain variations, the method further include contacting the two-dimensional structure and a second electrolyte, and applying a second bias and/or current as the two-dimensional structure contacts the second electrolyte so as to cause lithium ions to move into interlayer spaces or voids created in the two-dimensional structure by the removal of the cations thereby forming the layered anode material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electroactive material for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electroactive material includes a plurality of electroactive particles having an average diameter greater than or equal to about 100 nm to less than or equal to about 50 ?m. Each electroactive particle includes a layered anode material defined by a two-dimensional allotrope. The two-dimensional allotrope includes a plurality of atomic layers that include a negative electroactive material selected from the group consisting of: silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), boron (B), and combinations thereof. In certain variations, the layered anode material may be prelithiated. For example, lithium ions may be dispersed between the atomic layers of the two-dimensional allotrope to pre-lithiate the layered anode material.