Suppression of battery instability

Abstract

The present inventions relate to methods, systems, devices, controllers, software, and material compositions associated with suppressing (e.g., preventing) harmful effects associated with a battery cell, such as those occurring during the battery cell's lifespan. The harmful effects may be associated with a triggering event (e.g., melting temperature) affecting the battery cell or at least one material of a battery comprising the battery cell. At least one material may be an insulating material.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] preference

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application serial number 63 / 618,675 filed January 8, 2024, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] The present inventions relate to methods, systems, devices, controllers, software, and material compositions, e.g., materials. The present inventions relate to structures for use in energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage and / or energy release) devices comprising a battery cell (also referred to herein as "cell"), e.g., placed in a battery. In one example, the present inventions relate to structures such as electrode assemblies for use in energy manipulation devices, such as (e.g., secondary) batteries. The present inventions relate to energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) devices employing such structures. The present inventions relate to manufacturing such structures and / or energy devices (e.g., methods for manufacturing). In one example, the present invention relates to structures such as electrode assemblies for use in energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) devices such as secondary batteries, methods, energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) devices employing such structures, and methods for manufacturing such structures and energy devices.

[0004] In some cases, there may be defect(s) related to such batteries, their use, their storage, their maintenance, and / or their manufacture, e.g., the process of manufacturing such batteries. In one example, there are numerous defects related to batteries and the process of manufacturing them. A problem occurring in an energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) device (e.g., a battery) is its heating, e.g., due to battery abuse. Battery abuse may include thermal, electrical, or mechanical abuse that results in an increase in temperature. The increase in temperature may occur at least partially due to an increased current between the two opposite electrodes of the cell, e.g., at least partially due to a short circuit. In normal operation of the cell, current passes from one electrode to its opposite electrode, primarily through the separation space between them, which contacts the two opposite sides of the batteries. There may be residual current passing through the volume in contact with one or more sides of the two opposite electrodes. The increased heat may be at least partially due to Joule heating. Such heating may cause adverse effects on energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) devices and / or their surroundings. These adverse effects may be at least partially due to instability of the battery cells and / or the battery itself. Such heating may be caused by increased current between opposite electrodes. Such heating may also be generated during thermal runaway reactions, for example, uncontrollable chain reactions. Such heating may also be generated in the battery at a rate exceeding the battery's heat dissipation rate. Rapidly increasing heat may cause chemical (e.g., exothermic) reactions that generate additional heat. Such heat may cause adverse effects, including the release of toxic gases, fire, or explosion.The adverse effect(s) may be harmful to the cell, the battery, and / or objects placed in the environment outside the cell, whether living or non-living. The environment outside the cell may include, for example, the surrounding environment, or the environment outside the battery housing. The adverse effects may be defined according to jurisdictional definitions in the jurisdiction where the battery is manufactured, stored, used, and / or otherwise located. It may be advantageous to curtail (e.g., prevent) the occurrence of such adverse effect(s).

[0005] In some embodiments, the present disclosure addresses one or more of the problems mentioned above. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides solutions for suppressing adverse effects. In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods (e.g., techniques), devices, apparatuses, systems, and designs for constructing a battery comprising cell(s). The battery may be configured to suppress adverse effects, at least partially, by, for example, by blocking the load current and / or residual current, which is the main current of the battery during normal operation. In one example, the cell may come into contact with a dynamic insulator having susceptibility to a triggering event, such as reaching a temperature threshold. The triggering event may trigger a change in material within the dynamic insulator that suppresses a rise in the temperature of the cell (and / or battery), the rate at which charge carriers flow through the dynamic insulator, the concentration of charge carriers within the dynamic insulator, or any combination thereof. In one example, at least one material type of the dynamic insulator may be responsive to a triggering event. The triggering event may cause a substantial (e.g., significant) change in (i) the flow rate and / or (i) the concentration of charge carriers within the dynamic insulator. The responsiveness of at least one material type may depend at least partially on (a) a temperature threshold, (b) a charge carrier concentration threshold, or (c) the charge carrier flow rate. In one example, the cell may be in contact with a dynamic insulator having at least one temperature-susceptible material that inhibits (e.g., prevents) the flow of residual current based at least partially on the temperature of the dynamic insulator.Such (e.g., temperature-related) event-triggering characteristics of the dynamic insulator may induce a substantial reduction and / or shutdown in the residual current path passing through the dynamic insulator and otherwise between the opposite electrodes of the cell. Such suppression of residual current may (a) reduce the overall heating (e.g., Joule and / or other) of the cell during adverse effects, and / or (b) reduce the degree of runaway reaction, for example, during an external short circuit. Such suppression of residual current flow may also improve the overall safety of the battery.

[0006] In another embodiment, a device for energy manipulation comprises: a reference electrode having a reference surface comprising a first reference plane and a second reference plane opposite thereto, and a first reference side and a second reference side opposite thereto; a counter electrode for the reference electrode, wherein the counter electrode has a counter surface comprising a first counter surface and a second counter surface opposite thereto, and a first counter side and a second counter side opposite thereto; a separation space comprising a separator disposed between the reference electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the separation space has a separation surface comprising a first separation surface and a second separation surface opposite thereto, and a first separation side and a second separation side opposite thereto, wherein the first separation surface is in contact with the second reference plane and the second separation surface is in contact with the first counter surface; and at least one insulator occupying an insulating volume, wherein at least one insulator is in contact with (a) a first reference side, a first counter side, and a first separation side, (b) a second reference side, a second counter side, and a second separation side, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b); at least one insulator comprises at least one material type that is responsive to a triggering event indicating at least one adverse effect on the device and / or the surroundings of the device, wherein at least one material type is configured to change one or more properties of at least one material type based at least partially on the occurrence of the triggering event, and at least one insulator is at least partially dynamic with respect to the triggering event, and the device is configured for the flow of current, and the flow is between a reference electrode and a counter electrode, said at least one insulator. In some embodiments, at least one insulator is an electrical insulator, and is an electrical insulator configured not to conduct current well under normal operating conditions, such as excluding triggering events.In some embodiments, the triggering event relates to an uncontrollable reaction that causes at least one adverse effect. In some embodiments, the triggering event relates to a runaway reaction. In some embodiments, the triggering event relates to the initiation of a runaway reaction. In some embodiments, the triggering event occurs at least partially in at least one insulator, and the triggering event includes a threshold, the threshold being a threshold of a property including temperature, flowing current, or ion concentration. In some embodiments, the flow of current within the device includes a load current and a residual current. In some embodiments, the device is configured to allow a load current to flow from a second reference plane to a first counter plane and / or from a first counter plane to a second reference plane, and the load current flows through a separation space. In some embodiments, the device is configured to allow a residual current to flow from a second reference plane to a first counter plane and / or from a first counter plane to a second reference plane, and the residual current flows through at least one insulator. In some embodiments, the triggering event includes a melting point or a glass transition. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition such that at least one adverse effect is suppressed, becomes controllable, or any combination thereof, wherein suppression includes effectively ceasing or measurably ceasing. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition such that the heat generated becomes equal to or substantially equal to the heat generated by the device. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition such that the propagation of ions through it is suppressed, including reduction, effectively ceasing, or measurably ceasing.In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition so that the current flowing through at least one insulator is suppressed, including being reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition so that the current flowing through it is suppressed, including being reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition from a harder material to a softer material. In some embodiments, the softer material includes a fluid (e.g., liquid) material. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition, including by connecting. In some embodiments, connecting includes melting, fusing, sintering, or otherwise binding. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, at least one material type is configured to transition from a softer material to a harder material. In some embodiments, (i) the softer material comprises a fluid material, (ii) the harder material comprises a gel, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). In some embodiments, at least one material type is configured to transition from liquid to gel upon the occurrence of a triggering event. In some embodiments, the separator is configured to allow current flow through it by allowing ions to propagate through the pores of the separator.In some embodiments, at least one material type is at least one first material type; the separation space comprises at least one second material type configured to suppress electrical flow through the separation space at least partially due to a triggering event occurring in the separation space, and the first material type and / or the second material type is responsive to the triggering event. In some embodiments, the first material type is the second material type. In some embodiments, the first material type differs from the second material type by at least one physical and / or chemical property. In some embodiments, the first material type comprises a particulate material. In some embodiments, the second material type comprises a sheet or matrix; and the volume occupied by the second material type is the volume of the separation space. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) the first material type, (ii) the second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition to suppress at least one harmful effect, including being reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transfer such that the heat generated becomes equal to or substantially equal to the heat generated in the device. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transfer ions (e.g., Li. +It is configured to transition so that the propagation of metal cations (such as) is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition so that the current flowing through each thereof is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition so that the current flowing through each thereof is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition from a harder material to a softer material. In some embodiments, the softer material comprises a fluid material. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition, including by linking. In some embodiments, linking includes melting, fusing, sintering, or otherwise binding. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii) is configured to transition from a softer material to a harder material. In some embodiments, the softer material comprises a fluid material, and the harder material comprises a gel. In some embodiments, upon the occurrence of a triggering event, the first material type and / or the second material type is configured to transition from a liquid to a gel. In some embodiments, at least one material type comprises an electrolyte.In some embodiments, at least one insulator is an insulator in contact with (a) a first reference side, a first relative side, and a first separation side, and (b) a second reference side, a second relative side, and a second separation side. In some embodiments, at least one insulator comprises a first insulator and a second insulator, wherein the first insulator is in contact with (i) a first reference side, (ii) a first relative side, and (iii) a first separation side, and the second insulator is in contact with (iv) a second reference side, (v) a second relative side, and (vi) a second separation side. In some embodiments, the reference electrode is elongated, and the reference electrode has a long axis having a first end on a first reference side and a second end on a second reference side on the opposite side, the long axis is the length of the reference electrode, and the reference electrode has a short axis having a third end on a first reference side and a fourth end on a second reference side on the opposite side, the short axis is the width of the reference electrode, and the ratio of width to length is at least about 1:8, 1:15 or greater. In some embodiments, the counter electrode is elongated, and the counter electrode has a long axis having a first end on a first counter side and a second end on a second counter side on the opposite side, the long axis is the length of the counter electrode, and the counter electrode has a short axis having a third end on a first counter side and a fourth end on a second counter side on the opposite side, the short axis is the width of the counter electrode, and the ratio of width to length is at least about 1:8, 1:15 or greater. In some embodiments, the separation space is elongated, and the separation space has a long axis having a first end on a first opposing side and a second end on a second opposing side on the opposite side, the long axis being the length of the separation space, and the separation space has a short axis having a third end on a first opposing side and a fourth end on a second opposing side on the opposite side, the short axis being the width of the separation space, and the ratio of width to length is at least about 1:8, 1:15 or greater. In some embodiments, the reference electrode comprises one or more types of metal oxides.In some embodiments, the counter electrode comprises an allotrope of elemental carbon or silicon. In some embodiments, the allotrope of elemental carbon comprises graphite, carbon fiber, graphene, carbon nanotube, amorphous carbon, or fullerene. In some embodiments, the reference electrode is smaller than the counter electrode in at least one (e.g., Cartesian) direction. In some embodiments, the device is configured such that the reference electrode expands less than the counter electrode during device use. In some embodiments, the device is configured such that the volume of the electrode and / or the device expands by up to about 10%, 20%, 30%, 35%, 40%, or 50% during device use, and the electrode comprises a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a separation space. In some embodiments, the device is configured such that the volume of the electrode and / or the device expands by up to about 35% during device use. In some embodiments, the battery cell comprises a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a separation space, and the battery cell has a stacking axis in which faces are stacked, and the faces include a first reference face, a first counter face, and a first separation face. In some embodiments, the stacking axis divides each face symmetrically. In some embodiments, the battery cell comprises cell sides, and the cell sides comprise a first cell side or a second cell side, and each of the cell sides comprises a misalignment; the first cell side comprises (i) a first reference side, (ii) a first counter side, and (iii) a first separation side; and the second cell side comprises (a) a second reference side, (b) a second counter side, and (c) a second separation side. In some embodiments, the misalignment forms a waveform. In some embodiments, the misalignment is due to the longer side portion and the shorter side portion of the components of the battery cell being engaged, and the components include a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a separation space.In some embodiments, at least one component of the device comprises a composite material, and at least one component comprises a reference electrode, a counter electrode, a separation space, or at least one insulator. In some embodiments, at least one component comprises at least one partition space in contact with the reference electrode and / or the counter electrode. In some embodiments, the battery cell comprises a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a separation space, and the device is a battery comprising a set of cells including two or more battery cells. In some embodiments, each of the two or more battery cells in the battery is separated by a partition space. In some embodiments, the partition space and the separation space comprise at least one material type that is the same or substantially the same. In some embodiments, the partition space, the separation space, and at least one insulator have the same at least one material type. In some embodiments, the partition space, the separation space, and at least one insulator have different at least one material type. In some embodiments, the partition space is (A) extended beyond the reference plane along the reference major axis of the reference plane, the reference plane includes a first reference plane or a second reference plane, and (B) extended beyond the relative plane along the relative major axis of the relative plane, the relative plane includes a first relative plane or a second relative plane, and the partition space includes a divided space or a separated space; the partition space is extended along the major axis by an extension including a separated extension or a divider extension, the major axis includes the reference major axis or the relative major axis. In some embodiments, (i) the divider extension and (ii) the separated extension are separated from each other by a gap, and the divider extension and the separated extension are on the side of the battery cell. In some embodiments, the divider extension is bent toward the separated extension or bent away from the separated extension. In some embodiments, the divider extension is curved toward the separated extension or curved away from the separated extension.In some embodiments, the volume disposed between the divider extension and the separation extension comprises at least a portion of at least one insulator. In some embodiments, two or more battery cells in the battery are connected in parallel. In some embodiments, two or more battery cells in the battery are connected in series. In some embodiments, two or more battery cells in the battery are stacked along a stacking axis perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to (i) a first reference plane, (ii) a second reference plane, (iii) a first separation plane, (iv) a second separation plane, (v) a first counter plane, (vi) a second counter plane, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the battery includes a brace configured to suppress the expansion of the battery along at least the stacking axis. In some embodiments, the battery includes a brace configured to suppress the expansion of the battery unevenly along the stacking axis and along a direction perpendicular to the stacking axis. In some embodiments, the battery includes a brace configured to suppress the expansion of the battery more along the stacking axis than along a direction perpendicular to the stacking axis. In some embodiments, more is at least about 10%, 20%, or 30%. In some embodiments, the cell set includes a first cell side and a second cell side opposite thereto; wherein the first cell side includes a first reference side, a first separation side, and a first relative side; and the second cell side includes a second reference side, a second separation side, and a second relative side. In some embodiments, at least one insulator contacts the first cell side and the second cell side. In some embodiments, at least one insulator includes a first insulator and a second insulator; wherein the first insulator contacts the first cell side; and the second insulator contacts the second cell side.In some embodiments, (I) a first cell side is connected along the direction of the stacking axis and parallel to the stacking axis or substantially parallel, (II) a second cell side is connected along the direction of the stacking axis and parallel to the stacking axis or substantially parallel, and (III) a combination of (I) and (II). In some embodiments, (a) the first cell side is corrugated and / or (b) the second cell side is corrugated. In some embodiments, each of two or more battery cells has a reference electrode coupled to a reference current collector; wherein each of two or more battery cells has a counter electrode coupled to a counter current collector; each reference current collector is coupled to a main reference current collector; and each counter current collector is coupled to a main counter current collector. In some embodiments, the main reference current collector and the main counter current collector are disposed on one side of a cell set adjacent to a cell side including the first cell side or the second cell side. In some embodiments, the main reference current collector and the main relative current collector are each positioned on opposite sides of the cell set, each of which is adjacent to a cell side including a first cell side or a second cell side. In some embodiments, the battery has an XY plane type, a YZ plane type, and an XZ plane type; wherein the stacking direction of the cells follows the X direction; and the XY plane type has a surface area that is (i) larger than the surface area of ​​the YZ plane type and (ii) larger than the surface area of ​​the XZ plane type. In some embodiments, the cell side of the cell set faces the XY plane type, and the cell side includes a first cell side or a second cell side. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in an electronic device including a wireless device. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in an electronic device including a control device. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use for leisure or work.In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in electronic devices including telephones, laptops, computer pads, consoles, computer mice, wearable devices, or toys. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in a vehicle. In some embodiments, the vehicle includes automobiles, aircraft, ships, trains, or spacecraft. In some embodiments, the spacecraft is unmanned. In some embodiments, the spacecraft is manned. In some embodiments, the aircraft includes drones or airplanes. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in a medical environment. In some embodiments, the device is configured for the application of current to an object. In some embodiments, the object is a biological object. In some embodiments, the application of current is for medical or other life-saving purposes. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in an environment hostile to the biological object. In some embodiments, the device is configured for use in an environment suitable for the biological object.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for energy manipulation in a device comprises: (a) providing any of the devices described above; and (b) storing the device, maintaining the device, transporting the device, pre-charging the device, or using the device for energy manipulation while suppressing at least one harmful effect.

