Solid state battery cell with sealing member

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a solid state battery cell with a sealing member. A solid-state battery includes: a solid-state electrolyte; a first electrode layer disposed against a first main side of the electrolyte; and a gasket disposed against the second main side of the electrolyte. The gasket defines an opening. A second electrode layer is disposed within the opening such that the gasket completely surrounds the second electrode. The second electrode is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle traction batteries, and more particularly to solid state batteries with internal sealing members. BACKGROUND

[0002] Automotive manufacturers use powertrain electrification to improve fuel economy. These systems can have higher electrical ratings and have high voltage components and low voltage components. In the case of hybrids, the powertrain can include an electric motor and / or an engine powered by a traction battery assembly. The battery can have a lithium ion chemistry. The battery includes a plurality of battery cells, which can have a liquid electrolyte or a solid electrolyte. SUMMARY

[0003] According to an embodiment, a solid state battery includes a solid state electrolyte, a first electrode layer disposed against a first major side of the electrolyte, and a gasket disposed against a second major side of the electrolyte. The gasket defines an opening. A second electrode layer is disposed within the opening such that the gasket completely encircles the second electrode. The second electrode is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte.

[0004] According to another embodiment, a method of forming a solid state battery includes stacking a solid state electrolyte on a first electrode layer, stacking a gasket having a central opening on the electrolyte such that a perimeter of the gasket is aligned with a perimeter of the electrolyte, inserting a second electrode layer into the central opening such that the second electrode is disposed on the electrolyte and is completely surrounded by the gasket, wherein the gasket is thicker than the second electrode, stacking a body on the gasket to cover the gasket and the second electrode, and compressing the gasket between the electrolyte and the body until a cathode contacts the body.

[0005] According to yet another embodiment, a solid state battery includes a solid state electrolyte having opposing first and second major sides. A first electrode layer is disposed against the first major side of the electrolyte, and a gasket is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte and defines an opening. A second electrode layer is disposed against the gasket and covers the second major side of the electrolyte, wherein an inner perimeter of the opening is inward of a perimeter of the second electrode layer such that a face of the gasket is disposed on a major side of the second electrode layer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an electric vehicle.

[0007] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a battery cell.

[0008] Figure 3is a perspective view of another battery cell.

[0009] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of another battery cell.

[0010] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of yet another battery cell.

[0011] Figure 6 is a top view of a battery cell.

[0012] Figure 7 is a method of assembling a battery cell. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the embodiments disclosed are merely examples, and other embodiments can take various forms and alternative forms. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; the dimensions of some features can have been exaggerated or minimized to show details. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present application. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the various features shown and described herein can be combined to produce embodiments that are not explicitly shown or described. The combination of features from different embodiments is expected to provide a representative example of the many possible embodiments of the application. However, various combinations and modifications of features from the disclosed embodiments can be desirable for particular applications or implementations.

[0014] Figure 1 An electric vehicle 112 is depicted. The vehicle 112 includes an electrified propulsion system having one or more electric machines 114 mechanically coupled to driven wheels. The electric machines 114 can be capable of operating as motors or generators. The electric machines 114 are arranged to provide propulsion torque as well as braking. The electric machines 114 can also operate as generators, providing fuel economy benefits by recovering energy that would otherwise be lost as heat in a friction braking system.

[0015] The traction battery assembly or pack 124 stores energy that can be used to power the electric machine 114. The battery pack 124 can provide a high voltage direct current (DC) output. The battery 124 includes an electrical distribution system (EDS) 118 that delivers power from the battery to a load and vice versa. Portions of the EDS 118 can be components of the battery 124 and other portions can be external to the battery 124. One or more contactors 142 can isolate the traction battery 124 from the DC high voltage bus 154A when open and can couple the traction battery 124 to the DC high voltage bus 154A when closed. The traction battery 124 is electrically coupled to one or more power electronic modules 126 via the DC high voltage bus 154A. The power electronic modules 126 are also electrically coupled to the electric machine 114 and provide the ability to transfer energy bi-directionally between the AC high voltage bus 154B and the electric machine 114. According to some examples, the traction battery 124 can provide a DC current while the electric machine 114 operates using three-phase alternating current (AC). The power electronic modules 126 can convert the DC current to three-phase AC current to operate the electric machine 114. In a regenerative mode, the power electronic modules 126 can convert a three-phase AC current output from the electric machine 114 acting as a generator to a DC voltage compatible with the traction battery 124.

