Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium ion battery includes a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and a lithium salt dissolved in the organic solvent. The organic solvent includes a cyclic carbonate, an acyclic carbonate, and an acyclic fluorinated ether for improved low temperature and high voltage performance as well as enhanced thermostability. The ether group has a general formula of R1—O—[R3—O]n—R2, where n=0 or 1, R1 and R2 are each straight-chain C1-C6 fluoroalkyl groups, and, when n=1, R3 is a methylene group or a polyethylene group.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode includes a positive electroactive material. The positive electroactive material includes a phospho-olivine compound. The negative electrode includes lithium metal. The separator is between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator is electrically insulating and ionically conductive. The electrolyte includes a ternary salt and a solvent. The ternary salt includes LiPF6, LiFSI, and LiClO4.

Abstract: An electrode precursor or slurry according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a blended electroactive material and a binder solution. The blended electroactive material includes a first electroactive material and a second electroactive material. The first electroactive material includes nickel. The first electroactive material is selected from the group consisting of LiNixCoyMnzO2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNixCoyAlzO2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNixCoyMnzAl?O2 where x is greater than 0.6, or any combination thereof. The second electroactive material includes a phosphor-olivine compound at less than or equal to about 30 weight percent of the blended electroactive material. The binder solution including a polymeric binder and a solvent including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a high-nickel-content positive electrode formed from the slurry.

Abstract: A battery system includes an enclosure having opposed first and second major walls, a perimetral wall connecting the first and second major walls along respective perimeters thereof, and an interior defined by the first and second major walls and the perimetral wall, wherein the enclosure is configured for containing an anode assembly, a cathode assembly and an electrolyte within the interior. A longitudinal embossment is formed in the perimetral wall extending outward from the interior and extending along opposed adjacent portions of the first and second perimeters. A wall port is defined in the perimetral wall in fluid communication with the interior, wherein the wall port is configured for permitting flow of the electrolyte therethrough into and out of the interior. First and second electrodes extend through the perimetral wall and are configured for electrical connection with the anode assembly and cathode assembly, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to electrolyte systems and/or separators for electrochemical cells that cycle lithium ions and which may have lithium metal electrodes. The electrochemical cell includes a liquid electrolyte system that fills voids and pores within the electrochemical cell. The electrolyte system includes two or more lithium salts and two or more solvents. The two or more lithium salts include bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiN(FSO2)2) (LIFSI) and lithium perchlorate (LiClO4). The two or more solvents include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may be a fluorinated cyclic carbonate. The second solvent may be a linear carbonate. A volumetric ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be 1:4. The electrochemical cell may include a surface-modified separator that has one or more coatings or fillers.

Abstract: Presented are electrochemical devices with copper-free electrodes, methods for making/using such devices, and lithium alloy-based electrode tabs and current collectors for rechargeable lithium-class battery cells. A method of manufacturing copper-free electrodes includes feeding an aluminum workpiece, such as a strip of aluminum sheet metal, into a masking device. The masking device then applies a series of dielectric masks, such as strips of epoxy resin or dielectric tape, onto discrete areas of the workpiece to form a masked aluminum workpiece with masked areas interleaved with unmasked areas. The masked workpiece is then fed into an electrolytic anodizing solution, such as sulfuric acid, to form an anodized aluminum workpiece with anodized surface sections on the unmasked areas interleaved with un-anodized surface sections underneath the dielectric masks of the masked areas.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprising an alkali metal negative electrode layer physically and chemically bonded to a surface of a negative electrode current collector via an intermediate metal chalcogenide layer. The intermediate metal chalcogenide layer may comprise a metal oxide, a metal sulfide, a metal selenide, or a combination thereof. The intermediate metal chalcogenide layer may be formed on the surface of the negative electrode current collector by exposing the surface to a chalcogen or a chalcogen donor compound. Then, the alkali metal negative electrode layer may be formed on the surface of the negative electrode current collector over the intermediate metal chalcogenide layer by contacting at least a portion of the metal chalcogenide layer with a source of sodium or potassium to form a layer of sodium or potassium on the surface of the negative electrode current collector over the metal chalcogenide layer.

Abstract: A positive electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery may include an aluminum metal substrate and a protective layer disposed on a major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The protective layer may include a conformal aluminum fluoride coating layer. A positive electrode active material layer may overlie the protective layer on the major surface of the aluminum metal substrate. The positive electrode active material layer may include a plurality of interconnected pores, which may be infiltrated with a nonaqueous electrolyte that includes a lithium imide salt.

Abstract: An electrode includes a domain material present in an amount of from about 90 to about 95 weight percent based on a total weight of the electrode. The domain material includes a component that has the formula: xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiNiaMnbCo(1-a-b)O2, wherein x is greater than 0 and less than 1 and each of a and b is independently from about 0.1 to about 0.9 and the component is present in an amount of from about 50 to about 90 weight percent based on a total weight of the domain material. The domain material also includes an additive component having the formula LiFe1-yMnyPO4, wherein y is greater than 0 and less than 1, wherein the additive component is present in an amount of from about 10 to about 50 weight percent based on a total weight of the domain material. The electrode itself further includes a carbonaceous material and a binder.

