Patent Publication Number: US-2016240831-A1

Title: Dendrite-resistant battery

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/115,551, entitled “Lithium Dendrite-Resistant Battery” and filed Feb. 12, 2015, the contents of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to batteries configured to provide electrical power support to at least some portion of one or more portable electronic devices. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to at least partially resisting dendrite growth between electrodes of a battery. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Rechargeable batteries are presently used to provide power to a wide variety of portable electronic devices, including laptop computers, cell phones, PDAs, digital music players and cordless power tools. As these electronic devices become increasingly smaller and more powerful, the batteries that are used to power these devices need to store more energy in a smaller volume. 
     A commonly used type of rechargeable battery is a lithium battery, which can include a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-polymer battery. Some lithium batteries may be thin-film batteries with a solid electrolyte. Lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries typically contain one or more cells that include a cathode current collector; a cathode comprised of an active material, a separator, an anode current collector; and an anode comprised of an active material. The cathode can comprise a cathode coating, and the anode can comprise an anode coating. 
     Lithium batteries conventionally include an anode that is comprised of a graphite material and a cathode that is comprised of a lithium salt material. One technique for increasing the energy capacity (mAh) of a lithium-ion or a lithium-polymer battery involves comprising the anode of a lithium metal material. A lithium battery that includes a lithium metal anode can be configured to have substantially increased energy capacity, relative to a lithium battery of similar size that includes a graphite anode. 
     However, charging and discharging such a lithium battery, in some cases, results in the formation of lithium metal structures on the surfaces of the anode. Such structures, referred to herein as lithium dendrites, can “grow” outward from the anode due to repeated charging and discharging cycles of the lithium battery. Some of the lithium dendrites can grow between the anode and the cathode, including growing through various portions of the battery, including one or more battery separators, electrolyte layers, etc. Over time, some lithium dendrites can “grow” in a direction that results in the lithium dendrites approaching the cathode. When a lithium dendrite reaches the cathode, an electrical short circuit (also “short” herein) can be established between the electrodes via the lithium metal comprising the lithium dendrite. Such an electrical short can result in failure of the battery and can further impose a safety risk due to overheating of the battery due to the short circuit, which can further lead to a fire. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the descriptions presented below, reference may be made to a lithium battery that comprises one or more lithium cells. However, the apparatuses and methods described may be applicable to other cells and batteries that are not lithium-based. For example, an electrochemical cell of a battery may have an anode on which dendrites can grow, and the apparatuses and methods presented herein may be applied to resist, impede, suppress, and/or prevent one or more dendrites from causing a short circuit between the electrodes of the cell. 
     Some embodiments include an apparatus that further includes a battery, such as a lithium battery that is configured to at least partially suppress or resist lithium dendrite growth between electrodes of the battery. The lithium battery, which can include one or more of a lithium ion battery, a lithium polymer battery, a thin film lithium ion battery, etc., typically includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer configured to permit lithium ion transport across the porous layer and resist or suppress lithium dendrite growth across the porous layer. The electrochemically-neutral porous layer can include a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layer, which includes pores that may include apertures that extend from a particular surface of the porous layer to an opposite surface of the porous layer, and that are configured to permit lithium ion migration across the AAO layer and to resist lithium dendrite growth across the AAO layer. The electrodes can include a lithium metal anode. The lithium battery can include a battery separator coupled to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, and the battery separator can inhibit lithium ion transport between the electrodes of the lithium battery, based at least in part upon a temperature of the battery separator. The lithium battery can include a liquid electrolyte portion located on at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer. The lithium battery can include a solid electrolyte portion located on at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer. The solid electrolyte portion can include a solid electrolyte layer that is applied to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer such that the electrochemically-neutral porous layer at least partially structurally supports the solid electrolyte layer, and the electrochemically-neutral porous layer can be applied to at least one side of at least one of the electrodes. 
