Plating metal negative electrodes under protective coatings

An electrode precursor comprising:

• a current collector;
• a glassy or amorphous protective layer forming a substantially impeivious non-swellable layer which is a single ion conductor conductive to ions of an alkali metal;
• and
• a material that intercalates ions of the alkali metal located between and adherent to the current collector and the protective layer;
• wherein the electrode precursor does not comprise an alkali metal.

A battery or a battery precursor comprising:

• a) a positive electrode comprising a source of mobile alkali metal ions on charge;
• b) a precursor to an alkali metal negative electrode including
• a current collector,
• a glassy or amorphous protective layer forming a substantially impervious non-swellable layer which ii a single ion conductor conductive to ions of an alkali metal, and
• a layer of material that intercalates ions of the alkali metal located between and adherent to the current collector and the protective layer;
• and
• c) an electrolyte;
• wherein the precursor does not include an alkali metal.

A method of fabricating a battery, the method comprising:

• (a) providing an electrode precursor in an electrochentical cell, the electrode precursor comprising (i) a current collector, (ii) a glassy or amorphous protective layer forming a substantially impervious non-swellable layer which is a single ion conductor conductive to ions of an alkali metal, and (iii) sandwiched between the current collector and the protective layer, a material that intercalates ions of the alkali metal;
• (b) providing a positive electrode;
• and
• (c) transporting alkali metal ions through the protective layer to intercalate alkali metal ions into the intercalation material and form the battery.