Abstract: A method of making an electrode material for an electrode in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided, where a protective coating is applied to an electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor may be a silicon-containing composition. The protective coating is selected from the group consisting of: an oxide-based coating, a fluoride-based coating, and a nitride-based coating. The method also includes lithiating the electrode precursor material in a continuous process. The continuous process is conducted in a reactor having a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber to form a lithiated electrode material comprising the protective coating.

Abstract: Lithiated electrodes, electrochemical cells including lithiated electrodes, and methods of making the same are provided. The method includes lithiating at least one electrode in an electrochemical cell by applying current across a first current collector of the at least one electrode to a second current collector of an auxiliary electrode. The electrochemical cell may be disposed within a battery packaging and the auxiliary electrode may be disposed within the battery packaging adjacent to an edge of the electrochemical cell. The at least one electrode may include a first electroactive layer disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the first current collector, and the auxiliary electrode may include a second electroactive layer disposed at or near one or more surfaces of the second current collector. The method may further include extracting the auxiliary electrode from the battery packaging and sealing the battery packaging, which includes the pre-lithiated electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A negative electrode is provided herein as well as methods for preparing negative electrodes and electrochemical cells including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a first electroactive material, an electrically conductive material, and a polymeric binder. The first electroactive material includes silicon-containing particles having an average particle diameter of at least about 1 ?m, and the electrically conductive material includes graphene nanoplatelets. The polymeric binder includes a polyimide, a polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylic acid, a salt of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.

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: 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: A negative electrode is provided herein as well as methods for preparing negative electrodes and electrochemical cells including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a first electroactive material, an electrically conductive material, and a polymeric binder. The first electroactive material includes silicon-containing particles having an average particle diameter of at least about 1 ?m, and the electrically conductive material includes graphene nanoplatelets.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided herein as well as methods for preparing electrochemical cells. The electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode and a positive electrode. The negative electrode includes a prelithiated electroactive material including a lithium silicide. Lithium is present in the prelithiated electroactive material in an amount corresponding to greater than or equal to about 10% of a state of charge of the negative electrode. The electrochemical cell has a negative electrode capacity to positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of greater than or equal to about 1, and the electrochemical cell is capable of operating at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 5 volts.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a negative electrode material and methods of preparation and use relating thereto. The electrode material comprises a plurality of electroactive material particles, where each electroactive material particle includes an electroactive material core and an electronically conductive coating. The method includes contacting an electroactive material precursor including a plurality of electroactive material particles with a solution so as to form an electronically conductive coating on each of the electroactive material particles. The solution includes a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF3 or TiF4), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), and vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5). The electronically conductive coating includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The plurality of first regions include lithium fluoride.

Abstract: A method of making an electrode material for an electrode in an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions is provided, where a protective coating is applied to an electrode precursor material. The electrode precursor may be a silicon-containing composition. The protective coating is selected from the group consisting of: an oxide-based coating, a fluoride-based coating, and a nitride-based coating. The method also includes lithiating the electrode precursor material in a continuous process. The continuous process is conducted in a reactor having a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber to form a lithiated electrode material comprising the protective coating.

Abstract: Lithiated electrodes, electrochemical cells including lithiated electrodes, and methods of making the same are provided. The method includes lithiating at least one electrode in an electrochemical cell by applying current across a first current collector of the at least one electrode to a second current collector of an auxiliary electrode. The electrochemical cell may be disposed within a battery packaging and the auxiliary electrode may be disposed within the battery packaging adjacent to an edge of the electrochemical cell. The at least one electrode may include a first electroactive layer disposed on or near one or more surfaces of the first current collector, and the auxiliary electrode may include a second electroactive layer disposed at or near one or more surfaces of the second current collector. The method may further include extracting the auxiliary electrode from the battery packaging and sealing the battery packaging, which includes the pre-lithiated electrochemical cell.

Abstract: A positive electrode includes a lithium-based active material, a binder, a conductive filler, and discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials are mixed, as an additive, throughout the positive electrode with the lithium-based active material, the binder, and the conductive filler. The positive electrode with the discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be incorporated into a lithium ion battery. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be formed by the following method. A solution is formed by mixing an aluminum oxide precursor and an acid. A carbon material is added to the solution, thereby forming an aqueous mixture having the carbon material therein. Hydrothermal synthesis is performed using the aqueous mixture, and precursor nanostructures are grown on the carbon material. The precursor nanostructures on the carbon material are annealed so that the carbon material is removed and aluminum oxide nanomaterials are formed.

Abstract: A positive electrode includes a lithium-based active material, a binder, a conductive filler, and discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials are mixed, as an additive, throughout the positive electrode with the lithium-based active material, the binder, and the conductive filler. The positive electrode with the discrete aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be incorporated into a lithium ion battery. The aluminum oxide nanomaterials may be formed by the following method. A solution is formed by mixing an aluminum oxide precursor and an acid. A carbon material is added to the solution, thereby forming an aqueous mixture having the carbon material therein. Hydrothermal synthesis is performed using the aqueous mixture, and precursor nanostructures are grown on the carbon material. The precursor nanostructures on the carbon material are annealed so that the carbon material is removed and aluminum oxide nanomaterials are formed.