US 12,322,794 B2
Electrochemical materials including solid and liquid phases
Yet-Ming Chiang, Weston, MA (US); Richard Park, Somerville, MA (US); Venkatasubramanian Viswanathan, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Shashank Sripad, Pittsburgh, PA (US); Zijian Hong, Pittsburgh, PA (US); and Pinwen Guan, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Assigned to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US); and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (US)
Filed on Jan. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/410,951.
Application 18/410,951 is a continuation of application No. 16/852,308, filed on Apr. 17, 2020, granted, now 11,916,231.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/863,144, filed on Jun. 18, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0274806 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. H01M 4/40 (2006.01); H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); H01M 10/36 (2010.01); H01M 10/44 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 4/405 (2013.01) [H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); H01M 10/36 (2013.01); H01M 10/44 (2013.01); H01M 2250/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of operating an electrochemical device, the method comprising:
discharging and/or charging the electrochemical device, wherein the electrochemical device comprises:
a solid electrode comprising one or more alkali metals;
an interfacial layer comprising an alloy disposed on the solid electrode, wherein the alloy comprises one or more alkali metals, wherein at least one alkali metal of the solid electrode and at least one alkali metal of the alloy are a same alkali metal such that the solid electrode and the alloy include different proportions of the same alkali metal, wherein the alloy comprises either: (i) a liquid phase when the alloy is at a temperature between or equal to 15° C. and 30° C.; or (ii) a solid phase and the liquid phase when the alloy is at the temperature between or equal to 15° C. and 30° C.; and
an electrolyte, wherein the electrochemical device is configured such that the interfacial layer is disposed at an interface between the solid electrode and the electrolyte.