Abstract: A desalination battery cell includes a first compartment separated by an anion exchange membrane from a second compartment, each of the first and second compartments configured to contain a saline water solution having a concentration of dissolved salts c1 and having first and second intercalation host electrodes, respectively, arranged to be in fluid communication with the solution, a voltage source configured to supply electric current to the first and second intercalation host electrodes to release cations into the solution, and a controller programmed to adjust an amount of the electric current being supplied to change direction of anions, present in the solution, passing through the anion exchange membrane between the first and second compartments such that the first and second compartments alternately collect and disperse salt from the solution and the first and second compartments release desalinated water solution having a concentration c2 of dissolved salts and a brine solution having a concentration

Abstract: Solid electrolytes have a favorable combination of properties such as high conductivity, high transference number, optimum processability, and low brittleness. A composite electrolyte includes some amount of a class of network polymer electrolytes with high transference number and high room temperature conductivity, and an additional polymeric component to contribute mechanical integrity and/or processability. The solid electrolytes can include a network polymer having linked nodes composed of a tetrahedral arylborate composition and a linear polymer combined with the network polymer as a composite. The solid electrolytes can be used in thin films and in solid-state batteries.

Abstract: A desalination battery includes a container configured to contain a saline water solution having a first concentration c1 of dissolved salts; first and second intercalation hosts, arranged to be in fluid communication with the saline water solution, at least the first intercalation host including expanded graphite having a plurality of graphene layers with an interlayer spacing between the graphene layers in z-direction greater than 0.34 nm; and a power source configured to supply electric current to the first and second intercalation hosts such that the first and second intercalation hosts reversibly store and release cations and anions from the saline water solution located between the plurality of graphene layers to generate a fresh water solution having a second concentration c2 of dissolved salts and a brine solution having a third concentration c3 of dissolved salts within the container such that c3>c1>c2.

Abstract: An anticorrosive and conductive substrate includes a bulk portion and a surface portion including a magnesium titanium material having a formula (I) TixMg1-xOy (I), where x is a number from 0 to ?1 and y is a number from 1 to ?2, and wherein at least about 50% of the magnesium titanium material has a cubic crystal structure, and wherein the magnesium titanium material is configured to impart anticorrosive and conductive properties to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of forming a collection electrode for an electrostatic charging air cleaning device. The method includes forming a slurry including a carbon black powder material, a polymeric binder material and a liquid solvent material. The method further includes applying the slurry to a substrate material. The method also includes curing the slurry to obtain a coating layer on the substrate material to form the collection electrode.

Abstract: An electrostatic charging air cleaning device having first and second pre-chargers. The first pre-charger is configured to generate a first corona discharge to electrostatically charge PM in the incoming air stream with a first charge to form a first exiting air stream exiting the first pre-charger. The second pre-charger is configured to generate a second corona discharge to electrostatically charge PM in the incoming air stream with a second charge to form a second exiting air stream exiting the second pre-charger. The device also includes a separator having apertures such that PM in the second exiting air stream passes through the separator to agglomerate with PM in the first exiting air stream to form agglomerated particles. The apertures are sized such that the agglomerated particles are larger than the apertures to preclude the agglomerated particles from reentering the second exiting air stream.

Abstract: A device for removing ions from a flow of water includes a first electrode and a counter-electrode opposite the first electrode in the flow of water. The first electrode contains at least one material which is capable of intercalating one or both of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in the flow of water. The counter-electrode can include a material capable of binding to anions in the flow of water.

Abstract: A desalination device includes a container, first and second electrodes, an anion exchange membrane (AEM), and a power source. The container contains saline water that has an elevated concentration of dissolved salts. The AEM separates the container into first and second compartments into which the first and second electrodes, respectively, are arranged. The AEM has a continuous porous structure and a plurality of negatively-charged oxygen functional groups coupled to the porous structure. The power source is configured to selectively apply a voltage to one of the first and second electrodes. The AEM has a selective permeability when the voltage is applied such that cations in the saline water solution have a first diffusion rate d1 therethrough and anions in the saline water solution have a second diffusion rate d2 therethrough. The first diffusion rate d1 is less than the second diffusion rate d2 and greater than or equal to zero.

