Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane separating the anode catalyst layer from the cathode catalyst layer, an oxygen inlet configured to supply oxygen to the cathode catalyst layer, and a hydrogen inlet separate from the oxygen inlet and configured to supply hydrogen to the anode catalyst layer. The fuel cell is operable to convert the hydrogen from the hydrogen inlet to hydrogen ions at the anode catalyst layer and to produce an H2O byproduct at the cathode catalyst layer where the oxygen reacts with the hydrogen ions. The fuel cell includes a water outlet for the H2O byproduct that is separate from the oxygen inlet.

Abstract: A solid-state composite electrode includes active electrode particles, ionically conductive particles, and electrically conductive particles. Each of the ionically conductive particles is at least partially coated with an isolation material that inhibits inter-diffusion of the ionically conductive particles with the active electrode particles. A battery cell includes a first current collector, a solid electrolyte layer, a first solid-state composite electrode having ionically conductive particles coated with an isolation material and positioned between the first current collector and the solid electrolyte layer, a second current collector, and a second electrode positioned between the solid electrolyte layer and the second current collector. A method of forming a solid-state composite electrode includes mixing together active electrode particles and electrically conductive particles with ionically conductive particles that are each at least partially coated with an isolation material.

Abstract: A proton exchange membrane fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, a proton exchange membrane separating the anode catalyst layer from the cathode catalyst layer, an oxygen inlet configured to supply oxygen to the cathode catalyst layer, and a hydrogen inlet separate from the oxygen inlet and configured to supply hydrogen to the anode catalyst layer. The fuel cell is operable to convert the hydrogen from the hydrogen inlet to hydrogen ions at the anode catalyst layer and to produce an H2O byproduct at the cathode catalyst layer where the oxygen reacts with the hydrogen ions. The fuel cell includes a water outlet for the H2O byproduct that is separate from the oxygen inlet.

Abstract: A lithium cell, in particular a lithium-metal and/or lithium-ion solid electrolyte-liquid electrolyte hybrid cell, is described that includes an anode layer and a cathode layer. A separator layer is situated between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The cathode layer and/or the separator layer and/or the anode layer includes at least one solvent and/or at least one lithium conductive salt. To improve the rapid charge capacity of the cell, a dividing layer is situated between the cathode layer and the separator layer, which dividing layer is conductive for lithium ions and is impermeable for the at least one solvent of the cathode layer and/or of the separator layer and/or of the anode layer, and/or is impermeable for lithium conductive salt anions of the at least one lithium conductive salt of the cathode layer and/or of the separator layer and/or of the anode layer.

Abstract: An electrode configuration for a battery cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator includes an electrically conductive protrusion inhibiting layer and a first insulating layer interposed between and electrically insulating the protrusion inhibiting layer from one of the positive and negative electrode.

Abstract: A solid-state composite electrode includes active electrode particles, ionically conductive particles, and electrically conductive particles. Each of the ionically conductive particles is at least partially coated with an isolation material that inhibits inter-diffusion of the ionically conductive particles with the active electrode particles. A battery cell includes a first current collector, a solid electrolyte layer, a first solid-state composite electrode having ionically conductive particles coated with an isolation material and positioned between the first current collector and the solid electrolyte layer, a second current collector, and a second electrode positioned between the solid electrolyte layer and the second current collector. A method of forming a solid-state composite electrode includes mixing together active electrode particles and electrically conductive particles with ionically conductive particles that are each at least partially coated with an isolation material.

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: A solid composite battery separator is used to enable the use of a metal negative electrode in a battery. The metal negative electrode may be lithium metal, sodium metal, magnesium metal, zinc metal, or alloys of the metals listed. The composite separator includes a matrix and reinforcing material introduced into the matrix to increase fracture toughness of the composite separator. The composite separator comprises, either wholly or in part, a layer of reinforced polymer, ceramic or glassy lithium ion conductor. The matrix of the composite separator can include polyethylene oxide, LLZO, LiPON, or LATP. The reinforcing material of the composite separator can include fibers, particles, plates, or layers. The reinforcing material can include silicate glass, carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, silicon carbide particles, and metallic particles.

Abstract: A lithium cell, in particular a lithium-metal and/or lithium-ion solid electrolyte-liquid electrolyte hybrid cell, is described that includes an anode layer and a cathode layer. A separator layer is situated between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The cathode layer and/or the separator layer and/or the anode layer includes at least one solvent and/or at least one lithium conductive salt. To improve the rapid charge capacity of the cell, a dividing layer is situated between the cathode layer and the separator layer, which dividing layer is conductive for lithium ions and is impermeable for the at least one solvent of the cathode layer and/or of the separator layer and/or of the anode layer, and/or is impermeable for lithium conductive salt anions of the at least one lithium conductive salt of the cathode layer and/or of the separator layer and/or of the anode layer.

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 first single-ion conducting layer deposited on one of the separator, the positive electrode, and the negative electrode. The first single-ion conducting layer is formed as a continuous thin-film layer.

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.