[0008] In another embodiment, a device for energy manipulation in a device comprises: at least one controller configured to (a) operatively coupled with any of the devices described above while suppressing at least one harmful effect, and (b) to execute or direct the execution of at least one component of the device to execute one or more operations associated with energy manipulation. In some embodiments, at least one controller is configured to operatively coupled with a power source and / or a communication platform.

[0009] In another embodiment, one or more non-transient computer-readable media on which program instructions are physically inscribed are configured to execute or direct one or more operations associated with energy manipulation, while suppressing at least one harmful effect, when the program instructions are read by one or more processors operably coupled with one or more components of any of the devices described above.

[0010] In another embodiment, a method for fabricating a device for energy manipulation comprises: (a) depositing at least one insulator onto a battery cell to fabricate any of the devices described above, wherein the battery cell comprises (i) a reference electrode, a counter electrode, and a separation space. In some embodiments, depositing at least one insulator comprises using a method including printing, stenciling, or thermal transfer. In some embodiments, during the deposition of at least one insulator onto the battery cell, at least one insulator is in a flowable form. In some embodiments, the flowable form comprises a slurry or a spray.

[0011] In another embodiment, the device for energy manipulation in the device comprises: at least one controller configured to perform one or more operations or configured to direct the performance thereof in order to achieve any of the above-described methods for fabricating the device. In some embodiments, at least one controller is configured to operably coupled with a power and / or communication platform.

[0012] In another embodiment, one or more non-transient computer-readable media on which program instructions are physically imprinted are configured to execute or direct one or more operations of any of the methods described above for manufacturing a device when the program instructions are read by one or more processors.

[0013] In another aspect, it is a system for achieving the methods, operations of devices, and / or operations imprinted by non-transient computer-readable program instructions (e.g., imprinted on media / medias) disclosed herein.

[0014] In another aspect, it is a system for achieving the methods, operations of devices, operations of a device, and / or operations imprinted by non-transient computer-readable program instructions (e.g., imprinted on a medium / medium) disclosed herein.

[0015] In another aspect, it is a device(s) (e.g., device) for achieving the methods, operations of devices, and / or operations imprinted by non-transient computer-readable program instructions (e.g., imprinted on a medium / medium) disclosed herein.

[0016] In other embodiments, systems, devices (e.g., controller(s)), and / or non-transient computer-readable program instructions (e.g., software) that implement any of the methods disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the program instructions are inscribed on at least one medium (e.g., on a medium or on media).

[0017] In other embodiments, any of the devices disclosed herein and / or methods, systems, devices (e.g., controller(s)), and / or non-transient computer-readable program instructions (e.g., software) for implementing any of the devices. In some embodiments, the program instructions are inscribed on at least one medium (e.g., on a medium or on media).

[0018] In another embodiment, the device comprises at least one controller configured (e.g., programmed) to direct a mechanism used in the methodology disclosed herein to implement (e.g., achieve) any of the methods and / or operations disclosed herein, wherein the controller(s) are operablely coupled to the mechanism. In some embodiments, the controller(s) implement any of the methods and / or operations disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least one controller comprises a hierarchical control system or is operablely coupled to it. In some embodiments, the hierarchical control system comprises at least three, four, or five levels of control. In some embodiments, at least two operations are performed or directed by the same controller. In some embodiments, at least two operations are performed or directed by different controllers, respectively.

[0019] In another aspect, the device includes at least one controller configured (e.g., programmed) to implement (e.g., achieve) or direct the implementation of the methods, processes, and / or operations disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the at least one controller implements any of the methods, processes, and / or operations disclosed herein.

[0020] In another embodiment, non-transient computer-readable program instructions are configured to execute or direct the execution of the methods, processes, and / or operations disclosed herein when read by one or more processors. In some embodiments, at least one controller implements any of the methods, processes, and / or operations disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least some of the one or more processors are part of the mechanism disclosed herein, are outside of the mechanism, or are located at a location remote from the mechanism (e.g., in the cloud).

[0021] In another embodiment, the system comprises a device and at least one controller configured (e.g., programmed) to direct the operation of the device, wherein at least one controller is operably coupled to the device. In some embodiments, the device comprises any device or apparatus disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least one controller implements any of the methods disclosed herein or directs the implementation thereof. In some embodiments, at least one controller directs any device (or its components) disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least two operations of the device (e.g., instructions) are directed by the same controller. In some embodiments, at least two operations of the device (e.g., instructions) are directed by different controllers. In some embodiments, at least two operations (e.g., instructions) are performed by the same processor and / or by the same sub-computer software product. In some embodiments, at least two operations (e.g., instructions) are performed by different processors and / or different sub-computer software products.

[0022] In another embodiment, a computer software product comprises (e.g., non-transient) computer-readable media / mediums in which program instructions are stored, the instructions direct a mechanism used to implement (e.g., achieve) any of the methods disclosed herein when read by a computer, wherein the non-transient computer-readable media is operably coupled to the mechanism. In some embodiments, the mechanism comprises a device or device component.

[0023] In another embodiment, the computer system comprises one or more computer processors and non-transient computer-readable media / medias coupled thereto. In some embodiments, the non-transient computer-readable media / medias comprise machine-executable code, which, upon execution by one or more computer processors, implements any of methods and / or operations (e.g., as disclosed herein) and / or implements instructions of controller(s) (e.g., as disclosed herein).

[0024] In another embodiment, the method comprises the step of performing one or more operations associated with at least one configuration of the mechanism(s) (e.g., device(s)) disclosed herein.

[0025] In another embodiment, the device comprises at least one controller configured to (i) operably coupled to the device and (ii) direct the execution of one or more operations associated with at least one configuration of the device(s) disclosed herein.

[0026] In other embodiments, at least one controller is associated with the methods, devices, and software disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least one controller includes at least one connector configured to be connected to a power source. In some embodiments, at least one controller is configured to be operably coupled to a power source at least partially by (I) having a power socket and / or (II) being configured for wireless power transfer using inductive charging. In some embodiments, at least one controller includes a non-volatile memory, such as a solid-state device (SSD) such as FLASH memory. In some embodiments, at least one controller is included in or includes a hierarchical control system. In some embodiments, the hierarchical control system includes at least three hierarchical control levels. In some embodiments, at least one controller is included in the control system disclosed herein. In some embodiments, at least one controller is configured to control at least one other component of the mechanism disclosed herein (e.g., system, device, or apparatus). In some embodiments, the device disclosed herein is a component of a system, and at least one controller is configured to (i) operably coupled to another component of the system and (ii) direct the operation of the other component. In some embodiments, at least one controller is configured to direct the operation of the other component for at least partial participation of the other component in the method disclosed herein.

[0027] In another embodiment, non-transient computer-readable program instructions for the method disclosed herein, when read by one or more processors operably coupled to the device, cause one or more processors to instruct the execution of one or more operations associated with at least one configuration of the device(s) disclosed herein.

[0028] In some embodiments, program instructions are of a computer product.

[0029] Various embodiments in any of the above embodiments may be combined (e.g., within the embodiments) where appropriate. Individual features disclosed herein (e.g., embodiments) may be combined in any requested and / or desired manner where appropriate.

[0030] Additional aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, where only exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described. As will be recognized, other and different embodiments of the present disclosure are possible, and various modifications in various obvious aspects are possible without departing from the present disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings and description should be considered illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

[0031] Integration by reference

[0032] All published documents, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are incorporated by reference into this specification to the same extent that each individual published document, patent, or patent application is specifically and individually indicated as being incorporated by reference.

[0033] It should be understood that any patent, published document, or other disclosed material referred to as being incorporated by reference herein, in whole or in part, is incorporated herein only to the extent that the incorporated material does not conflict with the existing definitions, statements, or other disclosed material presented in this disclosure. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosures explicitly presented in this specification replace any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material or part thereof referred to as being incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with the existing definitions, statements, or other disclosed material presented herein, is incorporated only to the extent that no conflict arises between the incorporated material and the existing disclosed material. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0034] According to one or more various embodiments, the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the following drawings. The drawings are provided for illustrative purposes only and illustrate only typical or exemplary embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate understanding of the concepts disclosed herein and should not be construed as limiting the breadth, scope, or applicability of such concepts. It should be noted that, for clarity and ease of explanation, these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The novel features of the present disclosure are particularly set forth in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present disclosure will be obtained by referring to the following detailed description presenting exemplary embodiments in which the principles of the present disclosure are utilized, and the accompanying drawings (also referred to herein as “Figures (Fig. and Figs.”), among which: FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a graph and various cell configurations; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates cells within batteries under various conditions; FIG. 3 schematically illustrates various batteries; FIG. 4 schematically illustrates sets of cells within batteries; FIG. 5 schematically illustrates the cells within a battery in a perspective view. The battery is formed by using an aluminum oxide paste on the cells, according to some embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the insulators; FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional image of a dynamic insulator deposited as an aluminum oxide paste on a cell, according to some embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional image of a dynamic insulator deposited as an aluminum oxide paste on a cell, according to some embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure; FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional image of a dynamic insulator comprising polymer particles deposited on a cell, according to some embodiments of the subject matter of the present disclosure; and FIG. 10 illustrates graphs showing current, voltage, and temperature over time as experienced by different batteries; FIG. 11 illustrates a control system; FIG. 12 illustrates a processing system; and Figure 13 illustrates cross-sections of batteries. The drawings and the components therein may not be drawn to scale. Various components of the drawings described herein may not be drawn to scale. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0035] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided only as examples. Numerous modifications, changes, and substitutions may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be adopted. The various embodiments disclosed herein may be combined where appropriate.

[0036] References throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” “some exemplary embodiments,” “one exemplary embodiment,” or “an embodiment” mean that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to any embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Accordingly, appearances of phrases such as “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” “some exemplary embodiments,” “one exemplary embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0037] Singular terms (e.g., "a," "an," and "the") are not intended to refer only to singular entities but include general classes in which specific examples may be used for illustrative purposes. The terms of this specification are used to describe specific embodiments of this disclosure, but their use is not limited to specific embodiments of this disclosure. The term "includes" means to include but is not limited thereto, the term "comprising" means to include but is not limited thereto, and the term "based on" means to be based at least partially.

[0038] When ranges are mentioned, they are intended to be inclusive unless otherwise specified. For example, a range between value 1 and value 2 is intended to be inclusive and includes value 1 and value 2. An inclusive range will span any value from approximately value 1 to approximately value 2. As used herein, the terms "adjacent" or "adjacent to" include "next to," "attached," "contacting," and "close to." When ranges are mentioned (e.g., between, at least, maximum, etc.), the endpoint(s) of the range are also claimed. For example, when a range is from X to Y, the values ​​of X and Y are also claimed. For example, when a range is at most Z, the value of Z is also claimed. For example, when a range is at least W, the value of W is also claimed.

[0039] The conjunction “and / or,” as used in “X and / or Y” in this specification, is intended to include—including in the specification and claims—(i) X, (ii) Y, and (iii) options of X and Y, where applicable. The phrase “comprising X, and / or Y” is intended to have the same meaning as the phrase “comprising X or Y.”

[0040] When ranges are specified for an attribute, this specification implies that the attribute may include a value specified at the end of the range. For example, when an attribute has a value of at least about X, the attribute may be X, or any value greater than X. For example, when an attribute has a value of at most about Y, the attribute may be Y, or any value less than Y. For example, when an attribute has a value from V to Z, the attribute may be V, the attribute may be Z, or the attribute may be any value between V and Z.

[0041] The terms “operably coupled,” “operably configured,” or “operably connected” refer to a first mechanism coupled (or connected) to a second mechanism to allow the intended operation of the second and / or first mechanism. The coupling may include physical or non-physical coupling. Non-physical coupling may include signal-induced coupling (e.g., wireless coupling).

[0042] The phrases "is / are structured" or "is / are configured" refer to the structure of an article that can produce the mentioned result when modifying an article.

[0043] The Fundamental length scale (abbreviated as “FLS” herein) comprises any suitable scale (e.g., dimension) of an object. For example, the FLS of an object may include a length, width, height, diameter, spherical equivalent diameter, diameter of a circumscribed circle, diameter of a circumscribed sphere, radius, spherical equivalent radius, or radius of a circumscribed circle or radius of a circumscribed sphere.

[0044] As understood herein, central tendency includes the mean, median, or mode. The mean may include the geometric mean.

[0045] Performing a reversible first operation is understood herein to mean that a first operation can be performed and an opposite operation to that first operation (e.g., which is a second operation) can be performed. For example, when a controller instructs a shutter to open reversibly, the shutter may also be closed, and the controller may optionally instruct the shutter to close. For example, when an attractor reversibly binds to a charge carrier, the attractor may also detach the charge carrier after its binding.

[0046] As mentioned herein, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to (e.g., secondary) batteries, structures constituting (e.g., secondary) batteries, and methods and processes for manufacturing the structures and batteries. As used herein, the term "anode" as used in the context of secondary batteries may refer to the negative electrode in (e.g., secondary) batteries. "Anode material" or "anodically active" as used herein may refer to a material or materials suitable for use as the negative electrode of (e.g., secondary) batteries. The term "cathode" as used herein in the context of secondary batteries may refer to the positive electrode in secondary batteries. "Cathode material" or "cathodically active" as used herein may refer to a material or materials suitable for use as the positive electrode of (e.g., secondary) batteries.

