Abstract: Ways of making a solid-state electrolyte are provided. Various energy storage devices, such as solid-state lithium-ion batteries, may incorporate the solid-state electrolyte. The solid-state electrolyte may be manufactured by dissolving a fluoropolymer with a solvent, combining a portion of the dissolved fluoropolymer with an ionic liquid to form a PVDF-HFP/IL-Li salt solution, and combining a portion of the dissolved fluoropolymer with lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide to form a PVDF-HFP/LLZO solution. Then, coating a first side of a porous membrane with the VDF-HFP/IL-Li salt solution and coating a second side of the porous membrane with PVDF-HFP/LLZO solution to thereby form the solid-state electrolyte.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes a membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, a cathode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir, an anode catalyst layer, and an anode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer cap a cathode potential at lower than 1.5V and an anode potential at lower than 1.0V. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer can include a platinum doped rare earth oxide, such as platinum doped cerium oxide.

Abstract: Ways of making a solid-state electrolyte are provided. Various energy storage devices, such as solid-state lithium-ion batteries, can incorporate the solid-state electrolyte. The solid-state electrolyte can be manufactured by dissolving a fluoropolymer with a solvent and combining the dissolved fluoropolymer with an ionic liquid. A lithium salt can be added to the combined fluoropolymer and ionic liquid to form an electrolyte solution, which can be used to impregnate a porous membrane to provide the solid-state electrolyte.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) includes a membrane, a cathode catalyst layer, a cathode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir, an anode catalyst layer, and an anode co-catalyst layer including a hydrogen reservoir. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer cap a cathode potential at lower than 1.5V and an anode potential at lower than 1.0V. The anode co-catalyst layer and the cathode co-catalyst layer can include a platinum doped rare earth oxide, such as platinum doped cerium oxide.

Abstract: Ways of making electrodes and electrodes produced thereby are provided. Dry blending of a powder mixture including a catalyst, an ionomer, and a polyether forms a blended mixture, which can be comminuted to obtain a desired particle size. A slurry of the blended mixture is formed with an aqueous medium and the slurry is coated onto a substrate to form a coated substrate. The coating can be transferred to another substrate or material for use as an electrode and/or the substrate of the coated substrate can form part of a structure, such as a membrane electrode assembly for use in a fuel cell.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a catalyst for a fuel cell can include provision of a platinum precursor and a carbon material. The platinum precursor and the carbon material can be mixed to form a platinum carbon mixture. The platinum carbon mixture can be heated to form a porous solid. The porous solid can be milled to form a powder. The powder can be reacted with a reducing agent to form the catalyst.

Abstract: An electrode layer can have an electrically conductive material, a catalyst, an ionomer binder, and a perfluorocarbon compound. The ionomer binder forms hydrophilic regions on the electrically conductive material to support proton and water transport. The perfluorocarbon compound forms hydrophobic regions on the electrically conductive material to support oxygen solubility and transport. The electrode can be used in making a membrane electrode assembly and can be configured as a cathode thereof. Fuel cells and fuel stacks can include such membrane electrode assemblies.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a functionalized metal oxide product configured to be used in an anode catalyst layer of a fuel cell can include forming a catalyst solution, which can include mixing a metal oxide in water. A stock solution can be formed by mixing a fatty acid in water. The stock solution can be added to the catalyst solution to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be removed from the liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be washed and dried, thereby forming the functionalized metal oxide product. The functionalized metal oxide product is configured to improve the cell reversal tolerance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a metal layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a cathode layer disposed in the metal layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a reinforced lithiated composite electrolyte layer disposed on the cathode layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include a lithiated ionomer coating layer disposed on the reinforced lithiated composite electrolyte layer. A solid-state lithium-ion battery may include an anode layer disposed on the lithiated ionomer coating layer.

Abstract: A reinforced proton-exchange membrane is provided that includes a first layer including a first ionomer, where the first layer has a first side and a second side. A second layer includes a graphene oxide, where the second layer has a first side and a second side, the first side of the second layer adjacent the second side of the first layer. A third layer includes a second ionomer, where the third layer has a first side and a second side, the first side of the third layer adjacent the second side of the second layer. The proton-exchange membrane can include or be formed upon a support layer, where the support layer is adjacent the first side of the first layer.

