Abstract: The presently disclosed concepts relate to ultra-efficient EV battery recycling systems. Alkali metal extraction (and in particular lithium extraction) is accomplished using a solid electrolyte membrane. By using a solid electrolyte embedded in a matrix, alkali metals, in particular lithium, can be (energy-wise) efficiently separated from feed solutions. The energy used to initially extract lithium from a feed solution is stored as electrochemical energy, which electrochemical energy is reclaimed in subsequent extraction processing steps. This energy storage and energy reclamation is performed in continuous ultra-efficient ongoing cycles. Since irrecoverable energy losses incurred in each cycle are limited to negligible amounts of joule heating of the system components and feed solution, the system can be sustainably powered using locally-generated renewable energy.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur cylindrical cell. The cell includes a cylindrical shell defining an inner volume, and a jelly roll disposed within the inner volume. The jelly roll includes an anode comprising lithium, where the anode is configured as a freestanding assembly. Additionally, the jelly roll comprises a cathode comprising sulfur. Further, the jelly roll comprises a first separator between a first side of the anode and a first side of the cathode. In cylindrical cell formats, the jelly roll comprises a windable second separator. As the jelly roll is wound, the second separator may come in direct contact with both a second side of the anode and with a second side of the cathode. Alternatively, as the jelly roll is wound, the second separator may come in direct contact with the second side of the anode and with a cathode current collector.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur cylindrical cell. The cell includes a cylindrical shell defining an inner volume, and a jelly roll disposed within the inner volume. The jelly roll includes an anode comprising lithium, where the anode is configured as a freestanding assembly. Additionally, the jelly roll comprises a cathode comprising sulfur. Further, the jelly roll comprises a first separator between a first side of the anode and a first side of the cathode. In cylindrical cell formats, the jelly roll comprises a windable second separator. As the jelly roll is wound, the second separator may come in direct contact with both a second side of the anode and with a second side of the cathode. Alternatively, as the jelly roll is wound, the second separator may come in direct contact with the second side of the anode and with a cathode current collector.

Abstract: The presently disclosed concepts relate to ultra-efficient EV battery recycling systems. Alkali metal extraction (and in particular lithium extraction) is accomplished using a solid electrolyte membrane. By using a solid electrolyte embedded in a matrix, alkali metals, in particular lithium can be (energy-wise) efficiently separated from feed solutions. The energy used to initially extract lithium from a feed solution is stored as electrochemical energy, which electrochemical energy is reclaimed in subsequent extraction processing steps. This energy storage and energy reclamation is performed in continuous ultra-efficient ongoing cycles. Since irrecoverable energy losses incurred in each cycle are limited to negligible amounts of joule heating of the system components and feed solution, the system can be sustainably powered using locally-generated renewable energy.

Abstract: The presently disclosed concepts relate to improved techniques for alkali metal extraction (and in particular lithium), using a solid electrolyte membrane. By using a solid electrolyte embedded in a matrix, alkali metal (such as lithium) can be more effectively separated from feed solutions. Additionally, energy used to initially extract lithium from a feed solution may be stored as electrochemical energy, which in turn, may be discharged when lithium is depleted from the electrode. This discharged energy may therefore be reclaimed and reused to extract additional lithium.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards the cathode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium-sulfur battery in a cylindrical cell format is provided. In some aspects, the method includes providing an anode current collector and providing an anode on the anode current collector. The method may include depositing a protective layer on and along the length of the anode, providing a cathode current collector opposite to the anode, and providing a cathode on the cathode current collector. The method may include providing a separator between the anode and the cathode, disposing an adhesive carbon-containing layer along the bottom edge of the anode (e.g., to replace one or more conventional anode tabs), and dispersing an electrolyte throughout the lithium-sulfur battery. The method may include forming the lithium-sulfur battery in the cylindrical cell format by collectively winding into a jelly roll.

Abstract: A lithium-sulfur battery including an anode, a cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte is provided. The lithium-sulfur battery may be formed as a jelly roll. The anode may output lithium cations (Li+) and a solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) may be formed on the anode. A protective layer may be formed at least partially within and on the SEI. In addition, the protective layer may be positioned proximal to the anode and include wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets and fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates. For example, multiple wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets may be adjoined to one another by flexure points, where each flexure point may provide exposed carbon atoms. In this way, the fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates may be grafted onto at least some exposed carbon atoms. At least some fluorinated poly(meth)acrylates may be compatible with polymerization and cross-linking with one another responsive to exposure to one or more of free-radical initiators or an ultraviolet (UV) energetic environment.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a battery including a cathode, an anode positioned opposite the cathode and a carbon interface layer. The carbon interface layer includes an electrically insulating flaky carbon layer conformally encapsulating the anode. A plurality of carbon nano-onions (CNOs) defining a plurality of interstitial pore volumes are interspersed throughout the electrically insulating flaky carbon layer. An electrolyte is in contact with the carbon interface layer and the cathode. A separator is positioned between the anode and the cathode. The electrically insulating flaky carbon layer can include graphene oxide (GO). The plurality of interstitial pore volumes can be configured to transport lithium (Li) ions between the anode and the cathode via the plurality of interstitial pore volumes in a bulk phase of the electrolyte. The carbon interface layer can be configured to inhibit growth of Li dendritic structures from the anode towards 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: A lithium-sulfur battery may include a cathode, an anode structure positioned opposite to the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte. In some instances, the anode structure may include an artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (A-SEI) that may form on and within the anode structure. A protective layer may form within and on the A-SEI, and may include exposed carbon surfaces formed by coalescence of several wrinkled graphene nanoplatelets with one another. Metal-containing substances may be decorated on and/or attached with at least some exposed carbon surfaces and regulate flow of lithium (Li+) cations within the lithium-sulfur battery and correspondingly moderate one or more of a plating rate or a de-plating rate of lithium onto the anode structure. The separator may be positioned between the anode structure and the cathode. The electrolyte may be dispersed throughout the cathode and in contact with the anode structure.

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 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: 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 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 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.