Abstract:
A lithium-based battery separator includes a porous polymer membrane having opposed surfaces. A porous carbon coating is formed on one of the opposed surfaces of the porous polymer membrane. Polycations are incorporated in the porous carbon coating, in the porous polymer membrane, or in both the porous carbon coating and the porous polymer membrane.
Abstract:
An example of a porous separator includes an untreated porous polymer membrane, and a nanocomposite structure i) formed on a surface of the porous polymer membrane, or ii) dispersed in pores of the porous polymer membrane, or iii) combinations of i and ii. The nanocomposite structure is selected from the group consisting of a carbon nanocomposite structure, a metal oxide nanocomposite structure, and a mixed carbon and metal oxide nanocomposite structure.
Abstract:
A sulfur-containing electrode has a binder comprising a single-lithium ion conductor. The electrode may be used a cathode in a lithium-sulfur or silicon-sulfur battery.
Abstract:
A battery cell pack has a plurality of battery cells that are assembled into a prismatic frame, with deformable separators interposed to accommodate elastic and plastic deformation caused by cyclic and acyclic expansion and contraction thereof during charging and discharging over the life of the battery cell pack. The battery cells are arranged in a horizontal stack within the prismatic frame, and the deformable separators are interposed between subsets of the battery cells. The deformable separators exert compressive force on the subsets of the battery cells along a longitudinal axis that is defined by the horizontal stack. The compressive force exerted by the deformable separators is at least a minimum force over a service life of the battery cell pack.
Abstract:
An electrolyte for a lithium metal battery includes a nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent, a lithium salt dissolved in the nonaqueous aprotic organic solvent and, by volume, from 1% to 10% of a flame retardant additive. The flame retardant additive is at least one of an organophosphate compound, an organophosphite compound, organophosphonate compound, or a phosphazene compound.
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 protective interfacial layer thereon. The precursor solution includes a first organic solvent mixture, a dioxolane, and a fluorinated organosilane. The protective interfacial layer exhibits a composite structure including a polymeric matrix component and a lithium-containing dispersed component embedded in the polymeric matrix component.
Abstract:
Methods of forming a lithium-based negative electrode assembly are provided. A surface of a metal current collector is treated with a reducing plasma gas so that after the treating, a treated surface of the metal current collector is formed that has a contact angle of less than or equal to about 10° and has less than or equal to about 5% metal oxides. The metal current collector may include a metal, such as copper, nickel, and iron. A lithium metal is applied to the treated surface of the metal current collector in an environment substantially free from oxidizing species. Lithium metal flows over and adheres to the treated surface to form a layer of lithium. The layer of lithium may be a thin layer having a thickness of ≥about 1 μm to ≤about 75 μm thus forming the lithium metal negative electrode assembly.
Abstract:
An electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell having an electrode comprising a chalcogen-containing electroactive material is provided, along with methods of making the electrolyte system. The electrolyte system includes one or more lithium salts dissolved in one or more solvents. The salts have a concentration in the electrolyte of greater than or equal to about 2M to less than or equal to about 5M. The electrochemical cell including the electrolyte system has a minimum potential greater than or equal to about 0.8 V to less than or equal to about 1.8 V and a maximum charge potential of greater than or equal to about 2.5 V to less than or equal to about 3 V.
Abstract:
An example electrolyte includes a solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a mercaptosilane, a mercaptosiloxane, and combinations thereof. The electrolyte may be used in a method for making a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of an electrode. A negative electrode structure may be formed from the method.
Abstract:
A highly-concentrated electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell is provided, along with methods of making the electrolyte system. The electrolyte system includes a bound moiety having an ionization potential greater than an electron affinity and comprising one or more salts selected from the group consisting of: lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, sodium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, potassium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, and combinations thereof bound to a solvent comprising one or more solvents selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl carbonate, dimethyl dicarbonate, and combinations thereof. The salts have a concentration in the electrolyte system of greater than or equal to about 4 M. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl carbonate is about 0.5. A molar ratio of the salts to the dimethyl dicarbonate is about 1. The salts binds to the dimethyl carbonate and/or dimethyl dicarbonate causing the electrolyte system to be substantially free of unbound dimethyl carbonate, unbound dimethyl dicarbonate, and unbound bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide.