Protective layers for electrochemical cells

An article for use in an electrochemical cell, comprising:

• a first layer;
• a liquid electrolyte;
• and
• a second layer disposed on the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality of particles formed from particles having an original surface, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of particles are fused to one another such that at least a portion of the original surface of the particles can no longer be discerned in the plurality of particles fused to one another,
• wherein the plurality of particles comprise an ionically conductive material,
• wherein at least a portion of the fused particles are at least partially embedded within the first layer,
• wherein the second layer has an ionic conductivity between about 10−6 S/cm and about 10−2 S/cm, and
• wherein the second layer has an average thickness between about 0.5 microns and about 50 microns.

An article for use in an electrochemical cell, comprising:

• a first layer;
• a liquid electrolyte;
• and
• a second layer disposed on the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a non-ionically conductive material and a plurality of particles formed from particles having an original surface and comprising an ionically conductive material,
• wherein the second layer is substantially impermeable to the liquid electrolyte,
• wherein at least a portion of the ionically conductive material is crystalline,
• wherein at least a portion of the plurality of particles are fused to one another such that at least a portion of the original surface of the particles can no longer be discerned in the plurality of particles fused to one another,
• wherein the ionically conductive material is present in the second layer in an amount greater than 85 wt % of the second layer,
• wherein the second layer has an ionic conductivity between about 10−6 S/cm and about 10−2 S/cm.