Battery cell having an electrode assembly and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

A sealed secondary battery cell capable of being charged between a charged state and a discharged state is provided, the sealed secondary battery cell comprising a hermetically sealed case, an electrode assembly enclosed by the hermetically sealed case, and a rated capacity of at least 100 milliamp-hours, the hermetically sealed case having first and second longitudinally separated opposing case ends and a case sidewall connecting the first and second case ends, the first and second opposing case ends and the case sidewalls forming an airtight seal around the electrode assembly, the case sidewalls including upper and lower sidewalls longitudinally separated from one another and first and second lateral sidewalls laterally separated from one another, and a longitudinal thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell along a thermal conduction path between longitudinally opposed regions of exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower sidewalls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 7.5 W / m + It's K.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 63 / 222,010, 63 / 222,299, 63 / 222,015, 63 / 222,295, 63 / 221,998, and 63 / 222,296, filed on July 15, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 63 / 350,687, 63 / 350,641, and 63 / 350,679, filed on June 9, 2022, which are incorporated by reference in their entireties herein.

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to structures for use in sealed secondary battery cells and other energy storage devices, and to sealed secondary battery cells and energy storage devices employing such structures. [Background technology]

[0003] A rocking chair or intercalation type secondary battery is a type of energy storage device in which carrier ions, such as lithium ions, sodium ions, potassium ions, calcium ions, or magnesium ions, migrate between a positive electrode and a negative electrode through an electrolyte. A secondary battery can include a single battery cell or two or more battery cells electrically coupled to form a battery, with each battery cell including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a microporous separator, and an electrolyte.

[0004] In a rocking chair battery cell, both the positive and negative electrodes contain materials into which carrier ions can be inserted and extracted. As the cell is discharged, carrier ions are extracted from the negative electrode and inserted into the positive electrode. When the cell is charged, the reverse process occurs and carrier ions are extracted from the positive electrode and inserted into the negative electrode.

[0005] One of the persistent challenges lies in the fact that as the battery is repeatedly charged and discharged as carrier ions move between the electrodes, a significant amount of heat is generated. If the heat generated during cycling is not adequately and quickly dissipated, it will accumulate and the elevated temperature will cause electrical shorts and battery failure, creating problems for the safety, reliability and cycle life of the battery.

[0006] Therefore, there remains a need for temperature control during battery cycling to improve battery safety, reliability, and cycle life. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Briefly, therefore, aspects of the present disclosure provide a sealed secondary battery cell chargeable between a charged state and a discharged state. The sealed secondary battery cell comprises a hermetically sealed case, an electrode assembly enclosed by the hermetically sealed case, and a rated capacity of at least 100 milliamp-hours. The electrode assembly has mutually perpendicular transverse, longitudinal, and vertical axes corresponding, respectively, to the x-, y-, and z-axes of an imaginary three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, opposing longitudinal end faces that are substantially flat and longitudinally separated from one another, and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EA and a side surface connecting a first longitudinal end surface and a second longitudinal end surface, the side surfaces being substantially flat and having opposed longitudinal surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction on opposite longitudinal sides of the longitudinal axis, and opposed lateral surfaces being substantially flat and separated from one another in a transverse direction on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, the opposed longitudinal surfaces having a total surface area L SA and the opposing lateral faces have a total surface area T SA and the opposing longitudinal faces have a total surface area V SA V SA and L SA and T SAis at least 5:1. The electrode assembly further includes an electrode structure assembly, an electrically insulating separator assembly, and a counter electrode structure assembly, the members of the electrode structure assembly, the electrically insulating separator assembly, and the counter electrode structure assembly being arranged in alternating order along the longitudinal direction, the hermetically sealed case having first and second longitudinally separated opposing case ends and a case sidewall connecting the first and second case ends, the first and second opposing case ends and the case sidewall forming an airtight seal around the electrode assembly, the case sidewall including upper and lower sidewalls longitudinally separated from one another and first and second lateral sidewalls laterally separated from one another, The electrode structure assembly and / or counter electrode structure member has longitudinal upper and lower end faces connected to the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case to inhibit longitudinal growth of the electrode assembly during cycling of the secondary battery cell between charge and discharge states, the electrode structure assembly member and / or counter electrode structure assembly member connected to the upper and lower side walls have (i) a thickness measured longitudinally in the range of 5 to 50 μm, and (ii) a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa, the state of charge being at least 75% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell and the discharged state being less than 25% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell, the thickness of the secondary battery cell measured longitudinally between the longitudinally opposed regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 1 mm, and the longitudinal thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell along a thermal conduction path between the longitudinally opposed regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 7.5 W / m + It's K.

[0008] Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure will be in part discussed, and in part apparent, in the following description and drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an electrode assembly having a set of electrode restraints. [Figure 1B]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a three-dimensional electrode assembly for a secondary battery. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C is an inset cross-sectional view of the electrode assembly of FIG. [Figure 1D] 1C is a cross-sectional view of the electrode assembly of FIG. 1B taken along line D in FIG. 1B. [Diagram 2] 1 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of an energy storage device or secondary battery including a set of electrode assemblies and electrode limiters. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 shows a cross section in the ZY plane of an embodiment of an electrode assembly having an auxiliary electrode. [Figure 3B] 1 shows a top view in the XY plane of an embodiment of an electrode assembly with a restriction system having an opening therein. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an electrode assembly coupled to a restriction system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of an electrode assembly showing the restriction system adhered to the electrode current collector. [Figure 6A] 1B illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of an electrode assembly taken along line AA' shown in FIG. 1A, showing elements of an embodiment of a primary and secondary growth limiting system. [Figure 6B] 1B illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of an electrode assembly taken along BB' shown in FIG. 1A, showing elements of an embodiment of a primary and secondary growth limiting system. [Figure 6C] 1B illustrates a cross-section of one embodiment of an electrode assembly taken along line AA' shown in FIG. 1A, showing further elements of an embodiment of a primary and secondary growth limiting system. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of a secondary battery cell at the bottom of a hermetically sealed case. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a hermetically sealed case. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one embodiment from the opposite side of the hermetically sealed case of FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of one embodiment of a secondary battery cell in the hermetically sealed case of FIGS. 8-9. [Figure 11] 1 illustrates a cross-section in the ZY plane of an embodiment of a secondary battery cell in a hermetically sealed case. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of one end of the cross section of FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary heat conduction path within a jellyroll secondary battery cell. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary heat conduction path within a cylindrical secondary battery cell. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary heat conduction path in one embodiment of a secondary battery cell having a substantially polyhedral shape in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. [Figure 16A] Tables 1 and 2 show current (A) and voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the cycles shown using rates tested from 1C to 10C charge rates with a C / 25 CV cutoff. [Figure 16B] Tables 1 and 2 show current (A) and voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the cycles shown using rates tested from 1C to 10C charge rates with a C / 25 CV cutoff. [Figure 16C] Tables 1 and 2 show current (A) and voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the cycles shown using rates tested from 1C to 10C charge rates with a C / 25 CV cutoff. [Figure 16D] Tables 1 and 2 show current (A) and voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the cycles shown using rates tested from 1C to 10C charge rates with a C / 25 CV cutoff. [Figure 17A]The current (A) and cell voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the indicated cycles are shown, with rates tested at standard C / 3 charge rate and discharge rates from C / 10 to 4C, with all cycles using a C / 25 CV step, as listed in Tables 3 and 4. The C / 10 reference cycle 52 has a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse every 10% SOC, following the standard test protocol defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. [Figure 17B] The current (A) and cell voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the indicated cycles are shown, with rates tested at standard C / 3 charge rate and discharge rates from C / 10 to 4C, with all cycles using a C / 25 CV step, as listed in Tables 3 and 4. The C / 10 reference cycle 52 has a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse every 10% SOC, following the standard test protocol defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. [Figure 17C] The current (A) and cell voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the indicated cycles are shown, with rates tested at standard C / 3 charge rate and discharge rates from C / 10 to 4C, with all cycles using a C / 25 CV step, as listed in Tables 3 and 4. The C / 10 reference cycle 52 has a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse every 10% SOC, following the standard test protocol defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. [Figure 17D] The current (A) and cell voltage (V) versus time (min) for two different cells (TM39713 and TM40142) for the indicated cycles are shown, with rates tested at standard C / 3 charge rate and discharge rates from C / 10 to 4C, with all cycles using a C / 25 CV step, as listed in Tables 3 and 4. The C / 10 reference cycle 52 has a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse every 10% SOC, following the standard test protocol defined by the U.S. Department of Energy. [Figure 18]Tables 3 and 4 show cell voltage (V) and cell temperature (°C) versus capacity (Ah) for cells TM39713 (left) and TM40142 (right) for the indicated cycles, with rates tested at standard C / 3 charge rate and discharge rates from C / 5 to 4C, with all cycles using a C / 25 CV step. [Figure 19] Cell discharge capacity (Ah), average discharge voltage (V), and DeltaAveCell_V (V) versus cycle number for the TM39059 and TM40136 using 6C charge and 1C discharge over cycle 32, along with a multi-rate US Department of Energy defined diagnostic cycle every 50 cycles. [Figure 20A] 1 shows the cell voltage (V), current (Amps), and temperature (° C.) versus capacity (Ah) for charge (20A) and discharge (20B) cycles 40 to 180 shown for EXP4049 type cell TM39059. [Figure 20B] 1 shows the cell voltage (V), current (Amps), and temperature (° C.) versus capacity (Ah) for charge (20A) and discharge (20B) cycles 40 to 180 shown for EXP4049 type cell TM39059. [Figure 21] 4 shows state of charge versus cycle time and charge time at various C-rates. [Figure 22] 1 is a chart showing charge rate and time to charge state. [Diagram 23] 1 shows a cell cycled using a 0.33C / 0.33C charge / discharge rate with C / 25 CV steps (CellInt=32266) compared to cells cycled at a 6C / 1C charge / discharge rate with C / 25 CV steps (CellInt=39059 and CellInt=40136), including discharge capacity plotted against cycle number, average discharge voltage, difference between average charge voltage and average discharge voltage DeltaAveCell_V, and normalized capacity retention (using cycle 32 as reference). Every 50 cycles, there is a DOE-defined diagnostic cycle using a C / 10 discharge with a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse, and a standard 0.33C / 0.33C diagnostic cycle (not shown). [Figure 24] 4 shows state of charge versus time for various charge rates. [Diagram 25] 4 shows state of charge versus time for various charge rates. [Figure 26] 1 is a chart showing charge rate and time to charge state. [Figure 27] State of charge versus time for various charge rates is shown along with industry target rates. [Figure 28] Figure 1 shows the % capacity retention versus cycle number for 6C CCCV-1C and C / 3 CCCV-C / 3. [Figure 29] 1 illustrates an embodiment of an electrode structure including an electrode current collector having an electrode current collector body region and an electrode current collector end region, and an embodiment of a counter electrode structure including a counter electrode current collector having a counter electrode current collector body region and a counter electrode current collector end region, as shown along a cross section in the XZ plane. [Diagram 30] An embodiment of the electrode structure and an embodiment of the counter electrode structure of FIG. 29 are shown in cross section in the YX plane. [Diagram 31] 1 illustrates an embodiment of an electrode and / or counter electrode structure having an electrode current collector and / or a counter electrode current collector connected to a bus bar and / or a counter electrode bus bar.

[0010] Other aspects, embodiments, and features of the inventive subject matter will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are schematic and are not intended to be drawn to scale. For clarity, not every element or component will be labeled in every figure, and not every element or component of each embodiment of the inventive subject matter will be shown, unless illustration is necessary to enable a person skilled in the art to understand the inventive subject matter.

[0011] definition As used herein, "A," "an," and "the" (i.e., singular) refer to plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, in one instance, reference to "an electrode" includes both a single electrode and a plurality of similar electrodes.

[0012] As used herein, "about" and "approximately" refer to plus or minus 10%, 5%, or 1% of the stated value. For example, in one example, about 250 μm includes 225 μm to 275 μm. As a further example, in one example, about 1,000 μm includes 900 μm to 1,100 μm. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities (e.g., measurements, etc.) and the like used in the specification and claims should be understood in all instances as being modified by the term "about". Thus, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and the appended claims are approximations. Each numerical parameter should be construed, at least in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

[0013] As used herein in the context of the state of a secondary battery, "state of charge" refers to a state in which a secondary battery is charged to at least 75% of its rated capacity. For example, a battery may be charged to at least 80% of its rated capacity, at least 90% of its rated capacity, or even at least 95% of its rated capacity, such as 100% of its rated capacity.

[0014] As used herein, "C-rate" refers to a measure of the rate at which a secondary battery is discharged and is defined as the discharge current divided by the theoretical current draw at which the battery would deliver its nominal rated capacity in 1 hour. For example, a C-rate of 1C indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in 1 hour, a rate of 2C indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in ½ hour, a rate of C / 2 indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in 2 hours, etc.

[0015] As used herein in the context of the state of a secondary battery, a "discharged state" refers to a state in which a secondary battery is discharged to less than 25% of its rated capacity. For example, a battery may be discharged to less than 20% of its rated capacity, such as less than 10% of its rated capacity, or even less than 5% of its rated capacity, such as 0% of its rated capacity.

[0016] A "cycle" as used herein in the context of cycling a secondary battery between a charging state and a discharging state refers to charging and / or discharging the battery to move the battery in a cycle from a first state, either a charging state or a discharging state, to a second state that is the opposite of the first state (i.e., a charging state if the first state was discharged, or a discharging state if the first state was charged), and then returning the battery to the first state to complete the cycle. For example, a single cycle of a secondary battery between a charging state and a discharging state may include charging the battery from a discharging state to a charging state, as in a charging cycle, and then discharging to a discharging state to complete the cycle. A single cycle may also include discharging the battery from a charging state to a discharging state, as in a discharging cycle, and then charging to a charging state to complete the cycle.

[0017] The "Ferret diameter" referred to herein with respect to an electrode assembly is defined as the distance between two parallel planes that bound the electrode assembly, measured in a direction perpendicular to the two planes. For example, the longitudinal Feret diameter of an electrode assembly is the distance measured longitudinally between two parallel planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction that bound the electrode assembly. As another example, the transverse Feret diameter of an electrode assembly is the distance measured transversely between two parallel planes perpendicular to the transverse direction that bound the electrode assembly. As yet another example, the longitudinal Feret diameter of an electrode assembly is the distance measured longitudinally between two parallel planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction that bound the electrode assembly.

[0018] As used herein, the terms "longitudinal axis", "lateral axis", and "vertical axis" refer to mutually perpendicular axes (i.e., each perpendicular to the other). For example, the terms "longitudinal axis", "lateral axis", and "vertical axis" used herein are similar to a Cartesian coordinate system used to define a three-dimensional aspect or orientation. Thus, the description of the elements of the inventive subject matter herein is not limited to the particular axis or axes used to describe the three-dimensional orientation of the elements. In other words, when referring to a three-dimensional aspect of the inventive subject matter, the axes may be interchangeable.

[0019] As used herein, "longitudinal," "lateral," and "vertical" refer to directions that are perpendicular to one another (i.e., each is orthogonal to the other). For example, as used herein, "longitudinal," "lateral," and "vertical" may be generally parallel to the longitudinal, lateral, and vertical axes, respectively, of a Cartesian coordinate system used to define three-dimensional aspects or orientations.

[0020] "Repeated cycling" as used herein in reference to cycling between a charged state and a discharged state of a secondary battery refers to more than one cycling from a discharged state to a charged state or from a charged state to a discharged state. For example, the repeated cycling between the charged state and the discharged state may include at least two cycles from the discharged state to the charged state, such as charging from the discharged state to the charged state, discharging from the discharged state to the discharged state, charging again to the charged state, and finally discharging to the discharged state. As yet another example, the at least two repeated cycling between the charged state and the discharged state may include discharging from the charged state to the discharged state, recharging to the charged state, discharging again to the discharged state, and finally recharging to the charged state. As a further example, the repeated cycling between the charged state and the discharged state may include at least five cycles from the discharged state to the charged state, or even at least 10 cycles. As a further example, the repeated cycling between the charged state and the discharged state may include at least 25, 50, 100, 300, 500, or even 1000 cycles from the discharged state to the charged state.

[0021] "Rated capacity" as used herein in the context of secondary batteries refers to the capacity of a secondary battery to deliver a particular current over a period of time, measured under standard temperature conditions (25°C). For example, rated capacity may be measured either by determining the current output in ampere-hours for a particular time, or by determining the time for a particular current that the current may be output and taking the product of the current and time. For example, for a battery rated at 20 ampere-hours, if the current is specified to be 2 amperes for the rating, the battery may be understood to provide that current output for 10 hours, and conversely, if the time is specified to be 10 hours for the rating, the battery may be understood to output 2 amperes for the 10 hours. In particular, the rated capacity of a secondary battery may be given as the rated capacity at a particular discharge current, such as a C-rate, where the C-rate is a measure of the rate at which the battery is discharged relative to its capacity. For example, a C-rate of 1C indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in 1 hour, 2C indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in ½ hour, C / 2 indicates a discharge current that will discharge the battery in 2 hours, and so on. So, for example, a battery rated at 20 Amp-hours at a C-rate of 1C will provide a discharge current of 20Amp for 1 hour, a battery rated at 20 Amp-hours at a C-rate of 2C will provide a discharge current of 40Amp for 1 / 2 hour, and a battery rated at 20 Amp-hours at a C-rate of C / 2 will provide a discharge current of 10Amp for 2 hours.

[0022] As used herein in relation to the dimensions of an electrode assembly, "maximum width" (W EA ) corresponds to the maximum width of the electrode assembly measured longitudinally from opposing points on the longitudinal end faces of the electrode assembly.

[0023] As used herein in relation to the dimensions of an electrode assembly, the term "maximum length" (L EA ) corresponds to the maximum length of the electrode assembly measured laterally from opposing points on the sides of the electrode assembly.

[0024] As used herein in relation to the dimensions of an electrode assembly, "maximum height" (HEA ) corresponds to the maximum height of the electrode assembly measured laterally from opposing points on the sides of the electrode assembly.

[0025] As used herein in the context of an electrode assembly, a "substantially polyhedral shape" is a shape having six or more flat surfaces and, in certain embodiments, may include curved surface areas, such as at corners or vertices of the shape.

[0026] Furthermore, for each embodiment in which a material or structure is described using the term "electrode," such as "electrode structure" or "electrode active material," as used herein, it is understood that such structure and / or material may, in certain embodiments, correspond to that of a "negative electrode," such as "negative electrode structure" or "negative electrode active material." Similarly, for each embodiment in which a material or structure is described using the term "counter electrode," such as "counter electrode structure" or "counter electrode active material," as used herein, it is understood that such structure and / or material may, in certain embodiments, correspond to that of a "positive electrode," such as "positive electrode structure" or "positive electrode active material." That is, where appropriate, any embodiment described with respect to an electrode and / or counter electrode may also correspond to the same embodiment in which the electrode and / or counter electrode is specifically a negative electrode and / or a positive electrode, and includes those corresponding structures and materials, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In general, the present disclosure is directed to an energy storage device 100, such as a secondary battery 102 and / or a secondary battery cell 902, that cycles between a charged state and a discharged state, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1A-1D, 2, and 7-12. The secondary battery cell 902 may be part of the secondary battery 102 and includes a battery housing 104, an electrode assembly 106, and carrier ions. In certain embodiments, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte may be in the battery housing 104. In certain embodiments, the secondary battery 102 also includes a limiting system 108 that restricts growth of the electrode assembly 106. The limited growth of the electrode assembly 106 may be a macroscopic increase in one or more dimensions of the electrode assembly 106.

[0028] 1A-1D, in one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 includes a set of unit cells 504 stacked in series in a stacking direction (i.e., stacking direction D in FIG. 1B). Each member of the unit cell set includes an electrode structure 110, a counter electrode structure 112, and an electrically insulating separator 130 between the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure for electrically insulating the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112 from each other. In one example, as shown in FIG. 1B, the electrode assembly includes a series of stacked unit cells 504, each of which includes an electrode structure 110 and a counter electrode structure in an alternating arrangement. FIG. 1C is an inset view of a secondary battery having the electrode assembly 106 of FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view of the secondary battery having the electrode assembly 106 of FIG. 1B. Other arrangements of the stacked series of unit cells 504a, 504b can also be provided. Thus, an electrode assembly can include a collection of electrode structures, a collection of counter electrode structures, and a collection of electrically insulating separator material that electrically isolates members of the electrode and counter electrode assemblies, with each member of the unit cell assembly including an electrode structure, a counter electrode structure, and an electrically insulating separator between the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure.

