Abstract: Methods of pretreating an electroactive material comprising lithium titanate oxide (LTO) include contacting a surface of the electroactive material with a pretreatment composition. In one variation, the pretreatment composition includes a salt of lithium fluoride salt selected from the group consisting of: lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), and combinations thereof, and a solvent. In another variation, the pretreatment composition includes an organophosphorus compound. In this manner, a protective surface coating forms on the surface of the electroactive material. The protective surface coating comprises fluorine, oxygen, phosphorus or boron, as well as optional elements such as carbon, hydrogen, and listed metals, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of forming a separator for a lithium-ion battery includes arranging a polymer film in contact with a sacrificial layer to form a cutting stack. The method includes disposing the cutting stack between a first vitreous substrate and a second vitreous substrate. The method includes applying an infrared laser to the cutting stack through the first vitreous substrate to generate heat at the sacrificial layer. The method also includes transferring heat from the sacrificial layer to the polymer film to thereby cut out a portion of the polymer film and form the separator. A method of cutting a polymer film and a cutting system are also explained.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium-ion electrochemical cell includes a current collector and a first layer formed from a first electrode composition disposed on the current collector. The first electrode composition includes a binder component; a conductive filler component dispersed within the binder component; and an active material component dispersed within the binder component and the conductive filler component. The first electrode composition has a first surface and a second surface spaced apart from and parallel to the first surface. The first electrode composition defines a plurality of pores between the first surface and the second surface having a tailored pore size distribution that includes at least a first pore size and a second pore size that is greater than the first pore size. The first electrode composition has a first porosity of at least 60%.

Abstract: Methods of making negative electrode materials for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions are provided. A surface of the electrode material formed of silicon, silicon-containing alloys, tin-containing alloys, or combinations thereof is treated with an oxidant at a first temperature of greater than or equal to about 100° C. to form a continuous intermediate layer comprising oxides. The method also includes pyrolyzing a carbon-containing precursor over the continuous intermediate layer at a second temperature of greater than or equal to about 600° C. to form a continuous carbon coating thereon. The intermediate layer oxides may be transformed to carbides. The continuous carbon coating comprises both graphitic carbon and amorphous carbon and may be a multilayered coating, where the inner layer predominantly includes amorphous carbon and the outer layer predominantly includes graphitic carbon.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a lithium metal battery may be manufactured by welding together a lithium metal layer and a metallic current collector layer. The lithium metal layer and the current collector layer may be arranged adjacent one another and in an at least partially lapped configuration such that faying surfaces of the layers confront one another and establish a faying interface therebetween at a weld site. A laser beam may be directed at an outer surface of the current collector layer at the weld site to melt a portion of the lithium metal layer adjacent the faying surface of the current collector layer and produce a lithium metal molten weld pool. The laser beam may be terminated to solidify the molten weld pool into a solid weld joint that physically bonds the lithium metal layer and the current collector layer together at the weld site.

Abstract: An electrode heat treatment device and associated method for fabricating an electrode are described, and include forming a workpiece, including coating a current collector with a slurry. The workpiece is placed on a first spool, and the first spool including the workpiece is placed in a sealable chamber, wherein the sealable chamber includes the first spool, a heat exchange work space, and a second spool. An inert environment is created in the sealable chamber. The workpiece is subjected to a multi-step continuous heat treatment operation in the inert environment, wherein the multi-step continuous heat treatment operation includes continuously transferring the workpiece through the heat exchange work space between the first spool and the second spool and controlling the heat exchange work space to an elevated temperature.

Abstract: Methods for pre-lithiating an electroactive material including a Group III element, Group IV element, a Group V element, or a combination thereof for an electrode for an electrochemical cell are provided as well as electrodes including the pre-lithiated electroactive material. The methods include reacting a lithiating agent including LiH or Li3N with the electroactive material to form a pre-lithiated electroactive material.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating electrodes include coating a current collector with a slurry and pyrolyzing the coated current collector to produce the electrode with a layer of silicon-based host material. The slurry can include one or more solvents and a dry fraction having silicon particles, one or more polymeric binders, and carbon fibers. Pyrolyzing includes heating at a first temperature, and subsequently heating at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. The silicon particles include single-phase silicon and/or Li2Si, have an average particle diameter of less than 10 ?m, and can be 70% of the dry fraction. The polymeric binders can be only polyacrylonitrile, or optionally one or more fluorinated polymers. The carbon fibers have an average diameter of at least about 50 nm, an average length of at least about 1 ?m, and can be up to 15 wt. % of the dry fraction.

Abstract: Methods for pre-lithiating an electroactive material including a Group III element, Group IV element, a Group V element, or a combination thereof for an electrode for an electrochemical cell are provided as well as electrodes including the pre-lithiated electroactive material. The methods include reacting a lithiating agent including LiH or Li3N with the electroactive material to form a pre-lithiated electroactive material.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a curvilinear magnet includes forming at least one slot in a material billet. The slotted material billet is inserted into a mold having a curvilinear pocket. The mold is closed around the slotted material billet such that the slotted material billet conforms to the curvilinear pocket and forms a curvilinear billet. The curvilinear billet is arranged in a structure. The curvilinear billet arranged in the structure is then magnetized.