     Some embodiments include a method that includes at least partially fabricating a battery including one or more cells and that can resist dendrite growth between electrodes of a cell of the battery. For example, the battery may be a lithium battery that includes one or more lithium cells, each lithium cell having electrodes including an anode that includes lithium metal. The method includes providing an electrochemically-neutral porous layer between the electrodes. For a lithium battery that includes at least one lithium cell, the electrochemically-neutral porous layer is configured to permit lithium ion transport across the porous layer and to resist lithium dendrite growth from the lithium anode across the porous layer. The electrochemically-neutral porous layer can include a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layer that comprises a plurality of pores that are configured to permit lithium ion transport across the AAO layer and suppress lithium dendrite growth across the AAO layer. 
     Providing the electrochemically-neutral porous layer between the electrodes can include laminating at least the electrochemically-neutral porous layer to at least at least one battery separator, wherein the at least one battery separator is configured to inhibit lithium ion transport between the electrodes of the lithium battery, based at least in part upon a temperature of the at least one battery separator. Providing the electrochemically-neutral porous layer between the electrodes can include applying a solid electrolyte layer to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, such that the electrochemically-neutral porous layer at least partially structurally supports the solid electrolyte layer. Subsequent to applying the solid electrolyte layer, the electrochemically-neutral porous layer may be applied to at least one of the electrodes, on at least one other side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, such that the solid electrolyte layer is configured to conduct lithium ions between the electrodes via at least one portion of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer. Applying the solid electrolyte to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer can include performing at least one of laminating the solid electrolyte layer to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, depositing the solid electrolyte layer on at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, or coating the solid electrolyte layer on at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer. Providing the electrochemically-neutral porous layer between the electrodes can include laminating the electrochemically-neutral porous layer to at least a portion of the lithium battery. In embodiments, the electrochemically-neutral porous layer can include pores having a maximum pore diameter of 100 nanometers. 
     Some embodiments include a portable electronic device that includes at least one functional component that is configured to consume electrical power, and a lithium battery that is configured to provide electrical power support to the at least one functional component. The lithium battery is configured to at least partially suppress lithium dendrite growth between electrodes of the lithium battery, and the lithium battery includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer that permits lithium ion transport across the porous layer and suppresses lithium metal transport across the porous layer. The electrochemically-neutral porous layer can include a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layer that comprises a plurality of pores that permit lithium ion transport across the AAO layer and suppress lithium dendrite growth across the AAO layer. The lithium battery can include a solid electrolyte layer that is applied to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer, such that the electrochemically-neutral porous layer at least partially structurally supports the solid electrolyte layer. The lithium battery can include a battery separator coupled to at least one side of the electrochemically-neutral porous layer and the battery separator can inhibit lithium ion transport between the electrodes of the lithium battery, based at least in part upon a temperature of the at least one battery separator. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate lithium batteries that include dendrites growing between electrodes in the respective batteries, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an electrochemically-neutral porous layer that is configured to permit lithium ion transport and suppress lithium dendrite growth, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, which suppresses lithium dendrite growth between the electrodes, according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate perspective views of lithium batteries, which include an electrochemically-neutral porous layer and at least one battery separator, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of a lithium battery, which includes multiple layers arranged in a cylindrical coil configuration, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lithium battery, which includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lithium battery, which includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer and one or more extended structures coupled to one or more sides of the porous layer, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a process for fabricating a lithium battery, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustrating an electronic device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary electronic device having a touch screen in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary computer system in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     This specification includes references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment.” The appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner consistent with this disclosure. 
     “Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims, this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider a claim that recites: “An apparatus comprising one or more processor units . . . .” Such a claim does not foreclose the apparatus from including additional components (e.g., a network interface unit, graphics circuitry, etc.). 
