A separator for a lithium-based battery, and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The method includes oxidizing cellulose fibrils to form oxidized cellulose having carboxylic functional groups, decorating the oxidized cellulose with nanoparticles, and forming the nanoparticle-decorated oxidized cellulose into a film to become the separator for the lithium-based battery. The cellulose may be a bacterial cellulose. The cellulose fibrils may be oxidized through a TEMPO oxidation. Decorating the oxidized cellulose with nanoparticles may include introducing a precursor solution to the oxidized cellulose that reacts with hydroxyl groups of the oxidized cellulose while preserving the carboxylic functional groups, causing the nanoparticles to nucleate on the surface of the oxidized cellulose. The nanoparticles may be composed of an oxide material. The oxide material may be SiO.sub.2. The precursor solution may be tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS).

A separator for a lithium-based battery, and method for fabricating the same is disclosed. The method includes oxidizing cellulose fibrils to form oxidized cellulose having carboxylic functional groups, decorating the oxidized cellulose with nanoparticles, and forming the nanoparticle-decorated oxidized cellulose into a film to become the separator for the lithium-based battery. The cellulose may be a bacterial cellulose. The cellulose fibrils may be oxidized through a TEMPO oxidation. Decorating the oxidized cellulose with nanoparticles may include introducing a precursor solution to the oxidized cellulose that reacts with hydroxyl groups of the oxidized cellulose while preserving the carboxylic functional groups, causing the nanoparticles to nucleate on the surface of the oxidized cellulose. The nanoparticles may be composed of an oxide material. The oxide material may be SiO.sub.2. The precursor solution may be tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS).

The disclosure provides a battery and methods for making and using the battery. The battery includes (a) a separator that is woven and porous, and (b) a graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet coating coupled to a surface of the separator. The GO nanosheet coating is configured as a buffer layer to permit transport of Li-ions therethrough and to regulate a rate of flow of the transport of the Li-ions.

The disclosure provides a battery and methods for making and using the battery. The battery includes (a) a separator that is woven and porous, and (b) a graphene oxide (GO) nanosheet coating coupled to a surface of the separator. The GO nanosheet coating is configured as a buffer layer to permit transport of Li-ions therethrough and to regulate a rate of flow of the transport of the Li-ions.

A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly disposed within a constraint. The electrode assembly comprises a population of unit cells comprising an electrode current collector layer, an electrode layer, a separator layer, a counter-electrode layer, and a counter-electrode current collector layer in stacked succession. A subset of the unit cell population includes extended spacer members between the electrode current collector layer and the counter-electrode current collector layer. One of the spacer members is spaced in a transverse direction from the other extended spacer member, at least a portion of the counter-electrode active material of the counter-electrode layer being located between the spacer members such that the portion of the counter-electrode active material and the spacer members lie in a common plane defined by x and z axes, wherein each of the extended spacer members extend a distance SD in the x-axis direction beyond an x-axis edge of the constraint.

A secondary battery includes an electrode assembly disposed within a constraint. The electrode assembly comprises a population of unit cells comprising an electrode current collector layer, an electrode layer, a separator layer, a counter-electrode layer, and a counter-electrode current collector layer in stacked succession. A subset of the unit cell population includes extended spacer members between the electrode current collector layer and the counter-electrode current collector layer. One of the spacer members is spaced in a transverse direction from the other extended spacer member, at least a portion of the counter-electrode active material of the counter-electrode layer being located between the spacer members such that the portion of the counter-electrode active material and the spacer members lie in a common plane defined by x and z axes, wherein each of the extended spacer members extend a distance SD in the x-axis direction beyond an x-axis edge of the constraint.

In accordance with at least selected embodiments or aspects, the present invention is directed to improved, unique, and/or complex performance lead acid battery separators, such as improved flooded lead acid battery separators, batteries including such separators, methods of production, and/or methods of use. The preferred battery separator of the present invention addresses and optimizes multiple separator properties simultaneously. It is believed that the present invention is the first to recognize the need to address multiple separator properties simultaneously, the first to choose particular multiple separator property combinations, and the first to produce commercially viable multiple property battery separators, especially such a separator having negative cross ribs.

Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

---A non-woven fabric and a preparation method therefore, a lithium battery diaphragm and a lithium battery diaphragm base membrane, relating to the field of materials. Raw materials of the non-woven fabric include main fibers and bonding fibers, wherein the bonding fibers include first bonding fibers and second bonding fibers; the melting point or softening point of the first bonding fibers is 120-220° C., and the melting point or softening point of the second bonding fibers is 100-170° C., the melting point or softening point of the second bonding fibers is at least 15° C. lower than that of the first bonding fibers; and the melting point or softening point of the main fibers is at least 20° C. higher than that of the first bonding fibers.---