[0047] In some of the embodiments described herein, the term "electrode" may be used to refer to either an anode or a cathode, and the term "counter electrode" may refer to the other or opposite electrode. For illustrative purposes (e.g., for educational purposes), embodiments may be described in terms of "electrode" and "counter electrode." It should be understood that in these embodiments, the term electrode may be replaced by the term anode, while the term counter electrode may be replaced by the term cathode. Alternatively, in these embodiments, the term electrode may be replaced by the term cathode, while the term counter electrode may be replaced by the term anode.

[0048] Suppression may include hindering, slowing down, hindering, lowering, limiting, stopping, shutting off, suspending, or stopping. To suppress may include to hinder, slow down, hinder, lower, limit, stop, shut off, suspend, or stop.

[0049] In some embodiments, the battery is configured to suppress (e.g., reduce or prevent) the occurrence of battery heating and / or runaway reactions, for example, due to residual current. Occasionally, when the residual current in the cell exceeds the activation energy barrier, a thermal runaway (e.g., exothermic) reaction is initiated, resulting in (additional) heating of the battery, for example, which may be uncontrollable. Such uncontrollable heating and / or reaction may cause adverse effects(s) as disclosed herein. The adverse effects may include substantial damage, for example, injury. The adverse effects may be irreversible, uncontrollable, or cause the cell to operate outside its specified specifications or the battery to operate outside its specified specifications. Specifications may be defined by the battery manufacturer and / or customer. In one example, substantial damage is to the battery, inanimate objects in the surrounding environment outside the battery, people in the surrounding environment outside the battery, or any combination thereof. The substantial damage may be caused at least partially by the cell igniting and / or exploding. Therefore, it may be advantageous to suppress (e.g., prevent) such substantial temperature rise and / or runaway reaction within the battery. The battery may be a primary or secondary battery. The battery may or may not be rechargeable. The battery may or may not be a single-use battery. The battery may include primary battery cells or secondary battery cells. The battery may be a primary battery or a secondary battery. The battery may take the form of a cylinder or a prism. The battery may include one or more battery cells. The battery cells may be folded, take the form of a (e.g., substantially) planar configuration, or folded in a manner including, for example, a spiral, sinusoidal, zigzag, or top-hat fold. A set of battery cells may be placed on top of each other.

[0050] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic graph showing the change in battery current (I) and the temperature (T) of the battery over time (t) during an external short circuit (ESC) test, for example, during abnormal operation of the battery in Example 100. The interval (111) during the time window t1 represents the initial heating of the battery, where the heating has little effect on the current (101), and when the critical temperature is exceeded, the current decreases significantly, which is shown during the time window t2. The rapidly decreasing current may be attributed to the effective removal of the load current, for example, due to the shut-off of the separator. The interval (102) of the current graph represents the rapid decrease in the current within the battery while the temperature approaches the critical value (112), which occurs during the time window t2. Although the main current may decrease significantly, the residual current (104) may remain in the battery. The residual current may contribute to a continuous increase in the battery temperature above the critical temperature (112). Such a temperature increase may initiate a runaway reaction that contributes to an uncontrollable temperature increase, as illustrated in 113, occurring in the time window t3. When the residual current is also reduced, for example, as illustrated in 105, the temperature of the battery may be kept constant (e.g., substantially) as illustrated in 114, for example, or may be reduced as illustrated in 115. When the current (e.g., 105) is sufficiently suppressed, for example, when it is reduced to an effective zero or a measurable zero current, a decrease in temperature may occur.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic vertical cross-section within a battery illustrating the arrangement and / or folding of battery cells in Cartesian coordinates in Example 150. In Example 151, the battery cells are arranged parallel to each other. Examples 152 through 155 illustrate various foldings of a sheet containing one or more battery cells, 152 illustrates a zigzag folding, 153 illustrates a top-hat folding, 154 illustrates a sinusoidal folding, and 155 illustrates a spiral (e.g., rolling) folding. The battery may include battery cells folded into a coil (e.g., jelly roll) configuration having a rectangular or cylindrical configuration, as illustrated in 1350 of FIG. 13, for example.

[0052] In some embodiments, the battery comprises at least one cell. The cell may comprise two opposite electrodes (anode and cathode) separated from each other by a separation space. The separation space may comprise an electrolyte or a separator. The separation space may comprise more than one separator. In one example, the separation space comprises an electrolyte and a separator, and comprises, for example, a polymer or a resin. Under normal conditions, the separator may be configured to (a) impede (e.g., prevent) contact between the two opposite electrodes of the cell, and (b) allow charge carriers to pass through the separator when propagating (e.g., proceeding or moving) from one electrode to the opposite electrode. Normal conditions may include normal operation, storage (e.g., physical storage such as a warehouse), maintenance, or transport conditions, for example, ambient conditions. Under normal conditions, charge carriers may pass from one opposite electrode to the other electrode by using at least partially the electrolyte. The electrolyte may comprise one or more distinct chemical types. The charge carrier may include positively charged ions (cations), for example, metal cations of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals. In one example, the charged ion is lithium. Lithium-based batteries (e.g., lithium-based secondary batteries) are a type of energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) device having one or more cells. In some embodiments, the cell comprises carrier ions that propagate between opposite electrodes during use, for example, between a cathode structure and an anode structure, at least partially by using an electrolyte.In one example, lithium-based secondary batteries are a type of energy manipulation (e.g., energy storage) device having cells in which carrier ions, such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium ions, move between a cathode structure and an anode structure through an electrolyte within each cell. The carrier ions may include lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, or magnesium ions. Opposite electrodes (e.g., anode structure and cathode structure) are separated by a separator structure (also referred to herein as a "separator") disposed in a separation space. Separation between the opposite electrodes may occur during normal conditions. Normal conditions may include a state of use during time, including, for example, (a) during the assembly of the battery or (b) during the operation of the battery. Current collectors (e.g., wires) draw current from each current-carrying electrode and enable the transfer of current from the cell to an external environment, for example, to the ambient environment outside the battery housing. The electrode may be operably coupled to one or more current collectors. In one example, the electrode is operably coupled (e.g., connected) to at least one current collector, such as a wire. In one example, current from each active electrochemical electrode enables current transfer to an environment outside the battery. In one example, each of the anode and cathode current collectors pulls current from each active electrochemical electrode and enables current transfer to an environment outside the battery, e.g., outside the battery housing. In one example, the anode current collector is configured to pull current from the anode and transfer current to an environment outside the cell and / or battery, such as outside the battery housing. In one example, the cathode current collector is configured to pull current from the cathode and transfer current to an environment outside the cell and / or battery, such as outside the battery housing. The battery may include one or more cells.The battery may include a housing. Current collectors may carry current out of the cell and into the battery housing, out of the battery housing, or a combination thereof. Current collectors of the anodes within a set of cells may be coupled to a main anode current collector (e.g., in parallel). Current collectors of the cathodes within a set of cells may be coupled to a main cathode current collector (e.g., in parallel). The main cathode current collector may be placed on the same plane of the cell set as the main anode current collector. The main cathode current collector may be placed on a plane of the cell set different from the main anode current collector (e.g., on the opposite plane). External battery contacts are on a plane parallel to or perpendicular to the major axis of the cell electrode.

[0053] In some embodiments, the battery cell comprises a pair of opposite electrodes and a separation space disposed between the pair of opposite electrodes. In some embodiments, the electrodes take the form of a sheet. The sheet may be planar. The sheet may be substantially two-dimensional. The thickness of the sheet may be substantially smaller than the length of the sheet and substantially smaller than the width of the sheet. The separation space may include a separator, for example, having the form of a sheet. The electrodes and / or separator may be elongated. The subject surface may be a surface of the cell or a surface of a component of the cell, and the subject surface has the largest surface area among the surfaces of the component, for example, the surface types. The component of the cell may include a reference electrode, its counter electrode, or a separator. The subject surface may be a surface of the battery cell. The ratio of the target face of the component having the largest surface area among the faces of the component may be at least about 1:2, 1:5, 1:10, 1:50, 1:100, or 1:500 length-to-width ratio. The face may be the face of the cell's electrode (e.g., anode) or the face of the cell's separator. The cell may be configured for deposition in a prism-shaped (e.g., rectangular) housing. The target face may take a shape configured to fit the cross-section of a prism face different from the face having the largest cross-sectional area. The target face may take a shape configured to fit the cross-section of a prism face having the smallest cross-sectional area. The prism face having the smallest cross-sectional area may fit a maximum integer number of target faces, the integer number being at most about 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1. In one example, the face of the prism with the smallest cross-sectional area may fit up to one target face. The target face may take the form configured to fit the cross-section of the face of the prism with the medium cross-sectional area. The face of the prism with the medium cross-sectional area may fit up to an integer number of target faces, and the integer number is at most about 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1.In one example, the face of the prism with the intermediate cross-sectional area may fit at most one target face. The face of the prism with the largest cross-sectional area may fit at most an integer number of target faces, and the integer number is at most about 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. In one example, the face of the prism with the largest cross-sectional area may fit at most one target face. The face with the largest cross-sectional area of ​​the target face may be elongated, for example, rectangular.

[0054] In some embodiments, the cell includes a separator. The separator may be configured to (a) prevent (e.g., hinder or prevent) the cathode from contacting the anode, and (b) allow ions to pass through the separator from one electrode to the opposite electrode, at least partially by using an electrolyte placed between at least the opposite electrodes in a separation space. In one example, the separator is placed between the opposite electrodes of the battery cell (also referred to herein as "cell"). The separator may extend beyond the surfaces of the opposite electrodes, and the surfaces face each other. The electrolyte may be placed (e.g., placed or positioned) within the battery housing. The electrolyte may be placed in the cell. The electrolyte may be placed in a location immediately adjacent to the cell. The electrolyte may include a polymer or a mixture of polymers. The polymer may be a copolymer. The electrolyte may also be in contact with the cell outside the separation space (e.g., also). The electrolyte may be placed within the volume in contact with the cell. In one example, the electrolyte is placed in a battery housing, for example, within a volume isolated (e.g., separated) from the surrounding environment outside the battery housing. The isolated surroundings may include one or more cells.

[0055] In some embodiments, the separator is configured to (i) electrically insulate and (ii) allow ionic conduction of charge carriers. In one example, ionic conduction may be initiated when the electrolyte fills the pore space. The separator may be configured to allow charge carriers, such as lithium ions, to pass from one side of the separator to the opposite side. Ionic conduction may be facilitated (e.g., performed) at least partially by the charge carriers. Ionic conduction may be facilitated (e.g., performed) at least partially by the electrolyte. Ionic conduction may occur during conditions of the cell, including during use or during storage of the cell. Ionic conduction may be achieved (e.g., performed) during operation and / or during the electrode buffering process of the cell, for example, during pre-charging of the anode using charge carriers. The charge carriers may be one or more types of charge carriers. In one example, ion conduction is performed during operation and / or during the cell's pre-lithiation (or buffer) process, for example, during the pre-lithiation of the anode.

[0056] In some embodiments, the battery cell comprises an electrode (e.g., a reference electrode), a counter electrode, and a separation space. The separation space may comprise a separator having a material comprising, for example, conduits or pores, such as microconduits or micropores. The pores and / or conduits may be configured to facilitate the propagation of ions through the pores. The conduits may be channels. The pores of the separator may be coupled to form conduits. The battery cell may comprise an insulator, such as a dynamic insulator, or may be coupled thereto. The battery cell may comprise a partition space or may be coupled thereto. At least one component, for example, the separator body, the insulator, or at least one component of the partition space, may be electrically insulating. The partition space and the separation space may or may not have the same material content.

[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a battery cell comprising, in Example 200, an electrode (202a) - C (e.g., cathode) and a counter electrode (205a) - A (e.g., anode). A separator is placed in a separator space (203) - B. The battery cell is placed in a battery having a housing (209). The battery may optionally have an insulator (204) which may or may not be a dynamic insulator. Under normal conditions during the use of the battery, the main current is a load current (206) passing through the separation space (203) from one electrode to the counter electrode. There may also be a residual current (201) passing out of the separation space (B) and through the volume (204), for example, through the dynamic insulator. When the temperature rises, the separator in the separation space (203) may be shut down, which may significantly reduce (e.g., eliminate) the flow of the load current (206). Triggering events for current shutdown through the volume may include a temperature above a threshold, a charge carrier flow above a threshold, or a charge carrier concentration above a threshold. When the insulator in the space (204) is not responsive to the triggering event, the components of the separation space (e.g., 203) will be responsive to the triggering event, and even if the load current is shut down (e.g., effectively), the residual current will continue to flow between the opposite electrodes. When the insulator in the space (204) is responsive to a triggering event that is different (e.g., lower) than the responsiveness of the components of the separation space (e.g., separator), the residual current may continue to flow between the opposite electrodes even if the load current is shut down (e.g., effectively). In these cases, shutdown on the separator in the separation space (203) will not affect the flow of residual current (201).If the volume (204) includes an insulator, the insulator contacts at least the opposite sides (202b and 202c) of the electrode (202a) and the opposite sides (205b and 205c) of the counter electrode (205a).

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a battery cell comprising an electrode (212) - C (e.g., cathode) and a counter electrode (215) - A (e.g., anode) in Example 210. A separator is placed in a separator space (213) - B. The battery cell is placed in a battery having a housing (219). The separator space extends (221) beyond the electrode (212) and extends (222) beyond the counter electrode (215), the extension follows the major axis of each electrode, the major axis of which is illustrated in FIG. 2. The battery has a dynamic insulator (204) that is triggered by a triggering event experienced in the dynamic insulator. The triggering event may include a temperature above a threshold, a charge carrier flow above a threshold, or a charge carrier concentration above a threshold. Under event triggering conditions, a load current (216) may or may not pass through the separator space (203). In one example, during triggering conditions, the load current is shut down (e.g., substantially and / or effectively). The triggering event may cause the dynamic insulator to suppress (e.g., effectively stop) the residual current. In the example illustrated in 210, the residual current (211) does not pass through the space (214) and outside the separation space B, and the volume (214) contains (e.g., is filled by) the dynamic insulator. A change between the interior 204 and 214 may indicate a change in the dynamic insulator due to the triggering event. The triggering event(s) of the material within the separation space (B) (e.g., the separator) may or may not be (e.g., substantially) the same as the triggering event(s) of the dynamic insulator (e.g., the insulating material). The dynamic separator may be configured to shut down the residual current before, after, or during the time when the load current is shut down, for example, due to a change in the separator and / or electrolyte within the separation space.

[0059] In some embodiments, one or more cells are arranged within a housing to form a battery. The housing may insulate the battery from one or more reactive agents present in the surrounding environment outside the battery. The reactive agents may include oxygen, water, alcohol, thiol, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, carboxylic acid, or hydrogen sulfide. The reactive agents may be oxygen-based, sulfur-based, and / or phosphorus-based. The reactive agents may include water or oxygen. In one example, the reactive agents include water in liquid and / or vapor form. The water may be in droplet form. The housing may be configured to insulate the cell(s) from reactive agents present in the surrounding environment outside the battery, and to inhibit (e.g., hinder or prevent) the reactive agents from reaching the cell, such as by preventing them from reaching the electrode(s).