[0016] In addition to providing energy for propulsion, the traction battery 124 can also provide energy for other vehicle electrical systems. The vehicle 112 can include a DC / DC converter module 128 electrically coupled to the high voltage bus 147. The DC / DC converter module 128 can be electrically coupled to a low voltage bus 149. The DC / DC converter module 128 can convert the high voltage DC output of the traction battery 124 to a low voltage DC supply compatible with low voltage vehicle loads 145. The low voltage bus 149 can be electrically coupled to an auxiliary battery 130 (e.g., a 12V battery). The low voltage loads 145 can be electrically coupled to the low voltage bus 149. The low voltage loads 145 can include various controllers within the vehicle 112.

[0017] The traction battery 124 of the vehicle 112 can be recharged by an off-board power source 136. The off-board power source 136 can be a connection to an electrical outlet. The off-board power source 136 can be electrically coupled to a charger or another type of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) 138. The off-board power source 136 can be a distribution network or grid provided by an electric utility. The EVSE 138 provides circuitry and controls for regulating and managing the transfer of energy between the power source 136 and the vehicle 112. The off-board power source 136 can provide DC or AC power to the EVSE 138. The EVSE 138 includes a charging connector 140 for plugging into a charging port 134 of the vehicle 112. The charging port 134 can be any type of port configured to transfer power from the EVSE 138 to the vehicle 112. The charging port 134 can be electrically coupled to a charging module or on-board power conversion module 132. The power conversion module 132 regulates the power supplied from the EVSE 138 to provide appropriate voltage and current levels to the traction battery 124. The power conversion module 132 interfaces with the EVSE 138 to coordinate the delivery of power to the vehicle 112. The EVSE connector 140 can have pins that mate with corresponding grooves of the charging port 134. Alternatively, the various components described as electrically coupled or connected can transfer power using wireless inductive coupling or other non-contact power transfer mechanisms. The charging components including the charging port 134, the power conversion module 132, the power electronics module 126, and the DC-DC converter module 128 can collectively be considered part of a power interface system configured to receive power from the off-board power source 136.

[0018] When the vehicle 112 is plugged into the EVSE 138, the contactor 142 can be in a closed state so that the traction battery 124 is coupled to the high voltage bus 147 and the power source 136 to charge the battery. The vehicle can be in an ignition off state when plugged into the EVSE 138.

[0019] One or more wheel brakes (not shown) can be provided as part of a braking system to slow the vehicle 112 and prevent rotation of the wheels. The brakes can be hydraulically actuated, electrically actuated, or some combination thereof. The braking system can also include other components for operating the wheel brakes. The braking system can include a controller to monitor and coordinate operation. The controller monitors the braking system components and controls the wheel brakes 144 for vehicle deceleration. The braking system also responds to driver commands via brake pedal input and can also operate to automatically implement features such as stability control. The controller of the braking system can implement a method of applying a requested braking force when requested by another controller or sub-function.

[0020] One or more high-voltage electrical loads 146 can be coupled to the high-voltage bus 147. The high-voltage electrical loads 146 can have associated controllers that operate and control the high-voltage electrical loads 146 as appropriate. The high-voltage loads 146 can include components such as compressors and electric heaters.

[0021] The various components discussed can have one or more associated controllers to control, monitor, and coordinate the operation of the components. The controllers can communicate via a serial bus (e.g., controller area network (CAN)) or via discrete conductors. In addition, a vehicle system controller 148 can be provided to coordinate the operation of the various components.

[0022] While shown as a single controller, the controller can be part of a larger control system and can be controlled by various other controllers throughout the vehicle 112, such as a vehicle system controller (VSC). Thus, it should be understood that the controller and one or more other controllers can be collectively referred to as a “controller” that controls various actuators in response to signals from various sensors to control functions. The controller can include a microprocessor or central processing unit (CPU) in communication with various types of computer readable storage devices or media. The computer readable storage devices or media can include, for example, volatile and nonvolatile storage devices such as read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM). KAM is a persistent or nonvolatile memory that can be used to store various operating variables at power-off of the CPU. The computer readable storage devices or media can be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices, such as P ROM (programmable read-only memory), EPROM (erasable P ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable P ROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory device capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions that are used by the controller to control the vehicle. The controller communicates with various vehicle sensors and actuators via an input / output (I / O) interface, which can be implemented as a single integrated interface that provides various raw data or signal conditioning, processing, and / or conversion, short-circuit protection, etc. Alternatively, one or more dedicated hardware or firmware chips can be used to condition and process particular signals before being supplied to the CPU.