[0029] In one embodiment, the electrode structure 110 includes an electrode active material layer 132 and an electrode current collector 136, as shown in, for example, FIGS. 1A-1D. For example, the electrode structure may include an electrode current collector 136 disposed between one or more electrode active material layers 132s. According to one embodiment, the electrode active material layer 132 includes an anode active material, and the electrode current collector 136 includes an anode current collector. Similarly, in one embodiment, the counter electrode structure 112 includes a counter electrode active material layer 138 and a counter electrode current collector 140. For example, the counter electrode structure 112 may include a counter electrode current collector 140 disposed between one or more counter electrode active material layers 138. According to one embodiment, the counter electrode active material layer 138 includes a cathode active material, and the counter electrode current collector 140 includes a cathode current collector. It should further be understood that the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112, respectively, are not limited to the specific embodiments and structures described herein, and other configurations, structures, and / or materials than those specifically described herein may also be provided to form the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112. According to certain embodiments, each unit cell 504a, 504b in the unit cell assembly includes, in a stacked series, a unit cell portion of an electrode current collector 136, an electrode structure 110 including an electrode active material layer 132, an electrically insulating separator 130 between the electrode active material layer and the counter electrode active material layer, a counter electrode structure 113 including a counter electrode active material layer 138, and a unit cell portion of a counter electrode current collector 140. In certain embodiments, the order of the unit cell portions of the electrode current collector, electrode active material layer, separator, counter electrode active material layer, and counter electrode current collector are reversed for unit cells adjacent to one another in the stacked series, with portions of the electrode current collector and / or counter electrode current collector being shared between adjacent unit cells, for example, as shown in FIG. 1C.

[0030] According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1A-1D, the members of the electrode structure assembly 110 and the counter electrode structure assembly 112 are arranged in an alternating order, respectively, and the direction of the alternating order corresponds to a stacking direction D. The electrode assembly 106 according to this embodiment further includes a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis, and a vertical axis that are perpendicular to each other, and the longitudinal axis A is a EA The longitudinal axis A is generally parallel to the stacking direction D of the electrode structure assembly and the counter electrode structure assembly. EA is shown to correspond to the Y-axis, the horizontal axis is shown to correspond to the X-axis, and the vertical axis is shown to correspond to the Z-axis. According to an embodiment disclosed herein, the electrode structure 110, the counter electrode structure 112, and the electrically insulating separator 130 in each unit cell 504 of the unit cell assembly have opposing upper and lower end faces separated in a vertical direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the unit cell assembly. For example, referring to FIG. 1C and FIG. 4, the electrode structure 110 in each member of the unit cell assembly can have opposing upper and lower end faces 500a and 500b separated in a vertical direction, the counter electrode structure 110 in each member of the unit cell assembly can have opposing upper and lower end faces 501a and 501b separated in a vertical direction, and the electrically insulating separator 130 can have opposing upper and lower end faces 502a and 502b separated in a vertical direction.

[0031] 1A-1D, according to one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 has mutually perpendicular horizontal, longitudinal, and vertical axes corresponding to the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively, of a virtual three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, a first longitudinal end surface 116 and a second longitudinal end surface 118 separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EAand a side 142 connecting the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118. In one embodiment, the surface area of ​​the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 is less than 33% of the surface area of ​​the electrode assembly 106. For example, in one such embodiment, the sum of the surface areas of the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively, is less than 25% of the surface area of ​​all surfaces of the electrode assembly 106. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the sum of the surface areas of the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively, is less than 20% of the surface area of ​​all surfaces of the electrode assembly. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the sum of the surface areas of the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively, is less than 15% of the surface area of ​​all surfaces of the electrode assembly. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the sum of the surface areas of the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively, is less than 10% of the surface area of ​​all surfaces of the electrode assembly.

[0032] In one embodiment, the side 142 includes first and second regions on either side of the longitudinal axis and separated in a first direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. For example, the side 142 may include facing surface regions 144, 146 in the X direction (i.e., sides of a right angle prism) and facing surface regions 148, 150 in the Z direction. In yet another embodiment, the side may include a cylindrical shape. The electrode assembly 106 has a maximum width W measured in the longitudinal direction. EA and the maximum length L measured laterally bounded by the sides EA and the maximum height H measured longitudinally and bounded by the sides EA In one embodiment, the maximum length L EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 2:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the maximum length L EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 5:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the maximum length L EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 10:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the maximum length L EA Maximum height HEA may be at least 15:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the maximum length L EA Maximum height H EA The ratio of may be at least 20: 1. Different dimensional ratios may allow for optimal configuration within the energy storage device to maximize the amount of active material, thereby increasing energy density.

[0033] In some embodiments, the maximum width W EA is the maximum height H EA For example, in one embodiment, the maximum width W EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 2:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the ratio of maximum width W EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 5:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the ratio of maximum width W EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 10:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the ratio of maximum width W EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 15:1. By way of further example, in one embodiment, the maximum width W EA Maximum height H EA may be at least 20:1.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the maximum width W EA Maximum length L EA The ratio of the maximum width W to the maximum width W may be selected within a predetermined range that provides an optimal configuration. EA Maximum length L EA The ratio of maximum width W to maximum width W may range from 1:5 to 5:1. EA Maximum length L EA The ratio of maximum width W to maximum width W may range from 1:3 to 3:1. EA Maximum length L EAThe ratio of may be in the range of 1:2 to 2:1.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each electrode structure 110 of a member of a unit cell assembly has a length L measured laterally between first and second opposing lateral ends 601 a, 601 b of the electrode structure 110. E and a height H measured vertically between the upper and lower opposing vertical end faces 500a, 500b of the electrode structure. E and a width W measured longitudinally between the first and second opposing surfaces 603a, 603b of the electrode structure. E and each counter electrode structure of the member of the unit cell assembly has a length L measured laterally between first and second opposing lateral ends 602a, 602b of the counter electrode structure. CE and a height H measured vertically between the upper and lower second opposing vertical end surfaces 501a, 501b of the counter electrode structure. CE and a width W measured longitudinally between the first and second opposing surfaces 604a, 604b of the opposing electrode structure. CE Including,

[0036] According to one embodiment, the electrode structure of the element of the unit cell assembly is E and W E and H E and each of the H E and W E and the ratio of L to L is in the range of about 2:1 to about 100:1, respectively, and for the counter electrode structure of the element of the unit cell assembly, CE and W CE and H CE and each of the H CE and W CE By way of further example, in one embodiment, the ratio of L E and W E and H E is at least 10:1, and L CE and W CE and H CE and each of L is at least 10:1. Eand W E and H E is at least 15:1, and L CE and W CE and H CE and each of L is at least 15:1. E and W E and H E is at least 20:1, and L CE and W CE and H CE Each of the ratios is at least 20:1.

[0037] In one embodiment, the height (H E ) of the electrode structure width (W E ) is at least 0.4:1, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, E W E is at least 2:1 for each electrode structure of the member of the unit cell assembly. E W E and H are each at least 10:1. E W E The ratio of H to H is at least 20:1, respectively. E W E and H are generally less than 1,000:1, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, E W E and H are each less than 500:1. E W E and H are each less than 100:1. E W E and H are each less than 10:1. E W E to range from about 2:1 to about 100:1, respectively, for each electrode structure of the unit cell assembly members.

[0038] In one embodiment, the height (H CE ) of the width (W CE ) is at least 0.4:1, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, CE W CE is at least 2:1 for each counter electrode structure of the member of the unit cell assembly. CE W CE and H are each at least 10:1. CE W CE The ratio of H to H is at least 20:1, respectively. CE W CE and H are generally less than 1,000:1, respectively. For example, in one embodiment, CE W CE and H are each less than 500:1. CE W CE and H are each less than 100:1. CE W CE and H are each less than 10:1. CE W CE to ranges from about 2:1 to about 100:1, respectively, for each counter electrode structure of the unit cell assembly members.

[0039] In one embodiment, the unit cell assembly can include an alternating sequence of electrode structures 110 and counter electrode structures 112, and can include any number of members, depending on the energy storage device 100 and its intended use. By way of further example, in one embodiment, more generally, the assembly of electrode structures 110 and the assembly of counter electrode structures 112 each have N members, where each of the N-1 electrode structure members 110 is between two counter electrode structure members 112, and each of the N-1 counter electrode structure members 112 is between two electrode structure members 110, and N is at least 2. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 4. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 5. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 10. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 25. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 50. By way of further example, in one embodiment, N is at least 100 or more.

[0040] In one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 is enclosed within a volume V defined by a restriction system 108 that constrains the overall macroscopic growth of the electrode assembly 106, for example as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The restriction system 108 may be capable of constraining the growth of the electrode assembly 106 along one or more dimensions, such as to reduce expansion and deformation of the electrode assembly 106, thereby improving the reliability and cycle life of the energy storage device 100 having the restriction system 108. Without being limited to any one particular theory, it is believed that carrier ions that migrate between the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112 during charging and / or discharging of the secondary battery 102 and / or electrode assembly 106 may be inserted into the electrode active material, causing the electrode active material and / or the electrode structure 110 to expand. This expansion of the electrode structure 110 may cause the electrode and / or electrode assembly 106 to deform and expand, thereby compromising the structural integrity of the electrode assembly 106 and / or increasing the likelihood of electrical shorts or other failures. In one example, excessive expansion and / or expansion and contraction of the electrode active material layer 132 during cycling of the energy storage device 100 can cause pieces of the electrode active material to break away and / or delaminate from the electrode active material layer 132, thereby compromising the efficiency and cycle life of the energy storage device 100. In yet another example, excessive expansion and / or expansion and contraction of the electrode active material layer 132 can cause the electrode active material to rupture the electrically insulating microporous separator 130, thereby causing electrical shorts and other failures of the electrode assembly 106. Thus, the limiting system 108 prevents expansion or growth that might otherwise occur with cycling between charged and discharged states to improve the reliability, efficiency, and / or cycle life of the energy storage device 100.

[0041] In one embodiment, a restriction system 108 comprising a primary growth restriction system 151 is provided to mitigate and / or reduce at least one of the growth, expansion, and / or distension of the electrode assembly 106 in a longitudinal direction (i.e., a direction parallel to the Y-axis), for example as shown in FIG. 1A. For example, the primary growth restriction system 151 may include a structure configured to limit growth by opposing expansion at the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106. In one embodiment, the primary growth restriction system 151 comprises first and second primary growth restriction parts 154, 156 that are separated from each other in the longitudinal direction (stack direction) and can operate with at least one primary connection member 162 that connects the first and second primary growth restriction parts 154, 156 to each other to restrict growth in the stack direction of the electrode assembly 106. For example, the first and second primary growth limiting portions 154, 156 can at least partially cover the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106 and can operate together with the connecting members 162, 164 connecting the primary growth limiting portions 154, 156 to one another to counter and suppress any growth in the electrode assembly 106 that occurs during repeated charge and / or discharge cycles.

[0042] According to an embodiment herein, the primary limiting system 151 restricts the growth of the electrode assembly 106 in the longitudinal direction such that the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly 106 increases by less than 20% over 20 consecutive cycles (cycles between charged and discharged states) of the secondary battery 102, or the Feret diameter increases by less than 10% over 10 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery, or the Feret diameter increases by less than 10% over 5 consecutive cycles, or less than 1% per cycle of the battery. In one embodiment, the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly increases by less than 3% and / or less than 2% in the stack direction over 20 consecutive cycles and / or over 50 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the protrusions on a first longitudinal surface of the members of the electrode structure assembly 110 and the counter electrode structure assembly 112 surround a first protruding region 700a, the protrusions on a second longitudinal surface of the members of the electrode structure assembly 110 and the counter electrode structure assembly 112 surround a second protruding region 700b, and the first and second primary increase restriction portions 154, 156 include first and second compression members overlapping the first and second protruding regions 700a, 700b.

[0044] In addition, repeated cycling through the charge and discharge process in the secondary battery 102 can induce growth and distortion not only in the longitudinal direction of the electrode assembly 106 (e.g., along the Y axis in FIG. 1A ), but also in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such as the transverse and longitudinal directions (e.g., along the X and Z axes in FIG. 1A , respectively), as discussed above. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, incorporating a primary growth limiting system 151 to inhibit growth in one direction may further exacerbate growth and / or expansion in one or more other directions. For example, if a primary growth limiting system 151 is provided to inhibit growth in the longitudinal direction of the electrode assembly 106, the intercalation of carrier ions during charge and discharge cycles and the resulting expansion of the electrode structure may induce distortion in one or more other directions. In particular, in one embodiment, the strain generated by the combination of electrode growth / expansion and longitudinal growth limiters may result in buckling or other failure(s) of the electrode assembly 106 in the longitudinal direction (e.g., Z-axis as shown in FIG. 1A), or even in the lateral direction (e.g., X-axis as shown in FIG. 1A). Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a secondary growth limiting system 152 is provided that may operate in conjunction with the primary growth limiting system 151 to limit the growth of the electrode assembly 106 along multiple axes of the electrode assembly 106. For example, in one embodiment, the secondary growth limiting system 152 may be configured to operate in conjunction with or otherwise synergistically with the primary growth limiting system 151, thereby limiting the overall growth of the electrode assembly 106, resulting in improved performance and reduced incidence of failure of secondary batteries having the electrode assembly 106 and the primary and secondary growth limiting systems 151 and 152, respectively.

[0045] In one embodiment, the secondary limiting system 152 including the first and second connecting members 158, 160 restricts the growth of the electrode assembly 106 in the longitudinal direction such that the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly increases less than 20% over 20 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery, or the Feret diameter increases less than 10% over 10 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery, or the Feret diameter increases less than 10% over 5 consecutive cycles of the volume, or the Feret diameter increases less than 1% over 5 consecutive cycles of the volume per cycle of the battery. In one embodiment, the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly increases less than 3% and / or less than 2% in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles and / or 50 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery.

[0046] 6A-6C, an embodiment of a restriction system 108 having a primary growth restriction system 151 and a secondary growth restriction system 152 for an electrode assembly 106 is shown. FIG. 6A shows a cross section of the electrode assembly 106 of FIG. 1A taken along the longitudinal axis (Y-axis), with the resulting 2D cross section shown with the vertical axis (Z-axis) and the longitudinal axis (Y-axis). FIG. 6B shows a cross section of the electrode assembly 106 of FIG. 1A taken along the transverse axis (X-axis), with the resulting 2D cross section shown with the vertical axis (Z-axis) and the transverse axis (X-axis). As shown in FIG. 6A, the primary growth restriction system 151 can generally comprise first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156, respectively, separated from each other along the longitudinal direction (Y-axis). For example, in one embodiment, the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 each comprise a first primary growth restriction portion 154 at least partially or completely covering a first longitudinal end surface 116 of the electrode assembly 106 and a second primary growth restriction portion 156 at least partially or completely covering a second longitudinal end surface 118 of the electrode assembly 106. In yet another version, one or more of the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 may be internal to the longitudinal end surfaces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106, such as when one or more of the primary growth restriction portions comprise an internal structure of the electrode assembly 106. The primary growth restriction system 151 may further comprise at least one primary connecting member 162 connecting the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 and may have a major axis parallel to the longitudinal direction. For example, the primary growth limiting system 151 can include first and second primary connecting members 162, 164, respectively, that are separated from one another along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, such as along a vertical axis (Z-axis) as in the embodiment shown. The first and second primary connecting members 162, 164 can function to connect the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156, respectively, to one another and to maintain the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156, respectively, in tension with one another to inhibit growth along the longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly 106.

[0047] As further shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, the restriction system 108 can further comprise a secondary growth restriction system 152, which can generally comprise first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160, respectively, which in the illustrated embodiment are separated from one another along a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such as along the longitudinal axis (Z-axis). For example, in one embodiment, the first secondary growth restriction portion 158 extends at least partially across a first region 148 of the side 142 of the electrode assembly 106, and the second secondary growth restriction portion 160 extends at least partially across a second region 150 of the side 142 of the electrode assembly 106 opposite the first region 148. In yet another version, one or more of the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 154, 156 can be internal to the side 142 of the electrode assembly 106, such as when one or more of the secondary growth restriction portions comprise an internal structure of the electrode assembly 106. In one embodiment, the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 are connected by at least one secondary connection member 166, which may have a major axis, e.g., a longitudinal axis, parallel to the second direction. The secondary connection member 166 may function to connect and hold the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 in tension with each other, respectively, to restrict the growth of the electrode assembly 106 along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, e.g., to restrict the growth in the longitudinal direction (e.g., along the Z-axis). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, the at least one secondary connection member 166 may correspond to at least one of the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156. However, the secondary connection member 166 is not limited thereto and may alternatively and / or additionally include other structures and / or configurations.

[0048] According to one embodiment, the primary and secondary growth limiting systems 151, 152 are each configured to operate in a coordinated manner such that parts of the primary growth limiting system 151 act in a coordinated manner as parts of the secondary growth limiting system 152 and / or parts of the secondary growth limiting system 152 act in a coordinated manner as parts of the primary growth limiting system 151. For example, in the embodiment shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the first and second primary connecting members 162, 164 of the primary growth limiting system 151 can function as at least a part, or even the entire structure, of the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160, respectively, which limit the growth in a second direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In yet another embodiment, as described above, one or more of the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 can function as one or more secondary connecting members 166 for connecting the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160, respectively. Conversely, at least a portion of the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160 can act as the first and second primary connecting members 162, 164, respectively, of the primary growth limiting system 151, and at least one secondary connecting member 166 of the secondary growth limiting system 152 can act as one or more of the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156, respectively, in one embodiment. In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of each of the first and second primary connecting members 162, 164 of the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or at least one secondary connecting member 166 of the secondary growth limiting system 152 can function as at least a portion of each of the first and second tertiary growth limiters 157, 159 that limit the growth in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, or even as the entire structure. Thus, each of the primary and secondary growth limiting systems 151, 152 can share components and / or structures for exerting a restraint on the growth of the electrode assembly 106.

[0049] In one embodiment, the limiting system 108 can include structures such as primary and secondary growth limiters and primary and secondary connection members that can be structures external and / or internal to the battery housing 104 or can be part of the battery housing 104 itself. In certain embodiments, the battery housing 104 can be a sealed housing, for example, to seal the liquid electrolyte therein and / or to seal the electrode assembly 106 from the external environment. In one embodiment, the limiting system 108 can include a combination of structures including the battery housing 104 and other structural components. In one such embodiment, the battery housing 104 can be a component of the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152; in other words, in one embodiment, the battery housing 104, alone or in combination with one or more other structures (inside and / or outside the battery housing 104, e.g., the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152), limits the growth of the electrode assembly 106 in the electrode stacking direction D and / or in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction D. In one embodiment, one or more of the primary growth limiters 154, 156 and the secondary growth limiters 158, 160 may comprise structures internal to the electrode assembly. In another embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152 do not form any part of the battery housing 104, and instead, one or more separate structures other than the battery housing 104 (inside and / or outside the battery housing 104) limit the growth of the electrode assembly 106 in the electrode stacking direction D and / or in a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction D. In another embodiment, the primary and secondary growth limiting systems are within the battery housing, which may be a sealed battery housing, such as a hermetically sealed battery housing. The electrode assembly 106 may be limited by the limiting system 108 at a pressure greater than the pressure exerted by the growth and / or expansion of the electrode assembly 106 during repeated cycling of the energy storage device 100 or a secondary battery having the electrode assembly 106.

[0050] In one exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 includes one or more separate structures within the battery housing 104 that inhibit growth in the stacking direction D of the electrode structure 110 by applying a pressure in excess of the pressure in the stacking direction D generated by the electrode structure 110 during repeated cycling of a secondary battery 102 having the electrode structure 110 as part of the electrode assembly 106. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 includes one or more separate structures within the battery housing 104 that inhibit growth in the stacking direction D of the counter electrode structure 112 by applying a pressure in the stacking direction D in excess of the pressure in the stacking direction D generated by the counter electrode structure 112 during repeated cycling of a secondary battery 102 having the counter electrode structure 112 as part of the electrode assembly 106. The secondary growth limiting system 152 may similarly include one or more individual structures within the battery housing 104 that suppress growth of at least one of the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112 along a second direction perpendicular to the stacking direction D, e.g., the vertical axis (Z-axis direction), by applying a pressure in a second direction that exceeds the pressure in the second direction generated by the electrode structure 110 or the counter electrode structure 112, respectively, during repeated cycling of the secondary battery 102 having the electrode structure 110 or the counter electrode structure 112, respectively.

[0051] In yet another embodiment, the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 of the primary growth limiting system 151 restrict growth of the electrode assembly 106 by applying pressure to the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106, i.e., in the longitudinal direction, in excess of the pressure applied by the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 to other surfaces of the electrode assembly 106 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, such as opposing first and second regions of the side 142 of the electrode assembly 106 along the transverse and / or longitudinal axes. That is, the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 can apply pressure in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis) that exceeds the pressure generated thereby in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (Y-axis), such as the transverse (X-axis) and longitudinal (Z-axis) directions. For example, in one such embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 limits the growth of the electrode assembly 106 with a pressure on the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 (i.e., in the stacking direction D) that is at least three times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly 106 by the primary growth limiting system 151 in at least one of two directions perpendicular to the stacking direction D, or even both. As a further example, in one such embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 limits the growth of the electrode assembly 106 with a pressure on the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 (i.e., in the stacking direction D) that is at least four times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly 106 by the primary growth limiting system 151 in at least one of two directions perpendicular to the stacking direction D, or even both. As a further example, in one such embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 restricts growth of the electrode assembly 106 using a pressure on the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 (i.e., in the stacking direction D) that is at least five times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly 106 in at least one of two directions perpendicular to the stacking direction D, or even in both.

