RECHARGEABLE SOLID-STATE LITHIUM ION BATTERY

1 . A method of preparing a lithium battery, comprising:

providing a first electrode;

forming a solid polymer electrolyte on the first electrode; and

placing a second electrode against the solid polymer electrolyte, thereby forming the battery,

wherein, during operation, the solid polymer electrolyte is capable of growing a passivating polymer layer at an interface between the first electrode and the solid polymer electrolyte.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a portion of solvent swollen within the solid polymer electrolyte, wherein, during operation, the portion of swollen solvent reacts with a growing dendrite to form polymers on the dendrite.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a fluorinated ethylene carbonate is used as a crosslinking agent for the solid polymer electrolyte.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte is polymerized to a surface of the first or second electrode.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the passivating polymer layer is microporous and comprises self-healing properties as a result of a mixture of dissociable lithium salt, carbonate solvent mixture, and lithium metal surface.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the passivating polymer layer is adherent to the first and/or second electrode and prevents dendrite growth due to its self-healing properties.

7 . The method of claim 1 , prior to placing the second electrode against the solid polymer electrolyte, further comprising:

applying an electrochemical potential to the second electrode when the second electrode is immersed in a solution mixture of a dissociable lithium salt and a carbonate solvent mixture, thereby forming a layer of solid polymer electrolyte on the second electrode.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the forming of the solid polymer electrolyte on the first electrode and the forming of the layer of solid polymer electrolyte on the second electrode occurs concurrently.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer ceramic composite material or one or more ion conducting ceramic or inorganic materials.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises one or more material from a list of materials comprising a lithium conducting sulphide, Li 2 S, P 2 S 5 , a lithium phosphate, Li 3 P, a lithium oxide, lithium lanthanum titanium oxide, and lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the first electrode comprises a lithium metal, lithium foil, a treated copper foil, treated copper foil a graphite, a lithiated graphite, LiC 6 , a lithium ceramic glass, Li 4 Ti 5 0i 2 , Li 4,4 Si, or Li 4,4 Ge bound together with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), or

the second electrode comprises a lithiated metal oxide, LiCoO 2 , LiFePO 4 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiNiO 2 , Li 2 FePO 4 F, Li(Li a Ni x Mn y Co z ) (NMC), or Li(Li a Ni x Al y Co z ) (NCA), a conductive carbon additive, carbon fiber, carbon black, acetylene black bound together with PVDF.

12 . An electrochemical cell comprising:

a first electrode having a solid polymer electrolyte deposited thereon, the solid polymer electrolyte comprising a microporous polymer swollen with an organic carbonate liquid and a dissociable lithium salt; and

a second electrode.

13 . The electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein, during operation, the solid polymer electrolyte is capable of growing a passivating polymer layer at an interface between the first electrode and the solid polymer electrolyte.

14 . The electrochemical cell of claim 13 , wherein the passivating polymer layer is adherent to the first and/or second electrode and prevents dendrite growth due to its self-healing properties.

15 . The electrochemical cell of claim 12 , wherein the solid polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer ceramic composite material, one or more ion conducting ceramic or inorganic materials, or one or more material from a list of materials comprising a lithium conducting sulphide, Li 2 S, P 2 S 5 , a lithium phosphate, Li 3 P, a lithium oxide, lithium lanthanum titanium oxide, and lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide.

16 . A method of preparing an electrochemical cell, comprising:

providing a first electrode;

immersing the first electrode in an electrolyte solution;

depositing a solid layer of electrolyte on the immersed first electrode; and

attaching a second electrode to an exposed surface of the solid layer of electrolyte, thereby forming the electrochemical cell.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the solid layer of electrolyte comprises a polymer ceramic composite material, one or more ion conducting ceramic or inorganic materials, or one or more material from a list of materials comprising a lithium conducting sulphide, Li 2 S, P 2 S 5 , a lithium phosphate, Li 3 P, a lithium oxide, lithium lanthanum titanium oxide, and lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the solid layer of electrolyte comprises a microporous polymer swollen with an organic carbonate liquid and a dissociable lithium salt.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein, during operation, the solid layer of electrolyte is capable of growing a passivating polymer layer at an interface between the first electrode and the solid layer of electrolyte.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the passivating polymer layer is adherent to the first and/or second electrode and prevents dendrite growth due to its self-healing properties.