Abstract: An electrolyte includes a composite salt mixture with a halogenated boron cluster salt. The halogenated boron cluster salt includes a cation selected from Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Zn2+ and Al3+, and a halogenated boron cluster anion. The halogenated boron cluster anion has a structure of [CB(y?1)H(y?z?i)RzXi]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j)RtXj]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]2?, or [C2B(y?4)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]2?, [CB(y?1)H(y?z)Rz]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?1)Rt]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t)Rt]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?1)Rt]2?, and/or ByH(y?z?i)RzXi]2?, where y is an integer within a range of 6 to 12, (z+i) is an integer within a range of 0 to y, (t+j) is an integer within a range of 0 to (y?1), and X is F, Cl, Br, or I. Also, the composite salt mixture can be at least 90 mol % halogenated, for example, at least 90 mol % mono-halogenated or less than 10 mol % mono-halogenated.

Abstract: An electrolyte includes a composite salt mixture formed from a halogen-free closo-borate salt and a halogenated closo-borate salt. The halogen-free closo-borate salt includes a first cation selected from Li+, Na+, Mg2+, or Ca2+, and a closo-borate anion with the structure [ByH(y?z)Rz]2?, [CB(y?1)H(y?z)Rz]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?1)Rt]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t)Rt]?, or [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?1)Rt]2?, and a second cation selected from Li+, Na+, Mg2+, or Ca2+,and a halogenated closo-borate anion with the structure [ByH(y?z?i)RzXi]2?, [CB(y?1)H(y?z?i)RzXi]?, [C2B(y?2)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]?, [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j)RtXj]?, or [C2B(y?3)H(y?t?j?1)RtXj]2?. The parameter y is an integer within a range of 6 to 12, z is an integer within a range of 0 to y, t is an integer within a range of 0 to (y?1), z+i is an integer within a range of 0 to y, t+j is an integer within a range of 0 to y?1, R is a linear, branched-chain, or cyclic C1-C18 alkyl or fluoroalkyl group, and X is F, Cl, Br, and/or I.

Abstract: An ultrahigh closo-borate concentration solid-state electrolyte is presented that is a combined salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate and conductivity enhancing SISE. The combined salt allows significantly higher conductivities in the solid state than the included alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate. The combined salt can be prepared by mechanical combination or combination in solution. The salts can be used in solid-state electrochemical devices.

Abstract: 3-D magnesium voltaic cells have a magnesium anode coated on multiple opposing surfaces with a continuous protective/electrolyte layer that is ionically conductive and electronically insulating. The resulting protected 3-D magnesium anode is coated on multiple opposing surfaces with a continuous cathode layer that is electronically and ionically conductive, and includes a magnesium storage medium. Suitable magnesium anodes, in particular, magnesium foam anodes, can be made by pulsed galvanostatic deposition of magnesium on a copper substrate. The protective layer can be formed by electropolymerization of a suitable methylacrylate ester. The continuous cathode layer can be a slurry cathode having powders of an electronic conductor and a reversible magnesium storage component suspended in a magnesium electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte for a lithium battery that includes a hard-inorganic electrolyte and at least two soft electrolytes (SEs), where the melting point of the solid-state electrolyte is less than the melting point of a highest melting SE included in the solid-state electrolyte. The SEs include ammonium or phosphonium salts of closo-borates and can include lithium closo-borates salts. The hard-inorganic electrolyte is a lithium thiophosphate (LPS), where the plurality of SEs is melt-diffused throughout the homogeneous combined hard-inorganic electrolyte and a plurality of SEs at a temperature below the highest melting point SE, generally below 100° C. The relative density of the solid-state electrolyte is greater than 90 percent.

Abstract: Electrolytes and electrochemical cells include a novel ionic liquid having a quaternary cation and a boron cluster anion. In some versions, the boron cluster anion will be a functionalized or unfunctionalized icosahedral boranyl or carboranyl anion. Electrochemical cells have an electrolyte including the ionic liquid. In some versions, the ionic liquid is used as a solvent to dissolve an ionic shuttle salt for transport of active material, with an optional co-solvent. Methods to synthesize the ionic liquid include contacting a boron cluster salt with a quaternary salt to form the ionic liquid by a metathesis reaction.

Abstract: An effectively solvent-free alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate salt is prepared in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent where the solvent can be removed to levels below one mole percent of the salt. The process involves the exchange of cations with a closo-borate anion via an acid-base process or a metathesis process. The solvent is removed from the alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate salt by heating. The temperature can be greater than the melting point of the salt but lower than temperatures where decomposition occurs.