[0052] 6C, an embodiment of an electrode assembly 106 having a restriction system 108 is shown with a cross section taken along line A-A' as shown in FIG. 1A. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C, the primary growth restriction system 151 can comprise first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 on the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106, respectively, and the secondary growth restriction system 152 can comprise first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 on the opposing first and second surface regions 148, 150 of the side face 142 of the electrode assembly 106. According to this embodiment, the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 can function as at least one secondary connecting member 166 for connecting the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 and maintaining the growth restriction portions in tension with each other in a second direction (e.g., the longitudinal direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. However, additionally and / or alternatively, the secondary growth limiting system 152 may comprise at least one secondary connection member 166 located in an area other than the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106. Also, the at least one secondary connection member 166 may be understood to be internal to the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly and act as at least one of the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 that may act to limit growth in conjunction with another internal primary growth limiter and / or any of the primary growth limiters at the longitudinal ends 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106. With reference to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C, the secondary connection members 166 may be provided spaced apart along the longitudinal axis away from the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106, respectively, such as towards a central region of the electrode assembly 106. A secondary connecting member 166 may connect the first and second secondary growth restraints 158, 160, respectively, at a location inboard from the electrode assembly end faces 116, 118 and may be under tension between the secondary growth restraints 158, 160 at that location.In one embodiment, the secondary connection members 166 connecting the secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 at locations inward from the end faces 116, 118 are provided in addition to one or more secondary connection members 166 provided at the electrode assembly end faces 116, 118, such as secondary connection members 166 that also function as primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 at the longitudinal end faces 116, 118. In another embodiment, the secondary growth restriction system 152 comprises one or more secondary connection members 166 connecting the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160, respectively, at interior locations spaced apart from the longitudinal end faces 116, 118, with or without secondary connection members 166 at the longitudinal end faces 116, 118. It can be appreciated that the internal secondary connection members 166 also act as the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156, according to one embodiment. For example, in one embodiment, at least one of the secondary connection members 166 located at the internal location(s) may comprise at least a portion of the electrode structure 110 or the counter electrode structure 112, as described in further detail below.

[0053] More specifically, with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C, the secondary growth restriction system 152 may include a first secondary growth restriction portion 158 overlying the upper region 148 of the side surface 142 of the electrode assembly 106 and an opposing second secondary growth restriction portion 160 overlying the lower region 150 of the side surface 142 of the electrode assembly 106, the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160 being separated from each other in the longitudinal direction (i.e., along the Z-axis). In addition, the secondary growth restriction system 152 may further include at least one internal secondary connecting member 166 spaced apart from the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106. The internal secondary connecting member 166 may be aligned parallel to the Z-axis and connect the first and second secondary growth restriction portions 158, 160, respectively, to maintain the growth restriction portions in tension with each other and form at least a part of the secondary restriction system 152. In one embodiment, the at least one internal secondary connection member 166, alone or in conjunction with the secondary connection members 166 located at the longitudinal end faces 116, 118 of the electrode assembly 106, can be pulled longitudinally (i.e., in the Z-axis direction) between the first and secondary growth limiters 158, 160 during repeated charging and / or discharging of the energy storage device 100 and / or secondary battery 102 having the electrode assembly 106 to reduce the longitudinal growth of the electrode assembly 106. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6C, the limiting system 108 further comprises a primary growth limiting system 151 having first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 at the longitudinal ends 117, 119 of the electrode assembly 106, respectively, which are connected to the upper and lower side regions 148, 150 of the electrode assembly 106 by first and second primary connection members 162, 164, respectively. In one embodiment, the secondary internal connection member 166 may itself be understood to act in coordination with one or more of the first and second primary increase restriction portions 154, 156 to apply a restricting pressure to portions of the electrode assembly 106 located longitudinally between the secondary internal connection member 166 and the longitudinal ends 117, 119 of the electrode assembly 106 at which the first and second primary increase restriction portions 154, 156 may be respectively positioned.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the first and second primary connection members 162, 164 (which may be the same as the first and second secondary growth restriction 158, 160) are connected to a secondary connection member 166 that includes at least a portion of the structure of the electrode 110 or the counter electrode 112, or other internal structure of the electrode assembly 106. In one embodiment, the first primary connection member 162 (which may be the first secondary growth restriction 158) is connected to the upper end surface(s) 500a, 501a of the electrode structure 110 and / or the counter electrode structure 112 of the subset 515 of members of the unit cell assembly 504. In another embodiment, the second primary connection member 164 (which may be the second secondary growth restriction 160) is connected to the lower end surface(s) 500b, 501b of the electrode structure 110 or the counter electrode structure 112 of the subset 515 of members of the unit cell assembly 504. The subset 515 of unit cell members connected at the upper end surface(s) may be the same or different subset of unit cell members connected at the lower end surface(s). In one embodiment, the first and / or second secondary growth restriction 158, 160 may be connected to other internal structures within the electrode assembly forming a secondary connection member 166. In one embodiment, the first and / or second secondary growth restriction 158, 160 may be connected to the upper and / or lower end surfaces of the electrode structure 110 and / or the counter electrode structure 112 including one or more of the electrode current collector 136, the electrode active material layer 132, the counter electrode current collector 140, and the counter electrode active material layer 138 in the member of the unit cell assembly 504. In another example, the first and second secondary growth restriction 158, 160 may be connected to the upper and / or lower end surfaces of the electrically insulating separator 130. Thus, the secondary connection member 166 may, in certain embodiments, comprise one or more of the electrode structure 110 and / or counter electrode structure 112, including one or more of the electrode current collector 136, electrode active material layer 132, counter electrode current collector 140, and counter electrode active material layer 138, within the members of the unit cell assembly 504. Referring to Figures 3A-3B, an embodiment is shown in which first and second secondary growth restrictions 158, 160 are connected to the secondary connection member 166 that comprises the electrode current collectors 136 of a subset of the members of the unit cell assembly.4, the first and second secondary increase restriction portions 158, 160 are connected to a secondary connection member 166 comprising an electrode structure 110 including an electrode current collector 136. In one embodiment, the members of the electrode structure 110 assembly comprise an electrode current collector 136 having longitudinally opposed upper and lower end faces 510a, 510b, the members of the counter electrode structure assembly comprise a counter electrode current collector 140 having longitudinally opposed upper and lower end faces 509a, 509b, and the first and second connection members 162, 164 are connected to the longitudinal end faces of the electrode current collectors and / or counter electrode current collectors of a subset of the electrodes and / or members of the counter electrode assembly.

[0055] 4, in one embodiment, the longitudinally separated first and second primary connection members 162, 164 connect the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156, respectively, and further connect to a subset of the members of the electrode assembly 110 or the counter electrode assembly 112. According to embodiments herein, the first and second connection members 158, 160 have opposing upper and lower inner surfaces 400a, 400b, and the upper and lower end faces of the subsets 500a, 501a, 500b, 501b, respectively, are bonded by an electrically insulating thermoplastic hot melt adhesive 511. In some embodiments, the hot melt adhesive 511 includes a material selected from, but is not limited to, EAA (ethylene-co-acrylic acid), EMAA (ethylene-co-methacrylic acid), functionalized polyethylene and polypropylene, and combinations thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive includes a mixture of EAA and EMAA copolymers. In one embodiment, the hot melt adhesive 511 has a film shape with a thickness in the range of about 10 to about 100 micrometers and a predetermined pattern shape.

[0056] 3A-3B, in one embodiment, the first and / or second primary connection members 162, 164 (which may be the same as or different from the first and / or second secondary growth restrictions 158, 160) have their respective longitudinal thicknesses T C10. According to embodiments herein, the opening 176 can provide a passage for the flow of carrier ions from the auxiliary electrode 686 through the first and / or second primary connection members 162, 164 to the members of the unit cell assembly. For example, in the case of the auxiliary electrode 686 positioned outside the volume V enclosed by the restriction system 108, e.g., outside the first and / or second primary connection members 162, 164, carrier ions provided from the auxiliary electrode 686 can access the unit cell members of the electrode assembly within the restriction via a passage through the opening. The auxiliary electrode 686 can be selectively electrically connected or coupled to one or more of the electrode structures 110 and / or counter electrode structures 112 of the unit cell members, e.g., by a switch and / or a control unit (not shown). According to certain embodiments, the auxiliary electrode is electrolytically or otherwise coupled (e.g., through a separator) to the counter electrode structure and / or electrode structure of the member of the unit cell assembly to provide for the flow of carrier ions from the auxiliary electrode to the electrode and / or counter electrode structure. By electrolytically coupled, it is meant that carrier ions may be transferred through an electrolyte, such as from the auxiliary electrode to the electrode structure 110 and / or the counter electrode structure 112 and between the electrode structure 110 and the counter electrode structure 112. The auxiliary electrode 686 is also electrically coupled, directly or indirectly, to the electrode and / or counter electrode structure, such as by a series of wires or other electrical connections.

[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , which shows a top view of the electrode assembly 106 illustrating the first primary connection member 162, the aperture 176 comprises a slot shape with an elongated dimension oriented in the longitudinal and / or stacking direction (Y direction) and extends across the unit cell members. Other shapes and / or configurations of aperture 176 may also be provided. For example, in one embodiment, the plurality of apertures comprises a plurality of slots 178 spaced apart from one another in a laterally direction perpendicular to the stacking and vertical directions, with each slot 178 extending along a longitudinal axis L oriented in the stacking direction. S5, in some embodiments, the opening 176 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, and the bonding regions 901a, 901b for bonding to the subset of members of the electrode assembly 110 and / or the counter electrode assembly 112 are located on the inner surface regions 400a, 400b between the slots of the first and / or second connection members 158, 160. In some embodiments, the opening 176 comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, and the bonding regions 901a, 901b for bonding to the subset of members of the electrode assembly 110 and / or the counter electrode assembly 112 are located on the inner surface regions 400a, 400b between the slots of the first and / or second connection members 158, 160.

[0058] 2, an exploded view of one embodiment of a secondary battery 102 including a secondary battery cell 902 (see FIGS. 7-12) and having a restriction system 108 of the present disclosure is shown. The secondary battery 102 includes a battery housing 104 and an electrode assembly 106 within the battery housing 104, the electrode assembly 106 having a first longitudinal end 116 and an opposing second longitudinal end 118 (i.e., away from the first longitudinal end 116 along the Y-axis of the illustrated Cartesian coordinate system) as described above. Alternatively, the secondary battery 102 may include only a single electrode assembly 106 having a restriction 108. Each electrode assembly 106 includes a collection of electrode structures 110 and a collection of counter electrode structures 112 stacked relative to one another within each of the electrode assemblies 106 in a stacking direction D, or in other words, the collection of electrode 110 and counter electrode 112 structures are arranged in an alternating series of electrodes 110 and counter electrodes 112, which series proceeds in the stacking direction D between first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively.

[0059] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, tabs 190, 192 protrude from the battery housing 104 and provide electrical connection between the electrode assemblies 106 and an energy source or energy consumer (not shown). More specifically, in this embodiment, tab 190 is electrically connected (e.g., using a conductive adhesive) to a tab extension 191, which is electrically connected to an electrode 110 included in each of the electrode assemblies 106. Similarly, tab 192 is electrically connected (e.g., using a conductive adhesive) to a tab extension 193, which is electrically connected to a counter electrode 112 included by each of the electrode assemblies 106. Tab extensions 191, 193 may also act as bus bars to pool current from each of the respective electrode and counter electrode structures to which they are electrically connected.

[0060] 2 has an associated primary growth limiting system 151 for restricting growth in the longitudinal direction (i.e., stacking direction D). Alternatively, in one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies 106 may share at least a portion of the primary growth limiting system 151. In the illustrated embodiment, each primary growth limiting system 151 includes first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 that may overlie the first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively, as described above, and first and second opposing primary connecting members 162, 164 that may overlie the side faces 142, respectively, as described above. The first and second opposing primary connection members 162, 164 can respectively pull the first and second primary growth limiters 154, 156 towards each other, or in other words help constrain the growth of the electrode assembly 106 in the longitudinal direction, and the primary growth limiters 154, 156 can apply a compressive or constraining force to the opposing first and second longitudinal end faces 116, 118, respectively. As a result, expansion of the electrode assembly 106 in the longitudinal direction is prevented during formation and / or cycling of the battery 102 between charged and discharged states. Additionally, the primary growth limiting system 151 applies a pressure to the electrode assembly 106 in a longitudinal direction (i.e., stacking direction D) that exceeds the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly 106 in either of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (e.g., as shown, the longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction of the Y axis, and the two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction correspond to the directions of the X axis and Z axis, respectively, of the Cartesian coordinate system shown).

[0061] 2 has an associated secondary growth limiting system 152 to constrain longitudinal growth (i.e., expansion of the electrode assembly 106, electrode 110, and / or counter electrode 112 in the longitudinal direction (i.e., along the Z-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system). Alternatively, in one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies 106 share at least a portion of the secondary growth limiting system 152. Each secondary growth limiting system 152 includes first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160, each overlayable on a corresponding side 142, and at least one secondary connecting member 166, each of which is described in more detail above. The secondary connection member 166 can pull the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160 toward each other, or alternatively, can help to longitudinally limit the growth of the electrode assembly 106, with the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160 each exerting a compressive or restraining force on the side 142, as described in more detail above. As a result, longitudinal expansion of the electrode assembly 106 is prevented during formation of the battery 102 and / or during cycling between charge and discharge states. Additionally, the secondary growth limiting system 152 exerts a pressure on the electrode assembly 106 in a longitudinal direction (i.e., parallel to the Z-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system) that exceeds a pressure maintained on the electrode assembly 106 in either of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (e.g., as shown, the longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction of the Z-axis, and the two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction correspond to the directions of the X-axis and Y-axis of the Cartesian coordinate system shown, respectively).

[0062] When fully assembled, the sealed secondary battery 102 occupies a volume enclosed by its outer surfaces (i.e., a displacement volume), the secondary battery housing 104 occupies a volume corresponding to the displacement volume of the battery (including the lid 104a) minus its internal volume (i.e., the prismatic volume enclosed by the inner surfaces 104c, 104d, 104e, 104f, 104g and the lid 104a), and each growth restriction 151, 152 occupies a volume corresponding to its respective displacement volume. Thus, in combination, the battery housing 104 and the growth restriction 151, 152 occupy 75% or less of the volume bounded by the outer surface of the battery housing 104 (i.e., the displacement volume of the battery). For example, in one such embodiment, the growth restriction 151, 152 and the battery housing 104 in combination occupy 60% or less of the volume bounded by the outer surface of the battery housing 104. By way of further example, in one such embodiment, the restrictions 151, 152 and the battery housing 104 combine to occupy no more than 45% of the volume bounded by the outer surface of the battery housing 104. By way of further example, in one such embodiment, the restrictions 151, 152 and the battery housing 104 combine to occupy no more than 30% of the volume bounded by the outer surface of the battery housing 104. By way of further example, in one such embodiment, the restrictions 151, 152 and the battery housing 104 combine to occupy no more than 20% of the volume bounded by the outer surface of the battery housing.

[0063] In general, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152 typically comprise materials that have an ultimate tensile strength of at least 10,000 psi (>70 MPa), are compatible with the battery electrolyte, do not significantly corrode at the floating or anodic potentials of the battery 102, and do not significantly react or lose mechanical strength at 45° C., or even up to 70° C. For example, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152 may comprise any of a wide range of metals, alloys, ceramics, glasses, plastics, or combinations thereof (i.e., composite materials). In one exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 155 include metals such as stainless steel (e.g., SS316, 440C or 440C hard), aluminum (e.g., aluminum 7075-T6, hard H18), titanium (e.g., 6Al-4V), beryllium, beryllium copper (hard), copper (O2-free, hard), nickel, etc., but generally, when the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 155 include metals, it is generally preferred that they are incorporated to limit corrosion and the occurrence of electrical shorts between the electrode 110 and the counter electrode 112. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 155 include ceramics such as alumina (e.g., sintered or Coorstek AD96), zirconia (e.g., Coorstek YZTP), yttria-stabilized zirconia (e.g., ENrG E-Strate®), etc. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 includes glass, such as Schott D263 tempered glass.In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 155 include a plastic such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) (e.g., Aptiv 1102), PEEK with carbon (e.g., Victrex 90HMF40 or Xycomp 1000-04), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with carbon (e.g., Tepex Dynalite 207), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) with 30% glass (e.g., Victrex 90HMF40 or Xycomp 1000-04), polyimide (e.g., Kapton®), or the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system include composite materials such as E Glass Std Fabric / Epoxy, 0 deg, E Glass UD / Epoxy, 0 deg, Kevlar Std Fabric / Epoxy, 0 deg, Kevlar UD / Epoxy, 0 deg, Carbon Std Fabric / Epoxy, 0 deg, Carbon UD / Epoxy, 0 deg, Toyobo Zylon® HM Fiber / Epoxy, etc. In another exemplary embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 155 include fibers such as Kevlar 49 aramid fiber, S-glass fiber, carbon fiber, Vectran UM LCP fiber, Dyneema, Zylon, etc. In yet another embodiment, the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system include a coating of an insulating material, such as an insulating polymer material, on its inner and / or outer surfaces, for example on the inner and outer surfaces 400a, 400b, 401a, 401b of the first and second primary connection members 162, 164.

[0064] Fast charging structure and method Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a structure including an electrode assembly capable of fast charging, and a sealed secondary battery cell including such an electrode assembly, as well as a method for fast charging such a structure.

[0065] Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure is an electrode assembly 106 for a secondary battery 102. With reference to Figures 1A-1D, in one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 has mutually perpendicular horizontal, longitudinal, and vertical axes corresponding to the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, respectively, of a virtual three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, opposing longitudinal end faces 116, 118 separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EA and a side surface connecting the first and second longitudinal end surfaces 116, 118, the side surfaces having opposed longitudinal surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction on opposite longitudinal sides of the longitudinal axis and opposed lateral surfaces separated from one another in a transverse direction on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, the opposed longitudinal surfaces having a total surface area L SA and the opposing lateral faces have a total surface area T SA and the opposing longitudinal faces have a total surface area V SA The electrode assembly 106 further includes an electrode structure assembly 110, an electrically insulating separator assembly 130, and a counter electrode structure assembly 112, with the members of the electrode structure assembly, the electrically insulating separator assembly, and the counter electrode structure assembly being arranged in alternating order along the longitudinal direction.

[0066] 29-30, in one embodiment, a member of the electrode structure assembly 110 includes an electrode current collector 136 adjacent to an electrode active material layer 132 having opposing lateral ends 605a, 605b, and a member of the counter electrode structure assembly 112 includes a counter electrode current collector 140 adjacent to a counter electrode active material layer 138 having opposing lateral ends 606a, 606b.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 1C, in one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 comprises a collection of unit cells 504, each member of the unit cell collection comprising, stacked longitudinally in series, a unit cell portion of an electrode current collector 136, an electrode active material layer 132, an electrically insulating separator 130, a counter electrode active material layer 138, and a unit cell portion of a counter electrode current collector 140.

[0068] 29-30, in one embodiment, electrode current collector 136 has opposing electrode current collector surfaces 800a, 800b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and counter electrode current collector 140 has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces 801a, 801b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, one of the opposing electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region 802 coated with electrode active material layer 132 and an uncovered region 803 not having the electrode active material layer, the uncovered region being adjacent one of lateral ends 601a, 601b of electrode current collector 136.

[0069] In one embodiment, the electrode current collector 136 has opposing electrode current collector surfaces 800a, 800b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector 140 has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces 801a, 801b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, one of the opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region 804 that is covered with the counter electrode active material layer 138 and an uncovered region 805 that does not have the counter electrode active material layer, the uncovered region being near one of the lateral ends 602a, 602b of the counter electrode current collector 140.

[0070] In one embodiment, the electrode current collector 136 has opposing electrode current collector surfaces 800a, 800b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector 140 has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces 801a, 801b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, each of the counter electrode current collector surfaces having a covered region 802a, 802b coated with the electrode active material layer 132 and an uncovered region 803a, 803b that does not have the electrode active material layer, the uncovered region being near one of the lateral ends 601a, 601b of the electrode current collector 136.

[0071] In one embodiment, the electrode current collector 136 has opposing electrode current collector surfaces 800a, 800b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector 140 has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces 801a, 801b separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, each of the opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region 804a, 804b that is coated with the counter electrode active material layer 132 and an uncovered region 805a, 805b that does not have the counter electrode active material layer, the uncovered region being near one of the lateral ends 602a, 602b of the counter electrode current collector 140.

[0072] In another embodiment, a member of the electrode structure assembly 110 includes an electrode current collector 136 adjacent to an electrode active material layer 132, the electrode active material layer 132 having opposing lateral ends 605a, 605b, and a member of the counter electrode structure assembly 112 includes a counter electrode current collector 140 adjacent to a counter electrode active material layer 138, the counter electrode active material layer 138 having opposing lateral ends 606a, 606b. In one embodiment, each member of the electrode structure assembly 110 comprises an electrode current collector 136 partially covered by an adjacent electrode active material layer 132, the electrode current collector 136 having (i) an electrode current collector body region 810 covered by the adjacent electrode active material layer 132 and extending between the opposing first and second lateral ends 605 a, 605 b of the adjacent electrode active material layer 132, and (ii) an electrode current collector end region 811 on the first or second lateral end 601 a, 601 b of the electrode current collector 136, the electrode current collector end region 811 being bounded by and extending beyond the first or second lateral end 605 a, 605 b of the adjacent electrode active material layer 132 on the same lateral side as the electrode current collector end region 811. In one embodiment, each member of the counter electrode structure assembly 112 comprises a counter electrode current collector 140 partially covered by an adjacent counter electrode active material layer 138, the counter electrode current collector 140 having (i) a counter electrode current collector body region 812 covered by the adjacent counter electrode active material layer 138 and extending between the opposing first and second lateral ends 606 a, 606 b of the adjacent counter electrode active material layer 138, and (ii) a counter electrode current collector end region 813 on the first or second lateral end 602 a, 602 b of the counter electrode current collector 140, the counter electrode current collector end region 813 being bounded by and extending beyond the first or second lateral end 606 a, 606 b of the adjacent counter electrode active material layer 138 on the same lateral side as the counter electrode current collector end region 813. Referring to FIG. 31, in one embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 further comprises an electrode bus bar 191 connected to the electrode current collector end region 811 of the electrode current collector 136 for electrically pooling current from the members of the electrode structure assembly 110.In another embodiment, the electrode assembly further comprises a counter electrode bus bar 193 connected to the counter electrode current collector end region 813 of the counter electrode current collector 140 for electrically pooling the current from the members of the counter electrode structure assembly 112.

[0073] 29-31, in one embodiment, the lateral length (L ER ) is measured from the first or second lateral end 605a, 605b of the adjacent electrode active material layer 132 on the same lateral side as the electrode current collector end region 811 to the region 820a where the electrode current collector end region 811 connects with the electrode bus bar 191. In another embodiment, the lateral length (L CER ) is measured from the first or second lateral end 606a, 606b of the adjacent counter electrode active material layer 138 on the same lateral side as the counter electrode current collector end region 813 to the region 820b where the counter electrode current collector end region 813 connects with the electrode bus bar 193. In one embodiment, the height (H BR ) is measured between the opposing vertical faces 821a, 821b of the electrode current collector body region 810. In one embodiment, the vertical height (H CBR ) is measured between the opposing longitudinal faces 822a, 822b of the counter electrode current collector body region 812. In one embodiment, the height (H ER ) is measured between the opposing longitudinal faces 824a, 824b of the current collector end region 811. In one embodiment, the longitudinal height (H CER ) is measured between opposing longitudinal faces 826 a, 826 b of the current collector end region 813 .

[0074] In one embodiment, the lateral length (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: LER <0.5×H BR .

[0075] In another embodiment, the lateral length (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) is L ER <0.4×H BR In another embodiment, the lateral length (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) is L ER <0.3×H BR Satisfy the relationship.

[0076] In one embodiment, the lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: L CER <0.5×H CBR .

[0077] In another embodiment, the lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) is L CER <0.4×H BR In another embodiment, the lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) is L CER <0.3×H CBR Satisfy the relationship.

[0078] In one embodiment, the vertical height (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: H ER >0.5×H BR .

[0079] In another embodiment, the height of the electrode current collector end region in the vertical direction (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) is expressed by the following relation H ER >0.7×H BR In another embodiment, the vertical height (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) is H ER >0.9×H BR Satisfy the relationship.

[0080] In one embodiment, the vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: H CER >0.5×H CBR .

[0081] In one embodiment, the vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) is H CER >0.7×H CBR In another embodiment, the vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) is H CER >0.9×H CBR Satisfy the relationship.

[0082] In one embodiment, the lateral length (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector end region (H ER ) satisfies the following relationship: L ER / H ER <1

[0083] In one embodiment, the lateral length (L CER) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector end region (H CER ) satisfies the following relationship: L CER / H CER <1

[0084] 31, in one embodiment, a member of the electrode structure assembly 110 includes an electrode current collector end region 811 having longitudinally separated opposing surfaces 800a, 800b, at least one of the opposing surfaces of the electrode current collector end region includes a layer of thermally conductive material 830 disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the electrode current collector end region 811 electrically connects to the electrode bus bar 191 via at least one of the opposing surfaces 800a, 800b, and a layer of thermally conductive material is disposed on the other of the opposing surfaces 800a, 800b. In one embodiment, a member of the counter electrode structure assembly 112 includes a counter electrode current collector end region 813 having longitudinally separated opposing surfaces 801a, 801b, at least one of the opposing surfaces 801a, 801b of the counter electrode current collector end region includes a layer of thermally conductive material 830 disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the counter electrode current collector end region 813 is electrically connected to the counter electrode bus bar 193 via at least one of the facing surfaces 801 a, 801 b, and a layer of thermally conductive material 830 is disposed on the other of the facing surfaces 801 a, 801 b. In one embodiment, the thermally conductive material includes a thermally conductive ceramic material such as alumina.

[0085] In order to suppress the growth of the secondary battery cell during a charge / discharge cycle, as shown in Figures 1-2 and 10, in one embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cell 102 includes a set of electrode limiters 108, the set of electrode limiters 108 includes a vertical limiting system 2000 including first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 vertically separated from each other, the first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 being connected to members of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and / or members of the assembly of the counter electrode structure 112, and the vertical limiting system 2000 can suppress the vertical growth of the electrode assembly 106.

[0086] Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method of charging a sealed secondary battery cell. The method includes charging at a rate of at least 1C, at least 2C, at least 3C, at least 4C, at least 6C, at least 10C, at least 12C, at least 15C, at least 18C, at least 20C, and / or at least 30C until the sealed secondary battery reaches a predetermined capacity. In one embodiment, the method includes charging at a charge rate until the secondary battery reaches at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, and / or at least 99% of its rated capacity. In some embodiments, the sealed secondary battery is charged at a charge rate and discharged at least 200 times, (at least 300, at least 400, at least 500, at least 600, at least 800, and / or at least 1000 times. In some other embodiments, the sealed secondary battery includes any of the electrode assemblies disclosed herein, any of the sealed secondary batteries disclosed herein, or any combination thereof.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells disclosed herein have a rated capacity of at least 500 milliamp-hours, at least 1 amp-hour, at least 5 amp-hours, at least 10 amp-hours, at least 15 amp-hours, at least 20 amp-hours, at least 25 amp-hours, at least 30 amp-hours, at least 35 amp-hours, and / or at least 50 amp-hours.

[0088] According to another embodiment, the electrode assembly 106 disclosed herein has a substantially polyhedral shape with opposing longitudinal end faces 116, 118 that are substantially flat, opposing longitudinal faces 148, 150 that are substantially flat, and opposing lateral faces 144, 146 that are substantially flat. SA and L SA and T SA Each of the above is in a ratio of at least 5:1.

[0089] In one embodiment, the sealed secondary battery disclosed herein includes a core energy density of at least 700 Whr / liter, at least 800 Whr / liter, at least 900 Whr / liter, at least 1000 Whr / liter, at least 1100 Whr / liter, or at least 1200 Whr / liter, where the core energy density is defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery. The total weight does not include the weight of the set, such as a restriction, pack, housing, or pouch.

[0090] In the electrode assemblies disclosed herein, the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a longitudinal thickness in the range of 15 microns to 75 microns, 20 microns to 60 microns, or 30 microns to 50 microns, such as about 45 microns. In another embodiment, the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a porosity in the range of 10 to 40%, 12 to 30%, or 18 to 20%.

[0091] According to certain aspects, the porosity referred to herein can be measured by any suitable technique known to those skilled in the art. For example, according to one embodiment, the porosity can be determined by the mercury porosimetry technique, which is a technique that characterizes the porosity of a material by applying various levels of pressure to a sample of the material immersed in mercury. The pressure required to force mercury into the pores of the sample is inversely proportional to the size of the pores. The mercury porosimetry technique is described in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Practice Guide for Porosity and Specific Surface Area Measurements for Solid Materials, by Peter Klobes, Klaus Meyer, and Ronald Munro, dated September 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In other embodiments, the porosity can be determined by calculating the porosity using the volume of the electrode active material layer used, and the weight of the electrode active material used in the electrode active material layer and its density, where the porosity is the difference between the total volume of the electrode active material layer and the volume occupied by the electrode active material (the weight of the electrode active material divided by its density), as understood by one of skill in the art, expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the electrode active material layer.

[0092] Sealed Secondary Battery Cells 7-12, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a sealed secondary battery cell 902 capable of being charged between a charged state and a discharged state is provided. The sealed secondary battery cell 902 includes a housing 104 that is a hermetically sealed case 2020 including a polymeric housing material, and an electrode assembly 106 surrounded by the hermetically sealed case 2020. According to a particular embodiment, the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell is at least 100 milliamp hours. According to a particular embodiment, the charged state is at least 75% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell, and the discharged state is less than 25% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell.

[0093] According to certain embodiments, the electrode assembly 106 has a substantially polyhedral shape with mutually perpendicular horizontal, longitudinal and vertical axes that correspond, respectively, to the x-, y- and z-axes of a virtual three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. For example, in certain embodiments, the electrode assembly 106 can include substantially six substantially flat and / or completely flat surfaces, and / or can include additional flat surfaces, such as eight or more flat surfaces. The electrode assembly can also include curved portions, in certain embodiments, such as at corners and / or vertices between otherwise flat surfaces.

[0094] According to certain embodiments, and referring again to FIGS. 7-12, the electrode assembly 106 is substantially planar and has opposed longitudinal faces 116, 118 (i.e., first and second longitudinal end faces) separated longitudinally from one another and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EA and a side surface 142 surrounding the longitudinal end surface 116 and connecting the opposing longitudinal end surfaces. The side surface 142 is substantially flat and includes opposing longitudinal surfaces 906, 908 separated from one another longitudinally on opposite longitudinal sides of the longitudinal axis, and includes opposing lateral surfaces 910, 912 separated from one another transversely on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal surfaces 116, 118 have a total surface area L SA and the opposing lateral faces 910, 912 have a total surface area T SA and the opposing longitudinal surfaces 906, 908 have a total surface area V SA V SA and L SA and T SA is at least 5:1. The total surface area is the surface area of ​​each surface added to its opposing surface (e.g., the total surface area of ​​opposing longitudinal surfaces 116, 118 is the surface area of ​​longitudinal surface 116 added to the surface area of ​​longitudinal surface 118).

[0095] According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up more than 66% of the total surface area. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up more than 75% of the total surface area. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up more than 80% of the total surface area. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up more than 95% of the total surface area. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up more than 99% of the total surface area. According to one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal, vertical, and lateral surfaces (which are substantially flat) make up substantially the entire total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly.

[0096] Further, according to certain embodiments, as similarly described with respect to the energy storage device and / or secondary battery 102 above, the electrode assembly 106 of the secondary battery cell 902 includes an electrode structure assembly 110, an electrically insulating separator assembly 130, and a counter electrode structure assembly 112, with the members of the electrode structure assembly, the electrically insulating separator assembly, and the counter electrode structure assembly being arranged in alternating order within the electrode assembly. In one embodiment, the members of the electrode structure, the electrically insulating separator, and the counter electrode structure assembly are arranged in alternating order in the longitudinal direction. According to one embodiment, the members of the electrode structure assembly 110 include an electrode active material layer 132 and an electrode current collector 136, and the members of the counter electrode structure assembly 112 include a counter electrode active material layer 138 and a counter electrode current collector 140.

[0097] According to one embodiment, the hermetically sealed case 202 has first and second opposing case ends 2021, 2022 separated longitudinally, and a case sidewall 2023 connecting the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, where the opposing first and second case ends 2021, 2022 and the case sidewall 2023 form an airtight seal around the electrode assembly 106, and the case sidewall 2023 includes upper and lower sidewalls 2024, 2025 separated from each other vertically, and first and second lateral sidewalls 2026, 2027 separated from each other laterally. In the embodiment shown in Figures 7-12, first and second case ends 2021, 2022, first and second lateral side walls 2026, 2027, and lower side wall 2025 form a lower housing portion of case 2020, and upper side wall 2024 is in the form of a lid that can be sealed to the lower housing portion to form a hermetically sealed case 2020.

[0098] According to one embodiment, the thickness t1 of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 1 mm. According to a particular embodiment, the thickness of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 2 mm. According to another embodiment, the thickness of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 3 mm. According to another embodiment, the thickness of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 5 mm. According to another embodiment, the thickness of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 8 mm. According to another embodiment, the thickness of the secondary battery cell 902 measured vertically between the vertically facing areas 2028, 2028 of the external vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 10 mm.

[0099] According to one embodiment, the members of the electrode structure assembly 110 and / or the counter electrode structure assembly 112 are connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 to restrict the vertical growth of the electrode assembly during cycling of the secondary battery between charging and discharging states. According to a particular embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 (in combination with the electrode and / or counter electrode structures to which they are connected) correspond to the secondary growth limiting system 152 described herein, and therefore the description of the secondary growth limiting system 152 can be considered to apply to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode and / or counter electrode structures. For example, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 can correspond to the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160 described herein, and the members of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and / or the members of the assembly of the counter electrode structure 112 can correspond to at least one connecting member 166. Similar to the secondary growth limiting system described above, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode and / or counter electrode structures can limit the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction. The members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction in the range of 5-50 μm and a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa to provide the growth limit in the vertical direction.

[0100] Further, according to certain embodiments, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022 separated from one another in the longitudinal direction can act to constrain the growth in the longitudinal direction. For example, the opposing first and second case ends 2021, 2022 can be connected together by one or more of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the case to constrain the growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction. In one embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022 (in combination with one or more of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025) can correspond to the primary growth limiting system 151 described elsewhere herein, and thus the description of the primary growth limiting system 151 can be considered to apply to the first and second case ends 2021, 2022 connected by one or more of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025). For example, the opposing first and second case ends 2021, 2022 can correspond to the first and second primary growth restriction portions 154, 156 described herein, which can be connected by primary connecting members 162, 164 corresponding to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the case.

[0101] In one embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cell 902 further comprises a set of electrode limiters 108 inside the hermetically sealed case 2020, the set of electrode limiters including an internal vertical limiting system 2020 including first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 vertically separated from each other, the first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 being connected to the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly. The vertical limiting system 2000 can restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction, the first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 being connected to the respective upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, indirectly connecting the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly to the upper and lower side walls. For example, the first and second vertical growth limiters 2001, 2002 can be glued to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 to complete the connection of the electrodes and / or members of the counter electrode assembly to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025. According to certain embodiments, the vertical limiting system 2000, either alone or in combination with the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the case, can correspond to the primary growth limiting system 151 described elsewhere herein, and therefore the description of the primary growth limiting system 151 can be considered to apply to the vertical limiting system 2000 as well. For example, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, alone or in combination with the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, can correspond to the first and second secondary growth limiters 158, 160 described herein, which can be connected by secondary connecting members 166 corresponding to the electrodes and / or counter electrode structure assembly members. In embodiments where an internal set of electrode limiters 108 is provided, the electrode structure assembly members connected to the upper and lower side walls and / or the counter electrode structure assembly members have a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction in the range of 5 to 50 μm and a yield strength of more than 100 MPa to limit the longitudinal growth.

[0102] According to yet another embodiment, the set of electrode limiters 108 inside the hermetically sealed case 2020 further comprises a longitudinal limiting system 2010 comprising first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2012, 2014 separated from each other in the longitudinal direction and connected by a connecting member 2016 to restrict growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction. According to certain embodiments, the longitudinal limiting system 2010, alone or in combination with the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, can correspond to the primary growth limiting system 151 described elsewhere herein, and therefore the description of the primary growth limiting system 151 can be considered to apply to the longitudinal limiting system 2010 as well. For example, the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions 2012, 2014, alone or in combination with the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, can correspond to the first and second primary growth limiting portions 154, 156 described herein, which can be connected by primary connecting members 162, 164, alone or in combination with the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, which correspond to the first and second vertical growth limiting portions 2002, 2002.

[0103] According to one embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell 902 along the thermal conduction pathway 2008 between the vertically facing regions 2028, 2029 of the exterior vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 7.5 W / m + According to another embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell 902 along the thermal conduction pathway 2008 between the vertically facing regions 2028, 2029 of the exterior vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 8 W / m + According to another embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell 902 along the thermal conduction pathway 2008 between the vertically facing regions 2028, 2029 of the exterior vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 10 W / m +According to another embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the secondary battery cell 902 along the thermal conduction pathway 2008 between the vertically facing regions 2028, 2029 of the exterior vertical surfaces 2030, 2031 of the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the hermetically sealed case 2020 is at least 15 W / m + K. According to a particular embodiment, the thermal conduction path 2008 is along the longitudinal direction of the members of the assembly of electrode structures 110 and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures 112 connected to the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions 2001, 2002.

[0104] According to a particular embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 150 milliamp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 200 milliamp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 400 milliamp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 0.1 amp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 0.5 amp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 1 amp-hour. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 3 amp-hours. According to another embodiment, the sealed secondary battery cells 902 have a rated capacity of at least 5 amp-hours.

[0105] According to one embodiment, the hermetically sealed case 2020 comprises a metallic material including any selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, beryllium, copper, nickel, and alloys thereof. For example, in certain embodiments, the metallic material is any of the metallic materials disclosed herein as suitable for the primary growth limiting system 151 and / or the secondary growth limiting system 152. In one embodiment, the metallic material used for the case, e.g., the upper and lower side walls, comprises any of stainless steel and aluminum. In certain embodiments, the metallic material used for the case can resist corrosion by any electrolyte used in the secondary battery cell and can serve to contain such electrolyte within the cell. According to certain embodiments in which the internal set of electrode limiters 108 is provided in the hermetically sealed case 2020, the first and second vertical growth limiters and / or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters can comprise any of the materials specified herein for any of the primary and secondary growth limiting systems 151, 152, e.g., any of metals, alloys, ceramics, glasses, plastics, or combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2001, 2002 comprise any one or more of stainless steel and aluminum.

[0106] According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 70 MPa. According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 100 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 150 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 300 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2001, 2002, have a yield strength of at least 500 MPa.

[0107] According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 70 MPa. According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 100 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 150 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restrictions 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 300 MPa. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restrictions 2001, 2002, have a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa.

[0108] According to one embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 70 MPa. According to one embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 100 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 150 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 300 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a yield strength of at least 500 MPa.

[0109] According to one embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 70 MPa. According to one embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 100 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 150 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 300 MPa. In another embodiment, the first and second case ends 2021, 2022, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth limits 2012, 2014, have a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa.

[0110] According to one embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 70 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 100 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 150 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 200 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 300 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a yield strength of more than 500 MPa.

[0111] According to one embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of more than 70 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of more than 100 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of more than 150 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of more than 200 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of more than 300 MPa. In another embodiment, the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 have a tensile strength of greater than 500 MPa.

[0112] According to one embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters comprise a longitudinal thickness of at least 150 um. In another embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters comprise a longitudinal thickness of at least 250 um. In another embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters comprise a longitudinal thickness of at least 400 um.

[0113] According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly. For example, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 can be connected to the vertically separated upper and lower end faces 500a, 500b of the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the vertically separated upper and lower end faces 501a, 501b of the counter electrode structures. According to another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 can be connected to the vertically separated upper end faces 502a and lower end faces 502b of the separator 130. In one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode current collectors of the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the upper and lower surfaces of the counter electrode current collectors of the members of the counter electrode assembly. In one embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002 are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode structure assembly and / or counter electrode structure assembly members, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002 being in turn connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025. In another embodiment, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002 are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode current collector of the electrode structure assembly members and / or the upper and lower surfaces of the counter electrode current collector of the counter electrode current collector members, the first and second longitudinal growth limiters 2001, 2002 being in turn directly connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025. For example, in one embodiment, the electrode and / or counter electrode current collector is connected to the upper and lower sidewalls 2024, 2025 (e.g., directly or through first and second longitudinal growth constraints) and includes a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction in the range of 5-50 μm to constrain the longitudinal growth, and a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa. In one embodiment, the electrode current collector is connected to the upper and lower sidewalls 2024, 2025 (e.g., directly or through first and second longitudinal growth constraints) and includes a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction in the range of 5-50 μm and a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa.The electrode and / or counter electrode current collectors may also have any of the yield strengths and / or tensile strengths otherwise described herein, as suitable for the members of the electrode and / or counter electrode structural assembly connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025.

[0114] According to one embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal longitudinal limiting system, limit the longitudinal growth such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly over 20 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. In another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal longitudinal limiting system, limit the longitudinal growth such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly over 30 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. In another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal longitudinal limiting system, limit the longitudinal growth such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly over 50 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. In another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal longitudinal restraint system, limit the longitudinal growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 80 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. In another embodiment, the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal longitudinal restraint system, limit the longitudinal growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 100 consecutive cycles is less than 2%.

