Systems and methods for applying pressure to electrochemical devices are generally described. In some aspects, batteries including an electrochemical cell and an associated deformable solid are provided. The deformable solid may be configured to apply an anisotropic force (e.g., during cycling), which may improve the performance and/or durability of the electrochemical cell. In some instances (for example, in certain cases where the deformable solid includes a piezoelectric array and/or an electroactive polymer), the battery may be able to make dynamic adjustments to a pressure experienced by the electrochemical cell (e.g., based on signals from a pressure sensor). The systems and methods described herein can, in some instances, provide for relatively uniform pressure distributions across an electrochemical cell and/or throughout a stack of multiple electrochemical cells.