BATTERY ELECTRODE

Abstract

An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode comprising an electroactive material for sulfur conversion and a solid electrolyte comprising an oxysulfide; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode.

Description

INITIATIONThe present disclosure relates to electrodes, for example sulfur-containing electrodes, for use in lithium ion electrochemical cells.There is a need for advanced energy storage devices and systems to meet the power and / or power demand for a variety of products, including automotive products such as start-stop systems (e.g., 12 V start-stop systems), battery-backed systems, hybrid electric vehicles ("HEVs"), and electric vehicles ("EVs"). Typical lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries include at least two electrodes and an electrolyte and / or separator. One of the two electrodes serves as a positive electrode or cathode and the other electrode serves as a negative electrode or anode. Each of the electrodes is connected to a current collector (typically a metal such as copper for the anode and aluminum for the cathode). A separator and / or electrolyte may be arranged between the negative and the positive electrode. The electrolyte is suitable for conducting lithium ions between the electrodes and, like the two electrodes, may in various cases be in solid and / or liquid form and / or as a mixed form thereof. In solid state batteries including solid state electrodes and a solid electrolyte, the solid electrolyte may physically separate the electrodes, so that a separate separator is not required.Lithium-sulfur batteries may comprise cathodes having sulfur-based electroactive materials, for example elemental sulfur (S) and / or Li 2 Sx, where 1≤x≤8. Such cathodes often comprise one or more layers of electroactive material, for example a plurality of electroactive material particles disposed on or near one or more surfaces of a current collector.Document DE 10 2022 105 204 A1 discloses an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions, the electrochemical cell comprising: a first electrode comprising a first plurality of electroactive solid material particles and a first polymeric gel electrolyte, a second electrode comprising a second plurality of electroactive solid material particles and a second polymeric gel electrolyte different from the first polymeric gel electrolyte, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrolyte layer comprising a third polymeric gel electrolyte different from both the first polymeric gel electrolyte and the second polymeric gel electrolyte.It would be desirable to develop cathodes that provide lower cell impedance, better active material utilization, and improved cathode ion transport and kinetics, as well as methods of making the same for an electrochemical cell that can address these challenges, e.g., methods and materials that are easily integrated into current manufacturing methods.SUMMARYAccording to the present invention, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes an electrode comprising an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a solid electrolyte comprising an oxysulfide; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode. The solid electrolyte 75Li comprises 2 S-20P 2 S 5-5 P 2 O 5 ; and the liquid electrolyte comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), wherein the molar ratio of salt to solvent is 1:0.8.In another exemplary embodiment, the liquid electrolyte may comprise a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the separator may comprise a porous polymer separator.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electroactive sulfur conversion material may comprise S, S 8, Li 2 S 8, Li 2 S 6, Li 2 S 4, Li 2 S 2, Li 2 S, Fe2S, or a combination thereof.Not in accordance with the invention, the solid electrolyte may comprise yLi 2 S·(100-y-x)P 2 S 5 ·xP 2 O 5 wherein y is in a range from 70 mole percent to 80 mole percent and x is in a range from 0.5 mole percent to 10 mole percent.Not according to the invention, the solid electrolyte may comprise Li 10 MP 2 S 12 wherein M may comprise Si, Ge or Sn; Li 6 PS 5 Cl; Li 3,25 Ge 0,25 P 0,75 S 4; Li 4 GeS4; a Li2S-P2S5system; a Li2S-SnS2system; a Li 2 S-SiS 2- system; a Li 2 S-GeS 2- system; a Li 2 S-B 2 S 3- system; a Li 2 S-Ga 2 S 3- system; a Li2S-P2S3 system; a Li2S-Al2S3 system; Li 3,4 Si 0,4 P 0,6 S 4; Li 10 GeP 2 S 11,7 O 0,3; a lithium argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 X, wherein X is Cl, Br or I; a Li2O-Li2S-P2S5system; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- system; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- GeS 2- system; a Li 2 S-P2S5-LiX system, wherein X is F, Cl, Br or I; a Li 2 S-As 2 S 5- SnS 2- system; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- Al 2 S 3- system; a Li 2 S-LiX-SiS2 system, wherein X is F, Cl, Br and I; 0.4Li·0.6Li4SrS4; Li 11 Si 2 PS 12; a Li 2 O-Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- system; Li 9,54 Si1,74P1,44S117Cl0,3; Li9,6P3S12; Li7P3S11; Li 9 P 3 S 9 O 3; Li 10,35 Ge 1,35 P 1,65 S 12; Li 10,35 Si 1,35 P1,65S12; Li9,81Sn0,81P2.1.9S12; Li10(Si0,5Ge0,5)P2S12; Li 10( Ge 0,5 Sne 0,5) P 2 S 12; Li 10( Si 0,5 Sn 0,5) P 2 S 12; Li7P2,9Mn0,1S10,7I0,3, Li3,833Sn0,833As0,166S4; LiI-Li 4 SnS 4; Li 4 SnS 4; Li 10,35[ Sn 0,27 Si 1,08] P 1,65 S 12; or a combination thereof.Not in accordance with the invention, the liquid electrolyte may comprise a solvated ionic liquid comprising lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) (Li(G2)TFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) (Li(G2)FSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)FSI), Lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)FSI), Lithiumbis(pentafluorethansulfonyl)imidsalz and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]BETI), Lithiumbis(pentafluorethansulfonyl)imidsalz and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]BETI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]BETI), lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]CTFSI), Lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]CTFSI ), lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]CTFSI ), lithium perchlorate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]ClO 4), lithium perchlorate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]ClO 4), lithium perchlorate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]ClO 4), Lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]BF 4), lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]BF 4), lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]BF 4), lithium nitrate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]NO 3), lithium nitrate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]NO 3), lithium nitrate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]NO 3), The lithium triflate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]OTf), lithium triflate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]OTf), lithium triflate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]OTf), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]TFA), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]TFA), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]TFA), or a combination thereof.Not in accordance with the invention, the liquid electrolyte may comprise an ionic liquid electrolyte comprising 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMM-TFSI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMIM-TFSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR13TFSI), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMM-FSI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (BMIM-FSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR13-FSI), 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR14-FSI), or a combination thereof.Not according to the invention, the liquid electrolyte may include an organic solvent including ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC), methyl formate, methyl acetate, methyl propionate, γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethylene-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (ETFEC), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE), 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether, methyl 3,3,3-trifluoroopionate, or ethyl trifluoroacetate, Tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) orthoformate (TFEO), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate) (BTC), methyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (FEMC), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), 1,2-diethoxyethane, ethoxymethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane (DOL), sulfolane, diglyme (G2), triglyme (G3), tetraglyme (G4), or a combination thereof; and a lithium salt comprising lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6), lithium perchlorate (LiClO 4), lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlCl 4), Lithium iodide (LiI), lithium bromide (LiBr), lithium thiocyanate (LiSCN), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiF 4), lithium difluorooxalatoborate (LiF 2( C 2 O 4)) ( LiODFB), lithium tetraphenylborate (LiB(C 6 H 5)4), lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiB(C 2 O 4)2) ( LiBO), Lithium tetrafluorooxalatophosphate (LiPF 4( C 2 O 4)) ( LiFOP), lithium nitrate (LiNO 3), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF 6), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF 3 SO 3), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (LiTFSI) (LiN(CF 3 SO 2)2), lithium fluorosulfonylimide (LiN(FSO 2)2) ( LiFSI), The lithium fluoroalkyl phosphate (LiFAP) (Li 3 O 4 P), or a combination thereof.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electroactive sulfur conversion material may comprise a sulfur-carbon composite, a Li 2 S-C composite, sulfurized polyacrylonitrile, or a combination thereof.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrode may further comprise an electrically conductive material comprising carbon black, graphite, acetylene black, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, graphene, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, nitrogen doped carbon, metal powder, a liquid metal, a conductive polymer, or a combination thereof.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrode may further comprise a binder including styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro(3-oxa-4-pentensulfonic acid)), lithium salt, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA), sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA), sodium alginate, lithium alginate, The ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), or a combination thereof.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the electrode may comprise 40 to 70 weight percent of the electroactive sulfur conversion material, 5 to 30 weight percent of the solid electrolyte, 0.1 to 20 weight percent of the binder, and 0.1 to 30 weight percent of an electrically conductive material, based on the total weight of the electrode.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the negative electrode may include lithium, graphite, graphene, hard carbon, soft carbon, carbon nanotubes, silicon, silicon-containing alloys, tin-containing alloys, or a combination thereof.According to the present invention, the present invention provides an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes an electrode including an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a solid oxide electrolyte; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode. The oxide solid electrolyte comprises Li 1+x Al x Ge 2-x( PO 4)3( LAGP) (where 0≤x≤2), Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12( LLZO), or Li 1+x Al x Ti2-x(PO4)3(LATP) (where 0≤x≤2); and the liquid electrolyte comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), wherein the molar ratio of salt to solvent is 1:0.8.In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the liquid electrolyte may comprise a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte comprising a solvate ionic liquid.Not according to the invention, there is also described an electrochemical cell comprising an electrode comprising an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a solid electrolyte comprising a sulfide; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode.In addition to one or more of the features described herein, the liquid electrolyte may comprise a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte comprising a solvate ionic liquid.The foregoing features and advantages, as well as other features and advantages of the disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther features, advantages and details are set forth, by way of example only, in the following detailed description, wherein the detailed description refers to the drawings, in which: FIG. 1 schematically shows a disassembled isometric view of a prismatic battery cell including an anode, an electrolytic material, a separator, and a cathode, in accordance with the disclosure; FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a cut-away side view of an embodiment of a cathode; FIG. 3 schematically illustrates elements of a process for forming a cathode for a battery cell; FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the electrochemical performance of Comparative Example 1; and FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the electrochemical performance of Example 1.DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application, or its use. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts and features.According to an exemplary embodiment, an electrode for batteries, for example lithium-sulfur batteries (in accordance with the invention) and methods of forming and using the same (not in accordance with the invention) are disclosed. Such batteries may be incorporated into energy storage devices such as rechargeable lithium ion batteries, which may be used in vehicle or car transport applications (e.g., motor cycles, boats, tractors, buses, recreational vehicles, recreational vehicles, and tanks). However, the present technology may also be used in other electrochemical devices, for example (but not limited to) aerospace components, consumer goods, equipment, buildings (e.g., houses, offices, scales, and warehouses), office equipment and furniture, as well as industrial equipment, agricultural equipment, agricultural machinery, or heavy machinery. The present disclosure provides a rechargeable lithium ion battery having a lower cell impedance, an increased utilization of the active material, and an improved cathode ion transport and improved kinetics.Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals correspond to like or similar components throughout the several figures, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of a prismatic shaped lithium ion battery cell 10 that includes a pair of electrodes 15 having a cathode 20, a separator 40, and an anode 30 arranged in a stack and sealed in a flexible pouch 60 containing an electrolytic material 62. In an embodiment of the battery cell, a reference electrode may be disposed between the anode and the cathode. A first, positive battery cell tab 26 and a second, negative battery cell tab 36 protrude from the flexible pouch 60. The terms "anode" and "negative electrode" are therefore used interchangeably. The terms "cathode" and "positive electrode" are therefore used interchangeably. A single pair of electrodes 15 comprising an array of cathode 20, separator 40 and anode 30 is illustrated. It should be appreciated that multiple electrode pairs 15 may be disposed in the flexible pouch 60 and electrically connected depending on the application of the battery cell 10.The cathode 20 includes a sulfur conversion electroactive material 22 disposed on a cathode current collector 24, and the cathode current collector 24 may have a foil portion 25 extending from the sulfur conversion electroactive material 22 to form the second battery cell tab 26.The anode 30 includes a second electroactive material 32 disposed on an anode current collector 34. The anode current collector 34 may be a metallic substrate having a foil portion 35 extending from the second electroactive material 32 to form the first battery cell tab 36.The cathode and anode current collectors 24, 34 may be metallic plate-shaped members that contact the respective first and second electroactive materials 22, 32 over a substantial surface area. The purpose of the cathode and anode current collectors 24, 34 is to exchange free electrons with the respective first and second electroactive materials 22, 32 during discharge and charging.The cathode current collector 24 may be a metallic substrate in the form of a planar sheet made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy and may have a thickness of, for example, 0.02 millimeters (mm). The separator 40 is disposed between the cathode 20 and the anode 30 to physically separate and electrically isolate the anode 30 from the cathode 20.The anode current collector 34 may be a flat, plate-shaped metallic substrate, which in one embodiment is in the form of a rectangular planar sheet. In one embodiment, the anode current collector 34 may be arranged as a planar sheet having a non-rectangular shape, a wound configuration, a cylindrical configuration, or another configuration.The anode current collector 34 may be made of any one of copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, nickel, etc., or any other material that does not alloy with lithium. In one embodiment, the anode current collector 34 may have a thickness of, for example, 0.02 mm. The second electroactive material 32 is present in a second electroactive material layer that may be deposited on one or both surfaces of the anode current collector 34.The cathode current collector 24, the anode current collector 34, or a combination thereof, may comprise stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, iron, titanium, copper, tin, a suitable electrically conductive material, or a combination thereof. For example, the cathode current collector 24, the anode current collector 34, or a combination thereof may be a plated film in which one side (e.g., the first side or the second side) of the current collector 24, 34 comprises a metal (e.g., first metal) and another side (e.g., the other side of the first side or the second side) of the current collector 24, 34 comprises another metal (e.g., second metal). The plated film may include, for example, aluminum-copper (AlCu), nickel-copper (NiCu), stainless steel-copper (SS-Cu), aluminum-nickel (Al-Ni), aluminum-stainless steel (Al-SS), and nickel-stainless steel (Ni-SS). The cathode current collector 24, the anode current collector 34, or a combination thereof may be precoated, such as with graphene or carbon-coated aluminum current collectors. The cathode current collector 24, the anode current collector 34, or a combination thereof may be in the form of a foil, a slotted mesh, a woven mesh, or a combination thereof.The lithium ion conducting electrolytic material 62 may be included in the separator 40 and may be exposed at both the cathode 20 and the anode 30 to allow lithium ions to move between the cathode 20 and the anode 30. Lithium ions may be stripped from the anode 30 during discharge or give off electrons during charge from the cathode 20 which flow through the current collectors 34 and 24, respectively, via an external circuit connected to either a load or charger to the opposing current collectors (24 and 34) and electrodes (20 and 30) where they reduce lithium ions during their incorporation.The cathode 20 and the anode 30 are each manufactured as electrode materials capable of depositing and plating lithium ions (in an anode) or depositing and depositing lithium ions (in a cathode). The electrode materials of cathode 20 and anode 30 are formulated to store lithium at different electrochemical potentials relative to a common reference electrode (e.g., lithium). In the construction of the electrode pair 15, the anode 30 stores deposited or plated lithium at a lower electrochemical potential (i.e., a higher energy state) than the cathode 20 so that there is an electrochemical potential difference between the cathode 20 and the anode 30 when the anode 30 is lithiated. The electrochemical potential difference for each battery cell 10 may result in a charging voltage in the range of 3 V to 5 V and a nominal open circuit voltage in the range of 2.9 V to 4.2 V, which may allow the reversible transfer of lithium ions between the cathode 20 and the anode 30 either spontaneously (discharge phase) or by application of an external voltage (charging phase) during the operational cycling. The thickness of the anode 30 is between 10 μm and 20 μm in one embodiment.Disclosed are a positive electrode including an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a solid electrolyte, and an electrochemical cell comprising the electrode and a limitedly solvated liquid electrolyte. The liquid electrolyte may be a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte that may help prevent dissolution of sulfur, and the sulfur reaction may be catalyzed by inclusion of the solid electrolyte in the electrode.As used herein, the term electroactive conversion material refers to a crystalline structure of the cathode that changes as the electroactive material Li + receives. Bonds can be broken and new compounds formed. An example of such a material is Li 2 S. In contrast, the crystalline structure of a intercalation electroactive material, also known as intercalated electroactive material, does not change when the electroactive material Li + incorporates. An example of such a material is nickel cobalt manganese (NCM).As used herein, the term "limitedly-solubilizing liquid electrolyte" refers to an electrolyte that does not dissolve a sulfur cathode. An example of a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte is Li[G3]TFSI or Li[G4] 0,8 TFSI. In contrast, the term "strongly-solubilizing electrolyte" refers to an electrolyte that can dissolve a sulfur cathode, such as 1 molar (mol per liter, M) LiTFSI in DME:DOL.The first electro-active material layer 23 of the cathode 20 may include an electroactive sulfur conversion material 22, a solid electrolyte including an oxide, a sulfide, or an oxysulfide 28, and a first binder 29. The cathode may comprise, based on the total weight of the cathode, 30 wt % to 70 wt %, for example 40 wt % to 70 wt %, of the electroactive sulfur conversion material, 5 wt % to 50 wt %, for example 5 wt % to 30 wt % of the solid electrolyte, 0.1 wt % to 30 wt %, for example 0.1 wt % to 20 wt %, of a first electrically conductive material, and 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % of a first binder.The disclosed solid electrolyte of the electrode, in conjunction with the electroactive sulfur conversion material, forms a stationary (e.g., "bonded") or stationary portion of a solid structure of the cathode. The first binder may structurally reinforce the electroactive sulfur conversion material and the solid electrolyte. An electrolytic material that may be present within the pores of the cathode as further described herein is not a static feature of the cathode. The electrode may have a porosity of 10 to 