Abstract: An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a mercaptosilane, a mercaptosiloxane, and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.

Abstract: To make a pouch format cell, an outermost stack (including a negative electrode and separators positioned on opposed surfaces thereof) is formed. An inner stack is formed, including a positive electrode and a sub-stack (i.e., another negative electrode with separators positioned on opposed surfaces thereof and another positive electrode). The inner stack is positioned on the outermost stack to form a core stack, such that i) one inner stack end substantially aligns with one outermost stack end, ii) another end and a portion of the outermost stack remain exposed, and iii) the inner stack positive electrode is adjacent to one of the outermost stack separators. The outermost stack exposed portion is folded around another inner stack end and to cover a portion of an outer layer of the inner stack. This forms an initial overlay. The core stack is folded around at least a portion of the initial overlay.

Abstract: A negative lithium-containing electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making such a negative lithium-containing electrode. The method includes depositing a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor deposition process onto one or more surface regions of a negative electrode material comprising lithium. The first precursor and the second precursor react to form an inorganic-organic composite surface coating on the one or more surface regions. The first precursor comprises an organic mercapto-containing silane and the second precursor comprises an inorganic silane.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods are provided for monitoring the health of a substrate and a protective coating disposed on the substrate. A vehicle includes a substrate, a protective coating, a coating deformation sensor, and a controller. The protective coating is disposed overtop the substrate. The coating deformation sensor is operatively coupled with the protective coating and configured to measure a deformation value of the protective coating. The controller is configured to: determine a deformation recovery rate of the protective coating based on the deformation value; determine whether the deformation recovery rate corresponds with an expected recovery rate of the protective coating; and indicate that the protective coating may be impaired in response to determining that the deformation recovery rate does not correspond with the expected recovery rate.

Abstract: In an example of a method for enhancing the performance of a silicon-based negative electrode, the silicon-based negative electrode is pre-lithiated in an electrolyte including a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent mixture of dimethoxyethane (DME) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). The DME and FEC are present in a volume to volume ratio ranging from 10 to 1 to 1 to 10. The pre-lithiation forms a stable solid electrolyte interface layer on an exposed surface of the negative electrode.

Abstract: An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a mercaptosilane, a mercaptosiloxane, and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.

Abstract: Vehicles and methods are provided for monitoring the health of a substrate and a protective coating disposed on the substrate. A vehicle includes a substrate, a protective coating, a coating deformation sensor, and a controller. The protective coating is disposed overtop the substrate. The coating deformation sensor is operatively coupled with the protective coating and configured to measure a deformation value of the protective coating. The controller is configured to: determine a deformation recovery rate of the protective coating based on the deformation value; determine whether the deformation recovery rate corresponds with an expected recovery rate of the protective coating; and indicate that the protective coating may be impaired in response to determining that the deformation recovery rate does not correspond with the expected recovery rate.

Abstract: A shear thickening composition is provided. The shear thickening composition includes polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and boron. The boron is cross-linked to an oxygen atom in the PDMS to yield boron-cross-linked PDMS (B-PDMS). Vehicle parts including the shear thickening composition and methods of coating vehicle parts with the thickening composition are also provided.

Abstract: A negative electrode includes a metal substrate and a polymeric single-ion conductor coating formed on a surface of the metal substrate. The metal substrate is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, and zinc. The polymeric single-ion conductor coating is formed of i) a metal salt of a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer copolymer or ii) a polymeric metal salt having an initial polymeric backbone and pendent metal salt groups attached to the initial polymeric backbone.

Abstract: An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a silane with at least one Si—H group; a fluorinated methoxysilane; a fluorinated chlorosilane; and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of a lithium electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.

Abstract: A negative lithium-containing electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making such a negative lithium-containing electrode. The method includes depositing a first precursor and a second precursor in a vapor deposition process onto one or more surface regions of a negative electrode material comprising lithium. The first precursor and the second precursor react to form an inorganic-organic composite surface coating on the one or more surface regions. The first precursor comprises an organic mercapto-containing silane and the second precursor comprises an inorganic silane.