[0060] FIG. 3 illustrates schematic perspective examples of batteries and battery cell architectures within them in Cartesian coordinates. Example 300 illustrates a cylindrical battery housing having a length (302) and a height (301) that is a diameter. The battery may include cell(s) forming a wound sheet. In Example 300, the bottom and top surfaces of the cylinder each have a smaller surface area compared to the sides of the cylinder—the curved surfaces of the cylinder. Example 330 illustrates a prismatic battery housing that is a rectangular prism or a rectangular parallelepiped. The battery has a length (332), a height (331), and a width (333). Battery cells (335) are stacked within the battery along the height (331) and along the Z direction. In Example 330, the XY plane has a larger surface area than the XZ plane, and the XY plane has a larger surface area than the YZ plane. Example 350 illustrates a prism-shaped battery housing that is a rectangular prism or a rectangular parallelepiped. The battery has a length (352), a height (351), and a width (353). Battery cells (335) are stacked within the battery along the length (352) and along the X direction. In Example 350, the XY plane has a larger surface area than the XZ plane, and the XY plane has a larger surface area than the YZ plane.

[0061] In some embodiments, the cells are arranged (e.g., substantially) perpendicular to the face of a prismatic (e.g., rectangular) battery having the largest surface area. Sometimes, the face with the largest surface area of ​​the anode, separation space, separator, cathode, and / or partition space is positioned (e.g., substantially) perpendicular to the face of the battery having the largest surface area. 350 in FIG. 3 illustrates an example of battery cells, such as cell (335), positioned perpendicular to the XY plane of the battery, said XY plane having the largest surface area of ​​the faces of the battery. The surface area of ​​the cell, in example 350, is at most the surface area of ​​the YZ plane of the battery or less. Cells arranged perpendicular to the largest surface area plane of the battery on which they are placed (e.g., 350 in FIG. 3) have a larger combined cell side (e.g., edge) surface area compared to (a) cells arranged parallel to the largest surface area plane of the battery on which they are placed (e.g., 330 in FIG. 3) and / or (b) cylindrical batteries such as wound cell (e.g., jelly roll) batteries (e.g., 300 in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the larger the combined side (e.g., edge) surface area of ​​the cells, the greater the role of residual current in the total current of the battery. When a cell includes at least one uneven side, as illustrated, for example, in 220 in FIG. 2, the uneven (e.g., misaligned) side creates a wavy side of the set of cells. The wavy side may or may not contribute to the amount of residual current passing between the anode and cathode of the cell, for example, through an insulator.

[0062] In some embodiments, the battery comprises battery cells. The battery cells may be stacked along an axis. A partition space may be placed between any two immediately adjacent cells such that the first cell contacts the first surface of the partition space and the second cell contacts the second surface of the partition space opposite the first surface. The partition space may include an insulator, for example, any insulator disclosed herein. The insulator may or may not include a dynamic insulator. The partition space may be configured to electrically isolate one cell from another cell. The battery stacks may follow a pattern, and said pattern may include a sequence. The sequence may include an arrangement of the components of the battery cells relative to one another. The sequence may include an anode, a separation space, a cathode, and a partition space. The sequence may follow a CBAS pattern or a CBASABCS pattern, where C represents the cathode, B represents the separation space, A represents the anode, and S represents the partition space, for example, refer to FIG. 4. The battery cells may be stacked in one or more groups. The separation space may include two opposite faces: a face of the separation space in contact with the anode and a face opposite in contact with the cathode. The cell may include components comprising an anode, a cathode, a separation space, and an optional separation space. The components of the cell may be arranged along an axis. The components of the cell may be arranged symmetrically along the axis (e.g., substantially), for example, mirror symmetry where a mirror surface extends along the axis and / or rotational symmetry where a rotation axis extends along the cell stacking axis (e.g., parallel to the axis (490) of FIG. 4). At least two components of the cell may extend by the same distance (e.g., substantially) in a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking axis (e.g., substantially). At least two components of the cell may extend by different distances in a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking axis (e.g., substantially).Different distance extensions of the components form a corrugated (e.g., misaligned) surface of a cell and a set of cells, as illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, 220. Also refer to the sides (e.g., edges) of the set of cells illustrated in FIG. 4, 400 and 450. In one example, the cathode extends shorter than the anode, and said extension is in a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking axis. In one example, the separation space extends longer than the anode and / or longer than the cathode, and said extension is in a direction perpendicular to the cell stacking axis.

[0063] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional example (400) of a battery comprising a cathode (402), an anode (405), a separation space (403), and a partition space (407). Battery cells are arranged within a volume (404) of the battery that may include an insulator such as a dynamic insulator. The battery cells are stacked in a repeating CBAS array along an axis (490). Each anode (A) of the battery is operably coupled (e.g., connected) to a current collector such as 413, and the anode current collectors are coupled in parallel to a main anode current collector (414) ending at a cathode contact (411). Each cathode (C) of the battery is operably coupled (e.g., connected) to a current collector such as 416, and the anode current collectors are coupled in parallel to a main cathode current collector (417) ending at an anode contact (412).

[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional example 450 of a battery comprising a cathode (452), an anode (455), a separation space (453), and a partition space (457). Battery cells are arranged within a volume (454) of the battery that may include an insulator such as a dynamic insulator. The battery cells are stacked along an axis (490) in a repeating CBASABCS array. Each anode (A) of the battery is operably coupled (e.g., connected) to a current collector such as 463, and the anode current collectors are coupled in parallel to a main anode current collector (464) ending at a cathode contact (461). Each cathode (C) of the battery is operably coupled (e.g., connected) to a current collector such as 466, and the anode current collectors are coupled in parallel to a main cathode current collector (467) ending at an anode contact (462). In Fig. 4, the main cathode current collector is placed on a different side, that is, the opposite side, from the side where the main anode current collector is placed in the set of cells.

[0065] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a battery portion having stacked cells comprising a partition space (501)(S), an anode (502)(A), a separator space (503) (e.g., including a separator)(B) and a cathode (504)(C), wherein the cells are repeated in the SABC sequence. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the partition space (501) is (e.g., substantially) identical to the separator space (503) in terms of, for example, its material content and / or general physical dimensions. The wavy (e.g., misaligned) formation of the sides (e.g., edges) of the cells within the cell set appears in the exposed portion of the stacked battery cells within the sequence of cells, for example, the cells include components (502 to 504). The contents of the separator space may be the same as (e.g., substantially identical to) the partition space.

[0066] In some embodiments, the battery includes an insulator. The insulator may include a ceramic material. The ceramic may include alumina (Al2O3), zirconia (ZrO2), magnesium oxide (MgO), boron nitride (BN), mullite, boehmite, or silicon carbide (SiC, e.g., in its pure form). The insulator may include a non-conductive allotrope of elemental carbon. The non-conductive allotrope of elemental carbon may include amorphous carbon, carbon foam (e.g., nanofoam), or Z-ACA allotrope. In one example, some (e.g., secondary) batteries rely on a paste of aluminum oxide (alumina) to create a porous layer on both XY planes of the cell. The ceramic may be utilized with or without additives, for example, the additives may include polymers or resins. The ceramic may be deposited during the battery manufacturing process as a slurry containing a solvent, such as a hydrophobic solvent, for example, naphtha. The hydrophobic solvent may contain aromatic or aliphatic compounds. The hydrophobic solvent may be branched. The slurry may contain a solvent, a binder (e.g., a polymer), and a ceramic (e.g., alumina). The binder may contain an anhydride or an alkene. The polymer may be a copolymer. The solvent may contain an aromatic hydrocarbon. The viscosity of the slurry used for the deposition of the insulator may be, for example, at ambient temperature or at 37°C, at least about 1500 centipoise (cP), 1700 cP, 1750 cP, 2000 cP, 2570 cP, or 3000 cP. The viscosity of the slurry used for the deposition of the insulator can be up to about 1700 cP, 1750 cP, 2000 cP, 2570 cP, 3000 cP, or 4000 cP.The viscosity of the slurry used for the deposition of the insulator may be any viscosity values ​​between the viscosity values ​​mentioned above, for example, from weak to weak, or from weak to weak. Viscosity may also be measured at ambient temperatures, for example, at 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, or 35°C. During manufacturing (e.g., during deposition), the dynamic insulator (e.g., its slurry) may take on the same viscosity characteristics as the non-dynamic (e.g., ceramic) insulator (e.g., its slurry). In one example, when there is an external short circuit (ESC) that causes the load current to be effectively interrupted, the (e.g., ionic) current may continue to pass from the anode to the cathode through the insulator (e.g., through an aluminum oxide layer) even after the separator has reached its shutdown temperature. The insulator may exclude dynamic components that are responsive to triggering events, such as the separator's shutdown temperature. A non-dynamic insulator may exclude a dynamic component that is responsive to a triggering event in an amount such that the dynamic component suppresses the flow of residual current and / or ions through the volume of the insulator (e.g., substantially and / or measurably). In one example, the non-dynamic insulator excludes a dynamic component that is responsive to a triggering event in an amount such that the dynamic component stops the flow of residual current and / or ions through the volume of the insulator (e.g., substantially and / or measurably). When an external short circuit (ESC) event occurs, for example, after the separator reaches its shutdown temperature, the ion current may continue to pass from one electrode to the opposite electrode (e.g., from the anode to the cathode) through the electrolyte of the insulator electrolyte (e.g., containing an aluminum oxide layer).In one example, the insulator (this porous layer) must be electrically insulating to avoid short circuits (e.g., however), and also allow ion conduction when the electrolyte fills the pore spaces—allowing lithium ions to pass through during the pre-lithiation (or buffer) process. In one example, a dynamic insulator responsive to triggering event(s) can also help prevent short circuits between the cathode and the anode.

[0067] In some embodiments, the battery and / or cell comprises a polymer. The polymer may comprise a copolymer or a polymer mixture. The polymer may be included in an insulator, in an electrode, in a separator space, in a partition space, or any combination thereof. The battery and / or battery cell may comprise at least one type of polymer. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise the same polymer type. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise different polymer types. In one example, the polymer is hydrophobic. In one example, the polymer is non-aqueous and / or non-polar.

[0068] In some embodiments, the battery and / or cell comprises a resin. The resin may comprise a resin mixture. The resin may be included in an insulator, in an electrode, in a separator space, in a partition space, or any combination thereof. The battery and / or battery cell may comprise at least one type of resin. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise the same type of resin. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise different types of resin. In one example, the resin is hydrophobic. In one example, the resin is non-aqueous and / or non-polar.

[0069] In some embodiments, the battery and / or cell comprises an electrolyte. The electrolyte may comprise an electrolyte mixture. The electrolyte may be contained in an insulator, in an electrode, in a separator space, in a partition space, or any combination thereof. The battery and / or battery cell may comprise at least one type of electrolyte. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise the same type of electrolyte. At least two components of the cell and / or battery may comprise different types of electrolytes. The electrolyte may be configured to be compatible with the use of the battery under at least normal conditions. In one example, the electrolyte is hydrophobic. In one example, the electrolyte is non-aqueous and / or non-polar.

[0070] In some embodiments, the insulator is a dynamic insulator. The dynamic insulator may include a polymer, a resin, or an electrolyte. The dynamic insulator may or may not include ceramics (e.g., also). In one example, the dynamic insulator includes a porous layer. In one example, the cell and / or battery includes a dynamic insulator. The dynamic insulator (porous layer) may help suppress (e.g., hinder or prevent) current short-circuit events occurring between opposite electrodes (cathode and anode) of the cell.

[0071] In some embodiments, the battery comprises a dynamic insulator (also referred to herein as an “insulating layer”) in which one or more types of insulating materials are disposed within the volume (e.g., depending on this). The dynamic insulator may be in contact with one or more faces of the cell(s). An example of an insulating layer is a porous polymer layer, such as as illustrated in Example 600 or 650. In the volume of the dynamic insulator, (a) the physical arrangement of the insulating material and / or (b) the chemical type of the insulating material may be configured to allow an electrolyte to occupy (e.g., and flow into) a portion of the volume under normal conditions, such as when the battery is found to be in use or during its storage, for example, under specific conditions in which the battery is found to be in use. The dynamic insulator may also be configured to allow charge carriers (e.g., metal ions), and optionally also the electrolyte, to pass through the volume of the dynamic insulator, for example, through the volume in which the insulating material is disposed, under normal conditions. In one example, the dynamic insulator comprises a semi-solid material (e.g., a gel) or a solid (e.g., a cured material) that occupies volume. In one example, the dynamic insulator comprises a particulate material that occupies volume, e.g., 600 of FIG. 6. The insulating material may be in the form of a scaffold or matrix within the volume, e.g., 650 of FIG. 6. The insulator may include a portion without insulating material, which is also referred to herein, e.g., as a "void fraction." The void fraction may be at least about 5%, 10%, 20%, or 30% of the volume of the insulator. The void fraction may be at most about 35%, 30%, 20%, or 10% of the volume of the insulator. The void fraction may be between any of the aforementioned percentage values ​​relative to the volume of the insulator, e.g., from about 35% to about 5%, or from about 10% to about 30%.The electrolyte may be placed within the volume, for example, in the space between portions of insulating material placed within the volume of the insulator. The insulating material may or may not be porous; for example, the particulate material of the dynamic insulator may be porous. The electrolyte within the volume of the dynamic insulator may facilitate the conduction of charge carriers. The dynamic insulator may be included in a battery, for example, in an integral and / or internal component of the battery. The dynamic insulator may or may not be placed in a partitioned space, where present in the battery. The battery may include a housing containing one or more cells, and the dynamic insulator may be in contact with one or more sides of the cells. The dynamic insulator may also be in contact with the inner face(s) of the housing. The cells may be immersed in the electrolyte. The electrolyte may be disposed (a) between the electrodes, (b) within each of the electrodes as in the space not occupied by the material(s) forming the electrodes, (c) within the separation space, (d) as part of the dynamic insulator, (e) within the space separating one cell from its immediately adjacent cell, or (f) any combination thereof. In normal operation of the cell, the current passing from one electrode to the opposite electrode mainly passes through the separation space (and separator), and the residual current passes through the volume occupied by the dynamic insulator.

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of an insulator. In Example 600, a particulate material containing an insulating material, including particles (601), is placed in an electrolyte (602). In Example 650, a matrix (651) containing an insulating material is immersed in an electrolyte (652).

