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.

Abstract: A metal-based battery includes at least one metal electrode immersed within an electrolyte that includes: (1) an aprotic solvent; (2) a simple halogen containing material; and (3) optionally a metal salt that includes a complex halogen containing anion. The simple halogen containing material may include a metal halide salt that includes a metal cation selected from the group including but not limited to lithium and sodium metal cations. The metal halide salt may also include a halide anion selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide halide anions. The use of the metal halide salt within the metal-based battery provides enhanced cycling ability within the metal-based battery. Also contemplated are additional simple halogen containing material additives that may enhance cycling performance of a metal-based battery.

Abstract: A cross-linked polymeric material is formed by polymerizing a polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate and a sulfonate salt containing a double bond that facilitates covalent bonding of the sulfonate salt to the polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate. In the polymeric material, cations from the salt are optionally replaced with metal ions selected from sodium, lithium, aluminum, magnesium, and zinc. Related methods and membranes and batteries including the cross-linked polymeric material are also provided.

Abstract: Sulfur containing nanoparticles that may be used within cathode electrodes within lithium ion batteries include in a first instance porous carbon shape materials (i.e., either nanoparticle shapes or “bulk” shapes that are subsequently ground to nanoparticle shapes) that are infused with a sulfur material. A synthetic route to these carbon and sulfur containing nanoparticles may use a template nanoparticle to form a hollow carbon shape shell, and subsequent dissolution of the template nanoparticle prior to infusion of the hollow carbon shape shell with a sulfur material. Sulfur infusion into other porous carbon shapes that are not hollow is also contemplated. A second type of sulfur containing nanoparticle includes a metal oxide material core upon which is located a shell layer that includes a vulcanized polymultiene polymer material and ion conducting polymer material. The foregoing sulfur containing nanoparticle materials provide the electrodes and lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance.

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.