Electrodes, heaters, sensors, and associated articles and methods
Articles and electrochemical devices containing electrodes, current collectors, heaters, and/or sensors and associated systems and methods, are provided. The sensors, when present, may be temperature sensors or pressure sensors. In some cases, the heaters and/or sensors are adjacent to the article or electrochemical device. In certain cases, the heaters and/or sensors are thin films that are integrated into the article or electrochemical device.
1. An article, comprising:
a substrate layer;
a plurality of discrete electrode segments adjacent to the substrate layer, each electrode segment comprising a discrete layer comprising electrode active material;
a current collector domain comprising a current collector bus layer adjacent to the substrate layer, the current collector bus layer electronically coupled to the discrete electrode segments; and
a heater layer adjacent to the substrate layer,
wherein:
the heater layer is configured to heat at least a portion of the article,
the article is foldable, and
the heater layer is positioned between folded sections of the article when the article is folded.
2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer is immediately adjacent to the substrate layer.
3. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer comprises a thin film.
4. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer comprises a metal or metal alloy.
5. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer comprises nichrome, graphite, a silicon-based compound, or a combination thereof.
6. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer is configured to have an electrical resistance of greater than or equal to 50Ω and less than or equal to 1000Ω.
7. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer is not electronically coupled to the plurality of discrete electrode segments or the current collector domain.
8. The article of claim 1 , wherein a least a portion of the heater layer is coated with an electrically insulative material.
9. The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is configured such that when the temperature of the article reaches a threshold temperature, at least one of the electrode segments is no longer electronically coupled to the current collector bus layer due, at least in part, to a heat-induced change in volume of the substrate layer.
10. The article of claim 9 , wherein the heater layer is configured to cause at least a portion of the heat-induced change in volume of the substrate layer.
11. The article of claim 9 , wherein the heat-induced change in volume of the substrate layer is an increase in the volume of the substrate layer.
12. The article of claim 9 , wherein the heat-induced change in volume of the substrate layer is a decrease in the volume of the substrate layer.
13. The article of claim 9 , wherein the substrate layer has a negative thermal expansion coefficient at the threshold temperature.
14. The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer comprises a heat shrinkable film.
15. The article of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer comprises polyvinyl alcohol.
16. An article, comprising:
a substrate layer;
a plurality of discrete electrode segments adjacent to the substrate layer, each electrode segment comprising a discrete layer comprising electrode active material;
a current collector domain comprising a current collector bus layer, the current collector bus layer electronically coupled to the discrete electrode segments; and
one or more sensor layers adjacent to the substrate layer configured to respond to a condition of the article,
wherein:
the article is foldable, and
the article further comprises a heater layer positioned between folded sections of the article when the article is folded.
17. A method, comprising:
heating at least a portion of an electrochemical device comprising the article of claim 1 using the heater layer.
18. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer has an average thickness that is greater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 1 mm.
19. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer has an average thickness that is greater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 100 μm.
20. The article of claim 1 , wherein the heater layer has an average thickness that is greater than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 10 μm.