US Patent 10050303 Batteries including solid and liquid electrolyte

Rechargeable batteries (e.g., Li-ion) including hybrid liquid and solid electrolytes are disclosed. One embodiment of a battery may include an anode; a cathode; an ionically-conductive separator between the anode and cathode; and an electrolyte suspension including a plurality of solid electrolyte particles dispersed in a liquid electrolyte solution. The solid electrolyte particles may have an average size of up to 1 μm or 100 nm and the particles may comprise 5 to 95% by volume of the electrolyte suspension. In another embodiment, a plurality of solid electrolyte particles may be dispersed and embedded within a bulk of at least one of the anode, cathode or separator. In some embodiments, there may be a plurality of solid electrolyte particles in both suspension and embedded in the battery component(s). Replacing some of the liquid electrolyte with solid electrolyte may reduce the flammability of the electrolyte.