Abstract: Provided are compositions including one or more cyclic ether(s), one or more salt(s), which may be one or more lithium salt(s), one or more sodium salt(s), or a combination thereof, and, optionally, one or more ring-opening polymerization initiator(s). The compositions may be used to form solid-state electrolytes. Also provided are methods for forming solid-state electrolytes using the compositions and devices comprising one or more composition(s) or one or more solid-state electrolyte(s) using the compositions.

Abstract: Anodes and anode materials, methods of making anodes and anode materials, and devices. The anode and anode materials comprise an electrically conducting three-dimensional (3-D) matrix, for example, an electrically conducting 3-D carbon matrix or a metal foam, comprising a plurality of chemical bonding groups disposed on a surface of the electrically conducting 3-D matrix or metal foam. The chemical bonding groups can form chemical bond(s) with an electrochemically-deposited electrochemically active metal. The electrochemically-deposited electrochemically active metal can have desirable propert(ies), such as, for example, no observable discontinuities, isolated (orphaned) deposits, or both. An anode or anode material may be formed by functionalizing an electrically conducting 3-D matrix, which may be functionalized. A functionalized electrically conducting 3-D matrix may be formed in a device. A device, such as, for example,.

Abstract: Provided are passivation layers for batteries. The batteries may be aqueous aluminum batteries. The passivation layer may be disposed on a portion of or all of a surface or surfaces of an anode, which may be an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode. The passivation layer is bonded to the surface of the anode. The passivation layer may be an organic, nitrogen-rich material and inorganic Al-halide rich or Al-nitrate rich material. The passivation layer may be formed by contacting an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, which may be aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, with one or more aluminum halide and one or more ionic liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrode having a conformal polymer layer disposed thereon, wherein the conformal polymer layer has a thickness of 3 to 10,000 nm and includes: a polymer comprising one or more zwitterionic moieties; and/or fluorinated polymer. Also provided are energy storage devices comprising the inventive electrode, methods of preparing the electrode and the energy storage device, and further methods, including methods of enhancing conformality and/or elasticity of a conformal polymer layer on an electrode.

Abstract: Methods of making a textured metal or a textured metal layer, anodes, and devices. In various examples, a method comprises rolling a metal; and folding the rolled metal. In various examples, the rolling and folding are repeated a desired number of times. In various examples, the rolling(s) result(s) in severe plastic deformation (SPD) of the metal, anisotropic deformation(s), or alignment of the metal, or any combination thereof. In various examples, the metal comprises potassium, sodium, lithium, zinc, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, or the like, or any combination thereof. In various examples, an anode comprises a textured metal. In various examples, the textured metal epitaxially templates deposition of the reduced form of metal-ions of a metal ion-conducting electrochemical device. In various examples, a device, such as, for example, a battery (e.g., an ion-conducting battery), a supercapacitor, a fuel cell, an electrolyzer, or an electrolytic cell, comprises one or more of the anode(s).

Abstract: Conducting coatings disposed on a metal member. The conducting coatings may have a desired texture and provide homoepitaxial or heteroepitaxial coating of an electrodeposited layer. A conducting coating may be formed by applying a shear force during deposition of the conducting coating. The conducting coatings may be used in anodes of various electrochemical devices. A conducting coating, which may be part of an electrochemical device, may have an electrochemically deposited layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the conducting coating. The electrochemically deposited layer may be reversibly electrochemically deposited.

Abstract: In various examples, an anode, which may be for a metal ion-conducting electrochemical device, comprises a metal member; and a metal conducting coating, which may be an epitaxial (e.g., a homoepitaxial) metal conducing coating, disposed on at least a portion of the metal member (e.g., all portions of the metal member that would be or are in contact with the electrolyte of the metal ion-conducting electrochemical device). A metal conducting coating or an anode may be formed by electrodeposition in the presence of a field.

Abstract: Conducting coatings disposed on a metal member. The conducting coatings may have a desired texture and provide homoepitaxial or heteroepitaxial coating of an electrodeposited layer. A conducting coating may be formed by applying a shear force during deposition of the conducting coating. The conducting coatings may be used in anodes of various electrochemical devices. A conducting coating, which may be part of an electrochemical device, may have an electrochemically deposited layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the conducting coating. The electrochemically deposited layer may be reversibly electrochemically deposited.

Abstract: In various examples, a functionalized cross-linked polymer network includes a plurality of cross-linked multifunctional trione triazine groups, a plurality of disulfide groups, a plurality of cross-linked multifunctional ether groups, a plurality of cross-linked multifunctional polyether groups, or a combination thereof, a plurality of crosslinking multifunctional polyether groups, and a plurality of dangling groups, where individual cross-linked multifunctional trione triazine groups and/or cross-linked multifunctional disulfide groups and/or cross-linked multifunctional ether groups and/or cross-linked multifunctional polyether groups and individual crosslinking multifunctional polyether groups are connected by one or more covalent bond(s) and individual dangling groups may be connected to the network by a covalent bond. At least a portion of or all of the dangling groups may be halogenated. A functionalized cross-linked polymer network may be made by polymerization (e.g.