[0115] In one embodiment, the members of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and / or the members of the assembly of the counter electrode structure 112 are directly connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the case. According to another embodiment, the members of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and / or the members of the assembly of the counter electrode structure 112 are indirectly connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025 of the case, such as via first and second longitudinal increase limiters. For example, the members of the assembly of the electrode structure and / or the members of the assembly of the counter electrode structure may be directly connected to the first and second longitudinal increase limiters, which in turn are connected to the upper and lower side walls 2024, 2025. According to certain embodiments, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures are directly connected to the upper and lower side walls by any one or more of the following: adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, joining, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray bonding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. According to certain embodiments, the members of the assembly of electrode structures and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures are directly connected to the first and second longitudinal growth limiters by any one or more of the following: adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, joining, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray bonding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. According to certain embodiments, the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions are directly connected to the respective upper and lower side walls by any one or more of the following: adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, joining, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray bonding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying.In one embodiment, the opposing longitudinal faces of the members of the electrode structure and / or the members of the assembly of counter electrode structures are connected to either the first and second longitudinal growth limiters and / or the upper and lower side walls and / or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters are connected to the upper and lower side walls by adhesive.

[0116] Referring to FIG. 15, in comparison with other secondary battery cells (FIGS. 13 and 14), embodiments of the present disclosure provide an efficient thermal conduction path for heat dissipation during battery cycling (hollow arrows indicate thermal paths inside the secondary battery cell, and solid lines indicate cooling paths used to cool the outside of the secondary battery cell). As seen in FIG. 15, according to embodiments of the present disclosure, direct thermal conduction paths are provided along the electrode and / or counter electrode structures to the largest surface area surfaces (i.e., vertical faces) of the secondary battery cell, and significant amounts of heat are removed by cooling these surfaces. In contrast, in FIGS. 13-14, the heat rejection paths cross many different layers of the electrode assembly, and as a result, heat is not efficiently transferred to the surfaces of the secondary battery cell.

[0117] The electrode 110 and counter electrode 112 assembly members include electroactive materials capable of absorbing and releasing carrier ions, such as lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or aluminum ions. In some embodiments, the electrode structure 110 assembly members include an anode active electroactive material (sometimes referred to as a negative electrode), and the counter electrode structure 112 assembly members include a cathode active electroactive material (sometimes referred to as a positive electrode). In other embodiments, the electrode structure 110 assembly members include a cathode active electroactive material, and the counter electrode structure 112 assembly members include an anode active electroactive material. In each of the embodiments and examples described in this paragraph, the anode active material may be, for example, a particulate agglomerated electrode, an electrode active material formed from a particulate material, such as by forming a slurry of the particulate material and casting it into a layer shape, or a monolithic electrode.

[0118] According to one embodiment, the electrode active material used in the electrode structure 110 corresponding to the anode of the electrode assembly 106 includes a material that expands when carrier ions are inserted into the electrode active material during charging of the secondary battery 102 and / or the electrode assembly 106. For example, the electrode active material may include an anode active material that accepts carrier ions, such as by intercalation with or alloying with the carrier ions, in an amount sufficient to cause an increase in the volume of the electrode active material during charging of the secondary battery. For example, in one embodiment, the secondary battery active material may include a material that has a capacity to accept more than 1 mole of carrier ions per mole of electrode active material when the electrode 102 is charged from a discharged state to a charged state. As a further example, the electrode active material may include a material that has a capacity to accept 1.5 moles or more of carrier ions per mole of electrode active material, such as 2.0 moles or more of carrier ions per mole of electrode active material, or even 2.5 moles or more of carrier ions per mole of electrode active material, such as 3.5 moles or more of carrier ions per mole of electrode active material. The carrier ions received by the electrode active material may be at least one of lithium, potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium. Examples of electrode active materials that extend to provide such volume changes include one or more of silicon (e.g., SiO), aluminum, tin, zinc, silver, antimony, bismuth, gold, platinum, germanium, palladium, and alloys and compounds thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the electrode active material may include a silicon-containing material in particulate form, such as one or more of particulate silicon, particulate silicon oxide, and mixtures thereof. In yet another embodiment, the electrode active material may include a material that exhibits a smaller or even negligible volume change. For example, in one embodiment, the electrode active material may include a carbon-containing material, such as graphite. In yet another embodiment, the electrode structure includes a layer of lithium metal, which can function as an electrode current collector, on which the electrode active material is deposited by the migration of carrier ions to the lithium metal layer during the charging process.

[0119] Exemplary anode active electroactive materials include carbon materials such as graphite and soft or hard carbon, or any of various metals, semimetals, alloys, oxides, and compounds that can form an alloy with lithium. Specific examples of metals or semimetals that can constitute the anode material include graphite, tin, lead, magnesium, aluminum, boron, gallium, silicon, Si / C composite materials, Si / graphite blends, SiOx, porous Si, intermetallic Si alloys, indium, zirconium, germanium, bismuth, cadmium, antimony, silver, zinc, arsenic, hafnium, yttrium, lithium, sodium, graphite, carbon, lithium titanate, palladium, and mixtures thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the anode active material includes aluminum, tin, or silicon, or oxides, nitrides, fluorides, or other alloys thereof. In another exemplary embodiment, the anode active material includes silicon, silicon oxide, or alloys thereof.

[0120] In a further embodiment, the anode active material can include lithium metal, lithium alloy, carbon, petroleum coke, activated carbon, graphite, silicon compounds, tin compounds, and alloys thereof. In one embodiment, as the anode active material, carbon such as non-graphitizable carbon and graphite-based carbon, Li x Fe2O3 (0 ≦ x ≦ 1), Li x WO2 (0 ≦ x ≦ 1), Sn x Me 1-x Me′ y O z (Me: Mn, Fe, Pb, Ge, Me’: Al, B, P, Si, elements belonging to Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3 of the periodic table, halogen, 0 < x ≦ 1, 1 ≦ y ≦ 3, 1 ≦ z ≦ 8), etc. metal composite oxides, lithium metal, lithium alloy, silicon-based alloy, tin-based alloy, SnO, SnO2, PbO, PbO2, Pb2O 3、Examples of suitable carbon materials include metal oxides such as Pb3O4, Sb2O3, Sb2O4, Sb2O5, GeO, GeO2, Bi2O3, Bi2O4, and Bi2O5, conductive polymers such as polyacetylene, and Li-Co-Ni-based materials. In one embodiment, the anode active material may include carbon-based active materials including crystalline graphite such as natural graphite and artificial graphite, and amorphous carbon such as soft carbon and hard carbon. Other examples of carbon materials suitable for the anode active material may include graphite, kish graphite, pyrolytic carbon, mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers, mesocarbon microbeads, mesophase pitch, graphitized carbon fibers, and high-temperature sintered carbon such as coke derived from petroleum or coal tar pitch. In one embodiment, the negative electrode active material may include tin oxide, titanium nitrate, and silicon. In another embodiment, the negative electrode can include lithium metal, such as a lithium metal film, or a lithium alloy, such as an alloy of lithium with one or more types of metals selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al, and Sn. In yet another embodiment, the anode active material can include a metal compound that can alloy and / or intercalate with lithium, such as Si, Al, C, Pt, Sn, Pb, Ir, Ni, Cu, Ti, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Ca, Sr, Sb, Ba, Ra, Ge, Zn, Bi, In, Mg, Ga, Cd, Si alloys, Sn alloys, Al alloys, SiO v(0 < v < 2), a metal oxide capable of doping and undoping lithium ions such as SnO2, vanadium oxide or lithium vanadium oxide, and a composite including a metal compound and a carbon material such as a Si-C composite or a Sn-C composite may be included. For example, in one embodiment, the material capable of alloying / intercalating with lithium may be a metal such as lithium, indium, tin, aluminum, or silicon, or an alloy thereof, a transition metal oxide such as Li4 / 3Ti5 / 3O4 or SnO, and artificial graphite, graphite carbon fiber, resin-fired carbon, pyrolytic vapor-grown carbon, cork, mesocarbon microbeads ("MCMB"), furfuryl alcohol resin-fired carbon, polyacene, pitch-based carbon fiber, vapor-grown carbon fiber, or a carbonaceous material such as natural graphite. In yet another embodiment, the negative electrode active material may include a composition suitable for carrier ions such as sodium or magnesium. For example, in one embodiment, the negative electrode active material includes a layered carbonaceous material and a composition of the formula Na x Sn y-z M z disposed between the layers of the layered carbonaceous material, where M is Ti, K, Ge, P, or a combination thereof, 0 < x ≦ 15, 1 ≦ y ≦ 5, and 0 ≦ z ≦ 1.

[0121] In one embodiment, the negative electrode active material may further include a conductive material and / or a conductive assistant such as carbon-based materials, carbon black, graphite, graphene, activated carbon, carbon fibers, carbon black such as acetylene black, ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, thermal black, carbon fibers, conductive fibers such as metal fibers, conductive tubes such as carbon nanotubes, fluorinated carbon powder, metal powders such as aluminum powder and nickel powder, conductive whiskers such as zinc oxide and potassium titanate, conductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide, or conductive materials such as polyphenylene derivatives. In addition, metal fibers such as metal mesh, metal powders such as copper, silver, nickel, and aluminum, or organic conductive materials such as polyphenylene derivatives may be used. In yet another embodiment, a binder such as one or more of polyethylene, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), styrene-butadiene rubber, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride-pentafluoropropylene copolymer, propylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-perfluoromethyl vinyl ether-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, and the like may be provided and may be used alone or in mixtures.

[0122] Exemplary cathode active materials include any of a wide range of cathode active materials. For example, in the case of a lithium-ion battery, the cathode active material may include and selectively be used cathode materials selected from transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, transition metal nitrides, lithium-transition metal oxides, lithium-transition metal sulfides, and lithium-transition metal nitrides. The transition metal elements of these transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, and transition metal nitrides may include metal elements having a d-shell or an f-shell. Specific examples of such metal elements include Sc, Y, lanthanides, actinides, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pb, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au. Additional cathode active materials include LiCoO2, LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O4, Li(Ni x Co y Al z )O2, LiFePO4, Li2MnO4, V2O5, molybdenum oxysulfide, phosphates, silicates, vanadates, sulfur, sulfur compounds, oxygen (air), Li(Ni x Mn y Co z )O2, and combinations thereof. Additionally, the compounds for the cathode active material layer may include lithium-containing compounds further including metal oxides or metal phosphates, such as compounds including lithium, cobalt, and oxygen (e.g., LiCoO2), compounds including lithium, manganese, and oxygen (e.g., LiMn2O4), and compounds including lithium iron and phosphate (e.g., LiFePO). In one embodiment, the cathode active material includes at least one of lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium iron phosphate, or composite oxides formed from combinations of the aforementioned oxides. In another embodiment, the cathode active material includes at least one of lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2), or compounds substituted with one or more transition metals, such as LiFePO4, LiFePO5, LiFePO6, LiFePO7, LiFePO8, LiFePO9, LiFePO4 ... 1+x Mn 2-xO4 (where x is from 0 to 0.33), lithium manganese oxides such as LiMnO3, LiMn2O3, LiMnO2, lithium copper oxide (Li2CuO2), vanadium oxides such as LiV3O8, LiFe3O4, V2O5, Cu2V2O7, LiNi 1-x M x O2 (where M is Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B or Ga, and x = 0.01 to 0.3), Ni-site type lithium nickel oxide represented by the chemical formula, LiMn 2-x M x O2 (where M is Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn or Ta, x = 0.01 to 0.1) or lithium manganese composite oxide represented by the chemical formula Li2Mn3MO8 (where M is Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn), LiMn2O4 in which part of Li is substituted by alkaline earth metal ions, disulfide compounds, Fe2(MoO4)3, etc. may be included. In one embodiment, the cathode active material is of the formula Li 1+a Fe 1-x M’ x (PO 4-b )X b and may include lithium metal phosphate having an olivine crystal structure, where M’ is at least one selected from Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Mn, Ti, Ga, Cu, V, Nb, Zr, Ce, In, Zn, and Y, X is at least one selected from F, S, and N, -0.5 ≤ a ≤ +0.5, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5, and 0 ≤ b ≤ 0.1, and is at least one of LiFePO4, Li(Fe,Mn)PO4, Li(Fe,Co)PO4, Li(Fe,Ni)PO4, etc. In one embodiment, the cathode active material is LiCoO2, LiNiO2, LiMnO2, LiMn2O4, LiNi 1-y Co y O2, LiCo 1-y Mn y O2, LiNi 1-y Mn y O2 (0 ≤ y ≤ 1), Li(Ni a Co b Mn c )O4 (0 < a < 2, 0 < b < 2, 0 < c < 2, and a + b + c = 2), LiMn 2-z Ni z O4, LiMn 2-zCo z It contains at least one of CoO4 (0 < z < 2), LiCoPO4, and LiFePO4, or a mixture of two or more of them.

[0123] In yet another embodiment, the cathode active material may contain elemental sulfur (S8), a sulfur-based compound, or a mixture thereof. Specific examples of the sulfur-based compound include Li2S n (n ≧ 1), an organic sulfur compound, a carbon-sulfur polymer ((C2S x ) n : x = 2.5 to 50, n ≧ 2), etc. In yet another embodiment, the cathode active material may contain oxides of lithium and zirconium.

[0124] In yet another embodiment, the cathode active material can contain, and can be used, at least one composite oxide of lithium and a metal such as cobalt, manganese, nickel, or a combination thereof. Examples thereof include Li a A 1-b M b D2 (0.90 ≦ a ≦ 1, and 0 ≦ b ≦ 0.5), Li a E 1-b M b O 2-c D c (0.90 ≦ a ≦ 1, 0 ≦ b ≦ 0.5, and 0 ≦ c ≦ 0.05), LiE 2-b M b O 4-c D c (0 ≦ b ≦ 0.5, and 0 ≦ c ≦ 0.05), Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c D a (0.90 ≦ a ≦ 1, 0 ≦ b ≦ 0.5, 0 ≦ c ≦ 0.05, and 0 < a ≦ 2), Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O 2-a X a (0.90 ≦ a ≦ 1, 0 ≦ b ≦ 0.5, 0 ≦ c ≦ 0.05, and 0 < a < 2), Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O2-a X2(0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c D a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a≦2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c O 2-a X a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c O 2-a X2(0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni b E c G d O2 (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.5, and 0.001≦d≦0.1), Li a Ni b Co c Mn d GeO2 (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.5, 0≦d≦0.5, and 0.001≦e≦0.1), Li a NiG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a CoG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a MnG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a Mn2G b O4 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), QO2, QS2, LiQS2, V2O5, LiV2O5, LiX'O2, LiNiVO4, Li (3-f) J2(PO4)3(0≦f≦2), Li (3-f)Fe2(PO4)3 (0≦f≦2) and LiFePO4. In the above formula, A is Ni, Co, Mn, or a combination thereof, M is Al, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, Fe, Mg, Sr, V, a rare earth element, or a combination thereof, D is O, F, S, P, or a combination thereof, E is Co, Mn, or a combination thereof, X is F, S, P, or a combination thereof, G is Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg, La, Ce, Sr, V, or a combination thereof, Q is Ti, Mo, Mn, or a combination thereof, X' is Cr, V, Fe, Sc, Y, or a combination thereof, and J is V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, or a combination thereof. For example, LiCoO2, LiMn x O 2x (x=1 or 2), LiNi 1-x Mn x O 2x (0 <x<1)、LiNi 1-x-y Co x Mn y O2 (0≦x≦0.5, 0≦y≦0.5), or FePO4, etc. In one embodiment, the cathode active material includes at least one of lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium nickel cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, lithium manganese oxide, or a lithium compound such as lithium iron phosphate, nickel sulfide, copper sulfide, sulfur, iron oxide, or vanadium oxide.

[0125] In one embodiment, the cathode active material has the formula NaM, such as NaFeO, NaMnO, NaNiO, or NaCoO. 1 a O2, or the oxide of formula NaMn 1-a M 1 a Oxides represented by O2 (M 1 is at least one transition metal element, and may include at least one sodium-containing material, such as 0≦a<1). Representative positive electrode active materials include Na[Ni 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2]O2, Na 2 / 3 [Fe 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O2, Na 0.44 Mn 1-a M 1 a Oxide represented by O2, Na 0.7 Mn 1-a M 1 a O 2.05 an(M 1 is at least one transition metal element, and is represented by the oxide Na6Fe2Si 12 O 30 or Na2Fe5Si 12 Na as O b M 2 c S 12 O 30 (M 2 is at least one transition metal element, and 2≦b≦6, and 2≦c≦5) 18 or Na2MnFeSi6O 18 Such as Na d M 3 e SiO 18 (M 3 is at least one transition metal element, 3≦d≦6, and 1≦e≦2), an oxide represented by the formula: Na2FeSiO6, etc. f M 4 g Si2O6(M 4 is at least one element selected from transition metal elements, magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al), an oxide represented by the formula: 1≦f≦2, and 1≦g≦2), a phosphate such as NaFePO4, Na3Fe2(PO4)3, Na3V2(PO4)3, Na4Co3(PO4)2P2O7, a borate such as NaFeBO4 or Na3Fe2(BO4)3, a Na h M 5 F6(M 5is at least one transition metal element, fluorides represented by 2≦h≦3), fluorophosphates such as Na3V2(PO4)2F3 and Na3V2(PO4)2FO2, etc. The positive electrode active material is not limited to those described above, and any suitable positive electrode active material may be used as long as it is used in the art. In one embodiment, the positive electrode active material is preferably NaMnO2, Na[Ni 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O2 and Na 2 / 3 [Fe 1 / 2 Mns 1 / 2 ]O2, phosphate cathodes such as Na3V2(PO4)3 and Na4Co3(PO4)2P2O7, or fluorophosphate cathodes such as Na3V2(PO4)2F3 and Na3V2(PO4)2FO2.

[0126] In one embodiment, the electrode current collector may include a negative electrode current collector and may include a suitable conductive material such as a metallic material. For example, in one embodiment, the negative electrode current collector may include at least one of copper, nickel, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, palladium, sintered carbon, calcined carbon, indium, iron, magnesium, cobalt, germanium, lithium, carbon, nickel, titanium, copper or stainless steel surface treated with silver, aluminum-cadmium alloy, and / or other alloys thereof. As another example, in one embodiment, the negative electrode current collector includes at least one of copper, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, sintered carbon, copper or stainless steel surface treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, aluminum-cadmium alloy, and / or other alloys thereof. In one embodiment, the negative electrode current collector includes at least one of copper and stainless steel.

[0127] In one embodiment, the counter electrode current collector may comprise a positive electrode current collector and may comprise a suitable conductive material, such as a metallic material. In one embodiment, the electrode current collector comprises at least one of the following surface treatment materials: stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, baked carbon, sintered carbon, carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, and / or alloys thereof: aluminum or stainless steel. In one embodiment, the electrode current collector comprises aluminum.

[0128] In yet another embodiment, the cathode active material may further comprise one or more conductive aids and / or binders, which may be, for example, any of the conductive aids and / or binders described for the anode active materials herein.

[0129] According to certain embodiments, the electrically insulating separator layer 130 can electrically insulate each member of the assembly of electrode structures 110 from each member of the assembly of counter electrode structures 112. The electrically insulating separator layer is designed to prevent electrical shorts while allowing the transport of ionic charge carriers necessary to close the circuit during the passage of current in the electrochemical cell. In one embodiment, the electrically insulating separator layer is microporous and permeated with an electrolyte, for example a non-aqueous liquid or gel electrolyte. Alternatively, the electrically insulating separator layer can include a solid electrolyte, i.e., a solid ionic conductor, which can function as both the separator and the electrolyte in the battery.

[0130] In certain embodiments, the electrically insulating separator layer 130 typically comprises a microporous separator material that can be permeated with a non-aqueous electrolyte, for example, in one embodiment, the microporous separator material includes pores having diameters of at least 50 Å, more typically in the range of about 2,500 Å, and a porosity in the range of about 25% to about 75%, more typically in the range of about 35% to 55%. Additionally, the microporous separator material can be permeated with a non-aqueous electrolyte to allow for the conduction of carrier ions between adjacent members of the electrode and counter electrode assemblies. In certain embodiments, for example, disregarding the porosity of the microporous separator material, at least 70 volume % of the electrically insulating separator material between the member of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and the nearest member(s) of the assembly of the counter electrode structure 112 (i.e., the "adjacent pair") for ion exchange during a charge or discharge cycle is microporous separator material, or stated another way, the microporous separator material constitutes at least 70 volume % of the electrically insulating material between the member of the assembly of the electrode structure 110 and the nearest member of the structural assembly of the counter electrode 112.

[0131] In one embodiment, the microporous separator material includes a particulate material and a binder and has a porosity of at least about 20% by volume. The pores of the microporous separator material have a diameter of at least 50 Å, typically falling within the range of about 250-2,500 Å. The microporous separator material typically has a porosity of less than about 75%. In one embodiment, the microporous separator material has a porosity of at least about 25% by volume. In one embodiment, the microporous separator material has a porosity of about 35-55%.