[0073] In some cases, when a cell is charged, the cell experiences an ESC event. During an ESC event, a larger current (e.g., load current) passes between the cell's opposite electrodes (e.g., between the cathode and anode), and, for example, during an ESC event, a larger number of charge carriers (e.g., Li+) pass through the separator and through the separation space between the opposite electrodes, for example, from the anode to the cathode. "Larger" is relative to operation under normal conditions. After the onset of the ESC event, (e.g., eventually), heat from the larger current may cause the separator to "shut down," thereby blocking most of the ion conductivity between the opposite electrodes, for example, between the anode and the cathode. For example, there is a substantial reduction (e.g., cessation) of the load current. During an ESC event, a smaller current may pass between the opposite electrodes (e.g., between the cathode and the anode); (For example, simultaneously) charge carriers (e.g., Li+) may pass through a dynamic insulator (e.g., the electrolyte inside it) in contact with the opposite electrodes of the cell. A smaller current may be referred to herein as "residual current." A smaller (residual) current may be achieved by charge carriers passing through the insulator, for example, at least during an ESC event, provided that the insulator does not inhibit such passage. The dynamic insulator may be in contact with at least one side of the electrode, for example, on the opposite side of the electrode (in a direction perpendicular to the separation space, or substantially perpendicular), and refer, for example, to 200 in FIG. 2. In one example, separator shutdown may cause the larger current between the opposite electrodes of the cell to be reduced, for example, substantially and / or measurably stopped.Shutdown of the current load may be attributed to one or more components within the separation space undergoing changes due to triggering events occurring during the ESC, for example, any triggering event disclosed herein. Without being bound by theory, shutdown of the separator may be at least partially due to partial or complete melting (e.g., physical and / or chemical change) of the separator material, or at least partially due to an elevated temperature occurring during increased heat. Without being bound by theory, shutdown of the separator may be at least partially due to partial or complete melting of the separator, or at least partially due to an elevated temperature during increased heat. Increased heat may be caused at least partially by the passage of a larger current between the opposite electrodes and through the separation space. Residual current may propagate between the opposite electrodes of the cell, for example, through an insulator, on the sides of the electrodes. The insulator may or may not be in contact with the separation space. At the sides of the electrodes (e.g., electrode ends), residual current propagates in the cell from one electrode to the opposite electrode and through the volume of the dynamic insulator in contact with the two electrodes, for example, see 201 in FIG. 2. In this scenario, even though the separator will be "shut down" to prevent harmful effects caused by the load current (e.g., 206 in FIG. 2), harmful effects may occur at least partially due to the flow of residual current, which may trigger a runaway (e.g., exothermic) reaction that causes the cell (e.g., and battery) to heat harmfully, for example, see 113 in FIG. 1. The harmful effect(s) may be harmful to the cell, the battery, and / or objects placed in the environment outside the cell, whether living or non-living. The harmful effect(s) may be any of those disclosed herein.The exterior of the cell may include, for example, the exterior of the battery housing in the ambient environment. The adverse effects(s) may be defined according to jurisdictional definitions based on the jurisdiction where the battery is manufactured, stored, used, and / or otherwise located. For example, it may be advantageous to suppress (e.g., prevent) the occurrence of such adverse effects(s) by using dynamic insulators. In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides solutions for suppressing adverse effects. In some embodiments, the invention relates to methods(s) (e.g., techniques), devices(s), apparatus(s), systems(s), and designs(s) for constructing a battery comprising cell(s). The battery may be configured to suppress adverse effects at least partially, for example, by blocking the load current and / or residual current, which is the main current of the battery during normal operation.

[0074] In some embodiments, a battery using a dynamic insulator comprising a type of material (e.g., polymer and / or resin) that replaces at least a portion of the ceramic (e.g., aluminum oxide) within the insulator is disclosed herein. The volume of the dynamic insulator may be referred to as a "porous volume" or a "porous layer." The dynamic insulator may be placed on one or more faces of a cell. The face(s) of the cell may include opposite faces of the cell. The opposite faces of the cell may be opposite XY faces of the cell, opposite ZY faces of the cell, and / or opposite XZ faces of the cell. The dynamic insulator may be placed in a volume through which residual current flows, where the dynamic insulator may be replaced with an insulator that is not responsive to a triggering event, e.g., an event triggered during an ESC. In some embodiments, the type of material of the dynamic insulator is configured to be electrically insulating. In one example, the porous layer (dynamic insulator) comprises a type of material configured for electrical insulation. The degree of electrical insulation of a dynamic insulator may be triggered by a triggering event and may be, for example, temperature-dependent. The degree of electrical insulation of a dynamic insulator may depend on the triggering event, for example, the temperature of the dynamic insulator. The triggering event may cause the dynamic insulator to inhibit its ability to conduct current. The degree (e.g., velocity) of charge particles flowing through the dynamic insulator may depend on the triggering event, for example, temperature. The dynamic insulator may comprise a polymer or resin. One or more components of the dynamic insulator may have at least one material property configured to change upon the occurrence of a triggering event, for example, when a threshold is exceeded. In one example, the dynamic insulator may undergo a structural change (e.g., melting) when a temperature threshold is exceeded. Material property(s) dependent on the triggering event(s) (e.g., the threshold) may include a change in the physical state of the material, for example, melting or solidification.The material properties(s) may depend on the threshold of the triggering event(s). The material properties(s) may include changes in the viscosity of fluid materials within the dynamic insulator, for example, changes in the viscosity of electrolytes within the dynamic insulator. Changes in the material properties(s) may include physical changes or chemical reactions. Changes in the material properties(s) may include binding, gelation, melting, or any combination thereof. Binding may include alterations of covalent bonds, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, and / or polar bonds. Such alterations may include cross-linking within molecules (e.g., polymer strands) or between molecules (e.g., polymer strands) to form a gel-like matrix, for example. In one example, at least one component of the dynamic insulator may include cross-branching. The physical shape (e.g., range) of molecules within the dynamic insulator may be temperature-dependent. Polymer particles may have (e.g., substantially) similar size and shape. The polymer particles may have a homogeneous size and / or shape distribution (e.g., substantially). The size and / or shape distribution of the particles may be bell-shaped. In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator comprises a particulate material configured to be electrically insulated. The dynamic insulator and the separator may have at least one material type of the same type, for example, the material type may be different from the electrolyte. The dynamic insulator and the separator may be different by at least one material type. The particulate material of the insulator is configured to have responsiveness to triggering events similar to (e.g., substantially identical or the same) the separator (e.g., polymer), for example, the same triggering event threshold. In some embodiments, the particulate material is configured to have thermal properties similar to (e.g., substantially identical or the same) the separator (e.g., polymer).The responsiveness of the dynamic insulator to triggering events may allow for the shutdown of (e.g., alternative) residual current paths. The responsiveness of the dynamic insulator to triggering events may also reduce the overall heating of the cell during an ESC event. The responsiveness of the dynamic insulator to triggering events may also suppress (e.g., prevent) one or more of the adverse effects. Such properties of the dynamic insulator may improve the overall safety of the cell and / or battery. Heating may include Joule heating, for example, resistive heating where heat is generated at least partially due to the resistance faced by the current passing through the conductor, or ohmic heating. In one example, a porous layer (dynamic insulator) formed by polymer particles is also electrically insulating, allows for ion conduction, and possesses thermal properties similar to those of a polymer separator. In one example, one or more of the properties of the dynamic insulator allow for the shutdown of these alternative current paths, thereby reducing the overall Joule heating of the cell during an external short circuit and improving safety.

[0075] In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator comprises a particulate material, for example as disclosed herein. The particulate material may have a size distribution. The particulate material (e.g., powder) may have a central tendency value (e.g., average) of FLS (e.g., diameter) of at least about 1.5 microns (μm), 2.5 μm, 3.5 μm, 5 μm, 8 μm, 10 μm, 12 μm, or 15 μm. The particulate material (e.g., powder) may have a central tendency value (e.g., average) of FLS (e.g., diameter) between the values ​​mentioned above, for example, from about 1.5 microns (μm) to about 15 μm, or from about 1.5 μm to about 12 μm. The central tendency value (e.g., median particle size - SD50) of the particulate material of the dynamic insulator may be between the values ​​mentioned above, for example, from about 3.5 µm to about 5 µm, from about 5 µm to about 12 µm, or from about 7 µm to about 19 µm. The size distribution may take a bell shape. The shape of the particles may include spherical, rod-shaped, or disc-shaped. The particulate material may have (e.g., substantially) spherical particles. The particulate material may include amorphous particles. The particles of the particulate material may have (e.g., substantially) similar size and / or shape. Polymer particles may have a homogeneous size and / or shape distribution. In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator comprises a particulate material configured to be electrically insulating. The particles may be produced by a process including melt mixing and grinding, spray drying, or sedimentation and drying.

[0076] As illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 7 through 9 and discussed herein, an example of a (e.g., secondary) battery uses aluminum oxide ("alumina" or AO) to create a dynamic insulator (also referred to herein as a "porous layer") on both XY planes of the cell. During an external short circuit (ESC) of a charged battery, a larger current (also referred to herein as a "load current") passes between the electrodes (e.g., between the cathode and the anode). At the same time, charge carriers, such as lithium ions, move from the anode to the cathode and pass through a separation space (e.g., through a separator). In some examples, heat from the large (load) current (e.g., eventually) causes the separator to "shut down," blocking most of the ion conductivity between the anode and the cathode. However, a current path through the porous AO still exists at the Z end of the electrode. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 through 9, some examples of (e.g., secondary) batteries have a "horizontal" arrangement, which means there is a much larger path for these lateral (e.g., edge) currents (e.g., residual currents) compared to residual currents in wound cell configurations (e.g., 155 in FIG. 1 and 300 in FIG. 3) or "vertical" stacked cells (e.g., 330 in FIG. 3)—which may result in substantial (e.g., larger) residual currents after shutdown compared to other secondary cell architectures. The cells may also be placed in a pouch of the battery.

[0077] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-section of a battery comprising an anode (702) comprising silicon and carbon (e.g., a silicon and carbon composite) coupled to a current collector (701). The anode is in contact with a separation space (705). One side of the separation space faces the anode (702), and the opposite side faces and contacts a cathode (703) comprising a metal oxide (e.g., lithium). A current collector (704) is coupled to the cathode (703). The separation space (e.g., 705) extends beyond the side (e.g., edge) of the anode (e.g., outward) and bends toward the interior of the anode (710a). The anode is in contact with the separation space on its side and with the separation space on its opposite side. The separation space extends beyond the side of the anode it contacts. The partition space is bent toward the interior of the anode and toward the separation space (710b). An insulator (706) (e.g., containing alumina) contacts the sides of the cell (e.g., edges), e.g., (i) the anode, (ii) the cathode, (iii) the separation space, and (iv) the partition space. The separation space (705, 710a) and the partition space (710b) are (e.g., substantially) identical in terms of their material content and / or general physical dimensions. Particulate material is shown on the anode (702), cathode (703), and insulator (706). In the example shown in FIG. 7, the partition space and the separation space mirror each other (e.g., substantially) along an axis extending through the major axis of the anode shown in FIG. 7, e.g., along the current collector of the anode positioned along the major axis. The partition space and the separation space are separated from each other by a gap (710c). The partition space separates one battery cell from another cell. The partition space may contain the same material as the separation space (e.g., substantially).In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the battery comprises cells arranged in an ABCS repeating array, where A=anode, B=separation space, C=cathode, and S=segmentation space. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the anode has a cross-section longer than that of the cathode, and its thickness is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the cathode illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0078] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of a battery comprising an anode (802) comprising silicon and carbon (e.g., a composite of silicon and carbon) coupled to a current collector (801). The anode contacts a separation space (805), which includes, for example, a separator. One side of the separation space faces the anode (802), and the opposite side faces and contacts a cathode (803) comprising a metal oxide (e.g., lithium). A current collector (804) is coupled to the cathode (803). The separation space (e.g., 805) extends beyond the side (e.g., edge) of the anode and bends toward the interior of the anode (810a). The anode contacts the separation space on its side and contacts the separation space on the opposite side. The separation space extends beyond the side of the anode it contacts. The partition space is bent toward the interior of the anode and toward the separation space (810b). An insulator (806) (e.g., containing alumina) contacts the sides of the cell (e.g., edges), e.g., the sides of the anode, cathode, separation space, and partition space. Particulate material appears on the anode (802), cathode (803), and insulator (806). In the example shown in FIG. 8, the partition space and the separation space mirror each other (e.g., substantially) along an axis extending through the major axis of the anode shown in FIG. 8, e.g., along the current collector of the anode positioned along the major axis. The partition space and the separation space are separated from each other by a gap (810c). The partition space divides one battery cell from another cell. The partition space may contain the same material as the separation space (e.g., substantially). In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the battery comprises cells arranged in an ABCS repeating array, where A=anode, B=separation space, C=cathode, and S=segmentation space. When excessive load current and / or heat is experienced in the battery cells, the load current is shut off (808).Without being bound by theory, this may be due to changes occurring in the separation space, such as clogging of separator pores by molten separator material. While the load current (808) is shut off, for example, if the insulator is not a dynamic insulator that is responsive to triggering events or triggering conditions, such as a runaway reaction, residual currents (807a and 807b) may continue to exist in the battery.

[0079] FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of a secondary battery cell having a dynamic insulator deposited as a polymer particle paste, wherein the polymer particles are in the volume (906) of the dynamic insulator instead of a non-dynamic insulator comprising a ceramic insulator such as aluminum oxide (AO), and the paste is used to create an insulator (also referred to herein as a “porous layer”) on both XY sides of the cell, refer, for example, to 350 in FIG. 3. The particles of the polymer particle paste have a size and shape similar (e.g., substantially identical) to the particles of the ceramic (e.g., alumina = AO) paste. The porous layer formed by the polymer particles (A) is (also) electrically insulated, (B) allows ion conduction (e.g., at least partially by an electrolyte immersed in the volume of the dynamic insulator), and (C) has thermal properties similar (e.g., substantially identical) to those of the polymer separator. When the separator is shut down (e.g., via melting), the polymer particle paste is also shut down (e.g., melted), effectively shutting down the edge (e.g., residual) current path of the residual current (e.g., assumed). Shutting down may involve a interruption of current flow, for example, a substantial, significant, and / or measurable interruption. A significant interruption of current means that the current may be unable to achieve the requested / defined function achieved by the current. For example, the molten polymer particles fuse and block residual ion conductivity. In some embodiments, these properties of the dynamic insulator illustrated in the example of FIG. 9 allow for the shutdown of these alternative current paths (e.g., residual current paths), such as by reducing the overall Joule heating of the cell during an external short circuit and improving safety.

[0080] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section of a battery comprising an anode (902) comprising silicon and carbon (e.g., a composite of silicon and carbon) coupled to a current collector (901). The anode is in contact with a separation space having a curved portion (910a) comprising, for example, a separator. Another example of a separation space is 905. One side of the separation space faces the anode (902), and the opposite side faces and contacts a cathode (903) comprising a metal oxide, for example, lithium. A current collector (904) is coupled to the cathode (903). The separation space (e.g., 905) extends beyond the side (e.g., edge) of the anode and is curved toward the interior of the anode (910a). The anode is in contact with the separation space on its side and with the separation space on the opposite side. The separation space extends beyond the side of the anode it contacts. The partition space is bent toward the interior of the anode and toward the separation space (910b). A dynamic insulator (906) (e.g., containing a polymer) contacts the sides of the cell (e.g., edges), e.g., the sides of the anode, cathode, separation space, and partition space. Particulate material is shown on the anode (902), cathode (903), and dynamic insulator (906). In the example shown in FIG. 9, the partition space and the separation space mirror each other (e.g., substantially) along an axis extending through the long axis of the anode shown in FIG. 9, e.g., along the current collector of the anode positioned along the long axis. The partition space and the separation space are separated from each other by a gap (910c). The partition space divides one battery cell from another cell. The partition space may contain the same material as the separation space (e.g., substantially). In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the battery comprises cells arranged in an ABCS repeating array, where A=anode, B=separation space, C=cathode, and S=segmentation space. When excessive load current and / or heat is experienced in the battery cells, the load current is shut off (908).Without wishing to be bound by theory, this may be due to changes occurring in the separation space, such as blockage of the separator pores by the molten separator material. While the load current (908) is shut off, the residual current (907a and 907b) is also shut off, for example, as the dynamic insulator and separator contain (e.g., substantially) the same material that is responsive to the increased temperature. Changes in the characteristics / properties of the dynamic insulator due to the triggering event (e.g., increased temperature) are schematically illustrated in block (909). However, any part of the dynamic insulator (906) experiencing the triggering event may experience a change.

