Metal negative electrode ultrasonic charging

Abstract

Provided herein arc systems and methods for using an ultrasonic vibration generator to apply vibrational energy to a metal negative electrode of a rechargeable battery. In some examples, the application of vibrational energy to the metal negative electrode occurs during a charging event.

1 . A method for ultrasonically vibrating a metal negative electrode, comprising
 providing an electrochemical cell, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises:
 a positive electrode, 
 a solid electrolyte, and 
 and a metal negative electrode; 
   vibrating the metal negative electrode ultrasonically; and   charging the electrochemical cell,   wherein the vibrating and charging occur simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging occurs at a temperature lower than 80° C., 75° C., 65° C., 60° C., 55° C., 50° C., 45° C., 40° C., 35° C., 30° C., 25° C., 20° C., 15° C., 10° C., 5° C., 0° C., −5° C., −10° C., −15° C., −20° C., −25° C., or −30° C. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the charging occurs at a temperature at least higher than −30° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal negative electrode is a lithium (Li) metal negative electrode. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal negative electrode is a sodium (Na) metal negative electrode. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal negative electrode is a zinc (Zn) metal negative electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a sulfide-based electrolyte, a garnet-based electrolyte, or a borohydride-based electrolyte. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising applying a pressure to the metal negative electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the applied pressure is at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 2000, 3000, or 4000 pounds per square inch (PSI). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the applied pressure is less than 600, 500, 400, 300, 200, 100, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10 PSI. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solid electrolyte is a sulfide-based electrolyte. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method of charging a battery having a metal negative electrode, the method comprising providing a battery having less than a full charge; vibrating the battery at ultrasonic frequencies; and charging the battery, wherein the vibrating and charging occur concurrently. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying a pressure to the metal negative electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the applied pressure is at least 10 pounds per square inch (PSI), 20 PSI, 30 PSI, 40 PSI, 50 PSI, 60 PSI 70 PSI, 80 PSI, 90 PSI, 100 PSI, 200 PSI, 300, PSI 400 PSI, 500 PSI, 600 PSI, 700 PSI, 800 PSI, 900 PSI, 1000 PSI, 2000 PSI, 3000 PSI, or 4000 PSI. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the applied pressure is less than 600 PSI, 500 PSI, 400 PSI, 300 PSI, 200 PSI, 100 PSI, 80 PSI, 70 PSI, 60 PSI, 50 PSI, 40 PSI, 30 PSI, 20 PSI, or 10 PSI. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , where the applied pressure is 300 PSI or less. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the current at which the charging occurs is at least 1 mA/cm 2 , 2 mA/cm 2 , 3 mA/cm 2 , 4 mA/cm 2 , 5 mA/cm 2 , 6 mA/cm 2 , or 10 mA/cm 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises measuring an electrochemical cell's voltage, current, impedance, resistance, pressure, temperature, evolved gases, or physical deformations. 
     
     
         21 . An electrochemical cell having a Li-metal negative electrode made by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . An electrochemical cell having a Li-metal negative electrode healed by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is in a battery. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is in a car. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is in use in a car.