Abstract: A porous interlayer for a lithium-sulfur battery includes an electronic component and a negatively charged or chargeable lithium ion conducting component. The electronic component is selected from a carbon material, a conductive polymeric material, and combinations thereof. In an example, the porous interlayer may be disposed between a sulfur-based positive electrode and a porous polymer separator in a lithium-sulfur battery. In another example, the porous interlayer may be formed on a surface of a porous polymer separator.

Abstract: A lithium-based battery separator includes a porous polymer membrane having opposed surfaces. A porous carbon coating is formed on one of the opposed surfaces of the porous polymer membrane. Polycations are incorporated in the porous carbon coating, in the porous polymer membrane, or in both the porous carbon coating and the porous polymer membrane.

Abstract: An example of an electrolyte solution includes a solvent, a lithium salt, a fluorinated ether, and an additive. The additive is selected from the group consisting of RSxR?, wherein x ranges from 3 to 18, and R—(SnSem)—R, wherein 2<n<8 and 2<m<8. R and R? are each independently selected from a straight alkyl group having from 1 carbon to 6 carbons or branched alkyl group having from 1 carbon to 6 carbons. The electrolyte solution may be suitable for use in a sulfur-based battery or a selenium-based battery.

Abstract: In an example of the method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode, the electrode is exposed to an electrolyte solution in an electrochemical cell. The electrolyte solution includes either i) an organo-polysulfide additive having a formula RSnR? (n?2), wherein R and R? are independently selected from a methyl group, an unsaturated chain, a 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)-1-propyl group, or a 4-nitrophenyl group, or ii) a fluorinated organo-polysulfide additive having a formula RSnR? (n?2), wherein R and R? can be the same or different, and wherein R and R? each have a general formula of CxHyF(2x?y+1), where x is at least 1 and y ranges from 0 to 2x. A voltage or a load is applied to the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A negative electrode material includes an active material. The active material includes a silicon core selected from the group consisting of Si, SiO2, SiOx (0<x<2), a silicon alloy, and a combination thereof. The active material also includes a hard carbon coating formed on the silicon core. The negative electrode material further includes a non-fluorinated binder. The negative electrode material also includes a conductive filler. The loading of the active material in the negative electrode material is greater than 2 mg/cm2.

Abstract: A negative electrode includes a metal substrate and a polymeric single-ion conductor coating formed on a surface of the metal substrate. The metal substrate is selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, and zinc. The polymeric single-ion conductor coating is formed of i) a metal salt of a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene-based fluoropolymer copolymer or ii) a polymeric metal salt having an initial polymeric backbone and pendent metal salt groups attached to the initial polymeric backbone.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell (e.g., a lithium ion battery) is provided. The electrode has an active material that undergoes volumetric expansion during lithiation and delithiation, e.g., silicon-containing materials. The electrode has a current collector with an electrically conductive flexible surface primer coating disposed thereon. The primer coating comprises a polymer with a glass transition temperature of ?85° C. and an electrically conductive particle. When assembled, the flexible surface primer coating serves to reduce strain at the interface between the active material and current collector. The primer coating and the electroactive material remain intact on the surface of the current collector after at least one cycle of lithium ion insertion and deinsertion in the electrode, thus minimizing or preventing charge capacity loss in the electrochemical cell.

Abstract: To make a pouch format cell, an outermost stack (including a negative electrode and separators positioned on opposed surfaces thereof) is formed. An inner stack is formed, including a positive electrode and a sub-stack (i.e., another negative electrode with separators positioned on opposed surfaces thereof and another positive electrode). The inner stack is positioned on the outermost stack to form a core stack, such that i) one inner stack end substantially aligns with one outermost stack end, ii) another end and a portion of the outermost stack remain exposed, and iii) the inner stack positive electrode is adjacent to one of the outermost stack separators. The outermost stack exposed portion is folded around another inner stack end and to cover a portion of an outer layer of the inner stack. This forms an initial overlay. The core stack is folded around at least a portion of the initial overlay.

Abstract: In an example of a method for enhancing the performance of a silicon-based negative electrode, the silicon-based negative electrode is pre-lithiated in an electrolyte including a lithium salt dissolved in a solvent mixture of dimethoxyethane (DME) and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC). The DME and FEC are present in a volume to volume ratio ranging from 10 to 1 to 1 to 10. The pre-lithiation forms a stable solid electrolyte interface layer on an exposed surface of the negative electrode.