Provided are methods of preparing a separator/anode assembly for use in an electric current producing cell, wherein the assembly comprises an anode current collector layer interposed between a first anode layer and a second anode layer and a porous separator layer on the side of the first anode layer opposite to the anode current collector layer, wherein the first anode layer is coated directly on the separator layer.

A battery including a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer, a second electrode layer which is located on the solid electrolyte layer and which is a counter electrode layer of the first electrode layer, and a space portion, wherein a first thickness portion is located on the first active material layer, the second thickness portion is located on the first electrode layer, the second active material layer is located at a position which faces the first thickness portion and which does not face the first active material layer via the second thickness portion, the second collector extends to the position facing the second thickness portion and a region provided with the second active material layer, the second thickness portion is in contact with the second electrode layer, and the space portion is surrounded by the second electrode layer and the second thickness portion.

A battery electrode composition is provided that comprises a composite material comprising one or more nanocomposites. The nanocomposites may each comprise a planar substrate backbone having a curved geometrical structure, and an active material forming a continuous or substantially continuous film at least partially encasing the substrate backbone. To form an electrode from the electrode composition, a plurality of electrically-interconnected nanocomposites of this type may be aggregated into one or more three-dimensional agglomerations, such as substantially spherical or ellipsoidal granules.

Improving the performance of cathodes by using surface coatings has proven to be an effective method for improving the stability of Li-ion batteries (LIBs), while a high-quality film satisfying all requirements of electrochemical inertia, chemical stability, and lithium ion conductivity has not been found. Disclosed herein is a composite film composed of A.sub.2O.sub.3 and AlF.sub.3 layers was coated on the surface of Li.sub.1.2Mn.sub.0.54Co.sub.0.13Ni.sub.0.13O.sub.2 (Li-rich NMC) based electrodes by atomic layer deposition (ALD). By varying the ratio of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 and AlF.sub.3, an optimal coating was achieved. The electrochemical characterization results indicated that the coating with 1 cycle of AlF.sub.3 ALD on 5 cycles of Al.sub.2O.sub.3 ALD (1AlF.sub.3—5Al.sub.2O.sub.3) significantly improved the cycling stability and alleviated the voltage attenuation problem of Li-rich NMC based electrodes by suppressing side reactions between the electrolyte and electrode, as well as inhibiting the transformation of layered Li.sub.2MnO.sub.3 into a spinel-like phase. After 200 cycles of charge-discharge, the discharge capacity retention of LIB half cells based on 1AlF.sub.3—5Al.sub.2O.sub.3 coated Li-rich NMC electrodes kept at 84%, much higher than that of the uncoated Li-rich NMC (the capacity retention less than 20%).

A composite fiber includes a porous silicon phase including elemental silicon and a porous carbon phase including elemental carbon. The silicon phase and the carbon phase form an intertwined network structure in the composite fiber such that each of the silicon phase and the carbon phase is interconnected and continuous throughout the composite fiber. The silicon phase and the carbon phase together constitute at least 50 percent by weight of the composite fiber.

Various implementations of a method of forming an electrochemical cell include providing a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator between the first and second electrodes, and an electrolyte in a cell container. The first electrode can include silicon-dominant electrochemically active material. The silicon-dominant electrochemically active material can include greater than 50% silicon by weight. The method can also include exposing at least a part of the electrochemical cell to CO.sub.2, and forming a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the first electrode using the CO.sub.2.

A battery is disclosed that includes an anode, a graded interface layer disposed on the anode, a cathode positioned opposite to the anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The anode may output lithium ions during cycling of the battery. A graded interface layer may be disposed on the anode and include a tin fluoride layer. A tin-lithium alloy region may form between the tin fluoride layer and the anode. The tin-lithium alloy region may produce a lithium fluoride uniformly dispersed between the anode and the tin fluoride layer during operational cycling of the battery. The electrolyte may disperse throughout the cathode and the anode. The separator may be positioned between the anode and cathode. In some aspects, the battery may also include lithium electrodeposited on one or more exposed surfaces of the anode.

The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm.sup.3/g and no more than 2 cm.sup.3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D.sub.50 particle size of less than 20 μm; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.

A battery electrode composition is provided that comprises a composite material comprising one or more nanocomposites. The nanocomposites may each comprise a planar substrate backbone having a curved geometrical structure, and an active material forming a continuous or substantially continuous film at least partially encasing the substrate backbone. To form an electrode from the electrode composition, a plurality of electrically-interconnected nanocomposites of this type may be aggregated into one or more three-dimensional agglomerations, such as substantially spherical or ellipsoidal granules.

Composite cathode-separator laminations (CSL) include a current collector with sulfur-based host material applied thereto, a coated separator comprising an electrolyte membrane separator with a carbonaceous coating, and a porous, polymer-based interfacial layer (PBIL) forming a binding interface between the carbonaceous coating and the host material. The host material includes less than about 6% polymeric binder, and less than about 40% electrically conductive carbon, with the balance comprising one or more sulfur compounds. The PBIL can have a thickness of less than about 5 μm and a porosity of about 5% to about 40%. The host material can comprise less than about 40% conductive carbon (e.g., graphene) and have a porosity of less than about 40%. The carbonaceous coating (e.g., graphene) can have a thickness of about 1 μm to about 5 μm. The CSL can be disposed with an anode within an electrolyte to form a lithium-sulfur battery cell.