60%.The cathode may be in the form of a layer having a thickness of from 1 μm to 1,000 μm, for example from 5 μm to 400 μm or from 10 μm to 300 μm. The cathode may be defined by a plurality of electroactive sulfur conversion materials comprising, for example, the electroactive sulfur conversion material. The electroactive sulfur conversion material may have an average particle diameter of 0.01 μm to 50 μm, for example, 1 μm to 20 μm.The electroactive sulfur conversion material 22 may be, for example, S, S 8, Li 2 S 8, Li 2 S 6, Li 2 S 4, Li 2 S 2, Li 2 S, Fe2S, or a combination thereof. The electroactive sulfur conversion material may comprise a sulfur-carbon composite (e.g., a carbon-charged electroactive sulfur conversion material), a Li 2 S-C composite, sulfurized polyacrylonitrile, or a combination thereof. The electroactive sulfur conversion material should undergo sufficient lithiating and delithiating while functioning as a positive pole of the battery cell.The electroactive sulfur conversion material may be present in the cathode in an amount greater than or equal to 50% by weight, greater than or equal to 60% by weight, greater than or equal to 70% by weight, greater than or equal to 80% by weight, greater than or equal to 90% by weight, greater than or equal to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the cathode; or from 50% by weight to 99% by weight, 70% by weight to 99% by weight, or 90% by weight to 99% by weight, based on the total weight of the cathode. For example, the first electroactive material may comprise a sulfur-carbon composite in an amount of from 50% to 95% by weight based on the total weight of the cathode, and the weight ratio of sulfur to carbon in the sulfur-carbon composite may be from 1:1 to 9:1.The solid electrolyte 28 may comprise yLi2S·(100yx)P2S5·xP2O5 where y is in a range from 70 mole percent to 80 mole percent and x is in a range from 0.5 mole percent to 10 mole percent. The solid electrolyte 28 may include Li 10 MP 2 S 12, where M is Si, Ge, or Sn; Li 6 PS 5 Cl; Li 3,25 Ge 0,25 P 0,75 S 4; Li 4 GeS4; a Li2S-P2S5system; a Li2S-SnS2system; a Li 2 S-SiS 2- system; a Li 2 S-GeS 2- system; a Li 2 S-B 2 S 3- system; a Li 2 S-Ga 2 S 3- system; a Li2S-P2S3 system; a Li2S-Al2S3 system; Li 3,4 Si 0,4 P 0,6 S 4; Li 10 GeP 2 S 11,7 O 0,3; a lithium argyrodite Li 6 PS 5 X, wherein X is Cl, Br or I; a Li2O-Li2S-P2S5System; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- system; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- GeS 2- system; a Li 2 S-P2S5-LiX system, wherein X is F, Cl, Br or I; a Li 2 S-As 2 S 5- SnS 2- system; a Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- Al 2 S 3- system; a Li 2 S-LiX-SiS2system, wherein X is F, Cl, Br and I; 0.4Li·0.6Li4SnS4; Li 11 Si 2 PS 12; a Li 2 O-Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- system; Li 9,54 Si1,74P1,44S11,7Cl0,3; Li9,6P3S12; Li7P3S11; Li 9 P 3 S 9 O 3; Li 10,35 Ge 1,35 P 1,65 S 12; Li 10,35 Si 1,35 P1,65S12; Li9,81Sn0,81P2.1.9S12; Li10(Si0,5Ge0,5)P2S12; Li 10( Ge 0,5 Sne 0,5) P 2 S 12; Li 10( Si 0,5 Sn 0,5) P 2 S 12; Li7P2,9Mn0,1S10,7I0,3; Li3,833Sn0,833As0,166S4; LiI-Li 4 SnS 4; Li 4 SnS 4; Li 10,35[ Sn 0,27 Si 1,08] P 1,65 S 12; or a combination thereof.The limited-solvate liquid electrolyte may comprise a solvate ionic liquid, for example, lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) (Li(G2)TFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) (Li(G2)FSI), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)FSI), Lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)FSI), Lithiumbis(pentafluorethansulfonyl)imidsalz and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]BETI), Lithiumbis(pentafluorethansulfonyl)imidsalz and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]BETI), Lithiumbis(pentafluorethansulfonyl)imidsalz and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]BETI), lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]CTFSI), lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]CTFSI), Lithium cyano(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]CTFSI), lithium perchlorate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]ClO 4), lithium perchlorate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]ClO 4), lithium perchlorate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]ClO 4), lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]BF 4), Lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]BF 4), lithium tetrafluoroborate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]BF 4), lithium nitrate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]NO 3), lithium nitrate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]NO 3), lithium nitrate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]NO 3), lithium triflate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]OTf), Lithium triflate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]OTf), lithium triflate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]OTf), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and diglyme (G2) ([Li(G2)]TFA), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and triglyme (G3) ([Li(G3)]TFA), lithium trifluoroacetate salt and tetraglyme (G4) ([Li(G4)]TFA) or a combination thereof.The liquid electrolyte may comprise a lithium salt and an ionic liquid comprising 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMM-TFSI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMIM-TFSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR13TFSI), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMM-FSI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (BMIM-FSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR13-FSI), 1-Butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR14-FSI), or a combination thereof.The liquid electrolyte may include an organic solvent including ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), methyl formate, methyl acetate, methyl propionate, γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethylene-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (ETFEC), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE), 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoropropyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether, methyl 3,3,3-trifluoroopionate, or ethyl trifluoroacetate, Tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) orthoformate (TFEO), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate) (BTC), methyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (FEMC), 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), 1-2-diethoxyethane, ethoxymethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane (DOL), sulfolane, diglyme (G2), triglyme (G3), tetraglyme (G4), or a combination thereof; and a lithium salt comprising lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6), lithium perchlorate (LiClO 4), lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlCl 4), Lithium iodide (LiI), lithium bromide (LiBr), lithium thiocyanate (LiSCN), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiF 4), lithium difluorooxalatoborate (LiF 2( C 2 O 4)) ( LiODFB), lithium tetraphenylborate (LiB(C 6 H 5)4), lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiB(C 2 O 4)2) ( LiBO), Lithium tetrafluorooxalatophosphate (LiPF 4( C 2 O 4)) ( LiFOP), lithium nitrate (LiNO 3), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF 6), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF 3 SO 3), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (LiTFSI) (LiN(CF 3 SO 2)2), lithium fluorosulfonylimide (LiN(FSO 2)2) ( LiFSI), Lithium fluoroalkylphosphate (LiFAP) (Li 3 O 4 P), or a combination thereof.The cathode 20 may comprise a first electrically conductive material. For example, the electroactive sulfur conversion material 22 may be mixed with