[0023] In one embodiment, although represented as a single controller, the system controller 148 can be implemented as one or more controllers that can monitor the operating conditions of various vehicle components. Depending on the operating conditions, the system controller 148 can control the operation of various components to optimize the operation of the vehicle 112. Figure 1The example of FIG. 1 illustrates an electric vehicle 100 that includes a controller 148 in communication with at least the motor 114, the EDS 118, the traction battery 124, the DC-DC converter 128, the charging module 132, the high voltage loads 146, and the low voltage loads 152. The traction battery 124 also includes a current sensor for sensing current flowing through the traction battery 124. The traction battery 124 also includes a voltage sensor for sensing voltage across the terminals of the traction battery 124. The voltage sensor outputs a signal indicative of the voltage across the terminals of the traction battery 124. The traction battery current sensor outputs a signal indicative of the magnitude and direction of current flowing into or out of the traction battery 124.

[0024] The charging module 132 also includes a current sensor for sensing current flowing from the EVSE 138 to the traction battery 124. The current sensor of the charging module 132 outputs a signal indicative of the magnitude and direction of current flowing from the EVSE 138 to the traction battery 124.

[0025] The current sensor and the voltage sensor of the traction battery 124 output are provided to the controller 148. The controller 148 can be programmed to calculate a state of charge (SOC) based on the signals from the current sensor and the voltage sensor of the traction battery 124. The state of charge can be calculated using various techniques. For example, ampere-hour integration can be implemented in which the current through the traction battery 124 is integrated over time. The SOC can also be estimated based on the output of the traction battery voltage sensor 104. The particular technique utilized can depend on the chemical composition and characteristics of the particular battery.

[0026] The controller 148 can also be configured to monitor the state of the traction battery 124. The controller 148 includes at least one processor that controls at least some of the operation of the controller 148. The processor allows for on-board processing of commands and executes any number of predetermined programs. The processor can be coupled to a non-persistent storage and a persistent storage. In the illustrative configuration, the non-persistent storage is random access memory (RAM) and the persistent storage is flash memory. In general, the persistent (non-transitory) storage can include all forms of storage that maintain data when the computer or other device is powered off.

[0027] A desired SOC operating range can be defined for the traction battery 124. The operating range can define an upper limit and a lower limit that limit the SOC of the battery 124. During vehicle operation, the controller 148 can be configured to maintain the SOC of the battery 124 within the desired operating range. In other cases, the battery is recharged while at rest and connected to an off-vehicle power source. Based on the rate at which the battery is depleted and / or recharged, the charging of the traction battery can be scheduled in advance based on approaching the low SOC threshold. The time and rate of recharging can also be selected in a timely manner to maintain the voltage and SOC within a predetermined range.

[0028] Although not shown, the vehicle 112 includes an accelerator pedal that enables a driver to request torque. The vehicle can be programmed to determine a driver demanded torque based on a position of the accelerator pedal and a vehicle speed. The driver demanded torque can be an original wheel torque commanded by the driver and used to control a torque generated by the motor 114.

[0029] The vehicle example described above is only one application of the battery described below. It should be understood that the battery 124 can be used in any suitable application, including a vehicle as described above.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 The battery pack 124 includes one or more battery arrays that include a stack of battery cells 150. The cells 150 can be lithium-ion (Li-ion) chemistry with a solid-state electrolyte (sometimes referred to as a “solid-state battery”).

[0031] The cell 150 includes an anode layer 152, a solid-state electrolyte 154, a cathode layer 156, and a gasket 158. These components are arranged in a stack to form the cell 150. The anode layer 152 can be a thin rectangular sheet having major sides 160, 162 and an edge 164 extending between the major sides. Similarly, the cathode 156 can be a thin rectangular sheet having major sides 166, 168 and an edge 170 extending between the major sides. The layers 152, 156 can include a foil (not shown) with a coating on one or both sides. The electrolyte 154 also has major sides 172 and 174 and an edge 176 extending between them.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, the anode 160 and the electrolyte 154 have the same cross-sectional size and shape, but can be different sizes in other embodiments. That is, when the major side 162 of the anode is disposed against the major side 172 of the electrolyte, the edge 162 of the anode and the edge 176 of the electrolyte are aligned with each other. As will be described in more detail below, the cathode has a smaller cross-sectional shape and size than the anode and the electrolyte.

