Battery cell including an inorganic, melt-infiltrated, solid-state electrolyte

A method of making a solid-state Li-ion battery cell, comprising the steps of:

• (A1) providing a solid electrolyte composition comprising a lithium halide compound Li1+xMgxAl1-xCl4, the x ranging between 0.00 and 1.00;
• (A2) providing battery cell components including an anode comprising anode active material and a cathode comprising cathode active material;
• (A3) assembling the battery cell components and the solid electrolyte composition to form a battery cell assembly, the solid electrolyte composition being interposed between the anode and the cathode in the battery cell assembly;
• (A4) applying melt-infiltration treatment of the battery cell assembly comprising melting the solid electrolyte composition at a melt-treatment temperature such that a molten solid electrolyte composition infiltrates into at least a portion of the anode and at least a portion of the cathode;
• and
• (A5) cooling the battery cell assembly to form the solid-state Li-ion battery cell comprising a solid electrolyte comprising a melt-infiltration solid electrolyte composition that is formed from the molten solid electrolyte composition and is infiltrated in at least the portion of the anode and at least the portion of the cathode;
• wherein the solid electrolyte is characterized by a melting temperature of approximately 200° C. or less.

A method of making an electrode for a solid-state Li-ion battery cell, comprising the steps of:

• (B1) providing an electrode coating comprising electrode active material;
• (B2) providing a solid electrolyte composition comprising a lithium halide compound Li1+xMgxAl1-xCl4, the x ranging between 0.00 and 1.00;
• (B3) contacting the solid electrolyte composition to the electrode coating;
• (B4) applying melt-infiltration treatment of the solid electrolyte composition and the electrode coating comprising melting the solid electrolyte composition at a melt-treatment temperature such that a molten solid electrolyte composition infiltrates into at least a portion of the electrode coating;
• and
• (B5) cooling the infiltrated molten solid electrolyte composition and the electrode coating to form the electrode comprising a solid electrolyte comprising a melt-infiltration solid electrolyte composition that is formed from the molten solid electrolyte composition and is infiltrated in at least the portion of the electrode;
• wherein the solid electrolyte is characterized by a melting temperature of approximately 200° C. or less, and
• wherein the solid electrolyte is interposed between an anode comprising anode active material and a cathode comprising cathode active material.