     “Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may be described or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In such contexts, “configured to” is used to connote structure by indicating that the units/circuits/components include structure (e.g., circuitry) that performs those task or tasks during operation. As such, the unit/circuit/component can be said to be configured to perform the task even when the specified unit/circuit/component is not currently operational (e.g., is not on). The units/circuits/components used with the “configured to” language include hardware—for example, circuits, memory storing program instructions executable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that a unit/circuit/component is “configured to” perform one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, for that unit/circuit/component. Additionally, “configured to” can include generic structure (e.g., generic circuitry) that is manipulated by software and/or firmware (e.g., a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a general-purpose processor executing software) to operate in manner that is capable of performing the task(s) at issue. “Configure to” may also include adapting a manufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) to fabricate devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks. 
     “First,” “Second,” etc. As used herein, these terms are used as labels for nouns that they precede, and do not necessarily imply any type of ordering (e.g., spatial, temporal, logical, etc.). For example, a buffer circuit may be described herein as performing write operations for “first” and “second” values. The terms “first” and “second” do not necessarily imply that the first value must be written before the second value. 
     “Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or more factors that affect a determination. This term does not foreclose additional factors that may affect a determination. That is, a determination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least in part, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.” While in this case, B is a factor that affects the determination of A, such a phrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also being based on C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     In the descriptions presented below, reference may be made to a lithium battery that comprises one or more lithium cells. However, the apparatuses and methods described may be applicable to other cells and batteries that are not lithium-based. For example, an electrochemical cell of a battery may have an anode on which dendrites can grow, and the apparatuses and methods presented herein may be applied to resist, impede, suppress, and/or prevent one or more dendrites from causing a short circuit between the electrodes of the cell. 
     Various embodiments of an apparatus that includes a lithium battery that is configured to resist lithium dendrite growth between electrodes of the lithium battery and methods for at least partially fabricating the apparatus are disclosed. 
     Lithium Batteries 
       FIGS. 1A-1B  illustrate lithium batteries that include dendrites growing between electrodes in the respective batteries, according to some embodiments.  FIG. 1A  illustrates a battery  100 A, which includes a liquid electrolyte  106 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates a battery  100 B, which includes a solid electrolyte  127 . 
     Each battery  100 A,  100 B, shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B , includes a respective anode  104 ,  124 , a respective cathode  112 ,  122 , and respective current collectors ( 102 ,  114 ), ( 132 ,  134 ) coupled to distal surfaces of the respective electrodes ( 104 ,  112 ), ( 124 ,  122 ). Battery  100 A further includes a battery separator  108 , which separates the two electrodes  104 ,  112 , and an electrolyte  106  in which components  102 ,  104 ,  108 ,  112 ,  114  are immersed. In some embodiments, the liquid electrolyte  106  is included in a limited portion of the battery  100 A. For example, the electrolyte  106  can be included in the separator  108 . Battery  100 B includes a solid electrolyte layer  127 , which is located between the electrodes  124 ,  122 . 
     A lithium battery can include at least one cathode, anode, and electrolyte, which are comprised of various materials. In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a cathode, which is comprised of one or more various metal oxides. The lithium battery can include electrolyte in one or more various phases. For example, a lithium battery can include a liquid electrolyte, which can include one or more various lithium salts in an organic solvent. In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes an electrolyte layer that includes a molten salt layer. In another example, a lithium battery can include one or more solid electrolyte layers, which can include lithium phosphorous oxynitride (“LiPON”) that can be mixed with one or more various binder substances, which can include one or more of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), one or more Acrylic substances, etc. A solid electrolyte can form a layer in a battery between the electrodes of the battery. In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes at least one liquid electrolyte and at least one solid electrolyte. For example, a lithium battery can include a solid electrolyte layer located between two electrodes, where a liquid electrolyte is included within a porous structure of at least one of the electrodes. In some embodiments, one or more of the electrodes in a lithium battery includes a liquid electrode. 