[0081] FIG. 10 illustrates examples of time-dependent graphs showing the voltage, current, and temperature of batteries. Graphs with solid lines (1011) represent batteries in which cells are stacked in an arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 13, 1300. Graphs with dashed lines (1012) represent batteries in which cells are rolled into a type of coiled cell (e.g., jelly roll) arrangement similar to that shown in FIG. 13, 1350 or FIG. 3, 300. The batteries used to generate the graphs of FIG. 10 do not have dynamic insulators. Graphs (1011) are taken during the discharge of a stacked cell battery experiencing adverse effects. While the voltage (1001) and current (1003) experience a significant drop (e.g., due to load current shutdown), the temperature (1005) of the battery increases significantly (e.g., due to the flow of residual current). The significant temperature increase may be due to a resulting runaway reaction. Without being bound by theory, the increase in runaway reaction in the stacked cell configuration corresponding to 1011 may be at least partially attributed to the increased residual current compared to the residual current in the jelly roll type battery corresponding to 1012. In the jelly roll type battery, while the voltage (1002) and current (1004) experience a significant drop (e.g., due to load current shutdown), the temperature of the battery is maintained substantially constant, for example, possibly due to a lower residual current compared to the residual current (1006).

[0082] In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator comprises a polymer. A polymer paste may be utilized to form the dynamic insulator. Polymer particles (e.g., and their paste) may comprise polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene halogen, or any combination thereof. The dynamic insulator may comprise any other similar polymer having insulating properties and / or a melting point for a separator, e.g., any polymer disclosed herein where applicable. The triggering event of the dynamic insulator may be a critical temperature, such as a melting point. The melting point of the material within the dynamic insulator may range from about 100 degrees Celsius (°C) to about 150°C. The insulating material paste of the dynamic insulator may be deposited during a procedure (e.g., the same or substantially the same) used to deposit a non-dynamic insulator, such as a ceramic insulator, which does not have a material triggered by the triggering event. The process may include a printing process, such as a mask process and / or a stencil printing process. The process may also include any suitable process disclosed herein. In one example, the polymer particle paste is deposited using a printing process such as a mask process and / or a stencil printing process. The polymer particle paste may be deposited using a procedure (e.g., the same or substantially the same) used to deposit the AO paste. In one example, the polymer particle paste is deposited using a printing process such as a mask process and / or a stencil printing process.

[0083] In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator undergoes a transition due to a triggering event. The triggering event may include (a) a temperature threshold, (b) a charge carrier concentration threshold, or (c) a charge carrier flow rate. The triggering event may occur (a) immediately before, (b) at the onset of, or (c) immediately before the runaway reaction causes adverse effects such as substantial damage. Immediate before the runaway reaction may include (A) a current plateau coupled with a rapid increase in temperature (e.g., 101 and 111 in FIG. 1) or (B) a rapid decrease in current coupled with a temperature plateau (e.g., 102 and 112 in FIG. 1). The triggering event may be of a material type(s) within the dynamic insulator. The material type(s) may include an insulating material, an electrolyte, or an attractor. At least one material type of the dynamic insulator may be responsive to the triggering event, causing a substantial and / or significant change in the material type(s). The responsiveness of the material type(s) may depend at least partially on (a) a temperature threshold, (b) a charge carrier concentration threshold, or (c) a charge carrier flow rate. The material type(s) may undergo a change in one or more material properties based at least partially on the threshold of the triggering event type(s). The threshold (e.g., temperature) may be a transition of the insulating material within the dynamic insulator. The transition may include any transition disclosed herein that affects the material. The transition may be at least one material property, e.g., a physical and / or chemical property. The transition may include a phase transition. The transition may occur under critical conditions. In one example, the transition may occur at a temperature including the melting point, the connection (e.g., melting or fusion) temperature, or the glass transition temperature. The transition may include, e.g., a transition of the electrolyte and / or other solvent within the dynamic insulator.The transition may include three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction, crosslinking, gelation, or any combination thereof. The change in properties may cause charge carriers to change (e.g., inhibit) their propagation speed within the dynamic insulator, for example, within its volume.

[0084] In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator is configured to suppress residual current within the cell. In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator is configured to suppress current flowing through the dynamic insulator. In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator is configured to suppress (e.g., reduce) current flowing outside the separation space placed between the two opposite electrodes of the cell. The dynamic insulator may also suppress (e.g., shut off) current propagating (e.g., having a path) around the separator and / or around the separation space. The insulating material of the dynamic insulator may be in contact (e.g., coating) with one or more faces of the cell. The insulating material may be excluded (e.g., substantially) from the interior of the cell, and for example, the insulating material may be excluded from the separation space. The insulating material may be excluded from most of the separation space, for example, up to about 10%, 5%, or 2% of the separation space. The separation space may be defined by the volume within the outer face (e.g., sheath) of the separator. The insulating material may come into contact with cell component(s) including an anode, a cathode, a separation space, or a separator. The dynamic insulator may be configured to suppress a runaway (e.g., exothermic) reaction at least partially by being configured to poison the runaway reaction, for example, upon the occurrence of triggering event(s). The electrolyte of the dynamic separator may permeate into, occupy, or adhere to (e.g., wet) the cell component(s). The liquid of the dynamic insulator may permeate between the particles of the electrode. The cathode may comprise metal oxide(s). The anode may comprise an allotrope of elemental carbon or silicon, for example, silicon in particulate form. The allotrope of elemental carbon may or may not be conductive. The allotrope of elemental carbon may comprise amorphous carbon, carbon foam (e.g., nanofoam), or Z-ACA allotrope.Allotropes of elemental carbon may include graphite, carbon fiber, hard carbon, graphene, carbon nanotubes, or fullerenes. The anode may include silicon particles embedded in a carbon matrix or a mixture of silicon particles and carbon particles. The cathode material may be deposited on a metal sheet having a thickness of, for example, up to about 6 millimeters (mm), 5 mm, 2.5 mm, 1 mm, or 0.5 mm. The sheet may be a foil, for example, having a thickness of up to about 0.4 mm, 0.2 mm, or 0.1 mm. The anode material may be deposited on a metal sheet. The metal sheets of the anode and cathode may be (for example, substantially) the same type of material. The metal sheets of the anode and cathode may be different types of material. The metal sheet may include elemental metals or metal alloys. The metal sheet may include aluminum, titanium, nickel, stainless steel, or copper. In one example, the cathode material is deposited on a copper sheet, and the anode material is deposited on an aluminum sheet.

[0085] In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator may comprise a particulate material. The particulate material may be configured to connect upon the occurrence of a triggering event, such as a triggering threshold, for example, a temperature threshold. The particulate material may also be configured to connect (a) prior to, (b) at the onset of, or (c) before the runaway reaction causes adverse effects(s), such as substantial damage. The connection of the particulate material may involve melting, fusing, sintering, or otherwise binding. In some embodiments, the connection of the particulate material is configured to prevent charge carriers from flowing through the dynamic insulator, for example, from one electrode to its counterpart.

[0086] In some embodiments, the battery is exposed to triggering event(s). When the battery experiences the triggering event (e.g., for a sufficiently long period) or under conditions more hazardous than the triggering event, adverse effect(s) may occur. The adverse effect may include substantial damage. The triggering event may include a temperature rise within the dynamic insulator. The temperature rise within the dynamic insulator may be due to a temperature rise in the battery and / or battery cell, for example, during use (e.g., operation), transport, storage, maintenance, or pre-charging (e.g., buffering). Pre-charging may include buffering charge carriers (e.g., metal ions) into the anode to increase the performance of the cell, for example. The substantial damage may prevent the battery and / or affected cell from operating as it would under normal conditions, for example. Normal conditions may be the specifications of the battery and cell and / or their requested performance. Substantial damage may be to the cell, the battery, object(s) in the surrounding environment outside the battery, any combination thereof, any other substantial damage disclosed herein, or any other harmful effect disclosed herein. Object(s) may include biological or inanimate objects, for example, personnel in the surrounding environment outside the battery. Substantial damage may be caused at least partially by the cell and / or battery causing a fire.

[0087] In some embodiments, the battery includes a dynamic insulator. The material(s) of the dynamic insulator may undergo a transition initiated by a triggering event. The transition may cause charge carriers to inhibit (e.g., stop) the propagation speed through the separator space and / or the separator. The transition may include melting, fusing, sintering, otherwise binding, or any other transition disclosed herein. The location of the dynamic insulator within the battery and / or the (material) properties of the particles may allow the cell to be heated to a maximum temperature that suppresses harmful effects(s) that would occur if the dynamic insulator were not present. The insulating material within the dynamic insulator may replace or be added to ceramics such as alumina. The dynamic insulator may be placed outside the cell (e.g., electrode-separator-cathode structure) and inside the battery housing. The insulating material may include material type(s). The insulator may include a type of insulating material for a separating space, such as a separator. The insulating material of a dynamic insulator may consist of at least one type of material different from the material contained in a separation space, such as a separator. The insulating material may include a polymer or a resin. The polymer may include a polyolefin. The polymer may include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or polyvinylidene halogens. The halogen may include fluoride, chloride, or bromide. Polyvinylidene may include one or more types of halogens. The insulating material may include a flame retardant. The insulating material may include a material having a small number of polar groups or without polar groups. The polar groups may include hydroxyl, acid, ketone, aldehyde, thiol, or phosphine, for example, primary phosphine. The small number is relative to (a) the number of repeating units and / or (b) the number of carbon atoms in the resin. The small number is relative to (a) the number of repeating units and / or (b) the number of atoms in the backbone of the polymer.The small number may be a percentage of up to about 45%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% with respect to (a) the repeating unit of the polymer, (b) atoms in the backbone of the polymer, or (c) carbon atoms in the resin. The insulating material may include organic molecules or silicon-based molecules. In one example, the insulating material includes organic molecules. The battery may undergo one or more heat treatments during its manufacture. The maximum temperature of the heat treatment(s) may be up to about 50 degrees Celsius (°C), 60°C, 70°C, or 75°C. The separator may have a transition point, for example, at least about 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, or a higher temperature. The transition point may be temperature-sensitive. The transition point may include melting or glass transition. The dynamic insulator may include material(s) that undergo a transition at a triggering event, for example, including temperature. The triggering event may include a point or a range. The transition may have a threshold, for example, a value or a range. The critical temperature of the dynamic insulator and / or insulating material may be at least about 70°C, 75°C, 80°C, 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, 150°C, or a higher temperature. The critical temperature of the dynamic insulator and / or insulating material may be up to about 200°C, 180°C, 150°C, 140°C, 130°C, 120°C, or a lower temperature. The critical temperature of the dynamic insulator and / or insulating material may be between any of the values ​​mentioned above, for example, from about 70°C to about 200°C, from about 80°C to about 130°C, from about 70°C to about 90°C, from about 90°C to about 150°C, and from about 100°C to about 180°C. The minimum temperature at which the partition space undergoes a transition triggered by a triggering event including temperature may be above the critical temperature at which the separator undergoes a transition (e.g., melting). The critical temperature may be the plateau temperature before the runaway reaction is initiated.The critical temperature may exceed the plateau temperature. The critical temperature may be the "immediately before" defined herein, for example, as in relation to FIG. 1, immediately before or when a runaway reaction is initiated. The critical temperature may be the (e.g., immediately) before adverse effect(s) occur. In some embodiments, the dynamic insulator comprises at least one type of material that is temperature-sensitive. The sensitivity may include any threshold disclosed herein. The thermal sensitivity of the dynamic insulator may allow for the shutdown of a residual current path (e.g., alternatively). The thermal sensitivity of the dynamic insulator may reduce the overall heating of the cell during an ESC event. The thermal sensitivity of the dynamic insulator may cause the residual current to be shut down (e.g., substantially) before, after, or during the shutdown of the load current. The dynamic insulator may comprise at least one type of material configured to suppress (e.g., slow down) the diffusion of charge carriers across the dynamic insulator as a function of a triggering event. In one example, the triggering event is a critical temperature, and, for example, the inhibition of charge carrier diffusion occurs at or above the temperature threshold. When the triggering event threshold is reached or exceeded, the dynamic insulator may form at least a partial (e.g., complete) barrier to the transport of charge carriers from one electrode to the opposite electrode. At least one material type of the dynamic insulator may be configured to reduce (e.g., prevent) or decrease the occurrence of one or more harmful effects of the battery in which it is placed. At least one material type of the dynamic insulator may be configured to inhibit (e.g., prevent or reduce) or decrease the occurrence of a runaway reaction. In one example, at least one material type of the dynamic insulator is configured to suppress the amount of heat generated in the battery to be equal to (e.g., substantially) the heat dissipated from the battery.In one example, at least one material type of the dynamic insulator is configured such that, upon heating, the battery reaches a maximum temperature, e.g., a steady-state temperature or an equilibrium temperature. The maximum temperature may be an equilibrium between heat dissipation from the battery and heat formation within the battery. The maximum temperature may be lower than one or more adverse effects, such as any of the substantial and / or significant adverse effects disclosed herein, for example. The maximum temperature may be a temperature at which the heat generated by the battery is controllable, e.g., manageable. Controllable may be under reasonable operating conditions permitted in an ambient setting, under reasonable effort, and / or jurisdiction. The maximum temperature may be a temperature at which the rate of heat generation within the battery is controllable, e.g., manageable. The dynamic insulator may suppress heat generation in at least one component of the battery, e.g., a cell. Suppressing heat generation may include inhibiting, slowing, stopping, or interrupting the heat generation. The dynamic insulator may be configured to suppress charge carriers from propagating through the dynamic insulator, e.g., from one electrode to the opposite electrode in a cell. The dynamic insulator may be configured to undergo a change in one or more material properties of the material(s) of the dynamic insulator. The change may be triggered by a triggering event including a temperature rise, an increased velocity of charge carriers through the dynamic insulator, or an increased concentration of charge carriers through the dynamic insulator. A battery cell covered with an insulator may be placed in a housing. A battery cell covered with an insulator may be placed in a pouch placed in a housing. The housing may include a brace (e.g., a restraint) that may suppress the expansion of the cell, for example, in at least one Cartesian direction during use of the cell. The housing may also include a restraint that suppresses the expansion of the cell (e.g., a set of cells) in at least one Cartesian direction.Expansion in at least one Cartesian direction may be inhibited more by the brace than in at least one other direction. The brace may inhibit the expansion of the cell set in the stacking direction (e.g., X direction) more than in other directions, for example, one or more directions perpendicular to the stacking direction (e.g., Z and Y directions). The brace may inhibit the expansion of the cell in one direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (e.g., Z) more than in other directions perpendicular to the stacking direction (e.g., Y). The brace may be placed inside or outside the pouch. The pouch and / or housing may be configured to retain the electrolyte inside the pouch. The battery may or may not include a pouch. The pouch and / or housing may be configured to insulate the cell from at least one reactive agent in the surrounding environment. The reactive agent may be configured to cause corrosion, short circuits, runaway reactions, and / or other chemical reactions. Other chemical reactions may generate harmful gases (e.g., hydrogen). The reaction may be for metals or metal ions within the cell. Sometimes, the temperature of the triggering event is measured outside the battery cell, for example, in the battery pouch and / or battery housing. Sometimes, the temperature of the triggering event is measured inside the battery cell. The temperature can be measured using a thermocouple. The temperature inside the cell can reach up to about 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, or 50°C higher than the temperature outside the battery cell, for example, in the battery pouch or battery housing.