Abstract: Hybrid electrodes for batteries are disclosed having a protective electrochemically active layer on a metal layer. Other hybrid electrodes include a silicon salt on a metal electrode. The protective layer can be formed directly from the reaction between the metal electrode and a metal salt in a pre-treatment solution and/or from a reaction of the metal salt added in an electrolyte so that the protective layer can be formed in situ during battery formation cycles.

Abstract: Systems and methods to upgrade a feedstock include a metal/oxygen electrochemical cell having a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte in which the cell is configured to produce superoxide. The superoxide can react or complex with a feedstock to upgrade the feedstock.

Abstract: Solid-polymer electrolytes, methods of making solid-polymer electrolytes, and uses of solid-polymer electrolytes. A solid-polymer electrolyte comprises a cross-linked polymer network. A cross-linked polymer network may comprise a plurality of groups, which may be cross-linked groups, such as, for example, cross-linked difunctional polyether groups, cross-linked difunctional ionic groups, non-crosslinked groups, which may be referred to as “dangling” groups, or a combination thereof, and a plurality of cross-linked multifunctional crosslinker groups. A solid polymer electrolyte can be formed by polymerization. A solid polymer electrolyte can be formed in situ in a device. A solid polymer electrolyte can be used in devices such as, for example, batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, and the like.

Abstract: A sodium-ion conducting (e.g., sodium-sulfur) battery, which can be rechargeable, comprising a microporous host-sulfur composite cathode as described herein or a liquid electrolyte comprising a liquid electrolyte solvent and a liquid electrolyte salt or electrolyte additive as described herein or a combination thereof. The batteries can be used in devices such as, for example, battery packs.

Abstract: Conducting coatings disposed on a metal member. The conducting coatings may have a desired texture and provide homoepitaxial or heteroepitaxial coating of an electrodeposited layer. A conducting coating may be formed by applying a shear force during deposition of the conducting coating. The conducting coatings may be used in anodes of various electrochemical devices. A conducting coating, which may be part of an electrochemical device, may have an electrochemically deposited layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the conducting coating. The electrochemically deposited layer may be reversibly electrochemically deposited.

Abstract: Organized materials on a substrate. The organized materials are monolayer(s) of close-packed nanoparticles and/or microparticles. The organized materials can be formed by transfer of one or more monolayers to a substrate from a coating composition on which a monolayer of close-packed nanoparticles and/or microparticles is formed. Organized materials on a substrate can be used in devices such as, for example, batteries, capacitors, and wearable electronics.

Abstract: Provided are compositions including one or more cyclic ether(s), one or more salt(s), which may be one or more lithium salt(s), one or more sodium salt(s), or a combination thereof, and, optionally, one or more ring-opening polymerization initiator(s). The compositions may be used to form solid-state electrolytes. Also provided are methods for forming solid-state electrolytes using the compositions and devices comprising one or more composition(s) or one or more solid-state electrolyte(s) using the compositions.

Abstract: Provided are passivation layers for batteries. The batteries may be aqueous aluminum batteries. The passivation layer may be disposed on a portion of or all of a surface or surfaces of an anode, which may be an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode. The passivation layer is bonded to the surface of the anode. The passivation layer may be an organic, nitrogen-rich material and inorganic Al-halide rich or Al-nitrate rich material. The passivation layer may be formed by contacting an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, which may be aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, with one or more aluminum halide and one or more ionic liquid.

Abstract: Rechargeable batteries are disclosed having a protective membrane layer on surfaces of an electrode such as cathode active material. Such membranes include anionically charged groups and include an anionic membrane or a zwitterionic membrane. Such membranes can minimize contact of electrolyte to the surfaces of the active materials of the cathode where oxidation of electrolyte typically occurs thus promoting thermal stability of the electrolyte especially for high voltage batteries.

Abstract: Rechargeable metal batteries are disclosed having a protective ionic membrane layer on a metal anode. The ionic membrane can be formed from ionomers in the electrolyte including polymerizable ionic liquid monomers or halogenated alkyl anion salts. Such ionic membranes can continuously supply ions near the anode electrode and stabilize the anode metal electrode.

Abstract: Hybrid materials and nanocomposite materials, methods of making and using such materials. The nanoparticles of the nanocomposite are formed in situ during pyrolysis of a hybrid material comprising metal precursor compounds. The nanoparticles are uniformly distributed in the carbon matrix of the nanocomposite. The nanocomposite materials can be used in devices such as, for example, electrodes and on-chip inductors.