An anode includes a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) with an open pore structure. The open pore structure includes open pores to facilitate motion of an alkali metal into and/or out of the MIEC. The open pore structure thus provides open space to relieve the stresses generated by the alkali metal when charging/discharging a battery. The MIEC is formed from a material that is thermodynamically and electrochemically stable against the alkali metal to prevent the formation of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) debris and the formation of dead alkali metal. The MIEC may also be passive (the MIEC does not store or release alkali metal). In one example, the open pore structure may be an array of substantially aligned tubules with a width less than about 300 nm, a wall thickness between about 1 nm to about 30 nm, and a height of at least 10 um arranged as a honeycomb.

An electrode and a lithium-ion battery employing the electrode are provided. The electrode includes an active layer, a conductive layer, and a non-conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the top surface of the active layer. The conductive layer includes a first porous film and a conductive lithiophilic material, and the conductive lithiophilic material is within the first porous film and covers the inner surface of the first porous film. The non-conductive layer includes a second porous film and a non-conductive lithiophilic material, and the non-conductive lithiophilic material is within the second porous film and covers the inner surface of the second porous film. The conductive layer is disposed between the active layer and the non-conductive layer. The binding energy (ΔG) of the lithiophilic material with lithium is less than or equal to −2.6 eV.

The present disclosure sets forth battery components for secondary and/or traction batteries. Described herein are new solid-state lithium (Li) conducting electrolytes including monolithic, single layer, and bi-layer solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion (Li.sup.+) conducting catholytes or electrolytes. These solid-state ion conductors have particular chemical compositions which are arranged and/or bonded through both crystalline and amorphous bonds. Also provided herein are methods of making these solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion conductors including new annealing methods. These ion conductors are useful, for example, as membrane separators in rechargeable batteries.

A solid garnet composition includes a bulk composition having a lithium garnet; and a surface composition having a protonated garnet on at least a portion of the exterior surface of the lithium garnet, such that the protonated garnet is uniformly disposed over the at least a portion of the exterior surface of the lithium garnet. A method of making a solid garnet composition includes pre-treating an air sensitive lithium-containing garnet with water to form a uniform protonated garnet surface composition; and contacting the uniform protonated garnet surface composition with an acid to form a porous uniform protonated garnet surface composition.

Provided is a composite solid electrolyte membrane for an all-solid-state secondary battery, including: a phase transformation layer containing a plasticizer and a lithium salt; a porous polymer sheet layer; and a solid polymer electrolyte layer, wherein the phase transformation layer, the porous polymer sheet layer and the solid polymer electrolyte layer are stacked successively, and the phase transformation layer is disposed in such a manner that it faces a negative electrode when manufacturing an electrode assembly. An all-solid-state secondary battery including the composite solid electrolyte membrane is also provided. The composite solid electrolyte membrane for an all-solid-state secondary battery reduces the interfacial resistance with an electrode, increases ion conductivity, and improves the safety of a battery.

A composite electrolyte includes: a positively charged particle, a particle that is positively charged by having a coordinate bond with a cation, or a combination thereof; and a lithium salt.

Performance of a thermal lithium battery is improved by improving the ion-transport characteristics of a solid lithium iodide electrolyte. The lithium iodide lattice of the solid electrolyte includes defects that improve the ion-transport characteristics of the solid lithium iodide electrolyte. In one example, the defects are due to the introduction of nanoparticles that result in grain boundary defects. The defects resulting at the grain boundaries with the nanoparticles improve the ion transport characteristics of the electrolyte. In another example, defects originating from the synthesis process are pinned by the presence of nanoparticles and/or the reinforcing structure. In another example, the defects are aliovalent substitution defects. A cation that is aliovalent to the lithium cation (Li.sup.+), such as a barium cation (Ba.sup.2+), creates an aliovalent substitution defect in the lithium iodide lattice. In order to maintain charge neutrality in the lattice, two lithium cations are replaced by a single barium cation creating the defect in the lattice.

The present disclosure sets forth battery components for secondary and/or traction batteries. Described herein are new solid-state lithium (Li) conducting electrolytes including monolithic, single layer, and bi-layer solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion (Li.sup.+) conducting catholytes or electrolytes. These solid-state ion conductors have particular chemical compositions which are arranged and/or bonded through both crystalline and amorphous bonds. Also provided herein are methods of making these solid-state sulfide-based lithium ion conductors including new annealing methods. These ion conductors are useful, for example, as membrane separators in rechargeable batteries.

A new polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane for electrolysis and fuel cell applications has been developed for electrolysis and fuel cell applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coated proton-exchange membrane comprises: a cation exchange membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on one or both surfaces of the cation exchange membrane. The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. The polycation polymer layer is deposited on and is in contact with the cation exchange membrane. The top layer of the polyelectrolyte multilayer coating can be either a polycation polymer layer or a polyanion polymer layer.

A polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane has been developed for redox flow batteries and other electrochemical reaction applications. The polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane comprises an ionically conductive thin film composite membrane comprising a microporous support membrane, a hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer on the surface of the microporous support membrane, and a polyelectrolyte multilayer coating on the second surface of the hydrophilic ionomeric polymer coating layer (the side opposite the support membrane). The polyelectrolyte multilayer coating comprises alternating layers of a polycation polymer and a polyanion polymer. Methods of making the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane and redox flow battery system including the polyelectrolyte multilayer membrane are also described.