[0132] Binders for microporous separator materials can be selected from a wide range of inorganic or polymeric materials. For example, in one embodiment, the binder may be an organic polymeric material, such as a fluoropolymer derived from monomers containing vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoropropene, and the like. In another embodiment, the binder is a polyolefin, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polybutene, having any of a variety of molecular weight and density ranges. In another embodiment, the binder is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-diene-propene terpolymer, polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinylbutyral, polyacetal, and polyethylene glycol diacrylate. In another embodiment, the binder is selected from the group consisting of methylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, styrene rubber, butadiene rubber, styrene-butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl ether, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, and polyethylene oxide. In another embodiment, the binder is selected from the group consisting of acrylate, styrene, epoxy, and silicone. Other suitable binders may be selected from polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride-co-trichloroethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene oxide, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cyanoethyl pullulan, cyanoethyl polyvinyl alcohol, cyanoethyl cellulose, cyanoethyl sucrose, pullulan, carboxymethyl cellulose, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyimides or mixtures thereof.In yet another embodiment, the binder may be selected from any of polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride-trichloroethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, polyethylene oxide, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cyanoethyl pullulan, cyanoethyl polyvinyl alcohol, cyanoethyl cellulose, cyanoethyl sucrose, pullulan, carboxyl methyl cellulose, acrylonitrile styrene butadiene copolymer, polyimide, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyester, polyacetal, polyamide, polyether ether ketone, polyether sulfone, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene naphthalene, and / or combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the binder is a copolymer or blend of two or more of the aforementioned polymers.

[0133] The particulate material included in the microporous separator material may also be selected from a wide range of materials. Generally, such materials have relatively low electronic and ionic conductivity at operating temperatures and do not corrode under the operating voltages of the battery electrodes or current collectors that contact the microporous separator material. For example, in one embodiment, the particulate material is 1×10 -4 By way of further example, in one embodiment, the particulate material has a conductivity of carrier ions (e.g., lithium) of less than 1×10 -5 By way of further example, in one embodiment, the particulate material has a carrier ion conductivity of less than 1×10 -6The particulate material has a carrier ion conductivity of less than 10 ... See, for example, P. Arora and J. Zhang, "Battery Separators," Chemical Reviews 2004, 104, 4419-4462. Other suitable particles include BaTiO3, Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 (PZT), Pb 1-x La x Zr 1-y Ti y O3(PLZT), PB(Mg3Nb 2 / 3 )O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT), hafnia (HfO2), SrTiO3, SnO2, CeO2, MgO, NiO, CaO, ZnO, ZrO2, YO3, Al2O3, TiO2, SiC or mixtures thereof. In one embodiment, the particulate material has an average particle size of about 20 nm to 2 micrometers, more typically 200 nm to 1.5 micrometers. In one embodiment, the particulate material has an average particle size of about 500 nm to 1 micrometer.

[0134] In yet another embodiment, the electrically insulating separator 130 includes a solid electrolyte, such as in a solid-state battery. Generally speaking, a solid electrolyte can facilitate the transport of carrier ions without the need for the addition of a liquid or gel electrolyte. According to certain embodiments, when a solid electrolyte is provided, the solid electrolyte may itself be capable of providing insulation between the electrodes and allowing the passage of carrier ions therethrough, and may not require the addition of a liquid electrolyte that permeates the structure.

[0135] In one embodiment, the secondary battery 102 may include an electrolyte that may be any of organic liquid electrolytes, inorganic liquid electrolytes, aqueous electrolytes, non-aqueous liquid electrolytes, solid polymer electrolytes, solid ceramic electrolytes, solid glass electrolytes, garnet electrolytes, gel polymer electrolytes, inorganic solid electrolytes, fused inorganic electrolytes, and the like. Other arrangements and / or configurations of the electrically insulating separator 130 may also be provided, with or without a liquid electrolyte. In one embodiment, the solid electrolyte may include a ceramic or glass material that can provide electrical insulation while also conducting carrier ions therethrough. Examples of ion-conducting materials may include garnet materials, sulfide glasses, lithium ion conducting glass ceramics, or phosphate ceramic materials. In one embodiment, the solid polymer electrolyte may include any of the following polymers formed from polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinyl acetate (PVA), polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), LiPON (lithium phosphorus oxide), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based polymers or copolymers thereof. In another embodiment, a sulfide-based solid electrolyte may be provided, such as a sulfide-based solid electrolyte including at least one of lithium and / or phosphorus, such as at least one of Li2S and P2S5, and / or other sulfides, such as SiS2, GeS2, Li3PS4, Li4P2S7, Li4SiS4, Li2S-P2S5, and other sulfides, such as 50Li4SiO4, 50Li3BO3, and / or B2S3. Still other embodiments of the solid electrolyte include Li3N, LiI, Li5NI2, Li3N-LiI-LiOH, LiSiO4, LiSiO4-LiI-LiOH, Li2SiS3, Li4SiO4, Li4SiO4-LiI-LiOH, and Li3PO4-Li2S-SiS2, Li2S-P2S5, Li2S-P2S5-L4SiO4, Li2S-Ga2S3-GeS2, Li2S-Sb2S3-GeS2, Li 3.25 -Ge 0.25 -P 0.75 S4, (La, Li)TiO3(LLTO), Li6La2CaTa2O 12 , Li6La2ANb2O 12(A=Ca, Sr), Li2Nd3TeSbO 12 , LiBO 2.5 N 0.5 , Li9SiAlO8, Li 1+x Al x Ge 2-x (PO4)3(LAGP), Li 1+x Al x Ti 2-x (PO4)3(LATP), Li 1+x Ti 2-x Al x S y (PO4) 3-y , LiAl x Zr 2-x (PO4)3, LiTi x Zr 2-x and lithium (Li) nitrides, halides, and sulfates such as (PO4)3. Still other embodiments of the solid electrolyte may include garnet materials, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 10,361,455, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. In one embodiment, the garnet solid electrolyte is a nesosilicate having the general formula X3Y2(SiO4)3, where X may be a divalent cation such as Ca, Mg, Fe, or Mn, or Y may be a trivalent cation such as Al, Fe, or Cr.

[0136] According to one embodiment of the assembled energy storage device, the electrically insulating separator comprises a microporous separator material infiltrated with a non-aqueous electrolyte suitable for use as a secondary battery electrolyte. Typically, the non-aqueous electrolyte comprises a lithium salt and / or mixture of salts dissolved in an organic solvent and / or solvent mixture. Exemplary lithium salts include inorganic lithium such as LiClO4, LiBF4, LiPF6, LiAsF6, LiCl, and LiBr, as well as inorganic lithium salts such as LiB(CH)4, LiN(SOCF)2, LiN(SOCF)3, LiNSOCF3, LiNSOCF5, LiNSO2C4F9, LiNSO2C5F 11 , LiNSO2C6F 13 , and LiNSO2C7F 15As yet another example, the electrolyte may include sodium ions dissolved therein, such as, for example, any one or more of NaClO4, NaPF6, NaBF4, NaCF3SO3, NaN(CF3SO2)2, NaN(C2F5SO2)2, NaC(CF3SO2)3. Salts of magnesium and / or potassium may be provided as well. For example, magnesium salts such as magnesium chloride (MgCl2), magnesium bromide (MgBr2), or magnesium iodide (MgI2), and / or magnesium perchlorate (Mg(ClO4)2), magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2), magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), magnesium tetrafluoroborate (Mg(BF4)2), magnesium tetraphenylborate (Mg(B(C6H5)4)2, magnesium hexafluorophosphate (Mg(PF6)2), magnesium hexafluoroarsenate (Mg(AsF6)2), magnesium perfluoroalkylsulfonate (Mg(R f1 SO3)2), R f1 is a perfluoroalkyl group), magnesium perfluoroalkylsulfonylimide (Mg((R f2 SO2)2N)2, R f2A magnesium salt may be provided which may be at least one selected from the group consisting of magnesium hexaalkyldisilazide ((Mg(HRDS)2), where R is an alkyl group). The organic solvent for dissolving the lithium salt may include cyclic esters, chain esters, cyclic ethers, and chain ethers. Specific examples of cyclic esters include propylene carbonate, ethylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, vinylene carbonate, 2-methyl-γ-butyrolactone, acetyl-γ-butyrolactone, and γ-valerolactone. Specific examples of chain esters include dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, dibutyl carbonate, dipropyl carbonate, methylethyl carbonate, methylbutyl carbonate, methylpropyl carbonate, ethylbutyl carbonate, ethylpropyl carbonate, butylpropyl carbonate, alkyl propionate, dialkyl malonate, and alkyl acetate. Specific examples of cyclic ethers include tetrahydrofuran, alkyltetrahydrofuran, dialkyltetrahydrofuran, alkoxytetrahydrofuran, dialkoxytetrahydrofuran, 1,3-dioxolane, alkyl-1,3-dioxolane, and 1,4-dioxolane.Specific examples of chain ethers include 1,2-dimethoxyethane, 1,2-diethoxyethane, diethyl ether, ethylene glycol dialkyl ether, diethylene glycol dialkyl ether, triethylene glycol dialkyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol dialkyl ether. EXAMPLES

[0137] The following non-limiting examples are provided to further illustrate aspects of the present invention with reference to Figures 16A-28. It should be understood by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the following examples represent approaches that the inventors have found to work well in the practice of the invention and therefore may be considered to constitute examples of modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, understand that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0138] Charge Acceptance and Discharge Rate Capability Test Protocol The C-rate of the cell was determined using the cycle 1 capacity measured at 0.1C. The protocol used for the charge acceptance test was as follows: After 25 cycles of the standard 0.33C cycling protocol, the specified charge C-rate was entered for a given cycle. For the charge acceptance test, a standard 0.33C constant current charge with a constant voltage step at the top of charge voltage of 4.2V using a current cutoff of 0.04C, followed by a 5 minute rest at the top of charge, followed by a 0.33C constant current discharge with a voltage cutoff of 2.5V, followed by a 5 minute rest at the bottom of charge, was used every 2 cycles. Each alternating cycle then used a charge rate including: The cells were then charged at the specified C-rate, either 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C, 5C, 6C, 7C, 8C, 9C, or 10C, using the otherwise identical protocol, i.e., constant current charge at the specified C-rate, followed by a constant voltage hold at 4.2V top of charge with a current cutoff of 0.04C, followed by a 5 minute rest at the top of charge, followed by a constant current discharge of 0.33C with a voltage cutoff of 2.5V. The cells were then discharged using the standard protocol above, using the same cells, except that the 0.33C constant current discharge was replaced by a discharge to the specified rate, i.e., 4C, for the discharge rate tests. Successive cycles were used to ramp the current and included discharge rates of 0.2C, 0.5C, 1C, 2C, 3C, 4C. The following example provides batteries converted from EXP4049 (approximately 530Wh / L) for charge and discharge rate capability testing and high rate cycling testing. These cells have a capacity of 3.6mAh / cm 2 NMC622 electrodes were used, which have 96.4 wt% active material, a density of 3.2 g / cc, and POR type SiO x The anode was formed using a cell cutoff voltage of 2.5-4.2 V and then equilibrated with 80% buffer and a target anode formation porosity of 26%.

[0139] Example 1 - Charging rate capability Tables 1 and 2 show the charge rate, discharge rate, constant current charge step (CC) capacity in amp-hours, constant voltage charge step (CV) capacity at the cell top of charge, and the first recorded time to >80% of charge capacity. Good repeatability was demonstrated with two cells (TM40142 as shown in Table 1 and TM39713 as shown in Table 2) where the maximum test rate of 10C (2.53 amps) approached 5.2 minutes to 80% SOC. [Table 1] [Table 2]

[0140] In support of Tables 1 and 2, current (A) and voltage (V) versus time (min) plots for TM39713 and TM40142 are further shown in Figures 16A-16C. These plots show the relative CC and CV step times and the currents used for the CC and CV steps for charge rates from 1C to 10C. Figure 21 shows plots of SOC versus cycle time and charge time at various C-rates using the NMC-622 cell, and Figure 22 summarizes the results. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 28, at a charge rate of 6C, over 600 cycles were achieved with minimal capacity loss (about 5%).

[0141] Example 2 - Discharge Rate Capability Tables 3 and 4 show the normalized discharge rates for 0.1C reference cycle 52 and 0.2C reference cycle 53 for comparison (*Cycle 52 included a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse at every 10% SOC as per DOE standard reference protocol). Also shown are the charge rate, discharge rate (C / 25 CV step) and discharge capacity in ampere-hours. The maximum 4C discharge rate tested was found to be approximately 88% when normalized to C / 10 capacity. [Table 3] [Table 4]

[0142] Figures 17A-17D provide supporting data for Tables 3 and 4 with current (A) and voltage (V) vs. time (min) plots for TM39713 and TM40142 for the cycles indicated. Figure 18 shows the discharge voltage curves from cycles 53-58 for the same two cells with discharge rates ranging from C / 5 to 4C, along with the temperature profile as a function of capacity. The discharge rate capabilities observed for these cells exceeded those predicted by the base rate capability of the NMC 622 material obtained from BASF. Thermocouples placed directly on the surface of the cells were used to monitor the surface temperature as a function of SOC, showing that the surface exceeded 50°C at 4C rates near the bottom of charge. The elevated cell temperature compared to the test chamber set point of 30°C is likely responsible for the increase in rate capability at rates above 1C, which was expected from the manufacturer's specifications to be approximately 90% at 1C at room temperature.

[0143] FIG. 18 shows cell voltage (V) and cell temperature (° C.) versus capacity (Ah) for cells TM39713 (left) and TM40142 (right) for the indicated cycles, with rates tested at C / 5 to 4C discharge rates at the standard C / 3 charge rate, for all cycles with a C / 25 CV step, as described in Tables 3 and 4.

[0144] The discharge capacity and average discharge voltage are compared in Table 5 and show similar values ​​for all three cells (TM39713, TM40142 and reference cell TM36721), suggesting that TM39713 and TM40142 were not damaged after charge acceptance testing up to 10C for the cycles shown in Table 1. [Table 5]

[0145] Example 3 - High rate cycle life stability Figure 19 shows cell capacity (Ah), average discharge voltage (V), and the difference between average charge and discharge voltages, DeltaAveCell_V (V), versus cycle number for EXP4049 type cells TM39059 and TM40136. For cycles 5-29, a C / 3 charge and discharge rate was used with a C / 25 CV step at the top of charge. For cycles 32 and above, a 6C charge step (with a C / 25 CV step) and a 1C discharge step were used every cycle, except for the 50 cycle interval, where a standard C / 3 reference cycle was used, along with the standard US Department of Energy defined test protocol with the current pulse routine described above.

[0146] 23 shows a cell cycled using a 0.33C / 0.33C charge / discharge rate with C / 25 CV steps (CellInt=32266) compared to cells cycled at a 6C / 1C charge / discharge rate with C / 25 CV steps (CellInt=39059 and CellInt=40136), including discharge capacity, average discharge voltage, difference between average charge voltage and average discharge voltage DeltaAveCell_V, plotted against cycle number, and normalized capacity retention (using cycle 32 as reference). Every 50 cycles, there is a DOE-defined diagnostic cycle using a C / 10 discharge with a 1C discharge pulse and a 0.75C charge pulse, and a standard 0.33C / 0.33C diagnostic cycle (not shown).

[0147] Both cells TM39059 and TM40136 showed stable and reproducible performance for >350 cycles using a 6C charge and 1C discharge test protocol. Figures 20A-B show the charge and discharge voltage profiles of the same cells along with the current in amperes and temperature vs. capacity for every 10 cycles between cycles 40 and 180. Both cells showed significantly elevated temperatures during the charge profile, with temperatures exceeding 58°C near the top of charge in cycle 40. This maximum temperature decreased to near 57°C near the top of charge in cycle 180. The high temperatures resulting from the stressful test conditions in the 30°C test chamber adversely affected cycle life and stability compared to the standard C / 3 cycling test.

[0148] 24-28 provide further examples of charging rates achievable with structures according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0149] The following embodiments are provided to illustrate aspects of the present disclosure, however, the embodiments are not intended to be limiting and other aspects and / or embodiments may be provided.

