This invention provides systems and methods for treating electrodes used in batteries and electrochemical cells upon battery/cell shutdown and prior to battery standby mode. Systems and methods of this invention are directed toward the use of aerosol to treat the electrode and to protect the electrode and/or the environment from undesired reactions.

Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal air electrochemical cell architectures. Various embodiments may provide a battery, such as an unsealed battery or sealed battery, with an open cell arrangement configured such that a liquid electrolyte layer separates a metal electrode from an air electrode. In various embodiments, the electrolyte may be disposed within one or more vessel of the battery such that electrolyte serves as a barrier between a metal electrode and gaseous oxygen. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide for removing a metal electrode from electrolyte to prevent self-discharge of the metal electrode. Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide a three electrode battery configured to operate each in a discharge mode, but with two distinct electrochemical reactions occurring at each electrode.

Secondary carbon batteries are attractive from an environmental perspective, as they have carbon-only electrodes and are therefore metal-free. Current invention refers to novel secondary carbon batteries with water-based brine electrolytes. These electrolytes have low toxicity, are not flammable, and allow for easy on-site battery recycling. The inventive carbon batteries feature graphite current collectors, activated carbon electrodes, and aqueous eutectic electrolytes comprising NaCl, KCl, MgCl.sub.2, or CaCl.sub.2. Further improvement of the batteries is performed by an initial repetitive charge-discharge cycling with subsequent replacement of the spent electrolyte. The improved secondary carbon batteries with the operating voltage of about 1.8 V can be used for electric storage utilities of renewable energy installations.

Provided herein arc 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.

An ultrasonic solid-state lithium battery with built-in ultrasonic vibrating effect, including a battery case; and a positive electrode, a negative electrode and solid electrolyte installed on the battery case. A built-in ultrasonic vibrating module is provided within the positive electrode and/or negative electrode and/or solid electrolyte. The ultrasonic vibrating module has an ultrasonic vibrating element and an insulating layer covering the peripheral surfaces of the ultrasonic vibrating element. Wiring terminals electrically connected with the ultrasonic vibrating element are provided on or above a top end of the positive electrode and/or negative electrode and/or solid electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a battery cell for evaluating an internal short circuit, and a method for evaluating using the battery cell, wherein an internal short circuit state of a battery cell can be easily induced and, at the same time, an effective internal short circuit evaluation is possible, and the battery cell comprising: first and second electrodes which comprise a coated region on which an electrode mixture layer is coated on a metal current collector and a non-coated region on which an electrode mixture layer is not coated, and which comprise first and second electrode tabs which protrude in one direction from the coated region and do not have an electrode mixture layer coated thereon.

A system and method for flushing the electrolyte out of an electrolyte flushable battery apparatus during a thermal runaway event. At least one condition of the electrolyte flushable battery apparatus is monitored to detect a potential thermal runaway event based on the at least one condition exceeding a threshold value. In response the inlet valve and outlet valves on the battery apparatus are opened. A flushing liquid is flushed or pumped through the battery apparatus where the flushing liquid enters the apparatus through the inlet valve and leaves the apparatus through the outlet valve. The flushing liquid is then stored in a reservoir.

The present disclosure pertains to motion-generating particles for desulfation of lead-acid batteries, lead-acid batteries including such motion-generating particles, and methods of making and using the same. For example, the present disclosure provides a lead-acid battery including one or more electroactive plates disposed within a casing; an electrolyte disposed within the casing and surrounding the electroactive plates; a plurality of ferromagnetic particles disposed with the electrolyte within the casing; and one or more electromagnets. The one or more electromagnets may be configured to direct a magnetic field towards the electrolyte to selectively cause movement of the plurality of ferromagnetic particles so as to agitate the electrolyte.

Electrochemical stacks such as lithium-ion battery stacks and methods of assembling the same are disclosed. The stacks may include various electrochemical cells having different attributes. In one variation, the outer electrochemical cells may be different than the inner electrochemical cells. For example, the electrodes of the outer cells and inner cells may have different compositions, loading levels, and/or thicknesses. In a refinement, the separators of the outer cells and inner cells may have different thicknesses or porosities.

The present invention relates to an electrolyte impregnation apparatus comprising: a pressing unit comprising a pressing plate that presses a battery cell in which an electrode assembly and an electrolyte are accommodated; and an ultrasonic vibration unit installed to a portion or the whole of the pressing plate to apply ultrasonic vibration to the battery cell.