Abstract: Solvent-free methods of making a component, like an electrode, for an electrochemical cell are provided. A particle mixture is processed in a dry-coating device having a rotatable vessel defining a cavity with a rotor. The rotatable vessel is rotated at a first speed in a first direction and the rotor at a second speed in a second opposite direction. The particle mixture includes first inorganic particles (e.g., electroactive particles), second inorganic particles (e.g., ceramic HF scavenging particles), and third particles (e.g., electrically conductive carbon-containing particles). The dry coating creates coated particles each having a surface coating (including second inorganic particles and third particles) disposed over a core region (the first inorganic particle). The coated particles are mixed with polymeric particles in a planetary and centrifugal mixer that rotates about a first axis and revolves about a second axis. The polymeric particles surround each of the plurality of coated particles.

Abstract: A negative electrode according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a negative electroactive material and a layer. The negative electroactive material includes a lithium-aluminum alloy. The layer is disposed directly on at least a portion of the negative electroactive material and coupled to the negative electroactive material. The layer includes anodic aluminum oxide and has a plurality of pores. The present disclosure also provides an electrochemical cell including the negative electrode. In certain aspects, the negative electroactive material is electrically conductive and functions as a negative electrode current collector such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct negative electrode current collector component. In certain aspects, the layer is ionically conductive and electrically insulating and functions as a separator such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct separator component.

Abstract: A non-aqueous solvent composition for a lithium battery comprises a fluorinated solvent mixture that consists essentially of a 1,2-difluoroethylene carbonate and a fluoro-substituted dialkyl carbonate in a respective weight ratio of about 1:3 to about 1:1, and optionally up to about 30 wt % of an additional organic solvent. An electrolyte for a lithium ion battery comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a non-aqueous solvent composition comprising the fluorinated solvent mixture.

Abstract: An electrolyte, electrochemical device, battery, capacitor, and/or the like include a salt; and a fluorinated organosulfate compound represented by Formula I: wherein, R1 is H, OR3, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, or silyl; R2 is H, OR3, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aralkyl, or silyl; and R3 is H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, or siloxy; or where R1 and R2 join together to form a cyclic compound incorporating the —O—S(O)2—O— group; wherein at least one R1 and R2 is fluorinated.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrode having a loading density of greater than or equal to about 4.0 mAh/cm2. The electrolyte system may include greater than or equal to about 1.0 M to less than or equal to about 1.5 M of lithium fluorosulfonylimide (LiN(FSO2)2) (LiFSI); less than or equal to about 0.5 M of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6); and one or more solvents comprising ethylene carbonate (EC), where the electrolyte includes less than or equal to about 30 wt. % of ethylene carbonate (EC). The electrolyte system may also include one or more electrolyte additives selected from corrosion-resistant additives, formation additives, and stabilizer additives. The formation additives and/or stabilizer additive may assist in the formation and maintenance of a solid electrolyte interface layer on one or more surfaces of the graphite-containing electrode.

Abstract: A method for preparing an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided. The method includes lithiating an electroactive material using a first electrolyte and contacting the lithiated electroactive material and a second electrolyte to form the electrochemical cell. Lithiating the electroactive material includes contacting the electroactive material and a first electrolyte to form a pretreated electroactive material; contacting a lithium source and the pretreated electroactive material; and applying a pressure to the lithium source and the pretreated electroactive material so as to form a lithiated electroactive material. The first electrolyte includes greater than or equal to about 10 wt. % to less than or equal to about 50 wt. % of one or more solvents selected, including for example, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). The second electrolyte includes less than or equal to about 5 wt. % of cyclic carbonates and, in certain aspects, one or more electrolyte additives.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing sulfur electrodes include providing an electrode, wherein the electrode includes a current collector having a first surface, and a sulfur-based host material applied to the first surface of the current collector, wherein the sulfur-based host material comprises one or more sulfur compounds, one or more electrically conductive carbon materials, and one or more binders. The methods further include forming a plurality of channels within the sulfur-based host material using a laser or electron beam, wherein the plurality of channels define a plurality of host material columns, each column having one or more exterior surfaces contiguous which one or more of the channels which extend outward from the first surface of the current collector. Each of the one or more exterior surfaces can define a heat affected zone comprising a higher concentration of sulfur than the host material column prior to forming the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte comprising a salt, a non-aqueous solvent, and a compound of Formula (I), (II), or (III), where E is —S(O)— or S(O)2—:

Abstract: An electrochemic device includes an electrolyte that includes a compound according to Formula (I):

Abstract: A negative electrode according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a negative electroactive material and a layer. The negative electroactive material includes a lithium-aluminum alloy. The layer is disposed directly on at least a portion of the negative electroactive material and coupled to the negative electroactive material. The layer includes anodic aluminum oxide and has a plurality of pores. The present disclosure also provides an electrochemical cell including the negative electrode. In certain aspects, the negative electroactive material is electrically conductive and functions as a negative electrode current collector such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct negative electrode current collector component. In certain aspects, the layer is ionically conductive and electrically insulating and functions as a separator such that the electrochemical cell is free of a distinct separator component.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a cathode active material, lithium metal, a separator, and an electrolyte including a lithium salt and a fluorinated glycol ether.