The present disclosure generally relates to apparatus and processes for monitoring the structural health of an energy storage device, and more specifically to energy storage devices with operando monitoring and processes of use. In an aspect, an apparatus is provided that includes an energy storage device comprising an electrode, the electrode comprising a nanotube network and an active material. The apparatus further includes a processor configured to determine a first value of potential change of the electrode of the energy storage device and to compare the first value of potential change to a threshold value or range.

A sulfur-carbon composite and a lithium-sulfur battery including the same, and in particular, to a sulfur-carbon composite including a porous carbon material; a polymer having electrolyte liquid loading capacity; and sulfur. The porous carbon material may be coated with the polymer having electrolyte liquid loading capacity and the coated porous carbon material then mixed with the sulfur. By introducing a coating layer including the polymer having electrolyte liquid loading capacity to a surface of the porous carbon material, it is possible to improve reactivity of the sulfur and an electrolyte liquid and thereby enhance performance and lifetime properties of the lithium-sulfur battery.

An immobilized selenium body, made from carbon and selenium and optionally sulfur, makes selenium more stable, requiring a higher temperature or an increase in kinetic energy for selenium to escape from the immobilized selenium body and enter a gas system, as compared to selenium alone. Immobilized selenium localized in a carbon skeleton can be utilized in a rechargeable battery. Immobilization of the selenium can impart compression stress on both the carbon skeleton and the selenium. Such compression stress enhances the electrical conductivity in the carbon skeleton and among the selenium particles and creates an interface for electrons to be delivered and or harvested in use of the battery. A rechargeable battery made from immobilized selenium can be charged or discharged at a faster rate over conventional batteries and can demonstrate excellent cycling stability.

Methods of making a sintered electrode comprise forming a slurry including 40 wt % to 75 wt % of a powder comprising a chalcogenide and at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, 1 wt % to 10 wt % of a binder, and 30 wt % to 50 wt % of a solvent. Methods include casting the slurry into a green tape. Methods include drying the green tape to form a dried green tape by removing at least a portion of the solvent. The dried green tape includes at most 10 wt % of organic material in the dried green tape. Methods include sintering the dried green tape at a temperature from 500° C. to 1350° C. for no more than 60 minutes to form the sintered electrode.

The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo.sub.6Z.sub.8 (Z=sulfur) or Mo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y (Z.sup.1=sulfur; Z.sup.2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu.sub.1Mo.sub.6S.sub.8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu.sub.1-xMg.sub.xMo.sub.6S.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8 or M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

A process for synthesizing a material, includes: (a) providing a plurality of powders including at least one lithiated powder including lithium, at least one TM powder including, for more than 95.0% of its mass, a transition metal chosen from titanium; cobalt, manganese, nickel, niobium, tin, iron and mixtures thereof, and at least one chalcogen powder including, for more than 95.0% of its mass, a chalcogen element chosen from sulfur, selenium, tellurium and mixtures thereof, (b) preparing a particulate mixture by mixing all the powders of the plurality or by mixing one of the powders of the plurality with a milled material obtained by; milling a particulate assembly formed by mixing at least two of the other powders of the plurality, and (c) milling the particulate fixture to form the material.

The disclosure relates generally to batteries. The disclosure relates more specifically to improved catalyst systems for metal-air batteries. A metal-air battery comprising: an anode comprising a metal; a cathode comprising at least one transition metal dichalcogenide; and an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the transition metal dichalcogenide of the cathode, wherein the electrolyte comprises at least 50% by weight of an ionic liquid, is disclosed herein.

Electrolyte materials for use in electrochemical cells, electrochemical cells comprising the same, and methods of making such materials and cells, are generally described. In some embodiments, the materials, processes, and uses described herein relate to electrochemical cells comprising sulfur and lithium such as, for example, lithium sulfur batteries. The electrolyte can comprise a polymeric material and, in some cases, an absorbed auxiliary material. For example, the electrolyte material can be capable of forming a gel, and the auxiliary material can comprise an electrolyte solvent. In some instances, the electrolyte material can comprise at least one organic (co)polymer selected from polyethersulfones, polyvinylalcohols (PVOH) and branched polyimides (HPI). The non-fluid material in the electrolyte, when configured for use, can, alone or in combination with the optional absorbed auxiliary material, have a yield strength greater than that of lithium metal, in some embodiments.

An electrochemical cell including at least one nitrogen-containing compound is disclosed. The at least one nitrogen-containing compound may form part of or be included in: an anode structure, a cathode structure, an electrolyte and/or a separator of the electrochemical cell. Also disclosed is a battery including the electrochemical cell.

A metal-ion battery includes: (1) an anode including aluminum; (2) a cathode including a layered, active material; and (3) an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode to support reversible deposition and dissolution of aluminum at the anode and reversible intercalation and de-intercalation of anions at the cathode.