[0088] In some embodiments, a triggering event may cause a transition of the attractor of the dynamic insulator. The attractor may be configured to bind to at least one type of charge carrier, for example, reversibly or (e.g., substantially) irreversibly. Irreversibly, it may be so for the specified life of the cell and / or battery. The charge carrier may have a strong affinity for the binding site of the attractor. The charge carrier may have a high binding constant for the binding site(s) of the attractor. The attractor may include a polar group, for example, as disclosed herein. The polar group may include an ion, a non-covalent electron pair, or a labile atom. The polar group may include a cation. The polar groups may have an unstable atom (e.g., hydrogen) for participation in hydrogen bonding, for example. The attractor may include a chelate group. The attractor may have a higher affinity for the charge carrier. Affinity may depend at least partially on (a) a temperature threshold, (b) a charge carrier concentration threshold, or (c) a charge carrier flow rate. For example, the attractor may be positively charged at or above the critical temperature. For example, the binding groups of the attractor may be more exposed to charge carriers at or above the critical temperature.

[0089] In some embodiments, for example, a dynamic insulator is added to the cell during battery manufacturing. The dynamic insulator may be added as a precursor. The precursor may comprise a homogeneous mixture or slurry of insulating material(s). The precursor may be applied to the surface of the cell(s), for example, one or more of its sides, such as the opposite ZX side of the battery shown in FIG. 330 or 350. Application may include printing, stenciling, or thermal transfer. Application may include deposition. Printing may include stencil printing, direct printing, or sublimation printing. Direct printing may include additive manufacturing. Deposition may be performed after forming the anode-separator-cathode structure. Application may be performed after the cell(s) are condensed to fit into the battery housing. Application may also be performed after the cell(s) are folded, rolled, or otherwise packed. The application of dynamic insulators may be performed before placing the cell in the battery housing, harness (e.g., restraint), or any combination thereof. The harness may suppress (e.g., hinder, limit, or prevent) the expansion of the battery, for example, during the operation of the battery. The harness may be metallic. The harness may comprise stainless steel, Inconel, Monel, Hastelloy, aluminum alloy (e.g., 6061), or high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA). The alloy may have the same weight, density, and / or strength as stainless steel, such as the 300 series including, for example, 301, 304, or 316. The harness comprises a restraint made of a material compatible with the electrolyte. The manufacturing process of the battery may be directed by a control system. At least part of the manufacturing process of the battery may be performed in an environment with one or more characteristics different from the ambient environment. One or more characteristics may be a reduced amount of reactive agent(s) as disclosed herein.In one example, at least part of the battery manufacturing process is carried out in a dry air, nitrogen, or argon environment. The dry air may include clean dry air (CDA). The manufacturing process may also be performed at ambient pressure and / or temperature.

[0090] In some embodiments, the system, device, and / or apparatus disclosed herein includes a control system. The control system may include one or more controllers. The control system may include or be operablely coupled with one or more devices, devices, and / or systems of the mechanism disclosed herein (e.g., system, device, or apparatus), including any component of the device(s), device(s), and / or system(s). The controller(s) may include or be operablely coupled with a hierarchical control system. The hierarchical control system may include at least three, four, or five levels of control. In some embodiments, at least two operations are performed or directed by the same controller. In some embodiments, at least two operations are performed or directed by different controllers. The control system may include a control system. The control system may include a laser control system. The controller may include a feedback control method. The feedback control method may include an open feedback loop control method. The feedback loop control method may include a closed feedback loop control method. The feedback control method may include hardware compensation. The feedback control method may include software compensation. The control system may include an instrumentation detection system or be operably coupled with it and configured to receive measurement data from the instrumentation detection system. The control system may also be configured to generate a control signal in response to the measurement data collected by the instrumentation detection system.

[0091] In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and / or components disclosed herein include one or more controllers. One or more controllers may include one or more central processing units (CPUs), input / output (I / O) and / or communication modules. The CPU may include electronic circuitry that executes instructions of a computer program by performing arithmetic, logic, control, and I / O operations specified by instructions. The controller may include suitable software (e.g., an operating system). The control system may optionally include a feedback control loop and / or a feedforward control loop. The controller may be shared among one or more systems or devices. Each device or system may have its own controller. Two or more systems and / or components thereof may share a controller. Two or more devices and / or components thereof may share a controller. The controller may monitor and / or direct changes (e.g., physical) in the operating conditions of the device, software, and / or method described herein. The controller may be a manual or non-manual controller. The controller may be an automatic controller. The controller may operate on request. The controller may be a programmable controller. The controller may be programmed. The controller may include a processing unit (e.g., a CPU or a GPU). The controller may receive inputs (e.g., from sensors). The controller may deliver outputs. The controller may include multiple controllers. The controller may receive multiple inputs. The controller may generate multiple outputs. The controller system may include a single-input single-output controller (SISO) or a multiple-input multiple-output controller (MIMO). The controller may interpret received input signals. The controller may acquire data from one or more sensors. Acquisition may include receiving or extracting.Data may include measurements, estimates, decisions, generation, or any combination thereof. The controller may include feedback control. The controller may include feedforward control. Control may include on / off control, proportional control, proportional-integral (PI) control, or proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control. Control may include open-loop control or closed-loop control. The controller may include closed-loop control. The controller may include open-loop control. The controller may include a user interface. The user interface may include a keyboard, keypad, mouse, touchscreen, microphone, voice recognition package, camera, imaging system, or any combination thereof. Output may include a display (e.g., a screen), speaker, or printer.

[0092] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic example of a process (1120) controlled using a control system in a feedback loop control method, for example, a closed loop control method. The control system receives a setpoint (1105) at a comparator (1106), the comparator generates an error signal, and the error signal is supplied to a controller (1140) (1145). In other control systems, the comparator may be part of the controller. The controller (1140) generates a control signal supplied to a control element (1130). The control element may include a mechanism used for its control function to control the process (1120). The control element (1130) provides an input to the process (1120). The mechanism may achieve a physical and / or chemical change, and the change is an input to the process (1120). The physical change may include a mechanical change, a magnetic change, an electromagnetic change, a piezoelectric change, an electrical change, a pressure change, or a temperature change. Chemical changes may include chemical gradients or changes in chemical entities. The process (1120) may be any process disclosed herein, such as a manufacturing (e.g., manufacturing) method. The process (1120) generates an output detected by the measurement element (1110), for example, using the sensor(s). The output provided by the process (1120) may be the process's response to an input provided by the control element (1130). The measurement element (1110) generates a variable amplitude signal that is fed back to the comparator (1106) and compared again with a set point. The measurement element (1110) optionally also generates a control variable (1181). The control element (1130) optionally also receives a control variable (1182) from an external source, for example, a processor and / or a communication system. The sensor(s) may be used by the measurement element (1110) for, for example, to measure parameters of the process (1120).Sensor measurements may be the determination of the amplitude of parameters, such as material parameters, as disclosed herein, for example. In one example, the measured values ​​are consistent and repeatable. The sensor(s) may convert physical parameters into electrical signals, such as digital forms, that are available to a control system (e.g., repeatedly and reliably). A comparator may perform error detection, for example, by determining the difference between the amplitude of the measured variable and a requested set reference point (e.g., set point (1105)), and that difference is the error signal. The error signal may be amplified and / or conditioned, such as by being filtered. Signal amplification and / or conditioning may be performed by an external component to the controller (e.g., 1140) or within the controller. The reference point (e.g., set point) may be stored in the controller's memory or in memory operably coupled to the controller. The controller may be a (e.g., micro-)processor-based system capable of determining the next action to take in the process. The process may be sequential. The controller may evaluate an error signal in a continuous process control system, for example, to determine the action to be taken. The controller (e.g., 1140) may be operablely coupled with a unit that conditions the signal or conditions the system. Conditioning the signal may include noise filtering. Conditioning the signal may include correcting the nonlinearity of the sensor. The controller may include parameters of process input control elements. The controller may also condition the error signal to indicate a control element, for example, 1130. The controller may monitor input signal(s). The input signals may be interrelated. The controller may be configured to indicate at least two control elements together. The controller may be configured to indicate at least two control elements simultaneously.The controller may be configured to sequentially direct at least two control elements. A control element (e.g., 1130) may be a device that controls any other property of a process, including material or physical or chemical properties entering the process. Physical properties may include mechanical, magnetic, piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electrical, pressure, or temperature properties. Chemical properties may include chemical gradients or chemical entities. A control element may be a flow control element. A control element may be a temperature control element. A control element may have a toggle (e.g., on / off) characteristic. A control element may provide linear or non-linear control of the control element. A control element may be used, for example, to adjust the input to the process to bring the output variable to a setpoint value. A measurement element (e.g., 1110) may consist of sensor(s) for measuring the physical properties of the variable, a transducer for converting the sensor signal into an electrical signal, and / or a transmitter for amplifying the electrical signal. The amplified signal may be transmitted with minimal loss (e.g., without measurable loss). The control element may include an actuator that converts an electrical signal from the controller into a signal for operating and / or controlling a physical device, such as a valve. The controller may include a memory or be operablely coupled to the memory. The control system may include a summing circuit to generate an error signal, for example, by comparing a setpoint with a detected signal. The summing circuit may be part of a comparator. The controller may use the error signal to generate a correction signal for controlling the control element. In one example, the controller controls the valve through the actuator and input variables. The sensor of the measurement element may include an optical sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a chemical sensor, a proximity sensor, a viscosity sensor, a chemical sensor, or any other sensor disclosed herein.The chemical sensor may also detect a material comprising oxygen, water, or any other reactive agent(s) of this specification. The sensor may also be configured to detect one or more properties of the method disclosed herein, such as a method of production.

[0093] Control may include regulation, modulation, adjustment, maintenance, alteration, change, control, management, restraint, restriction, instruction, guidance, supervision, management, preservation, continuation, restraint, mitigation, or change.

[0094] In some embodiments, the device, system and / or device disclosed herein includes a processor. The processor may be a processing unit. A controller may include a processing unit. The processing unit may be central. The processing unit may include a central processing unit ("CPU" in this specification). A controller or control mechanism (e.g., including a computer system) may be programmed to implement the method of this disclosure. A processor may be programmed to implement the method of this disclosure. A controller may also control at least one component of the system and / or device disclosed herein. FIG. 12 shows a schematic example of a computer system (1200) programmed or otherwise configured to facilitate the execution of any method provided herein. The computer system (1200) may control (e.g., direct, monitor and / or regulate) various features of the method, device, device and / or system disclosed herein. The computer system (1200) may be part of or communicate with the device, system and / or device disclosed herein. A computer may be coupled with one or more mechanisms and / or any part thereof disclosed herein. A computer system (1200) may include a processing unit (1206) (also referred to herein as “processor,” “computer,” and “computer processor”). A computer system may include memory or memory location (1202) (e.g., random access memory, read-only memory, flash memory), an electronic storage unit (1204) (e.g., a hard disk), a communication interface (1203) for communicating with one or more other systems (e.g., a network adapter), and peripheral devices (1205) such as a cache, other memory, data storage, and / or an electronic display adapter.Memory (1202), data storage unit (1204), interface (1203), and peripheral device (1205) communicate with the processing unit (1206) via a communication bus (solid line), such as a motherboard. The storage unit may include a data storage unit (or data storage) for storing data. The computer system may be operably coupled with a computer network (“Network”) (1201), for example, with the help of a communication interface. The network may be the Internet, the Internet and / or Extranet, or an intranet and / or Extranet communicating with the Internet. In some cases, the network is a communication and / or data network. The network may include one or more computer servers capable of enabling distributed computing, such as cloud computing. In some cases, the network may implement a peer-to-peer network with the help of a computer system, which may allow a device coupled to the computer system to act as a client or server. The processing unit may execute a sequence of machine-readable instructions, which may be implemented in a program or software. Instructions may be stored in a memory location, for example, memory (1202). Instructions may be directed to a processing unit, and the processing unit may subsequently be programmed or otherwise configured to implement the method of the present disclosure. Examples of operations performed by the processing unit may include fetching, decoding, execution, and write back. The processing unit may interpret and / or execute instructions. The processor may include a microprocessor, a data processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a system-on-chip (SOC), a coprocessor, a network processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), a controller, a programmable logic device (PLD), a chipset, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof.The processing unit may be part of a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. One or more other components of the system (e.g., 1200) may be included in the circuit.

[0095] In some embodiments, the storage unit (e.g., 1204) stores files such as drivers, libraries, and stored programs. The storage unit may store user data (e.g., user preferences and user programs). In some cases, the computer system may include one or more additional data storage units located outside the computer system, such as those located on a remote server that communicates with the computer system over an intranet or the Internet. The processor may be configured to process a control protocol and may communicate with one or more components of the mechanism disclosed herein (e.g., device, apparatus, and / or system) using the control protocol, for example. The control protocol may be one or more of the Internet protocol family, such as the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or the Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP). The control protocol may be one or more serial communication protocols. The control protocol may be one or more of a controller area network or other message-based protocols for communication with a microcontroller and a device, for example. The control protocol may interface with one or more serial bus interfaces for communication with the mechanism disclosed herein, for example, any of its components. The control protocol may be any control protocol disclosed in this specification.

[0096] In some embodiments, the systems, devices and / or devices disclosed herein include communication over a network. A computer system may communicate with one or more remote computer systems over a network. For example, a computer system may communicate with a remote computer system of a user (e.g., an operator). Examples of remote computer systems include a personal computer (e.g., a portable PC), a slate or tablet PC (e.g., an Apple® iPad, a Samsung® Galaxy Tab), a telephone, a smartphone (e.g., an Apple® iPhone, an Android-enabled device, a Blackberry®), or a personal digital assistant. A user (e.g., a client) may access the computer system over a network.

[0097] In some embodiments, a computer system uses program instructions to execute or direct the execution of operations(s). Program instructions may be inscribed in machine-executable code. The method described herein may be implemented by machine-executable code (e.g., computer processor) stored in an electronic storage location of a computer system, such as memory (1202) or an electronic (e.g., data) storage unit (1204). Machine-executable or machine-readable code may be provided in the form of software. During use, a processor (e.g., 1206) may execute the code. In some cases, the code may be retrieved from the storage unit and stored in memory for easy access by the processor. In some situations, the electronic storage unit may be excluded, and machine-executable instructions are stored in memory. The code may be precompiled and configured for use with a machine having a processor adapted to execute the code, or it may be compiled during runtime. The code can be supplied in a programming language that can be selected to allow the code to be executed in a precompiled or as-compiled manner.