Abstract: Methods of making an electrolyte for a solid-state battery can include dissolving a lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid in a solvent to form a mixture, stirring the mixture using shear mixing, and heating the mixture to form an electrolyte gel. Methods of making a cathode electrode for a solid-state battery include forming an electrode composition including active materials, stirring the mixture using sheer mixing to reduce particle size and to form an ink, coating the ink on aluminum foil using one of doctor blade, micro gravure, and slot-die, and drying. The electrolyte is applied as an overlayer on the electrode.

Abstract: Methods of making a solid state electrode and electrolyte for an all solid state lithium battery include mixing a lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid with a solvent to form an electrolyte polymer solution, mixing lithiated perfluorosulfonic with garnet type oxide polymer-composite solution, preparing a cathode electrode, coating the cathode electrode with the electrolyte polymer solution to form an electrolyte layer, laminating a reinforcement layer over the electrolyte polymer solution coated onto the cathode electrode, and coating the reinforcement layer with electrolyte polymer solution to form another electrolyte layer to form the solid state electrode and electrolyte.

Abstract: Methods of making a lithiated composite fiber include mixing lithiated perfluorosulfonic acid with a suitable polymer to form a polymer solution and electrospinning the polymer solution to generate a lithiated fiber. The lithiated fiber can be used to make positive electrodes. Methods of making a positive electrode with lithiated fiber include mixing an active material, lithiated fiber, an electrically conductive additive, and a solvent to form a solution and processing the solution. The processed solution can be coated on an aluminum sheet.

Abstract: A porous ionically and electronically conductive matrix for all solid-state lithium batteries is deposited on a carbon fiber paper. The ionically and electronically conductive matrix can be deposited on the carbon fiber paper by one of electrospinning and without electrospinning for electrode coating and deposition. The matrix facilitates a loading of active material of a cathode electrode structure.

Abstract: Ways of making a solid-state lithium-ion battery having a gradient based electrode structure include a separator, the separator comprising a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a positive electrode structure comprising a two-layer gradient, the positive electrode structure alongside the separator on the first side of the separator, an aluminum current collector on the first side of the separator and next to the positive electrode structure, a lithium layer alongside the separator on the second side of the separator, and a copper current collector on the second side of the separator and next to the lithium layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a functionalized metal oxide product configured to be used in an anode catalyst layer of a fuel cell can include forming a catalyst solution, which can include mixing a metal oxide in water. A stock solution can be formed by mixing a fatty acid in water. The stock solution can be added to the catalyst solution to form a solid fraction and a liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be removed from the liquid fraction. The solid fraction can be washed and dried, thereby forming the functionalized metal oxide product. The functionalized metal oxide product is configured to improve the cell reversal tolerance of the fuel cell.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly can include an anode layer. The anode layer can include a first layer, and a second layer. The second layer can include a cerium oxide. A method of assembling a membrane electrode assembly can include provision of a membrane, a first layer, and a second layer. The second layer can include a cerium oxide. The first layer can be disposed on the second layer to form an anode layer. The anode layer can be disposed on an anode side of the membrane.

Abstract: Making a composite solid polymer electrolyte includes mixing a slurry of lithiated ionomer and a doped inorganic ceramic electrolyte and coating the slurry onto a lithiated ionomer membrane. The lithiated ionomer can be provided by exchanging protons of an ionomer membrane with lithium ions to form a lithiated ionomer membrane and dissolving the lithiated ionomer membrane to produce the lithiated ionomer. Various composite solid polymer electrolytes can be made for use in solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Ways of making a dispersion for use in a solid-state electrolyte include lithiating an ionomer by heating and dissoluting to form the dispersion. An ionic liquid and ceramic particles can be added to the dispersion. Ways of making a reinforced solid-state electrolyte for a solid-state lithium-ion battery include infusing a porous membrane with the dispersion.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises a polymer electrolyte interposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, the anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a first major surface of the polymer electrolyte, the cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer adjacent at least a portion of a second major surface of the polymer electrolyte; at least one of the anode and cathode catalyst layers comprising: a first catalyst composition comprising a noble metal; and a second composition comprising a metal oxide; wherein the second composition has been treated with a fluoro-phosphonic acid compound.

Abstract: A membrane electrode assembly comprises an anode electrode comprising an anode catalyst layer and an anode gas diffusion layer, a cathode electrode comprising a cathode catalyst layer and a cathode gas diffusion layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer, and a layer comprising a fluoroalkyl-phosphonic acid compound between at least one of the anode gas diffusion layer and the anode catalyst layer, the anode catalyst layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane, the polymer electrolyte membrane and the cathode catalyst layer, and the cathode catalyst layer and the cathode gas diffusion layer.