Abstract: Methods of making functional particles, such as functional lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles and functional electrode particles for electrochemical cells are provided as well as electrochemical cells including such particles. A method includes combining a solution including (NH4)3PO4 with lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles to form a first mixture. The method further includes adding a polymeric binder and a lithium salt to the first mixture to form a first slurry including the functional lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles comprising Li3PO4.

Abstract: A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a thermal energy storage member in thermal contact with the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy storage member includes an adsorption chamber and an adsorbent material disposed within the adsorption chamber. The adsorbent material is configured to receive thermal energy generated by the plurality of battery cells during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells. The thermal energy received by the adsorbent material during charging and discharge of the plurality of battery cells regenerates the adsorbent material and transitions the adsorbent material from an energy released state, in which an adsorbate is physically adsorbed on surfaces of the adsorbent material, to an energy storage state, in which the adsorbent material is substantially free of the adsorbate.

Abstract: Lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles and methods of making such lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles are provided herein. The method includes combining precursor zeolite particles with (NH4)3PO4 to form a first mixture including intermediate zeolite particles including NH4+ cations. The method further includes adding a lithium salt to the first mixture to form the lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles, or separating the intermediate zeolite particle from the first mixture and combining the intermediate zeolite particles with the lithium salt to form the lithium ion-exchanged zeolite particles.

Abstract: Solvent-free methods of making a component, like an electrode, for an electrochemical cell are provided. A particle mixture is processed in a dry-coating device having a rotatable vessel defining a cavity with a rotor. The rotatable vessel is rotated at a first speed in a first direction and the rotor at a second speed in a second opposite direction. The particle mixture includes first inorganic particles (e.g., electroactive particles), second inorganic particles (e.g., ceramic HF scavenging particles), and third particles (e.g., electrically conductive carbon-containing particles). The dry coating creates coated particles each having a surface coating (including second inorganic particles and third particles) disposed over a core region (the first inorganic particle). The coated particles are mixed with polymeric particles in a planetary and centrifugal mixer that rotates about a first axis and revolves about a second axis. The polymeric particles surround each of the plurality of coated particles.

Abstract: A method of reforming a negative electrode layer of a secondary lithium battery may include execution of a reforming cycle that reforms a major facing surface of the negative electrode layer by eliminating at least a portion of a lithium dendrite or other lithium-containing surface irregularity that has formed on the major facing surface of the negative electrode layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of compensation for capacity loss resulting from cycle-induced lithium consumption in an electrochemical cell including at least one electrode. Such methods may include adding a lithiation additive to the at least one electrode so as to create a lithium source. The lithium source compensates for cycle-induced lithiation loss such that the electrochemical cell having the lithiation additive experiences total capacity losses of less than or equal to about 5% of an initial capacity prior to cycling of lithium. The lithiation additive includes a lithium silicate represented by the formula LiuHr, where Hr=Liy-uSiOz and where 0?y?3.75 and 0?z?2 and u is a useable portion of y, 0?u?y. The lithium source may include z 4 ? L ? i 4 ? Si ? O 4 and LimSi, where 0?m?4.4.

Abstract: An electrode including an electrode active material including lithium (Li) and a polymer layer coating at least a portion of the electrode active material is provided. The polymer layer includes a polymerization product of a monomer having Formula I: where R1 and R2 are independently an aryl or a branched or unbranched C1-C10 alkyl and X1 and X2 are independently chlorine (Cl), bromine (Br), or iodine (I).

Abstract: A lithium-ion electrochemical cell assembly includes a first electrode having a first polarity and a first current collector defining a first electrically conductive tab at an edge of the first electrode. The first electrically conductive tab is substantially covered by a first insulation material. A second electrode has the first polarity and a second current collector defining a second electrically conductive tab at an edge of the second electrode. The second electrically conductive tab is substantially covered by a second insulation material. A weld nugget is formed through at least a portion of the first insulation material and the second insulation material that joins the first electrically conductive tab to the second electrically conductive tab together. Methods of forming lithium-ion electrochemical cells are also provided.

Abstract: A solid-state electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrochemical cell may include a solid-state electrolyte defining a first major surface and a negative electrode defining a second major surface. The electrochemical cell may also include an interfacial layer disposed between the first major surface of the solid-state electrolyte and the second major surface of the solid electrode. The interfacial layer may include an ion-conductor disposed in an organic matrix.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for forming an ionically conductive polymer composite interlayer. The method may include forming a precursor layer between a first surface of an electroactive material layer and a first surface of a solid-state electrolyte layer and converting the precursor layer to the ionically conductive polymer composite interlayer. The at least one of the electroactive material layer or solid-state electrolyte may include lithium. The first surface of the electroactive material layer and the first surface of the solid-state electrolyte layer may be substantially parallel. The precursor layer may include one or more fluoropolymers comprising carbon and fluorine. The ionically conductive polymer composite layer may have an ionic conductivity greater than or equal to about 1.0×10?8 S·cm?1 to less than or equal to about 1.0 S·cm?1 and may include a lithium fluoride embedded in a carbonaceous matrix.

