A device has isolated structures on a substrate, the isolated structures formed of a first material, the structures extending vertically from the substrate, and a second material on the substrate surrounding the isolated structures. A method of forming isolated structures includes depositing a first material and a second material on a substrate using a co-extrusion print head by applying pressure to the first material and the second material, periodically reducing the pressure applied to the first material to stop deposition of the first material while continuing to apply pressure to the second material to form isolated structures of the first material extending vertically from the substrate surrounded by the second material on the substrate, and removing the second material to leave isolated structures on the substrate.

Devices and methods for preparing a slurry for coating onto a substrate. The devices and methods of the present disclosure relate to providing a slurry in a closed volume with at least one passage. The slurry includes a solvent, a powder, and a binder. The slurry can also include a dispersion agent. The slurry is forced repeatedly under high pressure through the at least one passage in a first flow direction and then back through the at least one passage in a second flow direction, opposite the first flow direction. The forcing homogenously disperses the powder and the binder within the solvent. Both sides of the substrate are then coated simultaneously with the slurry extruded from the closed volume after the forcing. Curing of the coated slurry includes freeze drying to preserve the porosity of the slurry on the substrate.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an alkali metal-selenium cell, comprising: (a) providing a cathode; (b) providing an alkali metal anode; and (c) combining the anode and the cathode and adding an electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode and the cathode to form the cell; wherein the cathode contains multiple particulates of a selenium-containing material selected from selenium, a selenium-carbon hybrid, selenium-graphite hybrid, selenium-graphene hybrid, conducting polymer-selenium hybrid, a metal selenide, a Se alloy or mixture with Sn, Sb, Bi, S, or Te, a selenium compound, or a combination thereof and wherein at least one of the particulates comprises one or a plurality of selenium-containing material particles being embraced or encapsulated by a thin layer of an elastomer having a recoverable tensile strain from 5% to 1000%, a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10.sup.−7 S/cm, and a thickness from 0.5 nm to 10 μm.

Systems and methods are provided for using inorganic coatings in silicon-dominant cells.

A method of manufacturing a negative electrode for a lithium-ion secondary battery, the method comprising: (a) a process of obtaining a mixture that comprises a graphitizable binder and at least one selected from the group consisting of a graphitizable aggregate and graphite; (b) a process of obtaining a molded product by molding the mixture, in which the graphitizable binder is in a softened state; (c) a process of obtaining a graphitized product by graphitizing the molded product; and (d) a process of obtaining a pulverized product by pulverizing the graphitized product.

A die head apparatus is provided with a front blade, a rear blade, a center blade, and an internal impurity removal space. The front blade and the center blade are configured to form a pool of a slurry. The internal impurity removal space is positioned between the center blade and the rear blade. A distance separating the rear blade and the substrate is set to be smaller than the distance separating the center blade and the substrate.

A structure has a substrate, a first material on the substrate, the first material having a binder and a first active material, periodically located trapezoidal voids that only partially extend from a top of the first active material towards the substrate, and an electrolyte material filling the trapezoidal voids.

A coating apparatus includes a transport roll for transporting a base material, a slit die facing a lower surface of the base material, a coating liquid supply controller for switching on and/or off in supply of a coating liquid to the slit die, and a base material height changing device for ejecting compressed gas onto the lower surface of the base material during a specific period from a termination of the supply of the coating liquid to the slit die to a restart of the supply of the coating liquid to the slit die.

A method of manufacturing an electrochemical system comprising an electrode is described herein, comprising dispensing, in a configured pattern corresponding to the shape of the electrode, a model composition which comprises a substance capable of reversibly releasing an electrochemically-active agent (such as lithium) or depleted form of same, wherein dispensing comprises heating a filament comprising the model composition and dispensing a heated composition. Further described is an electrochemical system comprising an electrode which comprises a composite material, as well as batteries and supercapacitors comprising such a system. The composite material comprises a thermoplastic polymer and substance capable of reversibly releasing an electrochemically-active agent (such as lithium) or depleted form of same, wherein at least 20 weight percents of the composite material is thermoplastic polymer.

An electrode structure for use in a battery cell, the electrode structure including: a current collector layer having a current collector surface; a polymer gel electrode layer having an electrode surface that faces the current collector surface; and an interlayer arranged between the current collector surface and the electrode surface. The interlayer includes an electrically conducting material.