[0033] The gasket 158 has a central opening 178. The gasket 158 can be rectangular with a border 180 that defines the central opening 178. The gasket has opposing sealing faces 182, 184 that engage adjacent components within the stack of cells 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the gasket 158 is rectangular with the same cross-sectional size and shape as the anode 152 and the electrolyte 154. In some embodiments, the gasket 158 can be slightly larger than the anode 152 and the electrolyte 154. The central opening 178 can also be rectangular and can be sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the cathode 156.

[0034] The cathode 156 is sized to be received within the central opening 178 of the gasket 158. That is, when the cell 150 is fully assembled, the cathode 156 is positioned within the central opening 178 with the major side 166 disposed against the major side 174 of the electrolyte 154 and the perimeter 180 of the gasket 158 fully encloses the edge 170 of the cathode. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape and size of the cathode 156 substantially matches the cross-sectional shape and size of the central opening 178 such that the edge 170 of the cathode is disposed against the perimeter of the central opening 178. In this context, "substantially matches" means within two percent. In some embodiments, the cross-sectional shape and size of the cathode 156 is slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape and size of the central opening 178 such that the edge 170 of the cathode slightly overlaps the perimeter of the central opening 178.

[0035] The gasket 158 can be formed of a compressible material. Here, the thickness of the gasket can be thicker than the thickness of the cathode 156 when at rest. During assembly, the cell 150 is compressed during the stacking process and thus the gasket 108 becomes compressed to substantially match the thickness of the cathode 156.

[0036] The gasket 158 can be formed of an elastic and flexible polymeric material. For example, the gasket 158 can be formed of one of a polyamide film, a polyimide film, or a polyester film. The gasket can be an insulating material and is electrically, chemically, and thermally stable at the operating temperature of the cell 150. In some embodiments, the gasket material can have inherent thermal properties allowing the gasket 158 to act as a heat sink. The gasket material can be tacky or have a high coefficient of friction to prevent the gasket from moving during the assembly process. In some embodiments, the gasket material can be configured to adhere to other cell components before or after compression or heating.

[0037] The gasket 158 can be a fully formed independent component that is assembled with other cell components during assembly of the cell 150. Alternatively, the gasket 158 can be a liquid that is applied during the assembly process and then hardens to form the gasket 158 at a later time.

[0038] Figure 2 This is just one example embodiment and other embodiments are contemplated. For example, in other embodiments, the anode and cathode are swapped. In some embodiments, the gasket can have a resting position where the outer perimeter of the gasket is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the anode. In this embodiment, the gasket can expand under compression to conform to the size of the anode.

[0039] The cell can be single or bipolar, including one or more units of an anode, electrolyte, gasket, and cathode. In a single-pole configuration, the anode and cathode units can be double-sided coatings on a foil. In a bipolar configuration, the anode and cathode can be on opposite sides of the same foil.Figure 3 and Figure 4 An example bipolar embodiment is shown. The cell 200 includes a repeating pattern of anode / cathode cells 202 arranged in a linear stack. Each cell 202 includes an anode 204, a solid state electrolyte 206, a gasket 208, and a cathode 210. Each cell 202 can have the same or similar structure as the cell 150 described above, and will not be described again for brevity. In the bipolar assembly, the major side of the cathode 210 opposite the side disposed against the electrolyte 206 is attached to the anode 204 of the next cell 202 (with a foil between them). This pattern is repeated for the desired number of cells. In the embodiment shown, six cells 202 are shown, however, this is merely an example, and the number of cells can be increased or decreased as desired.

[0040] The cell 200 includes terminal plates, such as a positive terminal plate 209 connected to the first anode and a negative terminal plate 211 connected to the last cathode. A housing or other external member is provided around all of the cells 202 to provide protection to the elements and to generally seal the cell 200. The terminal tabs of the terminal plates can extend through the housing, allowing electrical connection to other cells.

[0041] Figure 5 A monopolar embodiment is shown, in which each cell is a standalone single cell 220. The cell 220 can be as described above with reference to the cell 150, including a positive terminal plate 222 connected to the anode 224 and a negative terminal plate 226 connected to the cathode 228.