the first electrically conductive material providing an electron conducting path. The first electrically conductive material may be present in the cathode 20 in an amount of 1 wt % to 20 wt %, 1 wt % to 15 wt %, or 1 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the cathode 20. The inclusion of the disclosed solid electrolyte may reduce the amount of first electrically conductive material that might otherwise be included in the cathode.Examples of the first electrically conductive material include, for example, carbon black (such as Super P), graphite, acetylene black (such as KETCHEN™ black or DENKA™ black), carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, graphene, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, nitrogen-doped carbon, metal powder (e.g., copper, nickel, steel or iron), a liquid metal (e.g., Ga, GaInSn), a conductive polymer (e.g., includes polyaniline, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, and the like), or a combination thereof. As used herein, the term "graphene nanoplates" refers to a nanoplate or a stack of graphene layers. Such an electrically conductive material in particulate form may have a round geometry or an axial geometry.The term "axial geometry" refers to particles generally having a rod-shaped, fibrous, or otherwise cylindrical shape with a clear longitudinal axis or elongated axis. An aspect ratio (AR) for cylindrical shapes (e.g., fiber or rod) may be defined as AR=L:D, where L is the length of the longest axis and D is the diameter of the cylinder or fiber. Exemplary electroactive material particles having axial geometry suitable for use in the present disclosure may have a high aspect ratio ranging from 10 to 5,000, for example. The electroactive sulfur conversion material particles having an axial geometry include fibers, wires, flakes, whiskers, filaments, tubes, rods, and the like. The term "round geometry" typically refers to particles having a lower aspect ratio, e.g., an aspect ratio closer to 1 (e.g., less than 10). It should be appreciated that the particle geometry may vary from a true round shape and may include, for example, oblong or oval shapes including flattened or flattened spheroid, agglomerated particles, polygonal (e.g., hexagonal) particles, or other shapes that generally have a low aspect ratio. Flattened spheroid can be disk-shaped and have a relatively high aspect ratio. Thus, a generally round particle geometry is not limited to relatively low aspect ratios and spherical shapes.The electroactive sulfur conversion material 22 may be mixed with a first binder 29 that enhances the structural integrity of the cathode 20. The first binder 29 may be present in the cathode 20 in an amount of 1 wt % to 20 wt %, 1 wt % to 15 wt %, or 1 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the cathode 20.The binder may include styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoro(3-oxa-4-pentensulfonic acid)), lithium salt, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA), sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA), sodium alginate, lithium alginate, and the like, Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), or a combination thereof.Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that by incorporating the disclosed solid electrolyte into a sulfur cathode, performance is improved by lowering cell impedance, active material utilization is increased by providing more reaction sites for the sulfur redox reaction, and ion transport and kinetics of the cathode are improved. An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode comprising an electroactive sulfur conversion material and an electrolytic material comprising a solvated ionic liquid (e.g., a limited solvated electrolyte) may have a desirable specific capacity, for example, 1 to 5 milliampere hours per square centimeter (mAh / cm 2).- The solid state electrolyte may contribute improved kinetics and energy density.An electrochemical cell comprising a cathode comprising a solid electrolyte and an electrolytic material comprising an organic solvent and a lithium salt (e.g., a high-solvent electrolyte) may have desirable properties with a reduced electrolyte to sulfur volume ratio of less than 8:1. A reduced amount of such an electrolyte may be desirable.FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an embodiment of the cathode 20 that includes the cathode current collector 24 having a first electrodeactive material layer 23 thereon after an electrodeactive material slurry has been dried for sulfur conversion. In one embodiment and as shown, the first electro-active material layer 23 may be deposited on one side of the cathode current collector 24. The first electrodeactive material layer 23 may be deposited on both sides of the cathode current collector 24. The first electro-active material layer 23 may include 30 wt % to 70 wt %, for example, 40 wt % to 70 wt %, of the electroactive sulfur conversion material 22, 5 wt % to 50 wt %, for example, 5 wt % to 30 wt %, of the solid electrolyte, 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % of the first binder, and 0.1 wt % to 30 wt % of the first electrically conductive material.In an embodiment, the first electro-active material layer 23 may have a thickness between 30 μm and 300 μm. In an embodiment, the first electro-active material layer 23 may have a thickness between, for example, 35 μm and 150 μm.The electroactive sulfur conversion material slurry comprises a mixture of the electroactive sulfur conversion material 22, the solid electrolyte 28, a first binder 29, optionally a first electrically conductive material, and a solvent. The electroactive sulfur conversion material 22 may have a maximum particle size of 100 μm and a minimum particle size of 100 nm.The first binder 29 may serve as a binder to bond the electroactive sulfur conversion material 22, the solid electrolyte 28, optionally electrically conductive material, and the cathode current collector 24. The first binder 29 may be in the form of a powder, a resin, or dissolved in a solvent.The mixture of the electroactive sulfur conversion material 22, the solid electrolyte 28, the first binder 29 forming the first electroactive material layer 23, and the optional first electrically conductive material is formed by mixing into an electroactive sulfur conversion material slurry using an organic solvent or water, as illustrated by step S 301 of the method 300 of FIG. 3. The sulfur conversion electroactive material slurry including the first electroactive material layer 23 may be applied (e.g., cast) to the cathode current collector 24, as illustrated by step S 302 of process 300 of FIG. 3, and dried to form a cathode.The first electrodeactive material layer 23 may be applied to the cathode current collector 24 by gravure coating, slot die coating, or dip coating, in one embodiment. Slot die coating is a coating technique in which the slurry of electroactive sulfur conversion material 22 is applied to the substrate of cathode current collector 24 via a narrow slot positioned near the surface. A great advantage of the slot die coating process is the simple relationship between the thickness of the wet film coating, the flow rate of the solution, and the speed of the coated substrate relative to the head. Moreover, extremely uniform films over large areas can be achieved with the slot die coating. Slot die coating is one of many methods that can be used to deposit a thin film of liquid on the surface of a substrate. One of the main advantages of slot die coating is that it can be easily incorporated into scale-up processes involving roll-to-roll coating and sheet-to-sheet coating systems.The sulfur conversion electroactive material slurry comprising the first electroactive material layer 23 may be