Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium-ion battery includes a primary lithium salt and a solvent composition. In some implementations, the solvent composition includes fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), at least one linear ester, and at least one branched ester. In some implementations, a mole fraction of the FEC in the electrolyte is in a range of about 2 mol. % to about 30 mol. %, a total mole fraction of the at least one linear ester and the at least one branched ester in the electrolyte is at least about 45 mol. %, a molar ratio of the at least one linear ester to the at least one branched esters is in a range of about 1:10 to about 20:1, and the electrolyte is substantially free of four-carbon cyclic carbonates. Lithium-ion batteries employing such electrolytes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solid state electrolyte material including a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material including a decontaminated surface thickness. The decontaminated surface thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm. The decontaminated surface thickness may be greater than or equal to 1 nm. The decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material may be selected from the group consisting of Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), Li5La3Ta2O12 (LLTO), Li6La2CaTa2O12 (LLCTO), Li6La2ANb2O12 (A is Ca or Sr), Li1+xAlxGe2-x(PO4)3 (LAGP), Li14Al0.4(Ge2-xTix)1.6(PO4)3 (LAGTP), perovskite Li3xLa2/3-xTiO3 (LLTO), Li0.8La0.6Zr2(PO4)3 (LLZP), Li1+xTi2-xAlx(PO4)3 (LTAP), Li1+x+yTi2-xAlxSiy(PO4)3-y (LTASP), LiTixZr2-x(PO4)3 (LTZP), Li2Nd3TeSbO12 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A solid state electrolyte material including a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material including a decontaminated surface thickness. The decontaminated surface thickness is less than or equal to 5 nm. The decontaminated surface thickness may be greater than or equal to 1 nm. The decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material may be selected from the group consisting of Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO), Li5La3Ta2O12 (LLTO), Li6La2CaTa2O12 (LLCTO), Li6La2ANb2O12 (A is Ca or Sr), Li1+xAlxGe2-x(PO4)3 (LAGP), Li14Al0.4(Ge2-xTix)1.6(PO4)3 (LAGTP), perovskite Li3xLa2/3-xTiO3 (LLTO), Li0.8La0.6Zr2(PO4)3 (LLZP), Li1+xTi2-xAlx(PO4)3 (LTAP), Li1+x+yTi2-xAlxSiy(PO4)3-y (LTASP), LiTixZr2-x(PO4)3 (LTZP), Li2Nd3TeSbO12 and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating a lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method includes soaking the lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a first thickness of surface contaminants in a first organic solvent containing an inorganic salt at an inorganic salt concentration to obtain a soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method further includes rinsing the soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material in a second organic solvent to obtain a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a second thickness of surface contaminants less than the first thickness of surface contaminants.

Abstract: Solid electrolytes have a favorable combination of properties such as high conductivity, high transference number, optimum processability, and low brittleness. A composite electrolyte includes some amount of a class of network polymer electrolytes with high transference number and high room temperature conductivity, and an additional polymeric component to contribute mechanical integrity and/or processability. The solid electrolytes can include a network polymer having linked nodes composed of a tetrahedral arylborate composition and a linear polymer combined with the network polymer as a composite. The solid electrolytes can be used in thin films and in solid-state batteries.

Abstract: A method of decontaminating a lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method includes soaking the lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a first thickness of surface contaminants in a first organic solvent containing an inorganic salt at an inorganic salt concentration to obtain a soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material. The method further includes rinsing the soaked lithium conducting ceramic oxide material in a second organic solvent to obtain a decontaminated lithium conducting ceramic oxide material having a second thickness of surface contaminants less than the first thickness of surface contaminants.

Abstract: An electrode configuration for a battery cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a low counter-ion permeability layer interposed between the separator and the positive electrode. The separator has a first permeability to counter-ions, which do not participate in the battery electrode reactions, and the low counter-ion permeability layer has a second permeability to the counter-ions that is less than the first permeability. The separator includes a first salt concentration adjacent to the low counter-ion permeability layer and a second salt concentration adjacent to the negative electrode, and the second salt concentration is greater than the first salt concentration.

Abstract: Solid electrolytes have a favorable combination of properties such as high conductivity, high transference number, optimum processability, and low brittleness. A composite electrolyte includes some amount of a class of network polymer electrolytes with high transference number and high room temperature conductivity, and an additional polymeric component to contribute mechanical integrity and/or processability. The solid electrolytes can include a network polymer having linked nodes composed of a tetrahedral arylborate composition and a linear polymer combined with the network polymer as a composite. The solid electrolytes can be used in thin films and in solid-state batteries.

Abstract: An electrode configuration for a battery cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a low counter-ion permeability layer interposed between the separator and the positive electrode. The separator has a first permeability to counter-ions, which do not participate in the battery electrode reactions, and the low counter-ion permeability layer has a second permeability to the counter-ions that is less than the first permeability. The separator includes a first salt concentration adjacent to the low counter-ion permeability layer and a second salt concentration adjacent to the negative electrode, and the second salt concentration is greater than the first salt concentration.