Abstract: A method for restoring a solid-state electrolyte layer having passivation layers formed on one or more surfaces thereof is provided. The method includes exposing one or more surface regions of the solid-state electrolyte layer by removing the passivation layers using a surface treatment process. The surface treatment process may include heating at least one portion of the passivation layers or an interface between the solid-state electrolyte layer and the passivation layers to a temperature that is at least 5% greater than a decomposition temperature of the passivation layers. The surface treatment process may use be a laser surface treatment process or a plasma surface treatment process. In each instance, the surface treatment process may be a thermal vaporization process and/or may cause volumetric expansion of the passivation layers and/or may cause thermal stress at an interface between the solid-state electrolyte layer and the passivation layers.

Abstract: Presented are electrochemical devices with copper-free electrodes, methods for making/using such devices, and lithium alloy-based electrode tabs and current collectors for rechargeable lithium-class battery cells. A method of manufacturing copper-free electrodes includes feeding an aluminum workpiece, such as a strip of aluminum sheet metal, into a masking device. The masking device then applies a series of dielectric masks, such as strips of epoxy resin or dielectric tape, onto discrete areas of the workpiece to form a masked aluminum workpiece with masked areas interleaved with unmasked areas. The masked workpiece is then fed into an electrolytic anodizing solution, such as sulfuric acid, to form an anodized aluminum workpiece with anodized surface sections on the unmasked areas interleaved with un-anodized surface sections underneath the dielectric masks of the masked areas.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a secondary lithium battery is provided herein, as well as a method for assembling a secondary lithium battery including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a current collector having a first side and an opposite second side. A first negative electrode layer is disposed on the first side of the current collector and a second negative electrode layer is disposed on the second side of the current collector. A lithium metal layer is disposed (i) between the first and second negative electrode layers or (ii) on a major facing surface of the first or second negative electrode layer. An electrolyte infiltrates the first and second negative electrode layers and is in contact with the lithium metal layer. The electrolyte establishes a lithium ion transport path between the lithium metal layer and at least one of the first or second negative electrode layers.

Abstract: Double-layered protective coatings for lithium metal electrodes, as well as methods of formation relating thereto, are provided. The negative electrode assembly includes an electroactive material layer including lithium metal and a protective dual-layered coating. The protective dual-layered coating includes a polymeric layer disposed on a surface of the electroactive material layer and an inorganic layer disposed on an exposed surface of the polymeric layer. The polymeric layer has an elastic modulus of greater than or equal to about 0.01 GPa to less than or equal to about 410 GPa. The inorganic layer has an elastic modulus of greater than or equal to about 10 GPa to less than or equal to about 1000 GPa.

Abstract: An electrode including an electrode active material and a ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger is provided. The ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger includes M2SiO3, MAlO2, M2O—Al2O3—SiO2, or combinations thereof, where M is lithium (Li), sodium (Na), or combinations thereof. Methods of making the electrode are also provided.

Abstract: Methods of making a solid-state electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions are provided that include applying a liquid metal composition comprising gallium to a first major surface of either a solid-state electrolyte or a solid electrode (e.g., lithium metal) in the presence of an oxidant and in an environment substantially free of water to reduce surface tension of the liquid metal composition so that it forms a continuous layer over the first major surface. The first major surface having the continuous layer of liquid metal composition is contacted with a second major surface to form a continuous interfacial layer between the solid-state electrolyte and the solid electrode. Solid-state electrochemical cells formed by such methods are also provided, where the metal composition comprising gallium is a liquid in a temperature range of greater than or equal to about 20° C. to less than or equal to about 30° C.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition for electrochemical cells including a silicon-containing electrode is provided herein as well as electrochemical cells including the electrolyte composition. The electrolyte composition includes a lithium salt, fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), a linear carbonate, vinylene carbonate, and a fluorosilane additive. The FEC and the linear carbonate are present in the electrolyte composition in a ratio of about 1:3 v/v to about 1:9 v/v.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell for a lithium battery includes a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a polymeric separator, and composite flame retardant particles including a particulate host material and a flame retardant material carried by the particulate host material. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within the electrochemical cell along a lithium-ion transport path or an electron transport path that extends through or between one or more components of the electrochemical cell. The composite flame retardant particles may be positioned within polymeric portions of a laminate structure that defines a housing in which the electrochemical cell is enclosed.

Abstract: A negative electrode for an electrochemical cell of a secondary lithium metal battery is manufactured by a method in which a precursor solution is applied to a major surface of a lithium metal substrate to form a precursor coating thereon. The precursor solution includes an organophosphate, a nonpolar organic solvent, and a lithium-containing inorganic ionic compound dissolved therein. At least a portion of the nonpolar organic solvent is removed from the precursor coating to form a protective interfacial layer on the major surface of the lithium metal substrate. The protective interfacial layer exhibits a composite structure including a carbon-based matrix component and a lithium-containing dispersed component. The lithium-containing dispersed component is embedded in the carbon-based matrix component and includes a plurality of lithium-containing inorganic ionic compounds, e.g., lithium phosphate (Li3PO4) and lithium nitrate (LiNO3).

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell is provided. The electrode includes a carbon membrane having a first face and an opposing second face, wherein at least a portion of the carbon membrane is modified to include an elevated number of nucleation sites for lithium relative to the carbon membrane when unmodified.