[0150] Embodiment 1. An electrode assembly for a secondary battery, comprising: The electrode assembly has mutually perpendicular horizontal, longitudinal, and vertical axes corresponding to the x-, y-, and z-axes, respectively, of a virtual three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, opposing longitudinal end faces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EA and a side surface connecting the first longitudinal end surface and the second longitudinal end surface, the side surface having opposed longitudinal surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction on opposite longitudinal sides of the longitudinal axis and opposed lateral surfaces separated from one another in a transverse direction on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, the opposed longitudinal surfaces having a total surface area L SA and the opposing lateral faces have a total surface area T SA and the opposing longitudinal faces have a total surface area V SA having The electrode assembly further includes an electrode structure assembly, an electrically insulating separator assembly, and a counter electrode structure assembly, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly, the electrically insulating separator assembly, and the counter electrode structure assembly are arranged in alternating order along the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 2. An electrode assembly as described in embodiment 1, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly comprises an electrode current collector adjacent to the electrode active material layer, the electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends, and the member of the counter electrode structure assembly comprises a counter electrode current collector adjacent to the counter electrode active material layer, the counter electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends. Embodiment 3. An electrode assembly according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a collection of unit cells, each member of the unit cell collection comprising, stacked longitudinally in series, a unit cell portion of an electrode current collector, an electrode active material layer, an electrically insulating separator, a counter electrode active material layer, and a unit cell portion of a counter electrode current collector. Embodiment 4. An electrode assembly according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode current collector has opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector has opposing opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction, one of the opposing electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region coated with an electrode active material layer and an uncoated region not having the electrode active material layer, the uncoated region being located near one of the lateral ends of the electrode current collector. Embodiment 5. An electrode assembly as described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode current collector has opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, one of the opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region coated with a counter electrode active material layer and an uncoated region not having the counter electrode active material layer, the uncoated region being located near one of the lateral ends of the counter electrode current collector. Embodiment 6. An electrode assembly according to any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode current collector has opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector has opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, each of the counter electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region coated with an electrode active material layer and an uncoated region not having the electrode active material layer, the uncoated region being located near one of the lateral ends of the electrode current collector. Embodiment 7. An electrode assembly as described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode current collector has opposing electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, and the counter electrode current collector has opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces separated from one another in the longitudinal direction, each of the opposing counter electrode current collector surfaces comprising a covered region coated with a counter electrode active material layer and an uncoated region not having the counter electrode active material layer, the uncoated region being located near one of the lateral ends of the counter electrode current collector. Embodiment 8. A member of an electrode structure assembly includes an electrode current collector adjacent to an electrode active material layer, the electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends, and a member of a counter electrode structure assembly includes a counter electrode current collector adjacent to a counter electrode active material layer, the counter electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends; 11. An electrode assembly as in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein each member of the electrode structure assembly comprises an electrode current collector partially covered by an adjacent electrode active material layer, the electrode current collector having (i) an electrode current collector body region covered by the adjacent electrode active material layer and extending between opposing first and second lateral ends of the adjacent electrode active material layers, and (ii) an electrode current collector end region on the first or second lateral end of the electrode current collector, the electrode current collector end region being bounded by and extending beyond the first or second lateral end of the adjacent electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the electrode current collector end region. Embodiment 9. A member of an electrode structure assembly includes an electrode current collector adjacent to an electrode active material layer, the electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends, and a member of a counter electrode structure assembly includes a counter electrode current collector adjacent to a counter electrode active material layer, the counter electrode active material layer having opposing lateral ends; 11. An electrode assembly as in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein each member of the counter electrode structure assembly comprises a counter electrode current collector partially covered by an adjacent counter electrode active material layer, the counter electrode current collector having (i) a counter electrode current collector body region covered by the adjacent counter electrode active material layer and extending between opposing first and second lateral ends of the adjacent counter electrode active material layers, and (ii) a counter electrode current collector end region on the first or second lateral end of the counter electrode current collector, the counter electrode current collector end region being bounded by and extending beyond the first or second lateral end of the adjacent counter electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the counter electrode current collector end region. Embodiment 10. An electrode assembly according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising an electrode bus bar connected to an electrode current collector end region of the electrode current collector for electrically pooling current from members of the electrode structure assembly. Embodiment 11. An electrode assembly as described in any of the previous embodiments, further comprising a counter electrode bus bar connected to the counter electrode current collector end region of the counter electrode current collector for electrically pooling current from members of the counter electrode structure assembly. Embodiment 12. The lateral length of the electrode current collector end region (L ER ) is measured from a first or second lateral end of an adjacent electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the electrode current collector end region to a region where the electrode current collector end region connects with an electrode bus bar. Embodiment 13. The lateral length (L CER) is measured from a first or second lateral end of an adjacent counter electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the counter electrode current collector end region to a region where the counter electrode current collector end region connects with a counter electrode bus bar. Embodiment 14. The vertical height (H BR ) is measured between opposing longitudinal faces of the electrode current collector body region. Embodiment 15. Height of the counter electrode current collector body region in the vertical direction (H CBR ) is measured between opposing longitudinal faces of the counter electrode current collector body region. Embodiment 16. The vertical height (H ER ) is measured between opposing longitudinal faces of the electrode current collector end region. Embodiment 17. The vertical height (H CER ) is measured between opposing longitudinal faces of the opposing electrode current collector end regions. Embodiment 18. The lateral length of the electrode current collector end region (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: L ER <0.5×H BR . Embodiment 19. The lateral length of the electrode current collector end region (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: L ER <0.4×H BR . Embodiment 20. The lateral length of the electrode current collector end region (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (HBR ) satisfies the following relationship: L ER <0.3×H BR . Embodiment 21. The lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: L CER <0.5×H CBR . Embodiment 22. The lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: L CER <0.4×H CBR . Embodiment 23. The lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: L CER <0.3×H CBR . Embodiment 24. The vertical height (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: H ER >0.5×H BR . Embodiment 25. The vertical height (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: H ER >0.7×H BR . Embodiment 26. The vertical height (H ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector body region (H BR ) satisfies the following relationship: H ER >0.9×H BR . Embodiment 27. The vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: H CER >0.5×H CBR . Embodiment 28. The vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: H CER >0.7×H CBR . Embodiment 29. The vertical height (H CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector body area (H CBR ) satisfies the following relationship: H CER >0.9×H CBR . Embodiment 30. The lateral length of the electrode current collector end region (L ER ) and the vertical height of the electrode current collector end region (H ER ) satisfies the following relationship: L ER / H ER <1. Embodiment 31. The lateral length (L CER ) and the vertical height of the counter electrode current collector end region (H CER) satisfies the following relationship: L CER / H CER <1. Embodiment 32. An electrode assembly as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly include electrode current collector end regions having opposing surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction, and at least one of the opposing surfaces of the electrode current collector end regions includes a layer of thermally conductive material disposed thereon. Embodiment 33. An electrode assembly as described in embodiment 32, wherein the electrode current collector end region is electrically connected to the electrode bus bar via at least one of the opposing surfaces, and a layer of thermally conductive material is disposed on the other of the opposing surfaces. Embodiment 34. An electrode assembly as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the counter electrode structure assembly include counter electrode current collector end regions having opposing surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction, and at least one of the opposing surfaces of the counter electrode current collector end regions includes a layer of thermally conductive material disposed thereon. Embodiment 35. An electrode assembly as described in embodiment 34, wherein the counter electrode current collector end region is electrically connected to the counter electrode bus bar through at least one of the opposing surfaces, and a layer of thermally conductive material is disposed on the other of the opposing surfaces. Embodiment 36. An electrode assembly described in any one of embodiments 32 to 35, wherein the thermally conductive material includes a thermally conductive ceramic material. Embodiment 37. Length L of the electrode current collector end region ER is from (i) a first or second lateral end of an adjacent electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the electrode current collector end region, to (ii) an area of ​​electrical connection between the electrode current collector end region and the electrode bus bar. Embodiment 38. Length L of the counter electrode current collector end region CERis from (i) a first or second lateral end of an adjacent counter electrode active material layer on the same lateral side as the counter electrode current collector end region, to (ii) an area of ​​electrical connection between the counter electrode current collector end region and the counter electrode bus bar. Embodiment 39. A method of charging a sealed secondary battery cell, comprising charging at a rate of at least 1C. Embodiment 40. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 2C. Embodiment 41. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 3C. Embodiment 42. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 4C. Embodiment 43. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 6C. Embodiment 44. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 10C. Embodiment 45. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 12C. Embodiment 46 The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 15C. Embodiment 47 The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 18C. Embodiment 48. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 20C. Embodiment 49. The method of embodiment 39, comprising charging at a rate of at least 30C. Embodiment 50. The method of any of embodiments 39-49, comprising charging the sealed secondary battery cell at the rate until it reaches at least 80% of its rated capacity. Embodiment 51. The method of embodiment 50, comprising charging the sealed secondary battery cell at the rate until it reaches at least 85% of its rated capacity. Embodiment 52. The method of embodiment 50, comprising charging the sealed secondary battery cell at the rate until it reaches at least 90% of its rated capacity. Embodiment 53. The method of embodiment 50, comprising charging the sealed secondary battery cell at the rate until it reaches at least 95% of its rated capacity. Embodiment 54. The method of embodiment 50, comprising charging the sealed secondary battery cell at the rate until it reaches at least 99% of its rated capacity. Embodiment 55. The method of any one of embodiments 39 to 54, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 200 times. Embodiment 56. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 300 times. Embodiment 57. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 400 times. Embodiment 58. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 500 times. Embodiment 59. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 600 times. Embodiment 60. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 800 times. Embodiment 61. The method of embodiment 55, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell is charged and discharged at a charge rate at least 1000 times. Embodiment 62. The method of any one of embodiments 39 to 61, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises an electrode assembly of any one of embodiments 1 to 38, or any combination thereof. Embodiment 63. The method of any of embodiments 39-62, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 500 milliamp hours. Embodiment 64. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 1 ampere-hour. Embodiment 65. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 5 ampere-hours. Embodiment 66. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 10 ampere-hours. Embodiment 67. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 15 ampere-hours. Embodiment 68. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 20 ampere-hours. Embodiment 69. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 25 ampere-hours. Embodiment 70. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 30 ampere-hours. Embodiment 71. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 35 ampere-hours. Embodiment 72. The method of embodiment 63, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell has a rated capacity of at least 50 ampere-hours. Embodiment 73. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly has a substantially polyhedral shape with opposing longitudinal end faces that are substantially flat, opposing longitudinal faces that are substantially flat, and opposing lateral faces that are substantially flat. Embodiment 74.V SA and L SA and T SA The electrode assembly or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ratio of each of the Embodiment 75. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 700 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 76. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 800 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 77. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 900 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 78. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 1000 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 79. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 1100 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that constitute the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 80. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery cell comprises a core energy density of at least 1200 Whr / liter, the core energy density being defined as the rated capacity of the sealed secondary battery cell divided by the total weight of the electrode structure, counter electrode structure, separator, and electrolyte that make up the electrode assembly of the sealed secondary battery cell. Embodiment 81. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a longitudinal thickness in the range of 15 micrometers to 75 micrometers. Embodiment 82. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a longitudinal thickness in the range of 20 micrometers to 60 micrometers. Embodiment 83. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a longitudinal thickness in the range of 30 micrometers to 50 micrometers. Embodiment 84. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a longitudinal thickness of about 45 microns. Embodiment 85. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a porosity in the range of 10 to 40%. Embodiment 86. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a porosity in the range of 12 to 30%. Embodiment 87. An electrode assembly or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the member of the electrode structure assembly includes a layer of electrode active material, the layer of electrode active material having a porosity in the range of 18 to 20%. Embodiment 88. A sealed secondary battery cell includes an electrode bus bar electrically connected to an electrode current collector to pool current from members of an electrode structure assembly, and a counter electrode bus bar electrically connected to a counter electrode current collector to pool current from members of a counter electrode structure assembly, and the sealed secondary battery cell includes: an electrode busbar tab electrically connecting the electrode busbar to an electrical structure external to the sealed secondary battery cell; and a counter electrode busbar tab electrically connecting the counter electrode busbar to an electrical structure external to the sealed secondary battery cell; 4. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising: a cooling system configured to cool the electrode or counter-electrode busbar tab via one or more of convection or conduction cooling. Embodiment 89. A sealed secondary battery cell or method as described in embodiment 88, wherein cooling is by a cooling tube provided adjacent to the tab or by a heat sink thermally connected to the tab. Embodiment 90. A sealed secondary battery cell chargeable between a charged state and a discharged state, the sealed secondary battery cell comprising: a hermetically sealed case; an electrode assembly surrounded by the hermetically sealed case; and a rated capacity of at least 100 milliampere hours; The electrode assembly has mutually perpendicular transverse, longitudinal and vertical axes, which correspond respectively to the x-axis, y-axis and z-axis of a virtual three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, and has opposed longitudinal end faces that are substantially flat and longitudinally separated from one another, and a longitudinal axis A of the electrode assembly. EA and a side surface connecting a first longitudinal end surface and a second longitudinal end surface, the side surfaces being substantially flat and having opposed longitudinal surfaces separated from one another in a longitudinal direction on opposite longitudinal sides of the longitudinal axis, and opposed lateral surfaces being substantially flat and separated from one another in a transverse direction on opposite lateral sides of the longitudinal axis, the opposed longitudinal surfaces having a total surface area L SA and the opposing lateral faces have a total surface area T SA and the opposing longitudinal faces have a total surface area V SA V SA and L SA and T SA is at least 5:1 with each of The electrode assembly further comprises an electrode structure assembly, an electrically insulating separator assembly, and a counter electrode structure assembly, the members of the electrode structure assembly, the electrically insulating separator assembly, and the counter electrode structure assembly being arranged in an alternating order; the hermetically sealed case having first and second opposed case ends separated longitudinally and case sidewalls connecting the first and second case ends, the first and second opposed case ends and the case sidewalls forming a hermetic seal around the electrode assembly, the case sidewalls including upper and lower sidewalls separated longitudinally from one another and first and second lateral sidewalls separated laterally from one another; The electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure are connected to the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case to inhibit vertical growth of the electrode assembly during cycling of the secondary battery cell between charge and discharge conditions; A sealed secondary battery cell, the state of charge being at least 75% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell and the state of discharge being less than 25% of the rated capacity of the secondary battery cell. Embodiment 91: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction in the range of 5 to 50 μm. Embodiment 92: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 70 MPa. Embodiment 93: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa. Embodiment 94: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the thickness of the secondary battery cell measured vertically between the vertically opposing regions of the exterior vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 1 mm. Embodiment 95: The thermal conductivity in the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery cell along a heat conduction path between the longitudinally facing regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 7.5 W / m +K. The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method of any of the preceding embodiments. Embodiment 96: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal sides, the opposing vertical sides, and the opposing lateral sides make up more than 66% of a total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 97: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal surfaces, the opposing vertical surfaces, and the opposing lateral surfaces make up more than 75% of a total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 98: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal surfaces, the opposing vertical surfaces, and the opposing lateral surfaces make up more than 80% of a total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 99: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal surfaces, the opposing vertical surfaces, and the opposing lateral surfaces make up more than 95% of a total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 100: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal surfaces, the opposing vertical surfaces, and the opposing lateral surfaces make up more than 99% of the total surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 101: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing longitudinal sides, the opposing vertical sides, and the opposing lateral sides create a total surface area corresponding to substantially all of the surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 102: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second case ends are connected together by one or more of the upper and lower side walls of the case, suppressing growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 103: The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery further comprises a set of electrode limiting parts inside the hermetically sealed case, the set of electrode limiting parts comprising a vertical limiting system comprising first and second vertical growth limiting parts vertically separated from each other, the first and second vertical growth limiting parts being connected to members of the electrode structure assembly and / or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, the vertical limiting system being capable of restricting growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction, the first and second vertical growth limiting parts being connected to respective upper and lower side walls to indirectly connect the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly to the upper and lower side walls. Embodiment 104: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising a longitudinal restriction system comprising a first longitudinal limiting portion and a second longitudinal limiting portion separated from each other in the longitudinal direction and connected by a connecting member to suppress growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction, wherein the set of electrode limiting portions inside the hermetically sealed case is further comprised of a first longitudinal limiting portion and a second longitudinal limiting portion. Embodiment 105: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 150 milliampere hours. Embodiment 106: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 200 milliampere hours. Embodiment 107: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 400 milliampere hours. Embodiment 108: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 0.1 ampere-hours. Embodiment 109: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 0.5 ampere-hours. Embodiment 110: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 1 ampere-hour. Embodiment 111: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 3 ampere-hours. Embodiment 112: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the sealed secondary battery has a rated capacity of at least 5 ampere-hours. Embodiment 113: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the distance between the vertically opposing areas of the outer vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 2 mm. Embodiment 114: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the distance between the vertically opposing areas of the outer vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 3 mm. Embodiment 115: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the distance between the vertically opposing areas of the outer vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 5 mm. Embodiment 116: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the distance between the vertically opposing areas of the outer vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 8 mm. Embodiment 117: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the distance between the vertically opposing areas of the outer vertical surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 10 mm. Embodiment 118: The thermal conductivity in the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery along a heat conduction path between the longitudinally facing regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 8 W / m + K. The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method of any of the preceding embodiments. Embodiment 119: The thermal conductivity in the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery along a heat conduction path between longitudinally opposed regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 10 W / m + K. The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method of any of the preceding embodiments. Embodiment 120: The thermal conductivity in the longitudinal direction of the secondary battery along a heat conduction path between longitudinally opposed regions of the exterior longitudinal surfaces of the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case is at least 15 W / m + K. The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method of any of the preceding embodiments. Embodiment 121: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the thermal conduction path is along the vertical direction of the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly. Embodiment 122: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the hermetically sealed case comprises a metallic material including any selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, beryllium, copper, nickel, and alloys thereof. Embodiment 123: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the upper sidewall and the lower sidewall comprise any of stainless steel and aluminum. Embodiment 124: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth limiting portions and / or the first and second longitudinal limiting portions comprise any of a metal, an alloy, a ceramic, a glass, a plastic, or a combination thereof. Embodiment 125: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth limiting portions and / or the first and second longitudinal limiting portions comprise any of stainless steel and aluminum. Embodiment 126: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 70 MPa. Embodiment 127: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 100 MPa. Embodiment 128: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 150 MPa. Embodiment 129: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. Embodiment 130: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 300 MPa. Embodiment 131: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 500 MPa. Embodiment 132: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 70 MPa. Embodiment 133: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 100 MPa. Embodiment 134: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 150 MPa. Embodiment 135: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa. Embodiment 136: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 300 MPa. Embodiment 137: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa. Embodiment 138: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 70 MPa. Embodiment 139: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 100 MPa. Embodiment 140: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 150 MPa. Embodiment 141: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 200 MPa. Embodiment 142: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 300 MPa. Embodiment 143: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a yield strength of at least 500 MPa. Embodiment 144: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 70 MPa. Embodiment 145: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 100 MPa. Embodiment 146: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 150 MPa. Embodiment 147: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 200 MPa. Embodiment 148: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 300 MPa. Embodiment 149: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second case ends, alone or in combination with the first and second longitudinal growth restriction portions, have a tensile strength of at least 500 MPa. Embodiment 150: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 70 MPa. Embodiment 151: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 150 MPa. Embodiment 152: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 200 MPa. Embodiment 153: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 300 MPa. Embodiment 154: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a yield strength of greater than 500 MPa. Embodiment 155: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly has a tensile strength of greater than 70 MPa. Embodiment 156: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a tensile strength of greater than 100 MPa. Embodiment 157: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly has a tensile strength of greater than 150 MPa. Embodiment 158: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly has a tensile strength of greater than 200 MPa. Embodiment 159: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a tensile strength of greater than 300 MPa. Embodiment 160: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly have a tensile strength of greater than 500 MPa. Embodiment 161: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode structure, the electrically insulating separator, and the members of the counter electrode structure assembly are arranged in alternating order in the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 162: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode structure assembly member includes an electrode active material layer and an electrode current collector layer, and the counter electrode structure assembly member includes a counter electrode active material layer and a counter electrode current collector layer. Embodiment 163: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper side wall and the lower side wall are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode structure assembly and / or the counter electrode structure assembly members. Embodiment 164: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of an electrode current collector of a member of the electrode structure assembly and / or the upper and lower surfaces of a counter electrode current collector of a member of the counter electrode assembly. Embodiment 165: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth restriction portions are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of the electrode structure assembly and / or the counter electrode structure assembly members. Embodiment 166: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth restriction portions are connected to the upper and lower surfaces of an electrode current collector of a member of an electrode structure assembly and / or the upper and lower surfaces of a counter electrode current collector of a member of a counter electrode assembly. Embodiment 167: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode and / or counter electrode current collector connected to the upper and lower side walls has a thickness measured in the longitudinal direction that is in the range of 5 to 50 μm. Embodiment 168: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the electrode and / or counter electrode current collector connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall has a yield strength of greater than 100 MPa. Embodiment 169: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal vertical restraint system, limit vertical growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 20 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. Embodiment 170: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal vertical restraint system, limit vertical growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 30 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. Embodiment 171: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal vertical restraint system, limit vertical growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 50 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. Embodiment 172: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal vertical restraint system, limit vertical growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 80 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. Embodiment 173: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls connected to the electrode structure assembly or members of the counter electrode structure assembly, alone or together with an internal vertical restraint system, limit vertical growth such that any increase in the Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly over 100 consecutive cycles is less than 2%. Embodiment 174: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions include a longitudinal thickness of at least 150 um. Embodiment 175: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions include a longitudinal thickness of at least 250 um. Embodiment 176: An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions include a longitudinal thickness of at least 400 um. Embodiment 177: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly are directly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall. Embodiment 178: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly are directly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall by any one or more of the following: adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, joining, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray bonding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. Embodiment 179: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly are indirectly connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall. Embodiment 180: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the electrode structure assembly and / or a member of the counter electrode structure assembly are connected to the upper side wall and the lower side wall via first and second vertical growth restriction portions. Embodiment 181: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly and / or the members of the counter electrode structure assembly are directly connected to the first and second vertical growth restriction portions by any one or more of adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, joining, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray bonding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. Embodiment 182: An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth limiting portions are connected to their respective upper and lower side walls by any one or more of adhesive, glue, welding, bonding, soldering, sintering, joining, pressure welding, brazing, spray joining, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. Embodiment 183. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second vertical growth limiting portions include openings extending through their vertical thicknesses. Embodiment 184. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the previous embodiments, wherein the surface area of ​​the opposing longitudinal end faces is less than 33% of the surface area of ​​the electrode assembly. Embodiment 185. For the members of the secondary battery cell assembly, the length L of each member of the electrode structure assembly E and the length L of each member of the counter electrode structure assembly CE are their central longitudinal axes A E and A CE The width W of each member of the electrode structure assembly is measured in the transverse direction of E and the width W of each member of the counter electrode structure assembly CE is the height H of each member of the electrode structure assembly, measured in the longitudinal direction. E and the height H of each member of the counter electrode structure assembly CE is the central longitudinal axis A of each such member E Or A CE and W of each member of the electrode structure assembly, measured in the vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. E and H E L for each E The ratio of W of each member of the electrode structure assembly is at least 5:1, E H for E The ratio of each of the members of the counter electrode structure assembly is 0.4:1 to 1000:1. CE and H CE L for eachCE The ratio of W of each member of the counter electrode structure assembly is at least 5:1, CE H for CE The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ratio of is 0.4:1 to 1000:1. Embodiment 186. For a member of a secondary battery cell assembly, the electrode assembly has a maximum width W measured in the longitudinal direction. EA and the maximum length L measured laterally bounded by the sides EA and the maximum height H measured longitudinally and bounded by the sides EA and L EA and W EA H for each EA The electrode assembly, the sealed secondary battery cell, or the method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ratio of is at least 2:1. Embodiment 187. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the protrusions of the members of the electrode structure assembly and the counter electrode structure assembly onto the first longitudinal surface surround a first protruding region, the protrusions of the members of the electrode structure assembly and the counter electrode structure assembly onto the second longitudinal surface surround a second protruding region, and the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions include first and second compression members overlapping the first and second protruding regions. Embodiment 188. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions, alone or in combination with each other, maintain a pressure on the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction that exceeds the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly in each of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 189. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions, either alone or in combination with each other, maintain a pressure on the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction that is at least three times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly in each of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 190. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions, either alone or in combination with each other, maintain a pressure on the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction that is at least four times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly in each of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 191. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiting portions, either alone or in combination with each other, maintain a pressure on the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction that is at least five times greater than the pressure maintained on the electrode assembly in each of two directions that are perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Embodiment 192. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters, either alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles is less than 20%. Embodiment 193. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters, either alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 10 consecutive cycles is less than 10%. Embodiment 194. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters, either alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over five consecutive cycles is less than 10%. Embodiment 195. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the opposing first and second ends of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second longitudinal growth limiters, alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction is less than 1% per cycle. Embodiment 196. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second vertical growth limiters, alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction over 20 consecutive cycles is less than 20%. Embodiment 197. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second vertical growth limiters, alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction over 10 consecutive cycles is less than 10%. Embodiment 198. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second vertical growth limiters, alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction over five consecutive cycles is less than 10%. Embodiment 199. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper and lower side walls of the hermetically sealed case, or the first and second vertical growth limiters, alone or in combination with each other, restrict the growth of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction such that the increase in Feret's diameter of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction is less than 1% per cycle. Embodiment 200. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein (i) a member of the assembly of electrode structures is an anode structure and a member of the assembly of counter electrode structures is a cathode structure, or (ii) a member of the assembly of electrode structures is a cathode structure and a member of the assembly of electrode structures is an anode structure. Embodiment 201. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a member of the assembly of electrode structures is an anode structure including an anode active material layer, and a member of the assembly of counter electrode structures is a cathode structure including a cathode active material layer. Embodiment 202. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the carrier ions are contained within a hermetically sealed battery housing. Embodiment 203. The members of the assembly of the electrode structure are carbon materials, graphite, soft or hard carbon, metals, semimetals, alloys, oxides, compounds capable of forming alloys with lithium, tin, lead, magnesium, aluminum, boron, gallium, silicon, Si / C composites, Si / graphite blends, SiOx, porous Si, intermetallic Si alloys, indium, zirconium, germanium, bismuth, cadmium, antimony, silver, zinc, arsenic, hafnium, yttrium, lithium, sodium, lithium titanate, palladium, lithium metal, carbon, petroleum coke, activated carbon, graphite, silicon compounds, silicon alloys, tin compounds, non-graphitizable carbon, graphitic carbon, Li x Fe2O3(0≦x≦1), Li x WO2(0≦x≦1), Sn x Me 1-x Me′ y O z(Me: Mn, Fe, Pb, Ge, Me': Al, B, P, Si, elements found in Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 of the periodic table, halogens, 0 < x ≦ 1, 1 ≦ y ≦ 3, 1 ≦ z ≦ 8), lithium alloys, silicon-based alloys, tin-based alloys, metal oxides, SnO, SnO2, PbO, PbO2, Pb2O 3、 Pb3O4, Sb2O3, Sb2O4, Sb2O5, GeO, GeO2, Bi2O3, Bi2O4, Bi2O5, conductive polymers, polyacetylene, Li-Co-Ni-based substances, crystalline graphite, natural graphite, artificial graphite, amorphous carbon, kish graphite, pyrolytic carbon, mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers, mesocarbon microbeads, mesophase pitch, graphitized carbon fibers, high-temperature calcined carbon, petroleum, cokes derived from coal tar pitch, tin oxide, titanium nitrate, lithium metal films, alloys of one or more types of metals selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Al and Sn and lithium, Si, Al, C, Pt, Sn, Pb, Ir, Ni, Cu, Ti, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fr, Be, Ca, Sr, Sb, Ba, Ra, Ge, Zn, Bi, In, Mg, Ga, Cd, Sn alloys, Al alloys, metal oxides capable of doping and dedoping lithium ions, SiO v (0 < v < 2), SnO2, vanadium oxides, lithium vanadium oxides, composites of metal compounds and carbon materials, Si-C composites, Sn-C composites, transition metal oxides, Li4 / 3Ti5 / 3O4, SnO, carbonaceous materials, graphite carbon fibers, resin-calcined carbon, pyrolytic vapor-grown carbon, cork, mesocarbon microbeads ("MCMB"), furfuryl alcohol resin-calcined carbon, polyacene, pitch-based carbon fibers, vapor-grown carbon fibers, or natural graphite, and a formula Na disposed between layers of a layered carbonaceous material x Sn y-z M z of the composition (M is Ti, K, Ge, P, or a combination thereof, 0 < x ≦ 15, 1 ≦ y ≦ 5, and 0 ≦ z ≦ 1), and an anode active material containing any one or more of any of the aforementioned oxides, alloys, nitrides, fluorides, and any arbitrary combination of any of the aforementioned, an electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the aforementioned embodiments. Embodiment 204. The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the anode active material comprises at least one of lithium metal, lithium metal alloy, silicon, silicon alloy, silicon oxide, tin, tin alloy, tin oxide, and a carbon-containing material. Embodiment 205. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the anode active material comprises at least one of silicon and silicon oxide. Embodiment 206. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the anode active material comprises at least one of lithium and a lithium alloy. Embodiment 207. The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the anode active material comprises a carbon-containing material. Embodiment 208. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator assembly member comprises a microporous separator material permeated with a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. Embodiment 209. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator assembly member includes a solid electrolyte. Embodiment 210. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrically insulating separator assembly comprise a ceramic material, a glass, or a garnet material. Embodiment 211. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly comprises an electrolyte selected from the group consisting of a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, a gel electrolyte, a solid electrolyte, and combinations thereof. Embodiment 212. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes a liquid electrolyte. Embodiment 213. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly comprises an aqueous liquid electrolyte. Embodiment 214. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte. Embodiment 215. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly comprises a gel electrolyte. Embodiment 216. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a solid electrolyte. Embodiment 217. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a solid polymer electrolyte. Embodiment 218. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a solid inorganic electrolyte. Embodiment 219. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a solid organic electrolyte. Embodiment 220. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a ceramic electrolyte. Embodiment 221. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises an inorganic electrolyte. Embodiment 222. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a ceramic. Embodiment 223. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrically insulating separator comprises a garnet material. Embodiment 224. The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, comprising an electrolyte selected from the group consisting of an aqueous electrolyte, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, a solid polymer electrolyte, a solid ceramic electrolyte, a solid glass electrolyte, a solid garnet electrolyte, a gel polymer electrolyte, an inorganic solid electrolyte, and a fused inorganic electrolyte. Embodiment 225. A member of the assembly of the counter electrode structure includes a cathode active material including at least one of transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, transition metal nitrides, lithium-transition metal oxides, lithium-transition metal sulfides, and lithium-transition metal nitrides, including transition metal oxides, transition metal sulfides, and transition metal nitrides having a metal element with a d-shell or an f-shell, and / or the metal element is selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, lanthanides, actinides, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Tc, Re, Fe, Ru, Os, Co, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pb, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au, LiCoO2, LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O4, Li(Ni x Co y Al z )O2, LiFePO4, Li2MnO4, V2O5, molybdenum oxysulfide, phosphates, silicates, vanadates, sulfur, sulfur compounds, oxygen (air), Li(Ni x Mn y Co z )O2, lithium-containing compounds including metal oxides or metal phosphates, compounds including lithium, cobalt, and oxygen (e.g., LiCoO2), compounds including lithium, manganese, and oxygen (e.g., LiMn2O4), compounds including lithium iron and phosphate (e.g., LiFePO), lithium manganese oxide, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2), lithium nickel oxide (LiNiO2), compounds substituted with one or more transition metals, lithium manganese oxide, Li 1+x Mn 2-x O4 (x is 0 to 0.33), LiMnO3, LiMn2O3, LiMnO2, lithium copper oxide (Li2CuO2), vanadium oxide, LiV3O8, LiFe3O4, V2O5, Cu2V2O7, LiNi1-x M x Ni-site type lithium nickel oxide represented by the chemical formula of MO₂ (M = Co, Mn, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B or Ga, and x = 0.01 to 0.3), LiMn 2-x M x Lithium manganese composite oxide represented by the chemical formula of MO₂ (M = Co, Ni, Fe, Cr, Zn or Ta, and x = 0.01 to 0.1), Li₂Mn₃MO₈ (M = Fe, Co, Ni, Cu or Zn), LiMn₂O₄ in which part of Li is substituted with alkaline earth metal ions, disulfide compound, Fe₂(MoO₄)₃, lithium metal phosphate having an olivine crystal structure of the following Chemical Formula 2, Li 1+a Fe 1-x M’ x (PO 4-b )X b (M’ is at least one selected from Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Mn, Ti, Ga, Cu, V, Nb, Zr, Ce, In, Zn, and Y, X is at least one selected from F, S, and N, -0.5 ≦ a ≦ +0.5, 0 ≦ x ≦ 0.5, and 0 ≦ b ≦ 0.1, LiFePO₄, Li(Fe,Mn)PO₄, Li(Fe,Co)PO₄, Li(Fe,Ni)PO₄, LiCoO₂, LiNiO₂, LiMnO₂, LiMn₂O₄, LiNi 1-y Co y O₂, LiCo 1-y Mn y O₂, LiNi 1-y Mn y O₂ (0 ≦ y ≦ 1), Li(Ni a Co b Mn c )O₄ (0 < a < 2, 0 < b < 2, 0 < c < 2, and a + b + c = 2), LiMn 2-z Ni z O₄, LiMn 2-z Co z O₄ (0 < z < 2), LiCoPO₄ and LiFePO₄, elemental sulfur (S₈), sulfur-based compounds, Li₂S n (n ≧ 1), organic sulfur compounds, carbon-sulfur polymer ((C₂S x ) n: x = 2.5 to 50, n ≧ 2), oxides of lithium and zirconium, composite oxides of lithium and metals (cobalt, manganese, nickel, or combinations thereof), Li a A 1-b M b D2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0≦b≦0.5), Li a E 1-b M b O 2-c D c (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, and 0≦c≦0.05), LiE 2-b M b O 4-c D c (0≦b≦0.5 and 0≦c≦0.05), Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c D a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a≦2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O 2-a X a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O 2-a X2(0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c D a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a≦2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c O 2-a X a (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni 1-b-c Mn b M c O 2-aX2(0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.5, 0≦c≦0.05, and 0 <a<2)、Li a Ni b E c G d O2 (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.5, and 0.001≦d≦0.1), Li a Ni b Co c Mn d GeO2 (0.90≦a≦1, 0≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.5, 0≦d≦0.5, and 0.001≦e≦0.1), Li a NiG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a CoG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a MnG b O2 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), Li a Mn2G b O4 (0.90≦a≦1, and 0.001≦b≦0.1), QO2, QS2, LiQS2, V2O5, LiV2O5, LiX'O2, LiNiVO4, Li (3-f) J2(PO4)3(0≦f≦2), Li (3-f) Fe2(PO4)3 (0≦f≦2), LiFePO4, (A is Ni, Co, Mn, or a combination thereof; M is Al, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, Fe, Mg, Sr, V, a rare earth element, or a combination thereof; D is O, F, S, P, or a combination thereof; E is Co, Mn, or a combination thereof; X is F, S, P, or a combination thereof; G is Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Mg, La, Ce, Sr, V, or a combination thereof; Q is Ti, Mo, Mn, or a combination thereof; X' is Cr, V, Fe, Sc, Y, or a combination thereof; and J is V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, or a combination thereof), LiCoO2, LiMn x O 2x (x=1 or 2), LiNi 1-x Mn x O 2x (0 <x<1)、LiNi 1-x-y Cox Mn y O2 (0≦x≦0.5, 0≦y≦0.5), FePO4, lithium compounds, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel oxide, lithium nickel cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium iron phosphate, nickel sulfide, copper sulfide, sulfur, iron oxide, vanadium oxide, sodium-containing materials, general formula NaM 1 a O2(M 1 is at least one transition metal element, 0≦a<1), oxides represented by the formula NaFeO2, NaMnO2, NaNiO2, NaCoO2, general formula NaMn 1-a M 1 a O2(M 1 is at least one transition metal element, an oxide represented by 0≦a<1), Na[Ni 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O2, Na 2 / 3 [Fe 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O2, Na 0.44 Mn 1-a M 1 a O2(M 1 is at least one transition metal element, an oxide represented by 0≦a<1), Na 0.7 Mn 1-a M 1 a O 2.05 an(M 1 is at least one transition metal element, an oxide represented by 0≦a<1), Na b M 2 c S 12 O 30 (M 2 contains at least one transition metal element, 2≦b≦6, and 2≦c≦5), Na6Fe2Si 12 O 30 , Na2Fe5Si 12 O(M 2 is an oxide represented by at least one transition metal element, 2≦b≦6, and 2≦c≦5), Na d M 3 e SiO 18(M 3 contains at least one transition metal element, 3≦d≦6, and 1≦e≦2), Na2Fe2Si6O 18 , Na2MnFeSi6O 18 (M 3 teeth At least one transition metal element, 3≦d≦6, and 1≦e≦2) oxide, Na f M 4 g Si2O6(M 4 is at least one element selected from transition metal elements, magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al), 1≦f≦2, and 1≦g≦2), oxides, phosphates, Na2FeSiO6, NaFePO4, Na3Fe2(PO4)3, Na3V2(PO4)3, Na4Co3(PO4)2P2O 7、 Borate, NaFeBO4 or Na3Fe2(BO4)3, Fluoride, Na h M 5 F6(M 5 contains at least one transition metal element, 2≦h≦3), Na3FeF6, Na2MnF6, fluorophosphates, Na3V2(PO4)2F3, Na3V2(PO4)2FO 2、 NaMnO2, Na[Ni 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O 2、 Na 2 / 3 [Fe 1 / 2 Mn 1 / 2 ]O2, Na3V2(PO4) 3、 The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the oxide is any selected from Na4Co3(PO4)2P2O7, Na3V2(PO4)2F3 and / or Na3V2(PO4)2FO2, and any complex oxides and / or other combinations thereof. Embodiment 226. The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cathode active material comprises at least one of a transition metal oxide, a transition metal sulfide, a transition metal nitride, a transition metal phosphate, and a transition metal nitride. Embodiment 227. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cathode active material comprises a transition metal oxide containing lithium and at least one of cobalt and nickel. Embodiment 228. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly include an anode current collector comprising at least one of the following surface treatment materials: copper, nickel, aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, palladium, sintered carbon, calcined carbon, indium, iron, magnesium, cobalt, germanium, lithium, carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, aluminum-cadmium alloy, and / or copper or stainless steel with alloys thereof. Embodiment 229. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the members of the electrode structure assembly include an anode current collector comprising at least one of copper, nickel, stainless steel, and alloys thereof. Embodiment 230. The electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the counter electrode structure includes a cathode current collector comprising at least one of the following materials: stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, sintered carbon, carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, or alloys thereof, where the aluminum or stainless steel is surface-treated. Embodiment 231. An electrode assembly, sealed secondary battery cell, or method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cathode current collector comprises at least one of the following materials: stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, sintered carbon, carbon, silver, or an alloy thereof, where the aluminum or stainless steel is surface-treated. Embodiment 232. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cathode current collector comprises aluminum. Embodiment 233. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second connecting members of the restriction system comprise any of stainless steel, titanium, or a fiberglass composite. Embodiment 234. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second connecting members of the restriction system comprise stainless steel. Embodiment 235. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first and second connecting members of the restriction system include a coating of insulating material on their inner and outer surfaces. Embodiment 236. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes at least five electrode structures and at least five counter electrode structures. Embodiment 237. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes at least 10 electrode structures and at least 10 counter electrode structures. Embodiment 238. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes at least 50 electrode structures and at least 50 counter electrode structures. Embodiment 239. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes at least 100 electrode structures and at least 100 counter electrode structures. Embodiment 240. An electrode assembly, a sealed secondary battery cell, or a method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the electrode assembly includes at least 500 electrode structures and at least 500 counter electrode structures.

