Abstract: Provided are flexible multi-battery assemblies and methods of manufacturing these assemblies. In some examples, a flexible multi-battery assembly comprises a first current collector, parsed into a first plurality of current collector portions such that each portion contacts one of a plurality of electrochemically active stacks. The second current collector may be continuous (e.g., to provide support to the electrochemically active stacks) or similarly parsed into a second plurality of current collector portions. Each electrochemically active stack forms one of flexible electrochemical cells in the flexible multi-battery assembly. Furthermore, at least one outer surface of the first current collector or the second outer surface is fully exposed, e.g., to allow forming electrical and mechanical connections directly to one or both current collectors. In some examples, an insulator layer covers a non-exposed surface of the other current collector.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells, comprising water-retaining components, and methods of fabricating such electrochemical cells. A water-retaining component is configured to deliver water to the positive active material during the operation of the electrochemical cell. The water-retaining component may be a part of the positive active material layer, a part of the electrolyte layer, and/or a standalone component. In some examples, the water-retaining component comprises one or more crystal hydrates (e.g., MgSO4, MgCl2, Na2SO4, Na2HPO4, CuSO4, CaCl2, KAl(SO4)2, and Mg(NO3)2), one or more water-retaining polymers (e.g., sodium polyacrylate, potassium polyacrylate, ammonium polyacrylate, and a cellulose derivative), one or more inorganic compounds (e.g., fumed silica, precipitated silica). In some examples, a method of forming an electrochemical cell comprises printing a positive active material layer, a negative active material layer, and an electrolyte layer, e.g.

Abstract: Provided are printed electrochemical cells, which utilize zinc salts for ionic transfer, and methods of fabricating such cells. In some examples, a printed electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode with a positive current collector having a two-dimensional shape and comprising an electrolyte-facing surface formed by the graphite. For example, the positive current collector may be a graphite foil or an aluminum foil with a graphite coating. The cell also comprises electrolyte comprising an electrolyte salt and an electrolyte solvent. For example, the electrolyte salt comprises a zinc salt with a concentration of at least 30% by weight in the electrolyte. The cell is fabricated by printing a positive active material layer over the positive current collector, printing one or more electrolyte layers on various cell components, and laminating a separator layer between the positive and negative electrodes while soaking the separator layer with the electrolyte.

Abstract: Provided are electronic circuits, comprising electrochemical cells directly integrated with other devices of the circuits, and methods of manufacturing these circuits. The direct integration occurs during cell manufacturing, which allows sharing components, reducing operation steps and failure points, and reducing cost and size of the circuits. For example, a portion of a cell enclosure may be formed by a circuit board, providing direct mechanical integration. More specifically, the cell is fabricated right on the circuit board. In the same or other examples, one or both cell current collectors extend outside of the cell boundary and used by other devices, providing direct electrical integration without a need for intermediate connections and eliminating additional failure points.

Abstract: Provided are electronic circuits, comprising electrochemical cells directly integrated with other devices of the circuits, and methods of manufacturing these circuits. The direct integration occurs during cell manufacturing, which allows sharing components, reducing operation steps and failure points, and reducing cost and size of the circuits. For example, a portion of a cell enclosure may be formed by a circuit board, providing direct mechanical integration. More specifically, the cell is fabricated right on the circuit board. In the same or other examples, one or both cell current collectors extend outside of the cell boundary and used by other devices, providing direct electrical integration without a need for intermediate connections and eliminating additional failure points.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells and methods of manufacturing these cells. An electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode and an electrolyte layer, printed over the positive electrode. In some examples, each of the positive electrode, electrolyte layer, and negative electrode comprises an ionic liquid enabling ionic transfer. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material layer (e.g., comprising zinc), printed over and directly interfacing the electrolyte layer. The negative electrode also comprises a negative current collector (e.g., copper foil) and a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer is disposed between and adhered to, directly interfaces, and provides electronic conductivity between the negative active material layer and the negative current collector. In some examples, the conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises carbon and/or metal particles (e.g., nickel, copper, indium, and/or silver).

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells and methods of manufacturing these cells. An electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode and an electrolyte layer, printed over the positive electrode. In some examples, each of the positive electrode, electrolyte layer, and negative electrode comprises an ionic liquid enabling ionic transfer. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material layer (e.g., comprising zinc), printed over and directly interfacing the electrolyte layer. The negative electrode also comprises a negative current collector (e.g., copper foil) and a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer is disposed between and adhered to, directly interfaces, and provides electronic conductivity between the negative active material layer and the negative current collector. In some examples, the conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises carbon and/or metal particles (e.g., nickel, copper, indium, and/or silver).

