Electrochemical cells having improved ionic conductivity

Abstract

Electrochemical cells of the present disclosure may include one or more multilayered electrodes. One or both multilayered electrodes may be configured such that a second layer farther from the current collector has a higher resistance to densification than a first layer closer to the current collector. This may be achieved by including a plurality of non-active ceramic particles in the second layer. Accordingly, calendering of the electrode results in a greater compression of the first layer, and a beneficial porosity profile is created. This may improve the ionic conductivity of the electrode, as compared with known systems.

1 - 9 . (Previously Canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a first electrode and a second electrode on opposing sides of a separator, the first electrode including an active material composite layered onto a current collector substrate;   wherein the active material composite of the first electrode comprises:
 a first layer adjacent to and in contact with the current collector substrate, the first layer including a plurality of first active material particles; 
 a second layer intermediate the first layer and the separator, the second layer including a plurality of second active material particles mixed with a plurality of non-active ceramic particles, each one of the plurality of non-active ceramic particles consisting of a an electrically non-conductive ceramic material, such that the second layer is configured to have a higher pore volume fraction than the first layer. 
   
     
     
         11 . The electrode of  claim 10 , the first layer having a first thickness and the second layer having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness. 
     
     
         12 . The electrode of  claim 10 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles are between about 2% and about 50% of the second layer, by volume. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode of  claim 12 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles are between about 5% and about 20% of the second layer, by volume. 
     
     
         14 . The electrode of  claim 10 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles comprise alumina. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode of  claim 10 , wherein the electrode comprises an anode. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the first active material particles are selected from the group consisting of hard carbons and silicon monoxide. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode of  claim 15 , wherein the second active material particles comprise a graphitic carbon. 
     
     
         18 . The electrode of  claim 10 , wherein a composition of the first active material particles is substantially identical to a composition of the second active material particles. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a first electrode and a second electrode on opposing sides of a separator, the first electrode including an active material composite layered onto a current collector substrate;   wherein the active material composite of the first electrode comprises:
 a first layer adjacent to and in contact with the current collector substrate, the first layer including a plurality of first active material particles; 
 a second layer intermediate the first layer and the separator, the second layer including a plurality of second active material particles mixed with a plurality of non-active ceramic particles, each one of the plurality of non-active ceramic particles consisting of an electrochemically inactive ceramic material, such that the second layer is configured to have a higher pore volume fraction than the first layer. 
   
     
     
         22 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21 , the first layer having a first thickness and the second layer having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness. 
     
     
         23 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles are between about 2% and about 50% of the second layer, by volume. 
     
     
         24 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 23 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles are between about 5% and about 20% of the second layer, by volume. 
     
     
         25 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21 , wherein the non-active ceramic particles comprise alumina. 
     
     
         26 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21 , wherein the first electrode comprises an anode. 
     
     
         27 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 26 , wherein the first active material particles are selected from the group consisting of hard carbons and silicon monoxide. 
     
     
         28 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 26 , wherein the second active material particles comprise a graphitic carbon. 
     
     
         29 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 21 , wherein a composition of the first active material particles is substantially identical to a composition of the second active material particles.