Passivation of electrodes in electrochemical cells

1. An electrode, comprising:

a porous support structure comprising at least one electronically conductive material;

an electronic conductivity inhibitor coating disposed over at least a portion of the electronically conductive material within the porous support structure such that the porous support structure maintains at least a portion of its pore volume, wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor coating comprises a ceramic; and

an electrode active material comprising sulfur at least partially disposed within the pores of the porous support structure.

2. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor comprises at least one of a metal oxide, a metalloid oxide, a metal silicate, a metalloid silicate, a metal aluminosilicate, and a metalloid aluminosilicate.

3. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor further comprises a polymer.

4. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor has a thickness of less than about 500 microns.

5. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor covers at least about 75% of the exposed surface area of the electronically conductive material within the porous support structure.

6. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronically conductive material comprises carbon.

7. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronically conductive material comprises a metal.

8. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the sulfur comprises elemental sulfur.

9. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronic conductivity inhibitor coating has a bulk electrical resistivity of greater than about 10 6 ohm-m at 20° C.

10. The electrode of claim 1 , wherein the electronically conductive material has a bulk electrical resistivity of less than about 10 −3 ohm-m.

11. An electrochemical cell comprising the electrode of claim 1 .