[0042] Figure 6 Another battery cell 250 is shown, with a different type of gasket. In this embodiment, the gasket 252 is thinner than the gaskets described above and is designed to be disposed between the major side 254 of the cathode 256 and the solid state electrolyte 258. The gasket 252 still includes a central opening that allows the major side of the cathode 256 to contact the electrolyte 258. However, unlike the embodiments described above, the central opening is not sized to fully receive the cathode 256 therein. Rather, the gasket 252 is compressed between the cathode and the electrolyte. In this embodiment, the cathode 256 can have the same cross-sectional size and shape as the anode 260, or can be smaller than the anode. In this embodiment, the gasket 252 can be a separate solid component that is fully formed prior to assembly of the stack, or can be a liquid gasket during application and harden later under heat and / or compression of the cell assembly process. While the gasket 252 is shown as being between the electrolyte and the cathode, the gasket can instead be disposed between the anode and the electrolyte. The gasket 252 can be used in both monopolar cells and bipolar cells, as discussed above.

[0043] The aforementioned battery cell can be assembled by stacking the individual layers and then compressing them to ensure a satisfactory interface between the solid electrolyte and the electrodes (e.g., anode and cathode). It is important to apply uniform compression around the periphery of the anode and cathode to prevent damage to the solid electrolyte. The size difference between the anode and cathode can create stress points along the periphery of the solid electrolyte. The aforementioned gasket located at this periphery helps to distribute the compression more evenly. For example, when the cathode is smaller than the anode, the gasket fills the overhanging area of ​​the electrolyte layer to ensure that the periphery of the electrolyte layer is not subjected to any bending stress at the edge of the smaller cathode. The gasket also provides an additional dielectric layer between the anode and cathode.

[0044] The above-mentioned battery cells can be used Figure 7 The method 300 shown is used for assembly. Method 300 includes stacking a solid electrolyte on a first electrode layer (e.g., an anode) at operation 302. At operation 304, a gasket with a central opening is mounted on the electrolyte. In some embodiments, the gasket is mounted such that the periphery of the gasket is aligned with the periphery of the electrolyte, and then at operation 306, a second electrode layer is placed into the central opening such that the second electrode is positioned on the electrolyte and completely surrounded by the gasket. In other embodiments, the gasket is placed between the main side of the electrolyte and the electrode layer. In some environments, this process can be repeated multiple times to form multiple cells within a single cell. Depending on whether the cell is unipolar or bipolar, a body is then placed on the gasket and / or the second electrode to cover the gasket and the second electrode. The body can be a terminal or another electrode. Once stacking is complete, the stack is compressed at operation 308. In embodiments where the gasket is thicker than the second electrode, the gasket is sufficiently compressed between the electrolyte and the body until the cathode contacts the body and the electrolyte.

[0045] While exemplary embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to describe all possible forms covered by the claims. The terms used in this specification are descriptive rather than restrictive, and it should be understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. As previously stated, features of various embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not be explicitly described or shown. Although various embodiments may have been described as providing advantages or superiority over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those skilled in the art will recognize that one or more features or characteristics may be compromised to achieve desired overall system properties, depending on the specific application and implementation. These properties may include, but are not limited to, strength, durability, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, maintainability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. Therefore, embodiments described with respect to one or more characteristics as less desirable than those desired by other embodiments or prior art implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and may be desirable for a particular application.

[0046] According to the invention, there is provided a solid state battery having: a solid state electrolyte; a first electrode layer disposed against a first major side of the electrolyte; a gasket disposed against a second major side of the electrolyte, the gasket defining an opening; a second electrode layer disposed within the opening such that the gasket completely encircles the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte.

[0047] According to embodiments, the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

[0048] According to embodiments, the invention features further a third electrode layer having a first portion disposed against the second electrode and a second portion disposed against the gasket.

[0049] According to embodiments, the first electrode is an anode, the second electrode is a cathode, and the third electrode is an anode.

[0050] According to embodiments, a periphery of the second electrode layer is disposed against a periphery of the opening.

[0051] According to embodiments, a cross-sectional area of the opening substantially matches a cross-sectional area of the second electrode.

[0052] According to embodiments, an uncompressed thickness of the gasket is greater than a thickness of the second electrode layer.

[0053] According to embodiments, the gasket is formed of a polyamide film, a polyimide film, or a polyester film.

[0054] According to embodiments, the electrolyte, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the gasket are rectangular.

[0055] According to embodiments, the first electrode and the electrolyte have a same cross-sectional size, and a cross-sectional size of the second electrode is smaller than the cross-sectional size of the first electrode and the electrolyte.

[0056] According to embodiments, the gasket has a same cross-sectional size as the first electrode and the electrolyte.

