Provided are passivation layers for batteries. The batteries may be aqueous aluminum batteries. The passivation layer may be disposed on a portion of or all of a surface or surfaces of an anode, which may be an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode. The passivation layer is bonded to the surface of the anode. The passivation layer may be an organic, nitrogen-rich material and inorganic Al-halide rich or Al-nitrate rich material. The passivation layer may be formed by contacting an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate, which may be aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, with one or more aluminum halide and one or more ionic liquid.

The present invention decreases internal resistance in a solid-state battery having a LiAl system negative electrode mixture.

A solid-state battery (1) includes: a positive electrode layer (20), a negative electrode layer (30), and a solid electrolyte layer (40) disposed between the positive electrode layer (20) and negative electrode layer (30), in which the negative electrode layer (30) includes an aluminum layer (31) contacting the solid electrolyte layer (40), and an aluminum-lithium alloy layer (33).

In some implementations, a metal air battery includes an anode and an cathode opposite to the anode. The cathode may be formed as a textured carbon-based scaffold and include an opening into the metal air battery. The metal air battery may include a nano-fibrous membrane (NFM) containing a liquid electrolyte and a functionalized carbon structure may be disposed between the cathode and the NFM. The functionalized carbon structure may allow moisture and oxygen from ambient air to permeate through the NFM and diffuse throughout the textured scaffold of the cathode. A moisture barrier layer may be laminated over the cathode and positioned, by a user, in one of two states. When in a first state, the moisture barrier layer may seal the opening. When in a second state, the moisture barrier layer may allow the moisture and the oxygen to enter the textured scaffold.

In some implementations, a metal air battery includes a body defined by a metal anode and a cathode, a first separator layer disposed on the metal anode, a second separator layer disposed on the cathode, and a plurality of beads disposed within the body. The beads may confine a liquid electrolyte, and may be configured to release the liquid electrolyte into interior portions of the battery in response to a compression of the cathode into the body of the battery.

Systems and methods for aromatic macrocyclic compounds (Phthalocyanines) as cathode additives for inhibition of transition metal dissolution and stable solid electrolyte interphase formation may include an anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode, where the cathode comprises an active material and a phthalocyanine additive, the additive being coordinated with different metal cationic center and functional groups. The active material may comprise one or more of: nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, nickel cobalt manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, and lithium manganese oxide, Ni-rich layered oxides LiNi.sub.1−xM.sub.xO.sub.2 where M=Co, Mn, or Al, Li-rich xLi.sub.2MnO.sub.3(1−x)LiNi.sub.aCo.sub.bMn.sub.cO.sub.2, Li-rich layered oxides LiNi.sub.1+xM.sub.1−O.sub.2 where M=Co, Mn, or Ni, and spinel oxides LiNi.sub.0.5Mn.sub.1.5O.sub.4. The phthalocyanine additive may include one or more of: cobalt hexadecafluoro phthalocyanine (Co-Pc-F), dilithium phthalocyanine (Li-Pc), cobalt(II) phthalocyanine, nickel(II) phthalocyanine-tetrasulfonic acid tetrasodium salt, titanium(IV) phthalocyanine dichloride, manganese(II) phthalocyanine, zinc phthalocyanine, aluminum phthalocyanine chloride, Iron(II) phthalocyanine, and silicon phthalocyanine dichloride.

A composition-of-matter comprising a plurality of particles is disclosed herein, the particles comprising a substance reversibly releasing an alkali metal while decreasing in volume and absorbing the alkali metal while increasing in volume. Some or all of the particles are encapsulated within a volume enclosed by a shell or matrix which conducts cations of the alkali metal, wherein a volume of the substance upon maximal absorption of the alkali metal does not exceed the volume enclosed by a shell or matrix. Further disclosed herein is a process for preparing a composition-of-matter by coating particles comprising the aforementioned substance with a conductor of cations of the alkali metal, when the substance is saturated with the alkali metal, as well as electrochemical half cells and batteries including the composition-of-matter.

A composition-of-matter comprising a plurality of particles is disclosed herein, the particles comprising a substance reversibly releasing an alkali metal while decreasing in volume and absorbing the alkali metal while increasing in volume. Some or all of the particles are encapsulated within a volume enclosed by a shell or matrix which conducts cations of the alkali metal, wherein a volume of the substance upon maximal absorption of the alkali metal does not exceed the volume enclosed by a shell or matrix. Further disclosed herein is a process for preparing a composition-of-matter by coating particles comprising the aforementioned substance with a conductor of cations of the alkali metal, when the substance is saturated with the alkali metal, as well as electrochemical half cells and batteries including the composition-of-matter.

A method of producing a pre-sulfurized active cathode layer for a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell; the method comprising: (a) preparing an integral layer of mesoporous structure of a carbon, graphite, metal, or conductive polymer having a specific surface area greater than 100 m.sup.2/g; (b) preparing an electrolyte comprising a solvent and a sulfur source; (c) preparing an anode; and (d) bringing the integral layer and the anode in ionic contact with the electrolyte and imposing an electric current between the anode and the integral layer (serving as a cathode) to electrochemically deposit nanoscaled sulfur particles or coating on the graphene surfaces. The sulfur particles or coating have a thickness or diameter smaller than 20 nm (preferably <10 nm, more preferably <5 nm or even <3 nm) and occupy a weight fraction of at least 70% (preferably >90% or even >95%).

Metal alloy layers on substrates. The metal-alloy layers (e.g., lithium-metal layers, sodium-metal layers, and magnesium-metal layers) can be disposed on, for example, a solid-state electrolyte material. The metal-alloy layers can be used in, for example, solid-state batteries. A metal alloy layer can be an anode or part of an anode of a solid state battery.

The disclosure concerns a lithium battery comprising, in order, a support, a copper electrode and, in contact with the copper electrode, a layer of a material capable of forming an alloy with lithium. The disclosure further concerns a manufacturing method and a method of putting into service such a battery.