applied to the cathode current collector 24 by dipping the cathode current collector 24 in a bath comprising the sulfur conversion electroactive material slurry, in one embodiment.The cathode current collector 24 with the first electrodeactive material layer 23 deposited thereon is subjected to a drying process to bond the first electrodeactive material layer 23 on the surface of the cathode current collector 24 to form the cathode 20, as illustrated by step S 303 of process 300 of FIG. 3. The drying process may include exposing the cathode current collector 24 with the deposited first electro-active material layer 23 to an elevated temperature environment for a period of time to remove the solvent, which may include exposing the cathode current collector 24 with the deposited first electro-active material layer 23 to a calendering process to improve adhesion of the first electro-active material layer 23 to the surface of the cathode current collector 24. The cathode current collector 24 with the first electrodeactive material layer 23 deposited thereon is exposed to a temperature between 60° C. and 150° C. for a period of 1 to 60 minutes to dry and remove the solvent after the first electrodeactive material layer 23 is bonded to the surface of the cathode current collector 24.Accordingly, a wet process for forming the cathode may include mixing the electroactive sulfur conversion material, the disclosed solid electrolyte, and the first binder in a solvent to form a slurry; casting the slurry onto a current collector; and drying the slurry to form the electrode comprising the disclosed solid electrolyte. The solvent may include toluene, an alkane, anisole, an organic phosphate, or a combination thereof.And a dry process for forming the cathode may comprise dry mixing the electroactive sulfur conversion material, the disclosed solid electrolyte, and the first binder to form a mixture; coating the mixture onto a current collector to form a coated current collector; and calendering the coated current collector to form the electrode that includes the disclosed solid electrolyte. Mixing may include dual blade milling, ball milling, use of a circulating mixing hybridizer, or a combination thereof. Coating the mixture onto a current collector may include dry coating, dry spraying, hot pressing and melt extrusion, three dimensional printing, or a combination thereof. Calendering may comprise a pressure of 20-500 megapascals.The anode may be in the form of a layer having a thickness of from 1 μm to 1,000 μm, for example from 5 μm to 400 μm or from 10 μm to 300 μm. The anode may be defined by a plurality of second electroactive materials, for example comprising the second electroactive material. The second electroactive material may have an average particle diameter of from 0.01 μm to 50 μm, for example from 1 μm to 20 μm.An electroactive material layer of the anode may include a second electroactive material, a second electrically conductive material, and a second binder. The anode may comprise, based on the total weight of the anode, 30 wt % to 100 wt % of the second electroactive material, 0 wt % to 30 wt % of the second electrically conductive material, 0 wt % to 20 wt % of the second binder, and 0 wt % to 30 wt % of electrolytic material.The anode comprises a second electroactive material as a lithium host material that may serve as a negative terminal of a lithium ion battery. The anode may include, for example, a lithium host material (e.g., a second electroactive material) that may function as a negative terminal of the battery cell. The anode may be defined by a plurality of particles of second electroactive material.The anode may comprise a second electroactive material comprising lithium, for example lithium metal, a lithium alloy (such as a lithium-silicon alloy, a lithium-aluminum alloy, a lithium-indium alloy, a lithium-tin alloy, or a combination thereof), or a combination thereof. The anode may further comprise silicon, tin oxide, aluminum, indium, zinc, germanium, silicon oxide, titanium oxide, lithium titanate, ferrous sulfide (FeS), Li 4 Ti 5 O 12, or a combination thereof, e.g. silicon mixed with graphite. The anode may be made of lithium metal itself.The second electroactive material may be present in the anode in an amount of 70% to 100% by weight, 70% to 98% by weight, 70% to 95% by weight, 80% to 95% by weight, based on the total weight of the anode.The anode may comprise a second electrically conductive material. For example, the second electroactive material may be mixed with the second electrically conductive material providing an electron conducting path. The second electrically conductive material may be present in the anode in an amount of 0 wt % to 30 wt %, 1 wt % to 25 wt %, 1 wt % to 20 wt %, 1 wt % to 10 wt %, 3 wt % to 20 wt %, or 5 wt % to 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the anode.The second electrically conductive material may be the same as or different from the first electrically conductive material, and may include, for example, carbon black (such as Super P), graphite, acetylene black (such as KETCHEN™ black or DENKA™ black), carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, carbon nanofibers, graphene, graphene nanoplatelets, graphene oxide, nitrogen-doped carbon, metal powder (e.g., copper, nickel, steel or iron), a liquid metal (e.g., Ga, GaInSn), a conductive polymer (e.g., includes polyaniline, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, and the like), or a combination thereof.The anode may comprise a second binder. For example, the second electroactive material may be blended with a second binder that enhances structural integrity of the anode. The second binder may be present in the anode in an amount of 0 wt % to 30 wt %, 1 wt % to 25 wt %, 1 wt % to 20 wt %, 1 wt % to 10 wt %, 3 wt % to 20 wt %, or 5 wt % to 15 wt %, based on the total weight of the anode. The second binder may include, for example, PTFE, sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene copolymer (SEBS), styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS), lithium polyacrylate (LiPAA), sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA), sodium alginate, lithium alginate, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), or a combination thereof.The separator may have a thickness between 10 μm and 50 μm. The separator may comprise a porous polymer (e.g., polyolefin) that provides heat resistance. With the disclosed use of an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a limitedly solvated liquid electrolyte (e.g., an electrolyte that does not dissolve a sulfur cathode), a porous separator may be used.Examples of polyolefins include polyethylene (PE) (as well as variants such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)), polypropylene (PP) and a mixture of PE and PP. The polymer may electrically isolate and physically separate the cathode and anode.The separator may be a solid polymer electrolyte material comprising a polymer such as polyethylene oxide (PEO), polypropylene oxide (PPO), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), a solid electrolyte material (e.g., an oxide-based electrolyte material or a sulfide-based electrolyte material), or a gel polymer electrolyte material with a lithium salt or swollen with a lithium salt solution. The cathode and anode reversibly exchange lithium ions through the separator during the applicable discharge and charge cycles.The separator may comprise, for example, a microporous polymeric separator comprising a polyolefin or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The polyolefin may be a homopolymer (derived from a single monomer component) or a heteropolymer (derived from more than one monomer component), which may be either linear or branched. When a