Sion Power Corporation

Basf Se Corporation

Michael G Laramie

Yuriy V Mikhaylik

Chariclea Scordilis-Kelley

Klaus Leitner

Holger Schneider

Marina Safont-Sempere

Joern Kulisch

Veronika G Viner

David Child

Tracy Earl Kelley

Hui Du

Bala Sankaran

Zhaohui Liao

Johan Ter Maat

Ruediger Schmidt

John Joseph Christopher Kopera

James A Phipps

Daniel G Milobar

Thomas Weiss

Glenn Alan Hamblin

David L Coleman

Rüdiger Schmidt

Shane Harrel

Clellie Winter

Dominic Weinstock

Li Qun Ren

Marina Safont Sempere

Lithium metal electrodes, modular lithium deposition systems, and associated articles and methods are generally described. In some embodiments, the articles described herein may be suitable for use as, and/or in, lithium metal anodes. Similarly, the methods and/or modular lithium depositions systems described herein may be suitable for forming lithium metal anodes and/or components thereof.

Lithium metal electrodes

Lithium metal electrodes, modular lithium deposition systems, and associated articles and methods are generally described.

Systems and methods for fabricating lithium metal electrodes

Articles containing electrodes and current collectors arranged such that at least one electrode can be electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device, and associated systems and methods, are provided. In some cases, the articles contain substrates for which a change in volume of the substrate causes at least one electrode to become electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device. In certain cases, heating the substrate causes the change in volume of the substrate. Articles and electrochemical devices containing electrodes, current collectors, heaters, and/or sensors and associated systems and methods, are also provided. Electrochemical devices containing electrodes and current collectors arranged in a folded configuration, and associated articles, systems and methods, are also provided.

Electrochemical devices and related articles, components, configurations, and methods

Articles and methods involving protective membranes for electrochemical cells are generally provided. In some embodiments, a composite protective layer comprising particles and a polymeric binder may be disposed on an electroactive material. The particles may be reactive with lithium, may capable of intercalating lithium, and/or may comprise intercalated lithium. In some embodiments, the electroactive material may be in the form of a first electroactive layer, and a second electroactive layer may be disposed on the composite protective layer. Certain embodiments relate to activating a composite protective layer by intercalating lithium into particles within the layer and/or by reacting the particles with lithium metal.

Protective membrane for electrochemical cells

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.

Application of pressure to electrochemical devices including deformable solids, and related systems

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.

Protective layers for electrodes and electrochemical cells

Articles containing electrodes and current collectors arranged such that at least one electrode can be electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device, and associated systems and methods, are provided. In some cases, the articles contain substrates for which a change in volume of the substrate causes at least one electrode to become electronically isolated from other components of the article and/or an electrochemical device. In certain cases, heating the substrate causes the change in volume of the substrate.

Isolatable electrodes and associated articles and methods

The use of ion-conducting materials to protect electrodes is generally described. The ion-conducting material may be in the form of a layer that is adjacent to a polymeric layer, such as a porous separator, to form a composite. At least a portion of the pores of the polymer layer may be filled or unfilled with the ion-conducting material. In some embodiments, the ion-conducting layer is sufficiently bonded to the polymer layer to prevent delamination of the layers during cycling of an electrochemical cell.

Electrode protection using electrolyte-inhibiting ion conductor

Electrochemical cells comprising electrodes comprising lithium (e.g., in the form of a solid solution with non-lithium metals), from which in situ current collectors may be formed, are generally described.

In situ current collector

Articles and electrochemical devices containing electrodes, current collectors, heaters, and/or sensors and associated systems and methods, are provided. The sensors, when present, may be temperature sensors or pressure sensors. In some cases, the heaters and/or sensors are adjacent to the article or electrochemical device. In certain cases, the heaters and/or sensors are thin films that are integrated into the article or electrochemical device.

Electrodes, heaters, sensors, and associated articles and methods

Composite structures including an ion-conducting material and a polymeric material (e.g., a separator) to protect electrodes are generally described. The ion-conducting material may be in the form of a layer that is bonded to a polymeric separator. The ion-conducting material may comprise a lithium oxysulfide having a lithium-ion conductivity of at least at least 10S/cm.

Electrode protection using a composite comprising an electrolyte-inhibiting ion conductor

An electrode structure and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The disclosed electrode structures may be manufactured by depositing a first release layer on a first carrier substrate. A first protective layer may be deposited on a surface of the first release layer and a first electroactive material layer may then be deposited on the first protective layer. Subsequently, the first carrier substrate may be delaminated from the first release layer. The first release layer may then be removed from the first protective layer by dissolution in an electrolyte. The first protective layer may have a low mean peak to valley surface roughness and/or may be thin. In some embodiments, an interface between the first protective layer and the first electroactive material layer has a low mean peak to valley surface roughness. In some embodiments, a thickness of the first protective layer is greater than a mean peak to valley roughness of the first release layer. In some embodiments, an adhesive strength between the first release layer and the first protective layer is greater than an adhesive strength between the first release layer and the first carrier substrate.

Methods of forming electrode structures

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some embodiments, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some embodiments, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some embodiments, the layer (e.g., the layer comprising a plurality of particles) is an ion-conducting layer.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

Michael G Laramie