Abstract: A desalination battery includes a first electrode, a second electrode, an intercalation compound contained in the first electrode, a container configured to contain a saline water solution, and a power source. The intercalation compound includes at least one of a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal oxychloride, a metalloid oxychloride, and a hydrate thereof with each having a ternary or higher order. The first and second electrodes are configured to be arranged in fluid communication with the saline water solution. The power source is configured to supply electric current to the first and second electrodes in different operating states to induce a reversible intercalation reaction within the intercalation compound. The intercalation compound reversibly stores and releases target anions from the saline water solution to generate a fresh water solution in one operating state and a wastewater solution in another operating state.

Abstract: A device for removing chloride-containing salts from water includes a container configured to contain saline water, a first electrode arranged in fluid communication with the saline water, and a power source. The first electrode includes a conversion material that is substantially insoluble in the saline water and has a composition that includes at least two or more of aluminum, chlorine, copper, iron, oxygen, and potassium. The composition varies over a range with respect to a quantity of chloride ions per formula unit. The power source supplies current to the first electrode in a first operating state so as to induce a reversible conversion reaction in which the conversion material bonds to the chloride ions in the saline water to generate a treated water solution. The conversion material dissociates the chloride ions therefrom into the saline water solution in a second operating state to generate a wastewater solution.

Abstract: A water softening device includes a container configured to contain water, first and second electrodes arranged in fluid communication with the water, and a power source. The first electrode includes a conversion material that has a first composition and a second composition coexisting with the first composition. The first composition includes calcium ions bonded thereto and the second composition includes sodium ions bonded thereto. The power source supplies current in a first operating state such that the second composition exchanges sodium ions for calcium ions in the water to generate a soft water solution. The first and second electrodes are connected in a second operating state such that the first composition exchanges calcium ions for sodium ions in the water to generate a wastewater solution. The conversion material undergoes a reversible conversion reaction to convert between the first and second compositions within the water stability window.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal oxy-fluoride surface on lithium metal oxide cathode material particles is disclosed. Such a metal oxy-fluoride surface may help to prevent lithium metal oxide cathode active materials from reacting with water, thus enabling aqueous processing of cathodes made from such materials in the manufacture of lithium batteries. Such a method may also reduce lithium battery manufacturing costs and time by substituting water for currently-used organic solvents that are expensive and require special handling and disposal. Such a method may also reduce the cost of lithium metal oxide cathode active materials as the requirements for moisture-free manufacture, storage, and processing will be reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A battery includes at least one battery cell having an electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a cathode layer that has a cathode active material and a matrix material. The electrode assembly further includes an anode layer and a separator layer interposed between the cathode and the anode. The cathode active material is stabilized, and the at least one battery cell is configured to be operated at a temperature that is greater than 45° C.

Abstract: Solid electrolytes have a favorable combination of properties such as high conductivity, high transference number, optimum processability, and low brittleness. A composite electrolyte includes some amount of a class of network polymer electrolytes with high transference number and high room temperature conductivity, and an additional polymeric component to contribute mechanical integrity and/or processability. The solid electrolytes can include a network polymer having linked nodes composed of a tetrahedral arylborate composition and a linear polymer combined with the network polymer as a composite. The solid electrolytes can be used in thin films and in solid-state batteries.

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: A lithium battery cell having one or more protective layers between the anode current collector and a solid state separator. The protective layers prevent dendrite propagation through the battery cell and improve coulombic efficiency by reducing deleterious side reactions.

Abstract: A cathode active material including a lithium intercalation material; a coating including an oxide, phosphate, or borate; and a moiety capable of forming a bond with the coating.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium-ion battery includes an anode, a cathode, and a separator. The cathode includes an active material, a catholyte material, and a barrier layer coating only the active material. The barrier layer is configured to isolate physically the active material from direct contact with the catholyte material and to connect ionically the active material and the catholyte material. The separator is located between the anode and the cathode and is configured to connect ionically the anode and the cathode and to isolate electronically the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: An essentially carbon-free cathode for a lithium/air secondary battery and methods for making are provided. The cathode includes a hollow porous conductive metal oxide particle such as indium tin oxide, an optional functional layer, and an electrically conductive binder.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods, consistent with embodiments herein, are directed to an apparatus having a stretchable substrate and a plurality of nanostructures. While the plurality of nanostructures are adhered to the stretchable substrate, the stretchable substrate and the nanostructures are stretched and/or operate in a stretched mode in which the nanostructures are characterized by a resistance corresponding to a strain imparted due to the stretching. When the substrate is relaxed or the stretching otherwise lessened, the nanostructures continue to be characterized as a function of the strain and the corresponding resistance, with buckled segments of the nanostructures being adhered along a surface of the substrate.