heteropolymer is derived from two monomer components, the polyolefin may assume any copolymer chain arrangement including that of a block copolymer or a random copolymer. If the polyolefin is a heteropolymer derived from more than two monomer components, it may also be a block copolymer or a random copolymer. The polyolefin may be polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or a mixture of PE and PP, or multilayer structured porous films of PE, PP, or a combination thereof, for example, a PP-PE two-layer structure or a PP-PE-PP three-layer structure. Commercially available membranes for polyolefin porous separators include CELGARD ®2500 ( monolayer polypropylene separator) and CELGARD ®2325 ( three layer polypropylene / polyethylene / polypropylene separator) available from Celgard LLC.When the separator is a microporous polymeric separator, it may be a single layer or a multilayer laminate which can be made either by dry or wet processes. For example, in certain cases, a single layer of the polyolefin may form the entire separator. The separator may be a fibrous membrane having a bulk of pores extending between the opposing surfaces and having, for example, an average thickness of less than one millimeter. Multiple discrete layers of similar or different polyolefins may be assembled to form the microporous polymer separator. The separator may also include polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a polyamide, polyimide, poly(amide-imide) copolymer, polyetherimide, cellulose, or a combination thereof, or any other suitable material for forming the desired porous structure, in addition to polyolefins. The separator may include a cellulose separator, a PVDF membrane, and a polyimide porous membrane.The separator may comprise a high temperature stable polymer such as polyimide nano-fiber based nonwovens, nano-sized polyethylene membranes coated with Al 2 O 3 and poly(lithium-4,styrene sulfonate), SiO 2 coated polyethylene, co-polyimide coated polyethylene, polyetherimides (PEI), bisphenol-acetone-diphthalic anhydride (BPADA), and para-phenylene diamine, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, reinforced polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene, and so forth. - The separator may be a high temperature stable separator and comprise a sandwiched PVDF / poly(m-phenylene isophthalamide) (PMIA) / PVDF nano-fiber separator.The separator may comprise a ceramic coating, a coating of refractory material, or a combination thereof. The ceramic coating, the refractory coating, or a combination thereof may be disposed on one or more sides of the separator. The material forming the ceramic coating may be alumina (Al 2 O 3), silica (SiO 2), titania (TiO 2) or a combination thereof. The heat resistant material may be, for example, Nomex, aramid, or a combination thereof. The polymer (e.g., polyolefin) may be incorporated into the separator as a fibrous layer to help provide the separator with suitable structural and porosity characteristics.The separator may be infiltrated with a liquid electrolytic material throughout the porosity of the polymer. The liquid electrolytic material that wets both the cathode and the anode may comprise a lithium salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent. The liquid electrolytic material may wet the separator (e.g., fill 5% to 100%, for example, 90%, of its porosity).The cathode, the anode, and the separator may each comprise the electrolytic material, for example within their pores, capable of conducting lithium ions between the anode and the cathode. Any suitable electrolytic material in solid, liquid or gel form capable of conducting lithium ions between the electrodes may be used in the battery cell. The electrolytic material may be, for example, a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution comprising a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvents.Suitable lithium salts may have inert anions. Examples of lithium salts that can be dissolved in an organic solvent or a mixture of organic solvents to form a nonaqueous liquid electrolyte solution include lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6), lithium perchlorate (LiClO 4), lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlCl 4), lithium iodide (LiI), lithium bromide (LiBr), lithium thiocyanate (LiSC), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiF 4), lithium difluorooxalatoborate (LiF 2( C 2 O 4)) ( LiODFB), Lithium tetraphenylborate (LiB(C 6 H 5)4), lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiB(C 2 O 4)2) ( LiBO), lithium tetrafluorooxalatophosphate (LiPF 4( C 2 O 4)) ( LiFOP), lithium nitrate (LiNO 3), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF 6), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF 3 SO3), Lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonimide) (LiTFSI) (LiN(CF 3 SO 2)2), lithium fluorosulfonylimide (LiN(FSO 2)2) ( LiFSI), lithium fluoroalkyl phosphate (LiFAP) (Li 3 O 4 P), or a combination thereof.The lithium salt can be dissolved in a variety of organic solvents including, for example, an alkyl carbonate such as a cyclic carbonate (e.g., ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC)), a linear carbonate (e.g., dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC)), an aliphatic carboxylic ester (e.g., methyl formate, methyl acetate, methyl propionate), a γ-lactone (e.g., γ-butyrolactone, γ-valerolactone), fluorinated ethers (e.g., 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethylene-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether (TTE), Bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) ether (BTFE), tris(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) orthoformate (TFEO), fluorinated ester (e.g., ethyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (ETFEC), bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) carbonate (BTC), methyl 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl carbonate (FEMC)), a chain structure ether (e.g., 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME), 1-2-diethoxyethane, ethoxymethoxyethane), a cyclic ether (e.g., tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane (DOL)), a sulfur compound (e.g., sulfolane), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMMTFSI), 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (BMIM-TFSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PYR13TFSI), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (PYR14TFSI), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (EMM-FSI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (BMIM-FSI), N-propyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR13-FSI), 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (PYR14-FSI), or a combination thereof. The electrolytic material may comprise 0.5 moles per liter (molar (M)) to 9.0 M, or 0.5 M to 4.0 M of the one or more lithium salts. When the electrolytic material has a lithium concentration greater than 2 M or ionic liquids, the electrolytic material may include fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC), hydrofluoroether (HFE), or a combination thereof.The electrolytic material, for example a solid electrolyte, can serve both as a lithium ion conductor and as a separator, so that a separate separator component does not necessarily have to be present. Solid electrolyte particles may include oxide-based particles, sulfide-based particles, metal-doped or substituted oxide particles of different valence, inactive oxide particles, nitride-based particles, hydride-based particles, halide-based particles, borate-based particles, or a combination thereof.The oxide-based particles may include a garnet ceramic, a LISICON-type oxide, a NASICON-type oxide, a perovskite-type ceramic, or a combination thereof. The garnet