A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to expand from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration when filled with a gas formed during a cell formation process. The system comprises a computational system comprising a processor and a memory and a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is arranged to measure a distance defined by the gas pouch and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the distance. The computational system is arranged to analyze the distance with the processor and determine a volumetric measurement of the gas within the gas pouch and compare the volumetric measurement to a threshold in the memory to assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

A quality control system analyzes the quality of a battery cell, with the battery cell defining a gas pouch configured to expand from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration when filled with a gas formed during a cell formation process. The system comprises a computational system comprising a processor and a memory and a measurement instrument in electronic communication with the computational system. The measurement instrument is arranged to measure a distance defined by the gas pouch and transmit a signal to the computational system corresponding to the distance. The computational system is arranged to analyze the distance with the processor and determine a volumetric measurement of the gas within the gas pouch and compare the volumetric measurement to a threshold in the memory to assess a quality score for the battery cell. A corresponding method analyzes the quality of the battery cell with the quality control system.

A clamping device for an electrochemical cell stack is provided. The clamping device can include a first plate and a second plate. The second plate can be positionable relative to the first plate such that a space between the first plate and the second plate can be sized to receive an electrochemical cell stack. The device also can include a coupling member coupling the first plate to the second plate. At least one of the first and second plates can be movable away from the other plate. The coupling member can have a first end portion and a second end portion. The device further can include an elastic member disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion.

A clamping device for an electrochemical cell stack is provided. The clamping device can include a first plate and a second plate. The second plate can be positionable relative to the first plate such that a space between the first plate and the second plate can be sized to receive an electrochemical cell stack. The device also can include a coupling member coupling the first plate to the second plate. At least one of the first and second plates can be movable away from the other plate. The coupling member can have a first end portion and a second end portion. The device further can include an elastic member disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion.

Provided is a battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolytic solution, and a particle-containing resin layer that contains particles and a resin. A shape of the particles includes a plane, a plane rate of the particles is greater than 40% and equal to or less than 100%, and a refractive index of the particles is equal to or greater than 1.3 and less than 2.4.

Provided is a battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolytic solution, and a particle-containing resin layer that contains particles and a resin. A shape of the particles includes a plane, a plane rate of the particles is greater than 40% and equal to or less than 100%, and a refractive index of the particles is equal to or greater than 1.3 and less than 2.4.

A method of diagnosing degradation of an electrode active material for a secondary battery including obtaining a first differential curve (dQ/dV) by differentiating an initial charge/discharge curve obtained by performing first charging and first discharging of the lithium secondary battery in a voltage range of 2.5 V to 4.2 V, and obtaining a second differential curve (dQ/dV) by differentiating a charge/discharge curve obtained by performing second charging and second discharging of the lithium secondary battery in a voltage range of 2.5 V to 4.2 V, and diagnosing whether a beta phase of the positive electrode active material has been formed by comparing maximum discharge peak values of the first differential curve and the second differential curve.

Provided herein is a high-volume continuous roll-to-roll method for manufacturing dimensionally stable, large format, high performance solid batteries using high lithium-ion conducting polymer matrix electrolyte (PME). The batteries can include a cathode layer sandwich with a thin contiguous PME layer across the anode and a high conducting PME in both the anode and cathode structures. The batteries can also retain a thin PME layer that functions as solid-state electrolyte between the cathode and anode thus maintaining continuity among the layers, resulting in minimal interface resistance and stronger structural integrity.

Provided herein is a high-volume continuous roll-to-roll method for manufacturing dimensionally stable, large format, high performance solid batteries using high lithium-ion conducting polymer matrix electrolyte (PME). The batteries can include a cathode layer sandwich with a thin contiguous PME layer across the anode and a high conducting PME in both the anode and cathode structures. The batteries can also retain a thin PME layer that functions as solid-state electrolyte between the cathode and anode thus maintaining continuity among the layers, resulting in minimal interface resistance and stronger structural integrity.

A lithium-sulfur battery cathode including conductive porous carbon particles vacuum infused with sulfur and a conductive collector substrate to which the sulfur infused porous carbon particles are deposited. The sulfur infused carbon particles are encapsulated by an encapsulation polymer, the encapsulation polymer having ionic conductivity, electronic conductivity, polysulfide affinity, or combinations thereof. A lithium-sulfur battery including the lithium-sulfur battery cathode, a lithium anode and an electrolyte disposed between the sulfur cathode and the lithium anode is also provided. Methods of producing the sulfur cathode for use in a lithium-sulfur battery by a hybrid vacuum-and-melt method are also provided.