[0151] Incorporation by Reference All publications and patents mentioned herein (including those listed below) are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes as if each individual publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. In case of conflict, the present application, including any definitions herein, will control.

[0152] Equivalent While specific embodiments have been discussed, the above specification is illustrative and not restrictive. Many variations will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of this specification. The full scope of the embodiments should be determined by reference to the claims, along with their full scope of equivalents, and the specification, along with such variations.

[0153] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification and claims are to be understood as modified in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and appended claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained.

Claims

1. A device for energy storage and energy release, the device having an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly comprising (a) an electrode current collector body region, and (b) an electrode current collector end region bounded by a lateral end of the electrode current collector body region and extending from the lateral end of the electrode current collector body region, the electrode structure having an electrode current collector, wherein the lateral ends of the electrode current collector body region are along the lateral direction, the electrode structure An opposing electrode structure laminated with the electrode structure along a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the lateral direction, the opposing electrode structure being separated from the electrode structure along the longitudinal direction, the electrode current collector body region having a first height along a vertical direction perpendicular to the lateral direction and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the electrode current collector end region having a second height different from the first height, the opposing electrode structure An electrode busbar arranged along the longitudinal direction, the electrode busbar being operably coupled to the surface of the electrode current collector, the surface having (a) a first surface portion of the electrode current collector body region, the first surface portion being arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the first surface portion, and (b) a second surface portion of the electrode current collector end region, the second surface portion being arranged along the longitudinal direction, the second surface portion, and A limiting system comprising an opening having a slot shape with an elongated dimension, the electrode assembly being arranged within the limiting system, the device having the limiting system.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the limiting system is capable of suppressing an increase of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the limiting system comprises a first longitudinal limiting portion and a second longitudinal limiting portion separated from each other in the longitudinal direction.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the limiting system comprises a first vertical increase limiting portion and a second vertical increase limiting portion separated from each other in the vertical direction.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the limiting system has a yield strength of more than 70 MPa to suppress an increase of the electrode assembly in the vertical direction. **Claim 6**: The device according to claim 2, wherein the limiting system is at least partially coupled to the electrode assembly using one or more of adhesion, gluing, welding, joining, bonding, soldering, sintering, pressure welding, brazing, spray welding, clamping, wire bonding, ribbon bonding, ultrasonic bonding, ultrasonic welding, resistance welding, laser beam welding, electron beam welding, induction welding, cold welding, plasma spraying, flame spraying, and arc spraying. **Claim 7**: The device according to claim 2, wherein the opening is a slot, the slots are spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction, and each of the slots has a longitudinal axis oriented along the longitudinal direction. **Claim 8**: The device according to claim 7, wherein the limiting system is configured to couple to an auxiliary electrode to flow charge carriers through the slot to the electrode assembly. **Claim 9**: The device according to claim 7, wherein the unit cell has the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure, the electrode assembly is similar to and has a unit cell including the unit cell, and each of the slots extends across a member of the unit cell. **Claim 10**: The device according to claim 1, wherein the counter electrode structure has a counter electrode current collector having (a) a counter electrode current collector body region and (b) a counter electrode current collector end region bounded by a transverse end of the counter electrode current collector body region and extending from the transverse end of the counter electrode current collector body region. **Claim 11**: The device according to claim 10, further comprising a counter electrode busbar disposed along the longitudinal direction, the counter electrode busbar being operably coupled to a surface of the counter electrode current collector, the surface having (a) a first surface portion of the counter electrode current collector body region, the first surface portion being disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and (b) a second surface portion of the counter electrode current collector end region, the second surface portion being disposed along the longitudinal direction. **Claim 12**: The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode current collector end region is spatially configured to increase energy density.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the core energy density of the device is at least 700 watt-hours per liter (Wh / L).

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the end region of the electrode current collector is bent in the direction along the longitudinal direction.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the main body region of the electrode current collector and the end region of the electrode current collector are aligned in the transverse direction.

16. The unit cell of the electrode assembly has the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure, the electrode assembly is similar to the unit cell and has unit cells including the unit cell, and the unit cells are stacked along the longitudinal direction. The device according to claim 1.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the electrode assembly has at least four unit cells.

18. (a) The length LE of each of the electrode structures of the unit cell and the length LCE of each of the counter electrode structures of the unit cell are measured in the transverse direction, (b) the width WE of each of the electrode structures of the unit cell and the width WCE of each of the counter electrode structures of the unit cell are measured in the longitudinal direction, (b) the height HE of each of the electrode structures of the unit cell and the height HCE of each of the counter electrode structures of the unit cell are measured in the vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, (i) the ratio of LE to each of WE and HE of each of the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure is at least 2:1 respectively, (ii) the ratio of HE to WE of each of the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure is at least 0.4:1, (iii) the ratio of LCE to each of WCE and HCE of each of the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure is at least 2:1 respectively, and / or (iv) the ratio of HCE to WCE of each of the electrode structure and the counter electrode structure is at least 0.4:

1. The device according to claim 16.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the rated capacity of the device is at least 100 milliampere-hours (mAh). **Claim 20**: The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly is disposed within a housing, and the longitudinal thermal conductivity of the electrode assembly along a thermal conduction path between longitudinal opposing regions of an outer longitudinal surface of the housing is at least 7.5 watts per meter per kelvin (W / m·K). **Claim 21**: The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly has an electrode active material made of silicon. **Claim 22**: The device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode assembly is disposed within a housing. **Claim 23**: The device according to claim 22, wherein the housing is sealed. **Claim 24**: The device according to claim 22, wherein the housing includes a metallic material. **Claim 25**: The device according to claim 24, wherein the metallic material includes either stainless steel or aluminum. **Claim 26**: The device according to claim 22, further comprising an electrode tab and a counter electrode tab, wherein the electrode structure is operatively coupled to the electrode tab, the counter electrode structure is operatively coupled to the counter electrode tab, and the electrode tab and the counter electrode tab are configured to extend from inside the housing to outside the housing. **Claim 27**: The device according to claim 26, further comprising an electrode tab extension, wherein the electrode tab is electrically connected to the electrode tab extension that is coupled to the electrode current collector. **Claim 28**: A method for energy storage and energy release, the method comprising using one or more operations to form a device according to any one of claims 1 to 27. **Claim 29**: A method for energy storage and energy release, the method comprising: (a) providing a device according to any one of claims 1 to 27; and (b) using the device for the flow of carrier ions to the electrode assembly and / or cycling the electrode assembly between a charged state and a discharged state. **Claim 30**: A control unit for facilitating energy storage and energy release, the control unit being configured to be electrically coupled to a device according to any one of claims 1 to 27.

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