[0057] According to embodiments, the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

[0058] According to embodiments, the invention features further a second anode layer having a first portion disposed against the cathode and a second portion disposed against the gasket.

[0059] According to the invention, a method of forming a solid state battery includes: stacking a solid state electrolyte on a first electrode layer; stacking a grommet having a central opening on the electrolyte such that a perimeter of the grommet is aligned with a perimeter of the electrolyte; inserting a second electrode layer into the central opening such that the second electrode is disposed on the electrolyte and is completely surrounded by the grommet, wherein the grommet is thicker than the second electrode; stacking a body on the grommet to cover the grommet and the second electrode; and compressing the grommet between the electrolyte and the body until a cathode contacts the body.

[0060] In one aspect of the invention, the body is a third electrode layer.

[0061] In one aspect of the invention, the third electrode has the same polarity as the first electrode.

[0062] In one aspect of the invention, the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

[0063] In one aspect of the invention, the electrolyte, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the grommet are rectangular.

[0064] In one aspect of the invention, the first electrode and the grommet have the same cross-sectional size and shape, wherein the opening is rectangular and the second electrode and the opening have substantially the same size and shape such that the second electrode fits within the opening, wherein a perimeter of the second electrode is disposed against a perimeter of the opening.

[0065] According to the invention, there is provided a solid state battery having: a solid state electrolyte having opposing first and second major sides; a first electrode layer disposed against the first major side of the electrolyte; a grommet disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte and defining an opening; a second electrode layer disposed against the grommet and covering the second major side of the electrolyte, wherein an inner perimeter of the opening is inward of a perimeter of the second electrode layer such that a face of the grommet is disposed on a major side of the second electrode layer.

Claims

1. A solid state battery, the solid state battery comprising: a solid state electrolyte; a first electrode layer disposed against a first major side of the electrolyte; a gasket disposed against a second major side of the electrolyte, the gasket defining an opening; a second electrode layer disposed within the opening such that the gasket completely encircles the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte.

2. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

3. The solid state battery of claim 1, further comprising a third electrode layer having a first portion disposed against the second electrode and a second portion disposed against the gasket.

4. The solid state battery of claim 3, wherein the first electrode is an anode, the second electrode is a cathode, and the third electrode is an anode.

5. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the second electrode layer is disposed against a perimeter of the opening.

6. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the opening substantially matches a cross-sectional area of the second electrode.

7. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein an uncompressed thickness of the gasket is greater than a thickness of the second electrode layer.

8. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein the gasket is formed of a polyamide film, a polyimide film, or a polyester film.

9. The solid state battery of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte, the first electrode, the second electrode, and the gasket are rectangular.

10. The solid state battery of claim 9, wherein the first electrode and the electrolyte have a same cross-sectional size, and a cross-sectional size of the second electrode is less than the cross-sectional size of the first electrode and the electrolyte.

11. The solid state battery of claim 10, wherein the gasket has the same cross-sectional size as the first electrode and the electrolyte.

12. The solid state battery of claim 11, wherein the first electrode is an anode and the second electrode is a cathode.

13. The solid state battery of claim 12, further comprising a second anode layer having a first portion disposed against the cathode and a second portion disposed against the gasket.

14. A method of forming a solid state battery, the method comprising: stacking a solid state electrolyte on a first electrode layer; stacking a gasket having a central opening on the electrolyte such that a perimeter of the gasket is aligned with a perimeter of the electrolyte; inserting a second electrode layer into the central opening such that a second electrode is disposed on the electrolyte and is completely surrounded by the gasket, wherein the gasket is thicker than the second electrode; stacking a body on the gasket to cover the gasket and the second electrode; and compressing the gasket between the electrolyte and the body until a cathode contacts the body.

15. A solid state battery, the solid state battery comprising: a solid state electrolyte having opposing first and second major sides; a first electrode layer disposed against the first major side of the electrolyte; a gasket disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte, the gasket defining an opening; a second electrode layer disposed within the opening such that the gasket completely encircles the second electrode, wherein the second electrode is disposed against the second major side of the electrolyte. a first electrode layer arranged against the first main side of the electrolyte; a gasket arranged against the second main side of the electrolyte and defining an opening; a second electrode layer arranged against the gasket and covering the second main side of the electrolyte, wherein an inner periphery of the opening is inside a periphery of the second electrode layer, such that a face of the gasket is arranged on a main side of the second electrode layer.

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