ceramic may include, for example, Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12, Li 6.2 Ga o,3 La 2,95 Rb 0.05 Zr 2 O 12, Li6,85La2,9Ca0,1Zr1,75Nb0,25O12, Li 6,25 Al 0.25 La 3 Zr 2 O 12, Li 6,76 La 3 Zr 1,75 Nb 0.25 O 12 or a combination thereof. The LISICON type oxide may be Li 2+2x Zn 1-x GeO 4( with 0<x<1), Li 14 Zn(GeO 4)4, Li 3+x( P 1-x Si x) O 4( with 0<x<1), Li 3+x GexV1-xO4(with 0<x<1), or a combination thereof. The NASICON type oxide can be defined by LiMM'(PO 4)3, wherein M and M' are independently Al, Ge, Ti, Sn, Hf, Zr or La. The NASICON type oxide may include, for example, Li 1+x Al x Ge 2-x( PO 4)3( LAGP) (where 0≤x≤2), Li 1,4 Al 0.4 Ti 1,6( PO 4)3, Li 1,3 Al 0,3 Ti1,7(PO4)_NERmn_, LiTi2(PO4)_NERmn_, LiGeTi(PO 4)3, LiGe 2( PO 4)3, LiNb 2( PO 4)3 or a combination thereof. The perovskite-type ceramic may include Li 3,3 La 0,53 TiO 3, LiMn 1,65 Zr 1,3 Ta 1,7 O 9, Li 2xy Sr 1x Ta y Zr_NERmn_O_NERmn_(where x=0.75y and 0.60<y<0.75), Li_NERmn_Mn_NERmn_Mn_NERmn_Mn_NERmn1 / 4O_NERmn_, Li 3x La (2 / 3-x) TiO 3( where 0<x<0.25), or a combination thereof.The metal-doped or the substituted oxide particles having different valences may be, for example, aluminum (Al) or niobium (Nb)-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12, antimony (Sb)-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12, gallium (Ga)-doped Li 7 La 3 Zr2O12, The compounds of the invention may include LiMn 2 P 3 O 12, Li 1+x+y Al x Ti 2-x Si Y P 3-y O 12( with 0<x<2 and 0<y<3) substituted with chromium (Cr) and / or vanadium (V), or a combination thereof.The sulfide-based particles may include, for example, a pseudobinary sulfide, a pseudoternary sulfide, a pseudoquaternary sulfide, or a combination thereof. Exemplary pseudobinary sulfide systems include Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- systems (such as Li 3 PS 4, Li 7 P 3 S 11, and Li 9,6 P 3 S12), Li2S-SnS2systems (such as Li4SnS4), Li 2 S-SiS 2- systems, Li 2 S-GeS 2- systems, Li 2 S-B 2 S 3- systems, Li 2 S-Ga 2 S 3- systems, Li2S-P2S3systems, Li 2 S-Al 2 S 3- Systems, Li 3,4 Si 0,4 P 0,6 S 4, Li 10 GeP 2 S 11,7 O0,3, lithium argyrodites Li6PS5X (where X is one of Cl, Br, and I).Exemplary pseudoternary sulfide systems include Li 2 O-Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- systems, Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- systems, Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- GeS 2- systems (such as Li 3,25 Ge 0,25 P 0,75 S 4( thio-LISICON), and Li 10 GeP 2 S12(LGPS)), Li2S-P2S5-LiX systems (where X is one of F, Cl, Br and I is) (such as Li 6 PS 5 Br, Li 6 PS 5 Cl, L 7 P 2 S 8 I and Li 4 PS 4 I), Li 2 S-As5S5-SnS2 Systeme (such as Li3,833Sn0,833As0,166S4), Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- Al 2 S 3- systems, Li 2 S-LiX-SiS 2- systems (where X is any one of F, Cl, Br, and I), 0.4Li·0.6Li 4 SnS 4 and Li 11 Si2PS12. Exemplary pseudoquaternary sulfide systems include Li 2 O-Li 2 S-P 2 S 5- P 2 O 5- systems, Li 9,54 Si 1,74 P 1,44 S 11,7 Cl0,3, Li9,6P3S12, Li7P3S11, Li 9 P 3 S 9 O 3, Li 10,35 Ge 1,35 P 1,65 S 12; Li 10,35 Si 1,35 P1,65S12, Li9,81Sn0,81P2.1.9S12, Li 10( Si 0,5 Ge 0,5) P 2 S 12, Li 10( Ge 0,5 Sne 0,5) P 2 S 12, Li10(Si0,5Sn0,5)P2S12, Li 7 P 2,9 Mn 0,1 S 10,7 I 0,3, Li 3,833 Sn 0,833 As 0,166 S 4, LiI-Li 4 SnS4, Li4SnS4and Lit0,35[Sn0,27Si1,08]P1,65S12.The inactive oxide particles may include, for example, SiO 2, Al 2 O 3, TiO 2, ZrO 2 or a combination thereof; the nitride-based particles may include, for example, Li 3 N, Li 7 PN 4, LiSi 2 N 3 or a combination thereof; the hydride-based particles may include, for example, LiBH 4, LiBH 4- LiX (where X=Cl, Br, or I), LiNH 2, Li 2 NH, LiBH 4- LiNH 2, Li 3 AlH 6, or a combination thereof; The halide-based particles may include, for example, LiI, Li 3 InCl 6, Li 2 CdCl 4, Li 2 MgCl 4 LiNbI 4, Li 2 ZnI 4, Li 3 OCl, Li3YCl6, Li3YBr6, or a combination thereof; and the borate-based particles may include, for example, Li 2 B 4 O 7, Li 2 O-B 2 O 3- P 2 O 5 or a combination thereof.The descriptions of the cathode, anode, separator, and electrolytic material set forth herein are to be understood as non-limiting examples. In the context of the lithium-ion battery cell of the present disclosure, many variations in the chemistry of the individual elements may be applied.EXAMPLESComparative Example 1A coin cell was made with a cathode from a slurry comprising 60 to 98 wt% of a sulfur-carbon composite (comprising 50 to 95 wt% sulfur and 5 to 50 wt% carbon), 1 to 20 wt% binder and 1 to 20 wt% electrically conductive material cast onto an aluminum current collector at a charge of 1 milligrams per square centimeter (mg / cm 2). The anode was a chip of lithium metal, and a polyethylene separator fused with Entek nanoparticles and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI) were used as the electrolyte.Example 1A coin cell was made with a cathode from a slurry comprising 80 wt% sulfur in 20 wt% Ketjen black, 70Li 2 S·25P 2 S 6 ·5P 2 O 5 solid electrolyte, Super P conductive carbon black, and hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), binder in a weight ratio of 60:20:10:10, cast at a charge of 1 milligrams per square centimeter (mg / cm 2) onto an aluminum current collector. The anode was a chip of lithium metal, and a polyethylene separator fused with Entek nanoparticles and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI) were used as the electrolyte.FIG. 4 is a graph of voltage (volts (V)) versus specific capacity (milliampere hours per gram (mAh / g)) for Comparative Example 1, and FIG. 5 is a graph of voltage (V) versus specific capacity (mAh / g) for Example 1, where "1" refers to cycle 1, "5" refers to cycle 5, "10" refers to cycle 10, and "20" refers to cycle 20. The tests included C / 20 in the first cycle and C / 10 in later cycles. As can be seen from the comparison of FIG. 4 with FIG. 5, a higher specific capacity can be achieved with good cycle stability with the disclosed solid electrolyte. The higher plateau of FIG. 4 compared to FIG. 5 means a lower impedance and a lower overpotential.Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the disclosed solid electrolyte can improve Li ion conductivity by providing more Li ion path(s). The disclosed solid electrolyte may also provide reaction sites for the S-redox reaction.

Claims

An electrochemical cell comprising: an electrode comprising an electroactive sulfur conversion material and a solid electrolyte comprising an oxysulfide; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode, wherein: the solid electrolyte comprises 75Li 2 S-20P 2 S 5-5 P 2 O 5 ; and the liquid electrolyte comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), wherein the molar ratio of salt to solvent is 1:0.8.The electrochemical cell of claim 1, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte.An electrochemical cell comprising: an electrode comprising an electroactive sulfur conversion material and an oxide solid electrolyte; a liquid electrolyte; a separator; and a negative electrode, wherein: the oxide solid electrolyte comprises Li 1+x Al x Ge 2-x( PO 4)3( LAGP) (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 2), Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12( LLZO), or Li 1+x Al x Ti2-x(PO4)3(LATP) (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 2); and the liquid electrolyte comprises lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and triglyme (G3) (Li(G3)TFSI), or lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide salt and tetraglyme (G4) (Li(G4)TFSI), wherein the molar ratio of salt to solvent is 1:0.8.The electrochemical cell of claim 3, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a limited-solvate liquid electrolyte comprising a solvate ionic liquid.

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