Abstract: A method is disclosed for suppressing propagation of a metal in a solid state electrolyte during cycling of an electrochemical device including the solid state electrolyte and an electrode comprising the metal. One method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte has a structure comprising a plurality of grains of a metal-ion conductive material and a grain boundary phase located at some or all of grain boundaries between the grains, wherein the grain boundary phase suppresses propagation of the metal in the solid state electrolyte during cycling. Another method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte is a single crystal.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

Abstract: A hybrid electrolyte comprises: (i) a first electrolyte having a first surface and an opposed second surface, wherein the first electrolyte comprises a solid state electrolyte material comprising an oxide, wherein the first surface is an acid-treated surface; and (ii) a second electrolyte comprising a liquid electrolyte, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises an alkali metal salt and a solvent selected from the group consisting of electron pair donor solvents, and solvent mixtures including at least one electron pair donor solvent and at least one glyme solvent. The oxide can be a doped or undoped LLZO electrolyte material, and the acid can be selected from H3PO4 and HCl.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for suppressing propagation of a metal in a solid state electrolyte during cycling of an electrochemical device including the solid state electrolyte and an electrode comprising the metal. One method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte has a structure comprising a plurality of grains of a metal-ion conductive material and a grain boundary phase located at some or all of grain boundaries between the grains, wherein the grain boundary phase suppresses propagation of the metal in the solid state electrolyte during cycling. Another method comprises forming the solid state electrolyte such that the solid state electrolyte is a single crystal.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes an electrode with a plurality of channels formed at least partially through its thickness. Each channel has a diameter in a range from 5 ?m to 100 ?m and/or is spaced apart from another channel by a distance in a range from 10 ?m to 200 ?m as measured between centerlines of the channels. The electrode may be an anode and includes carbonaceous material such as graphite and/or additional electrochemically active lithium host materials. The battery can be charged at a C-rate greater than 2 C.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes an electrode with a plurality of channels formed at least partially through its thickness. Each channel has a diameter in a range from 5 ?m to 100 ?m and/or is spaced apart from another channel by a distance in a range from 10 ?m to 200 ?m as measured between centerlines of the channels. The electrode may be an anode and includes carbonaceous material such as graphite and/or additional electrochemically active lithium host materials. The battery can be charged at a C-rate greater than 2 C.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium ion battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium ion batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. Also disclosed are methods for making such electrochemical devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium ion battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium ion batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. Also disclosed are methods for making such electrochemical devices. Also disclosed are composite electrodes for solid state electrochemical devices. The composite electrodes include one or more separate phases within the electrode that provide electronic and ionic conduction pathways in the electrode active material phase.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery includes an electrode with a plurality of channels formed at least partially through its thickness. Each channel has a diameter in a range from 5 ?m to 100 ?m and/or is spaced apart from another channel by a distance in a range from 10 ?m to 200 ?m as measured between centerlines of the channels. The electrode may be an anode and includes carbonaceous material such as graphite and/or additional electrochemically active lithium host materials. The battery can be charged at a C-rate greater than 2 C.