Abstract: Provided are electronic circuits, comprising electrochemical cells directly integrated with other devices of the circuits, and methods of manufacturing these circuits. The direct integration occurs during cell manufacturing, which allows sharing components, reducing operation steps and failure points, and reducing cost and size of the circuits. For example, a portion of a cell enclosure may be formed by a circuit board, providing direct mechanical integration. More specifically, the cell is fabricated right on the circuit board. In the same or other examples, one or both cell current collectors extend outside of the cell boundary and used by other devices, providing direct electrical integration without a need for intermediate connections and eliminating additional failure points.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemical cells and methods of manufacturing these cells. An electrochemical cell comprises a positive electrode and an electrolyte layer, printed over the positive electrode. In some examples, each of the positive electrode, electrolyte layer, and negative electrode comprises an ionic liquid enabling ionic transfer. The negative electrode comprises a negative active material layer (e.g., comprising zinc), printed over and directly interfacing the electrolyte layer. The negative electrode also comprises a negative current collector (e.g., copper foil) and a conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer. The conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer is disposed between and adhered to, directly interfaces, and provides electronic conductivity between the negative active material layer and the negative current collector. In some examples, the conductive pressure sensitive adhesive layer comprises carbon and/or metal particles (e.g., nickel, copper, indium, and/or silver).

Abstract: Electrochemical cells with a protective film that is permeable to hydrogen, or that include a catalyst that facilitates formation of mobile hydrogen species, that promotes sequestration or gettering of hydrogen or oxygen, and/or that facilitates conversion of hydrogen or oxygen to H2O, are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an electrochemical cell including a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode including an elemental metal or metal alloy. The electrolyte includes an electrolyte salt, an ionic liquid, and an optional first polymer binder. The electrolyte and/or the anode further includes a protective metal salt in an amount sufficient to (i) reduce or eliminate hydrogen evolution or open circuit side reactions in the electrochemical cell, or (ii) plate out onto or alloy with the anode metal or conductive additives in the anode. The electrochemical cell may further include a first current collector in contact with the cathode, and a second current collector in contact with the anode. The second current collector may include a metal or metal alloy. In such cells, the second current collector may further include the protective metal salt, and the protective metal salt may plate out onto or alloy with the metal or metal alloy of the second current collector.

Abstract: Flexible electrical devices are provided that include a coated inner carbon nanotube electrode that has an exterior surface, an outer carbon nanotube electrode disposed on the exterior surface of the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode, and an overlap region in which the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode and the outer carbon nanotube electrode overlap one another, in which the device has a fiber-like geometry and first and second electrode ends. Methods are provided for fabricating an electrical component that includes a flexible electrical component having a fiber-like geometry and includes carbon nanotube electrodes.

Abstract: Electrochemical cells with a protective film that is permeable to hydrogen, or that include a catalyst that facilitates formation of mobile hydrogen species, that promotes sequestration or gettering of hydrogen or oxygen, and/or that facilitates conversion of hydrogen or oxygen to H2O, are disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an electrochemical cell including a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode including an elemental metal or metal alloy. The electrolyte includes an electrolyte salt, an ionic liquid, and an optional first polymer binder. The electrolyte and/or the anode further includes a protective metal salt in an amount sufficient to (i) reduce or eliminate hydrogen evolution or open circuit side reactions in the electrochemical cell, or (ii) plate out onto or alloy with the anode metal or conductive additives in the anode. The electrochemical cell may further include a first current collector in contact with the cathode, and a second current collector in contact with the anode. The second current collector may include a metal or metal alloy. In such cells, the second current collector may further include the protective metal salt, and the protective metal salt may plate out onto or alloy with the metal or metal alloy of the second current collector.

Abstract: Flexible electrical devices are provided that include a coated inner carbon nanotube electrode that has an exterior surface, an outer carbon nanotube electrode disposed on the exterior surface of the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode, and an overlap region in which the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode and the outer carbon nanotube electrode overlap one another, in which the device has a fiber-like geometry and first and second electrode ends. Methods are provided for fabricating an electrical component that includes a flexible electrical component having a fiber-like geometry and includes carbon nanotube electrodes.

Abstract: Flexible electrical devices are provided that include a coated inner carbon nanotube electrode that has an exterior surface, an outer carbon nanotube electrode disposed on the exterior surface of the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode, and an overlap region in which the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode and the outer carbon nanotube electrode overlap one another, in which the device has a fiber-like geometry and first and second electrode ends. Methods are provided for fabricating an electrical component that includes a flexible electrical component having a fiber-like geometry and includes carbon nanotube electrodes.

Abstract: Flexible electrical devices are provided that include a coated inner carbon nanotube electrode that has an exterior surface, an outer carbon nanotube electrode disposed on the exterior surface of the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode, and an overlap region in which the coated inner carbon nanotube electrode and the outer carbon nanotube electrode overlap one another, in which the device has a fiber-like geometry and first and second electrode ends. Methods are provided for fabricating an electrical component that includes a flexible electrical component having a fiber-like geometry and includes carbon nanotube electrodes.

Abstract: This disclosure provides improved composite materials and methods for making the composite materials. Specifically, binder-free composite materials have been developed that have a network of CNTs in which one or more types of particles or fibers is embedded. The composite materials may be made by filtering suspensions containing carbon nanotubes, particles or fibers of interest, or both carbon nanotubes and particles or fibers of interest. The particles may be silicon particles, activated carbon particles, particles of a lithium compound, any other particles, or a combination thereof. The composite materials have a large number of applications, including electrical devices.