Thin and flexible solid electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries

A lithium-ion cell comprising:

• a negative electrode comprising a porous layer of particles of a composition comprising one or more of graphite, a lithium-accepting mixture of graphite with another element, and a lithium-accepting oxide of titanium or of titanium and lithium, the porous layer of negative electrode particles having a thickness and a two-dimensional shape with opposing sides, one side of the porous layer of negative electrode particles being bonded to a surface of a current collector, the pores of the layer of negative electrode particles being infiltrated with a non-aqueous liquid, lithium ion-containing electrolyte such that lithium ions are transported through the liquid electrolyte into and out of the negative electrode particles during charging and discharging of the lithium-ion cell;
• a positive electrode comprising a porous layer of particles of an oxide or phosphate compound of lithium and a transition metal, the porous layer of the positive electrode compound having a thickness and a two-dimensional shape with opposing sides, the two dimensional shape being co-extensive with the two-dimensional shape of the porous layer of negative electrode particles, one side of the porous layer of positive electrode particles being bonded to a surface of a current collector, the pores of the layer of positive electrode compound particles being infiltrated with a non-aqueous liquid, lithium ion-containing electrolyte such that lithium ions and transition metal ions are transported into the liquid electrolyte during discharging and charging of the lithium-ion cell;
• a flexible membrane formed of a lithium-containing ceramic composition and having a thickness and a two dimensional shape with opposing sides, the membrane having individual transverse pores extending from one side of the membrane to the other side, the two dimensional shape of the membrane being coextensive with the second side of each of the negative electrode and the second face of the positive electrode, the membrane having a coating of a solid electrolyte composition that permits the passage of lithium ions from one side of the porous membrane through the pores of the membrane to the other side of the membrane, but does not permit the passage of transition metal ions through the solid electrolyte, wherein the coating of the solid electrolyte composition comprises one of (1) an oxide of lithium and at least one other metal, (2) a sulfide of lithium and a sulfide of silicon, and (3) a carbon-based polymer filled with particles of lithium salt;
• and
• the second side of the negative electrode being placed against one side of the porous membrane and the second side of the positive electrode being placed against the other side of the porous membrane, such that, in the operation of the lithium-ion cell, transition metal ions are not permitted to flow through the solid electrolyte and through the pores of the membrane to reach the negative electrode particles in the negative electrode.