Abstract: A vehicle component includes a surface that is configured to contact a fuel containing ethanol and zinc ions. A sacrificial carbon layer is disposed on the surface. The sacrificial carbon layer has a thickness of greater than or equal to about 250 nm to less than or equal to about 5 ?m. The sacrificial carbon layer includes carbon that is configured to complex and solubilize ZnO deposited on the surface, wherein the ZnO forms from the zinc ions carried by the fuel.

Abstract: A rotor for an induction motor includes a first shorting end ring, a second shorting end ring, and a plurality of conductor bars. Each conductor bar has a first end and a second end and is coated with an electrically conductive material. The first end of each conductor bar is in electrical and mechanical contact with the first shorting end ring, and the second end of each conductor bar is in electrical and mechanical contact with the second shorting end ring. The conductive material is disposed between each conductor bar and the respective shorting end rings.

Abstract: Electroactive materials having a nitrogen-containing carbon coating and composite materials for a high-energy-density lithium-based, as well as methods of formation relating thereto, are provided. The composite electrode material includes a silicon-containing electroactive material having a substantially continuous nitrogen-containing carbon coating formed thereon. The method includes contacting the silicon-containing electroactive material and one or more nitrogen-containing precursor materials and heating the mixture. The one or more nitrogen-containing precursor materials include one or more nitrogen-carbon bonds and during heating the nitrogen of the one or more nitrogen-carbon bonds with silicon in the silicon-containing electroactive material to form the nitrogen-containing carbon coating on exposed surfaces of the silicon-containing electroactive material.

Abstract: A lithium-based electrode assembly and methods of formation relating thereto are provided. The lithium-based electrode assembly comprises a metal current collector, an electrode comprising lithium metal, and an intermediate layer disposed therebetween. The intermediate layer comprising an intermetallic compound comprising the lithium metal of the electrode and a metal selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, silver, gold, barium, bismuth, boron, calcium, cadmium, carbon, gallium, germanium, mercury, indium, iridium, lead, palladium, platinum, rhodium, antimony, selenium, silicon, tin, strontium, sulfur, tellurium, zinc, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Methods of pretreating an electroactive material comprising lithium titanate oxide (LTO) include contacting a surface of the electroactive material with a pretreatment composition. In one variation, the pretreatment composition includes a salt of lithium fluoride salt selected from the group consisting of: lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), and combinations thereof, and a solvent. In another variation, the pretreatment composition includes an organophosphorus compound. In this manner, a protective surface coating forms on the surface of the electroactive material. The protective surface coating comprises fluorine, oxygen, phosphorus or boron, as well as optional elements such as carbon, hydrogen, and listed metals, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A workpiece is described, and includes a substrate, a cable, and a cover piece. A portion of the cable is joined to the substrate employing a vibration welding tool, and the cover piece is interposed between the portion of the cable and the vibration welding tool during the joining.

Abstract: An electrolyte can be pretreated by contacting with an oxide species (e.g., SiO2, SiOx, where 1?x?2, TiO2). The in electrolyte comprises LiPF6 and a carbonate solvent. A reaction occurs to form a pretreated electrolyte comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of: MaPx?OyFz, MaPx?OyFzCnHm, and combinations thereof, where when P in the formula is normalized to 1 so that x? is equal to about 1, 0<y?4, 0<z?6, 0?a?3, 0?n?20, 0?m?42, and Ma is selected from Li, Na, K, Mg, Ca, B, Ti, Al, and combinations thereof. Lithium-ion electrochemical cells including lithium titanate oxide (LTO) using such a pretreated electrolyte have reduced reactivity and gas formation.

Abstract: A method of forming a separator for a lithium-ion battery includes arranging a polymer film in contact with a sacrificial layer to form a cutting stack. The method includes disposing the cutting stack between a first vitreous substrate and a second vitreous substrate. The method includes applying an infrared laser to the cutting stack through the first vitreous substrate to generate heat at the sacrificial layer. The method also includes transferring heat from the sacrificial layer to the polymer film to thereby cut out a portion of the polymer film and form the separator. A method of cutting a polymer film and a cutting system are also explained.

Abstract: A method of detecting metallic lithium present on an electrode of a lithium ion secondary battery includes depositing a lithium-reactive solution including an oxidized fluorescent dye onto the electrode to form a coated electrode. Concurrent to depositing, the method includes reducing the oxidized fluorescent dye to form a reduced dye and a plurality of lithium ions. The method further includes, after reducing, drying the coated electrode to again form the oxidized fluorescent dye. After drying, the method includes exposing the oxidized fluorescent dye to ultraviolet radiation having a wavelength of from 100 nm to 500 nm to thereby illuminate and detect the metallic lithium. A lithium ion secondary battery system is also disclosed.