Abstract: An anode for a lithium ion battery is disclosed includes a first major face, a second major face that, together with the first major face, defines a thickness of the anode, and at least one carbonaceous electrochemically active lithium host material distributed between the first and second major faces of the anode. The at least one carbonaceous electrochemically active lithium host material is selected from the group consisting of graphite, hard carbon, or a blend of graphite and hard carbon. The anode additionally defines a plurality of vertical channels extending at least partially through the thickness of the anode. A lithium-ion batter that includes the disclosed anode and a method of charging a lithium-ion battery that includes the disclosed anode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hybrid electrolyte for an electrochemical device comprises: (i) a first electrolyte comprising a solid state electrolyte material, such as lithium lanthanum zirconium tantalum oxide (LLZTO) or lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO); and a second electrolyte comprising a liquid electrolyte or a gel electrolyte, the second electrolyte comprising a solvent and a salt in case of a liquid electrolyte and polymer, solvent and a salt in case of a gel electrolyte. The salt is selected from the group consisting of lithium (halosulfonyl)imides, lithium (haloalkanesulfonyl)imides, lithium (halosulfonyl haloalkanesulfonyl)imides, and mixtures thereof, wherein the second electrolyte contacts the first surface of the first electrolyte. An electrochemical device comprises the hybrid electrolyte; a cathode facing the first surface of the first electrolyte of the hybrid electrolyte; and an anode contacting the second surface of the first electrolyte of the hybrid electrolyte, wherein the anode comprises lithium metal.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sinter forging a precursor powder to form a film may reduce or eliminate the stress in the film and may facilitate processing of continuous length of films such as ceramic films for use in batteries. The precursor powder can be provided on a substrate and is simultaneously heated and pressed in a pressing direction parallel to a thickness of the film so as to sinter and densify the precursor powder to form the film in a sinter forging area. Notably, in a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction, there are no lateral constraints on the sinter forging area or the material received therein.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of electrodeposition using pulsed currents to improve the uniformity of electrodeposited materials at solid-solid interfaces. It has been demonstrated that films of electrodeposited metals can be robustly deposited at a solid-solid interface without damage to the solid-electrolyte. Furthermore, the effects of the pulse parameters, including current density, pulse width, and duty cycle have shown to have dramatic effects on the spatial distribution of the electrodeposited metal. This methodology can aid in the manufacturing of thin films and microscopic structures for application in advanced functional materials and electrochemical devices. In one embodiment, the method provides for anode-free manufacturing in which a battery is fabricated in the discharged state, with a bare current collector replacing the conventional anode, and a metal anode is then formed electrochemically on the first charge cycle by electroplating a metal contained within the cathode.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium metal batteries including these electrodes and solid state electrolytes. In one embodiment, a method for forming an electrochemical device is disclosed in which a precursor electrolyte is heated to remove at least a portion of a resistive surface region of the precursor electrolyte.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices and methods for making electrochemical devices such as metal infiltrated electrodes for solid state lithium ion and lithium metal batteries. In one method for forming an electrode, a metal is infiltrated into the pore space of the active material of the electrode providing improved electronic conductivity to the electrode. The electrode may also include a solid-state ion conducting material providing improved ion conductivity to the electrode. Before infiltration of the metal, a stabilization coating may be applied to the active material and/or the solid-state ion conducting material to the stabilize electrode interfaces by slowing, but not eliminating, the chemical reactions that occur at elevated temperatures during sintering of the active material and/or the solid-state ion conducting material forming the electrode.

Abstract: An anode for a lithium ion battery is disclosed includes a first major face, a second major face that, together with the first major face, defines a thickness of the anode, and at least one carbonaceous electrochemically active lithium host material distributed between the first and second major faces of the anode. The at least one carbonaceous electrochemically active lithium host material is selected from the group consisting of graphite, hard carbon, or a blend of graphite and hard carbon. The anode additionally defines a plurality of vertical channels extending at least partially through the thickness of the anode. A lithium-ion batter that includes the disclosed anode and a method of charging a lithium-ion battery that includes the disclosed anode are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for forming solid-state electrolytes, electrodes, current collectors, and/or conductive additives used in solid-state batteries. In one version, the method includes depositing a stabilization coating on a powdered electrolyte material, or a powdered electrode material, or a powdered conductive additive material and forming a slurry comprising the coated material. The slurry is then cast on a surface to form a layer, and the layer is sintered to form a solid state electrolyte, or an electrode, or an electrode having the conductive additive.

Abstract: An article for forming an electrochemical device is disclosed. The article comprises a metallic current collector clad with an ion conducting solid-electrolyte material such that intimate contact between the current collector and the ion conducting solid-electrolyte material is made. A lithium metal anode can be formed in situ between the current collector clad and the ion conducting solid-electrolyte material from lithium ions contained within a cathode material that is placed in contact with the ion conducting solid-electrolyte material. A bipolar electrochemical cell can be constructed from the article.

Abstract: Disclosed are electrochemical devices, such as lithium battery electrodes, lithium ion conducting solid-state electrolytes, and solid-state lithium metal batteries including these electrodes and solid-state electrolytes. In one disclosed method, a solid state electrolyte material including a precursor layer having a first electronic conductivity is provided; and the precursor layer on the solid state electrolyte material is reduced to an interfacial layer having a second electronic conductivity greater than the first electronic conductivity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic material having a formula of LiwAxM2Re3-yOz, wherein w is 5-7.5; wherein A is selected from B, Al, Ga, In, Zn, Cd, Y, Sc, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and any combination thereof; wherein x is 0-2; wherein M is selected from Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Sn, Ge, Si, Sb, Se, Te, and any combination thereof; wherein Re is selected from lanthanide elements, actinide elements, and any combination thereof; wherein y is 0.01-0.75; wherein z is 10.875-13.125; and wherein the material has a garnet-type or garnet-like crystal structure. The ceramic garnet based material is ionically conducting and can be used as a solid state electrolyte for an electrochemical device such as a battery or supercapacitor.