[0098] In some embodiments, a computer system utilizes machine-readable media to execute operation(s) or to direct such execution. Program instructions may be inscribed in machine-executable code. Machine-readable media, such as computer-executable code, may take many forms, including but not limited to tangible storage media, carrier media, or physical transmission media. Non-volatile storage media include optical or magnetic disks, such as any of the processor-associated storage devices of any computer(s) or analogues, such as those that may be used to implement a database, for example. Volatile storage media may include dynamic memory, such as the main memory of such computer platforms. Tangible transmission media may include coaxial cables, wires (e.g., copper wires), and / or optical fibers, including wires that constitute a bus within a computer system. Carrier transmission media may take the form of electrical or electromagnetic signals, or acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communication. Accordingly, common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, any other magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs or DVD-ROMs, any other optical media, punch card paper tapes, any other physical storage media / media having a hole pattern, RAM, ROM, PROM and EPROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, carriers carrying data or instructions, cables or links carrying such carriers, any other media in which a computer may read programming code and / or data, or any combination thereof.Memory and / or data storage may include storage devices that are external to the device or removable from the device, such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory sticks and / or hard disks. Many of these forms of computer-readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to be executed by a processor.

[0099] In some embodiments, the device, system, and / or device disclosed herein includes, for example, a communication technology in addition to the optical fiber disclosed herein, or is operably coupled thereto. The communication may include wired or wireless communication. For example, the system, device, and / or part thereof may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Global Positioning System (GPS), or radio frequency (RF) technology. The RF technology may include ultra-wideband (UWB) technology. The system, device, and / or part thereof may include a communication port. The communication port may be a serial port or a parallel port. The communication port may be a Universal Serial Bus port (i.e., USB). The system, device, and / or part thereof may include a USB port. The USB may be a micro- or mini-USB. The surface identification mechanism may include a plug and / or socket, for example, an electric, AC power, or DC power source. The systems, devices, and / or parts thereof may include an electric adapter (e.g., an AC and / or DC power adapter). The systems, devices, and / or parts thereof may include a power connector. The power connector may be an electric power connector. The power connector may include a magnetically attached power connector. The power connector may be a dock connector. The connector may be a data and power connector. The connector may include pins. The connector may include at least about 10, 15, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 40, 42, 45, 50, 55, 80, or 100 pins.

[0100] FIG. 13 illustrates examples of cross-sections of various batteries in a Cartesian coordinate system. Example 1300 illustrates battery cells such as cells (1302) stacked in a direction perpendicular to the z-axis, for example, the height of the battery having a housing (1301). Example 1350 illustrates a battery cell (1352) of a coiled cell (e.g., jelly roll) type configuration rolled on itself around an axis perpendicular to the drawing page. The battery cell (1352) is placed (e.g., positioned) within the battery housing (1351).

[0101] Example 1: In an isolated environment containing clean dry air (CDA), rechargeable lithium-ion batteries were tested at an ambient temperature of approximately 23°C, and five samples were tested at 55°C. The batteries had configurations similar to 300 and 350 in Fig. 3. One of the batteries (resulting in the behavior of 1011 in Fig. 10) included a stacked cell configuration similar to 1300 in Fig. 13 or 350 in Fig. 3. Each of the battery cells included (a) a non-dynamic insulator comprising alumina without a separator-type polymer and (b) an anode which was a silicon-based anode (Si-C). The silicon-based anode contained carbon. The battery cells are illustrated in Fig. 8. Another battery (resulting in the behavior of 1012 in Fig. 10) included a wound cell (e.g., jelly roll) type battery similar to 1350 in Fig. 13, and the anode was a graphite anode. The temperature error range was + / -5°C. The test was inclusive and started after the temperature had equilibrated between 1 and 4 hours. The batteries were oriented away from each other to prevent accidental short circuits. Thermocouples were in contact with the battery housings. The batteries were attached to wires, and current was cycled through the batteries. Voltage, current, and temperature were recorded as shown in Fig. 10. The batteries were exposed to preconditioning charge and discharge cycles at maximum and minimum temperatures, the circuit was identified as open, the circuit resistance was identified as 80 + / - 20 milliohms, and the cells were connected to an open circuit utilized for short circuits. Measurement conditions for temperature and voltage were established, and after temperature stabilization, data acquisition was initiated at 0.12-second intervals. The circuit was closed to establish a short circuit. Temperature was monitored to detect arbitrary peaks, for example, evidence of thermal runaway.After a specified time has elapsed and / or a temperature threshold has been reached, the short circuit is stopped and the circuit is opened so that the cell reaches ambient temperature, e.g., within 10°C. Without wishing to be bound by theory, the differences observed between the graphs of the stacked cell type corresponding to 1011 in FIG. 10 and the graphs of the jelly roll cell type corresponding to 1012 in FIG. 10 may be attributed to (a) the surface area of ​​the sides (e.g., edges) of the cell set in the stacked cell battery is substantially larger than that of the sides (e.g., edges) of the jelly roll cell, (b) the number of cells in the stacked cell battery is substantially larger than that in the jelly roll battery, (c) the surface area of ​​the cathode-anode junctions on the sides (e.g., edges) of the stacked cell battery is substantially larger than that in the jelly roll battery, or (d) any combination thereof.

[0102] The processes discussed herein are intended to be exemplary and not limiting. Those skilled in the art will understand that the operations (e.g., steps) of the processes discussed herein may be omitted, modified, combined, and / or rearranged, and any additional operations (e.g., steps) may be performed without departing from the scope of the invention. More generally, the disclosure is exemplary (e.g., including examples) and not limiting. Furthermore, it should be noted that features and limitations described in any one embodiment may apply to any other embodiment of this specification, and flowcharts or examples related to one embodiment may be combined with any other embodiment in a suitable manner, performed in different orders, or performed in parallel. Additionally, the systems and methods described herein may be performed in real time. Furthermore, it should be noted that the systems and / or methods described above may be applied to or used in conjunction with other systems and / or methods.

[0103] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the specific examples provided in the specification. Although the present disclosure has been described by reference to the foregoing specification, the description and examples of embodiments in the present specification are not intended to be interpreted in a limiting sense. Numerous modifications, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the present disclosure. Furthermore, it should be understood that all aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific descriptions, configurations, or relative proportions presented in the present specification, which depend on various conditions and variables. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments described in the present specification may be employed to practice the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is considered to encompass such alternatives, modifications, variations, or equivalents. The following claims define the scope of the present disclosure, and methods and structures within the scope of such claims and equivalents are intended to be encompassed by them.

Claims

Claim 1 A device for energy manipulation, comprising: a reference electrode having a reference surface including a first reference surface and a second reference surface opposite thereto, and a first reference side and a second reference side opposite thereto; a counter electrode for the reference electrode, wherein the counter electrode has a counter surface including a first counter surface and a second counter surface opposite thereto, and a first counter side and a second counter side opposite thereto; a separation space comprising a separator disposed between the reference electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the separation space has a separation surface including a first separation surface and a second separation surface opposite thereto, and a first separation side and a second separation side opposite thereto, wherein the first separation surface is in contact with the second reference surface and the second separation surface is in contact with the first counter surface; A device for energy manipulation comprising at least one insulator occupying an insulating volume, wherein the at least one insulator is in contact with (a) the first reference side, the first relative side, and the first separation side, (b) the second reference side, the second relative side, and the second separation side, or (c) a combination of (a) and (b); wherein the at least one insulator comprises at least one material type having sensitivity to a triggering event indicating at least one harmful effect, wherein the at least one material type is configured to change one or more characteristics of the at least one material type based at least partially on the occurrence of the triggering event, and the at least one insulator is at least partially dynamic with respect to the triggering event; wherein the device is configured for the flow of current, said flow is between the reference electrode and the relative electrode, and said at least one harmful effect is (i) to the device, (ii) to the external surrounding of the device, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). Claim 2 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event relates to an uncontrollable reaction causing at least one harmful effect. Claim 3 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event occurs at least partially in the at least one insulator, and the triggering event includes a threshold, the threshold being a threshold of a property including temperature, flowing current, or ion concentration. Claim 4 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes a melting point or a glass transition. Claim 5 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein, upon the occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one material type is configured to transition such that the at least one harmful effect is suppressed, becomes controllable, or any combination thereof, wherein the suppression includes effectively stopping or measurably stopping. Claim 6 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein, upon occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one material type is configured to transition from a harder material to a softer material; optionally, the softer material comprises a fluid material. Claim 7 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein, upon occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one material type is configured to transition including connecting; optionally, connecting includes melting, fusing, sintering, or binding in other ways. Claim 8 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein, upon occurrence of the triggering event, the at least one material type is configured to transition from a softer material to a harder material; optionally, (i) the softer material comprises a fluid material, (ii) the harder material comprises a gel, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). Claim 9 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein at least one material type is configured to transition from liquid to gel upon the occurrence of the triggering event. Claim 10 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one material type is at least one first material type; the separation space comprises at least one second material type configured to suppress electrical flow through the separation space at least partially due to the triggering event occurring in the separation space; the first material type and / or the second material type are responsive to the triggering event; optionally, where applicable, (I) the first material type is the second material type; (II) the first material type is different from the second material type by at least one physical property, chemical property, or physical and chemical properties; (III) the first material type comprises a particulate material; (IV) the second material type comprises a sheet or matrix, and the volume occupied by the second material type is the volume of the separation space; or any combination of (I) to (IV). Claim 11 In claim 1, at the occurrence of the triggering event, (i) a first material type, (ii) a second material type, or (iii) said first material type and said second material type, where applicable, are suppressed such that (A) the at least one adverse effect is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped; (B) the generated heat becomes equal to or substantially equal to the heat generated in the device; (C) the propagation of ions through it is suppressed such that it is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped; (D) the current flowing through it, respectively, is suppressed such that it is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped; (E) the current flowing through it, respectively, is suppressed such that it is reduced, effectively stopped, or measurably stopped; (F) from a harder material to a softer material; (G) including connecting; (H) from a softer material to a harder material; (I) from a liquid to a gel at the occurrence of the triggering event; or (J) (A) to A device for energy manipulation configured to transition to any combination of (I). Claim 12 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein at least one insulator is an insulator in contact with (a) the first reference side, the first relative side, and the first separation side, and (b) the second reference side, the second relative side, and the second separation side. Claim 13 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the at least one insulator comprises a first insulator and a second insulator, wherein the first insulator contacts (i) the first reference side, (ii) the first relative side, and (iii) the first separation side, and the second insulator contacts (a) the second reference side, (b) the second relative side, and (c) the second separation side. Claim 14 In claim 1, (I) the reference electrode is elongated, and the reference electrode has a long axis having a first end on the first reference side and a second end on the opposite side of the second reference side, the long axis being the length of the reference electrode, and the reference electrode has a short axis having a third end on the first reference side and a fourth end on the opposite side of the second reference side, the short axis being the width of the reference electrode, and the aspect ratio of the width to the length is at least about 1:8, or (II) the counter electrode is elongated, and the counter electrode has a long axis having a first end on the first counter side and a second end on the opposite side of the second counter side, the long axis being the length of the counter electrode, and the counter electrode has a short axis having a third end on the first counter side and a fourth end on the opposite side of the second counter side, the short axis being the width of the counter electrode, and the ratio of the width to the length is at least about 1:8, or (III) the separation space is A device for energy manipulation, which is elongated, wherein the separation space has a long axis having a first end on the first side and a second end on the opposite side, the long axis being the length of the separation space, and the separation space has a short axis having a third end on the first side and a fourth end on the opposite side, the short axis being the width of the separation space, and the ratio of the width to the length is at least about 1:8, or (IV) any combination of (I) to (III). Claim 15 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the reference electrode comprises one or more types of metal oxides; the counter electrode comprises an allotrope of elemental carbon or silicon; and optionally, the allotrope of elemental carbon comprises graphite, carbon fiber, graphene, carbon nanotube, amorphous carbon, or fullerene. Claim 16 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured such that the volume of the electrode and / or the device expands by up to about 35% during use of the device, and the electrode comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, and the separation space. Claim 17 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein the battery cell comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, and the separation space, the battery cell has a stacking axis and faces are stacked along the stacking axis, the faces include the first reference face, the first counter face, and the first separation face; the battery cell comprises cell sides, the cell sides include a first cell side or a second cell side, and each of the cell sides includes a misalignment; the first cell side includes (i) the first reference side, (ii) the first counter side, and (iii) the first separation side; and the second cell side includes (a) the second reference side, (b) the second counter side, and (c) the second separation side. Claim 18 A device for energy manipulation according to claim 1, wherein at least one component of the device comprises a composite material, and the at least one component comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, the separation space, or the at least one insulator; optionally, the at least one component comprises at least one partition space in contact with the reference electrode and / or the counter electrode. Claim 19 In claim 1, the battery cell comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, and the separation space; the device is a battery comprising a cell set including two or more of the battery cells; in the battery, each of the two or more of the battery cells is separated by a partition space; (a) the partition space, the separation space, and the at least one insulator have the same at least one material type; and (b) the partition space extends beyond the reference plane along the reference major axis of the reference plane including the first reference plane or the second reference plane, and (b) beyond the counter plane along the relative major axis of the counter plane including the first counter plane or the second counter plane, and the partition space includes the partition space or the separation space; the partition space extends along the major axis by an extension including a separation extension or a divider extension, the major axis including the reference major axis or the relative major axis; Where applicable, a device for energy manipulation, wherein (a) (i) the divider extension and (ii) the separation extension are separated from each other by a gap, and the divider extension and the separation extension are on the side of the battery cell, (b) the divider extension is bent toward the separation extension or bent away from the separation extension, (c) the divider extension is curved toward the separation extension or curved away from the separation extension, or (d) any combination of (a) to (c). Claim 20 In claim 19, the volume disposed between the divider extension and the separation extension comprises at least a portion of the at least one insulator, for a device for energy manipulation. Claim 21 In claim 1, the battery cell comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, and the separation space; the device is a battery comprising a cell set including two or more of the battery cells, wherein the two or more of the battery cells are connected in parallel, a device for energy manipulation. Claim 22 In claim 1, the battery cell comprises the reference electrode, the counter electrode, and the separation space; the device is a battery comprising a cell set including two or more of the battery cells, wherein in the battery, the two or more of the battery cells are stacked along a stacking axis perpendicular to, or substantially perpendicular to, (i) the first reference plane, (ii) the second reference plane, (iii) the first separation plane, (iv) the second separation plane, (v) the first counter plane, (vi) the second counter plane, or any combination thereof; (a) the battery comprises a brace configured to suppress expansion of the battery along at least the stacking axis, or (b) the battery comprises a brace configured to suppress expansion of the battery unevenly along the stacking axis and along a direction perpendicular to the stacking axis, or (c) the cell set comprises a first cell side and a second cell side opposite thereto, wherein the first cell side comprises the first reference side, the first separation side, and the first relative side, and the second cell side comprises the second reference side, the second separation side, and the second relative side, wherein the cell set comprises a first cell side and a second cell side opposite thereto, or (d) any combination of (a) to (c), a device for energy manipulation. Claim 23 In claim 22, the battery has an XY plane type, a YZ plane type, and an XZ plane type; the stacking direction of the cells follows the X direction; the XY plane type has a surface area that is (i) larger than the surface area of ​​the YZ plane type and (ii) larger than the surface area of ​​the XZ plane type; the cell side of the cell set faces the XY plane type, and the cell side includes the first cell side or the second cell side, a device for energy manipulation.

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