Abstract: Soft solid-state electrolyte compositions for secondary electrochemical cell include a metal salt dispersed or doped in a soft solid matrix. Methods for synthesizing the compositions include doping a solid matrix with a metal salt. The matrix includes an organic cation and a first boron cluster anion. Methods for optimizing the electrolytes include construction of electrolyte libraries and screening of the libraries for a desired property.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte is presented that is a combined salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate and alkali metal or alkali earth metal conductivity enhancing anion salt. The combined salt allows significantly higher conductivities in the solid state than the included alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate. The combined salt can be prepared by mechanical combination or combination in solution. The salts can be used in solid-state electrochemical devices.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte for a lithium battery that includes a hard-inorganic electrolyte and at least two soft electrolytes (SEs), where the melting point of the solid-state electrolyte is less than the melting point of a highest melting SE included in the solid-state electrolyte. The SEs include ammonium or phosphonium salts of closo-borates and can include lithium closo-borates salts. The hard-inorganic electrolyte is a lithium thiophosphate (LPS), where the plurality of SEs is melt-diffused throughout the homogeneous combined hard-inorganic electrolyte and a plurality of SEs at a temperature below the highest melting point SE, generally below 100° C. The relative density of the solid-state electrolyte is greater than 90 percent.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrolyte includes combining a magnesium closo-borate?organic solvent salt with an organic cation-anion salt, and removing the organic solvent from the magnesium closo-borate?organic solvent salt and to form an electrolyte comprising a magnesium closo-borate salt/organic cation-anion salt mixture. The magnesium closo-borate salt can have the structure Mg(CyBa?yHa?zXz)(2?(1?y)) where: y is 0 or 1; a is 10 or 12; z is 0 to a; and X is independently halogen, alkyl, alkoxy, acyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, and/or aryloxy substituents and wherein alkyl groups can be linear, branched, or cyclic. Also, any of the substituents can be partially or fully halogenated.

Abstract: An ultrahigh closo-borate concentration solid-state electrolyte is presented that is a combined salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate and conductivity enhancing SISE. The combined salt allows significantly higher conductivities in the solid state than the included alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate. The combined salt can be prepared by mechanical combination or combination in solution. The salts can be used in solid-state electrochemical devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composite material of formula (I): (LPS)a(OIPC)b wherein each of a and b is a mass % value from 1% to 99% such that a+b is 100%; (LPS) is a material selected from the group consisting of Li3PS4, Li7P3S11, Li10GeP2S11, and a material of formula (II): xLi2S.yP2S5.(100?x?y)LiX; wherein X is I, Cl or Br, each of x and y is a mass % value of from 33.3% to 50% such that x+y is from 75% to 100% and the total mass % of Li2S, P2S5 and LiX is 100%; and (OIPC) is a salt of a cation and a closo-borane cluster anion.

Abstract: An anode composite (AC) for use in an anode for solid-state lithium batteries includes particles of a silicon active material, a carbon additive for electrical conductivity, and a solid electrolyte that combines solid elastic electrolyte (SEE) with a solid non-elastic electrolyte. The solid non-elastic electrolyte is a lithium thiophosphate or other ceramic lithium ion conductor and the SEE includes an ammonium or phosphonium ion closo-borate doped with a lithium salt. The SEE is diffused onto the combined particles uniformly by heating, where pressing achieves about 100% relative density at modest pressures. The anode displays high stability upon charge-discharge cycles of a solid-state lithium battery prepared with the AC layer, appearing to maintain stable intrinsic and extrinsic interfaces.

Abstract: An effectively solvent-free alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate salt is prepared in the presence of a non-aqueous solvent where the solvent can be removed to levels below one mole percent of the salt. The process involves the exchange of cations with a closo-borate anion via an acid-base process or a metathesis process. The solvent is removed from the alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate salt by heating. The temperature can be greater than the melting point of the salt but lower than temperatures where decomposition occurs.

Abstract: A solid-state electrolyte is presented that is a combined salt of an alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate and alkali metal or alkali earth metal conductivity enhancing anion salt. The combined salt allows significantly higher conductivities in the solid state than the included alkali metal or alkali earth metal closo-borate. The combined salt can be prepared by mechanical combination or combination in solution. The salts can be used in solid-state electrochemical devices.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composite material of formula (I): (LPS)a(OIPC)b wherein each of a and b is a mass % value from 1% to 99% such that a+b is 100%; (LPS) is a material selected from the group consisting of Li3PS4, Li7P3S11, Li10GeP2S11, and a material of formula (II): xLi2S?yP2S5?(100?x?y)LiX; wherein X is I, Cl or Br, each of x and y is a mass % value of from 33.3% to 50% such that x+y is from 75% to 100% and the total mass % of Li2S, P2S5 and LiX is 100%; and (OIPC) is a salt of a cation and a closo-borane cluster anion.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices and processes for forming them include an anode having magnesium, a cathode, and an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode. The electrolyte includes a carboranyl magnesium salt and a mixed ether solvent in which the carboranyl magnesium salt is dissolved. The mixed ether solvent includes a first ether solvent and a second ether solvent that is different from the first ether solvent.

Abstract: Soft solid-state electrolyte compositions for secondary electrochemical cell include a metal salt dispersed or doped in a soft solid matrix. Methods for synthesizing the compositions include doping a solid matrix with a metal salt. The matrix includes an organic cation and a first boron cluster anion. Methods for optimizing the electrolytes include construction of electrolyte libraries and screening of the libraries for a desired property.

Abstract: Soft solid state electrolyte compositions for secondary electrochemical cell are composed of a metal salt dispersed or doped in a soft solid matrix. The matrix includes an organic cation and a boron cluster anion. The metal salt has a metal cation and an anion. Compared with competing solid electrolytes, the disclosed electrolyte compositions are soft, allowing for lower molding pressures and showing high ionic conductivity.