Systems and methods for using an ultrasonic vibration generator to apply vibrational energy to a metal negative electrode of a rechargeable battery. In some examples, the application of vibrational energy to the metal negative electrode occurs during a charging event.

The present disclosure provides an electrolyte system for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions. The electrolyte system may include an aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt in a mixture of organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents may include a first solvent and a second solvent. The first solvent may include an ether solvent, a carbonate solvent, or a mixture of ether and carbonate solvents. The second solvent may include a fluorinated ether. A molar ratio of the aliphatic fluorinated disulfonimide lithium salt to the first solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1.2 to less than or equal to about 1:2. A molar ratio of the first solvent to the second solvent may be greater than or equal to about 1:1 to less than or equal to about 1:4.

In a flow battery according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a first liquid does not include an undesired compound. The flow battery satisfies requirement (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv). (i) An anode active material 14 includes graphite, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.15 V vs. Li/Li.sup.+. (ii) An anode active material includes aluminum, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.18 V vs. Li/Li.sup.+. (iii) An anode active material includes tin, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li.sup.+. (iv) An anode active material includes silicon, and the first liquid has an equilibrium potential of not more than 0.25 V vs. Li/Li.sup.+.

A slurry is prepared by mixing active material particles, capsule-shaped particles, a binder, and an organic solvent. The slurry is applied to a surface of a substrate to form a coating film. The coating film is heated to dry to form an active material layer. The active material layer is compressed to produce an electrode. Each of the capsule-shaped particles includes a thermoplastic resin. The thermoplastic resin softens when heated in the presence of the organic solvent. When the thermoplastic resin softens, the capsule-shaped particles shrink to form voids in the active material layer.

A convection enhanced energy storage system includes an electrochemical cell with a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode, a tank holding an electrolyte, and a pump connected to the electrochemical cell and the tank to circulate the electrolyte. The electrochemical cell has large γ and β values, which has high transport resistance from diffusion and there is limited salt in the electrolyte solution to compensate. A computer system can implement a model of a convection enhanced energy storage system, for example for simulation to select parameters for such an energy storage system. The model includes: a convection term in a Nernst-Planck equation representing the convection enhanced energy storage system; boundary conditions of a cell of the convection enhanced energy storage system to account for forced convection at boundaries; gauging conservation of anions within an external tank; and calculating electrode active area as a function of porosity.

An accumulator comprising an outer insulating case configured for accommodating an electrolyte internally to which there is contained, in addition to said electrolyte, an inner block characterized in that said inner block has a geometrical structure formed of a plurality of hollow cells communicating with each other to form a alveolar structure, every hollow cell comprising a wall wherein at least one hole is derived configured in such a way as to put the volume internal to said hole in communication with the volume external thereto, in that said block is formed of an alternation of conductive material regions and insulating material regions integral and alternating with each other to form electrodes and separators, and in that said geometrical structure formed of a plurality of hollow cells communicating with each other is uninterrupted in correspondence with the separation surfaces between said conductive material regions and said insulating material regions.

The invention relates to a rechargeable battery comprising a battery housing which has a cell cavity, or several cell cavities separated by dividing walls. One or more of the cell cavities have at least one respective positive and negative electrode, separated from each other by at least one separator, and a liquid electrolyte. One or more of the cell cavities have a respective wall element, which partitions the respective cell cavity into at least two volume chambers which communicate with one another. At least in the lower regions of the volume chambers, a communicating connection between the volume chambers for the liquid electrolytes is provided and in the upper region of the volume chambers, a pressure compensation connection between the volume chambers for assuring equal air pressure in the volume chambers communicating chambers is provided. Also disclosed is a wall element for such a rechargeable battery, and a battery housing.

A lithium slurry battery system is provided. The system includes a lithium slurry battery and a maintenance and regeneration equipment for the battery. The battery includes: a case, a cell core accommodated in the case, and a cover butting device. The case is provided with a cover and a case body. The cover butting device is arranged on the cover and is provided with a first cover port and a second cover port. The maintenance and regeneration equipment includes: a gas storage tank for storing gas, a liquid storage tank for storing liquid; a gas recovery storage tank for storing gas recovered from the lithium slurry battery; a liquid recovery storage tank for storing liquid recovered from the lithium slurry battery; and an equipment butting device provided with a first equipment port and a second equipment port.

Improved battery systems, apparatuses, and methods for use in electric air, land, and marine vehicles and mobile, portable, and stationary electrical appliances and devices are provided. The systems employ acoustic and current manipulation of anode interface deposits including dendrites on or proximate lithium and other anodes. This invention may employ multistatic ultrasonic phased arrays and current modulation to 1) minimize deposit, e.g., dendrite, initiation and formation by acoustic stirring, 2) acoustically image dendritic growths to monitor changes in dendrite growths, 3) cue dendrite cleaning and battery shutdown to avoid short circuit, 4) induce failure in dendritic structure and shearing of at least a portion of the dendrite from the anode, and 5) transport sheared dendrites and other dead metal to a graveyard.

The invention provides novel high-energy density and low-cost flow electrochemical devices incorporating solid-flow electrodes, and further provides methods of using such electrochemical devices. Included are anode and cathode current collector foils that can be made to move during discharge or recharge of the device. Solid-flow devices according to the invention provide improved charging capability due to direct replacement of the conventional electrode stack, higher volumetric and gravimetric energy density, and reduced battery cost due to reduced dimensions of the ion-permeable layer.