     In some embodiments, battery  100 A includes a separator  108  that comprises an at least partially permeable structure that permits the transport of at least some charge carriers, including lithium ions, between the electrodes  104 ,  112 . Such transport can be referred to herein as ionic transport. In some embodiments, the separator  108  includes one or more pores  109  via that one or more charge carriers can pass. In some embodiments, the separator  108  comprises a polymer separator. In some embodiments, the separator  108  is configured to inhibit the electronic transport between the electrodes  104 ,  112 , which can include inhibiting charge carrier transport across the separator  108 , based at least in part upon a temperature of the separator  108 . Such a separator can be referred to as a “shutdown separator”, because, by inhibiting charge carrier transport based on temperature, the separator is configured to shut down the battery  100 A in response to the battery temperature exceeding a certain temperature. As a result, in addition to keeping the electrodes separated, the separator  108  mitigates safety hazards associated with operation of the battery  100 A. Such a configuration can be associated with the physical structure and composition of the separator. For example, a shutdown separator can be at least partially comprised of one or more polymer materials, including polyethylene, which can melt in response to the local temperature exceeding a threshold, where the melted material coats one or more portions of the separator with a nonconductive layer that inhibits charge carrier transport across the separator, and thus inhibits charge carrier transport between the electrodes. 
     In some embodiments, an electrolyte may be used to achieve separation between the electrodes. For example, battery  100 B, which includes electrolyte layer  127  that can include a layer including a solid electrolyte material, does not include a separator between the electrodes  124  and  122 . In some embodiments, battery  100 B includes a liquid electrolyte, which is included within one or more portions of the battery, such that the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport between the solid electrolyte layer  127  and one or more other portions of the battery. For example, where electrolyte layer  127  is a solid electrolyte, cathode  122  can comprise a porous structure in which a liquid electrolyte is included, where the liquid electrolyte can facilitate ionic transport between the solid electrolyte layer  127  and the cathode  122 . 
     In some embodiments, the anode ( 104 ,  124 ) of one or more of batteries  100 A- 100 B is comprised of one or more materials that include lithium metal. For example, the anode  104  or  124  can be comprised entirely of lithium metal. As shown in the illustrated embodiments  FIG. 1A-100B , as the battery  100 A or  100 B is repeatedly charged and discharged over time, deposits  120 ,  130  of lithium metal can form on a surface of the anode  104 ,  124 , and “grow” outward from the anode into the interior structure of the battery  100 A- or  100 B. These deposits, referred to herein as “dendrites”, can grow through various portions of the battery. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1A , dendrites  120  extend outwards from a surface of anode  104  and at least partially through the separator  108  that is located between the electrodes  104 ,  112  in battery  100 A. In another example, as shown in  FIG. 1B , dendrites  130  extend outwards from a surface of anode  124  and at least partially through the electrolyte layer  127 , which is located between the electrodes  124  and  122  in battery  100 B. Because the dendrites can be at least partially comprised of lithium metal, a dendrite that grows across an entirety of the separation between the electrodes to establish at least electrical contact with the cathode  122  can establish an electrical short circuit (also “short” herein) between the cathode and anode via the dendrite. Such an electrical short can cause failure of the battery and can also produce a safety hazard, including overheating of the battery based on the short, which can lead to a fire. 
     In some embodiments, a battery separator in a lithium battery, including a shutdown separator configured to shut down the battery in response to a threshold local temperature, is at least partially permeable by lithium metal such that a lithium dendrite that reaches the separator from the anode can grow through the separator and continue growing towards the cathode. Such permeability can be associated with the pore structure of the separator, where the pores of the separator are sufficiently large so as to permit lithium dendrite growth across the separator. In the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 1A , the dendrites  120  are shown to be growing through the separator  108  via pores  109  in the separator. 
     If the dendrites  120 ,  130 , shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , continue to grow as a result of repeated charging and discharging of the respective battery  100 A,  100 B, the dendrites can eventually reach the respective cathode  112 ,  122  of the respective battery and establish an electrical short between the respective pair of electrodes ( 112  and  104 ) or ( 122  and  124 ). In addition, growth of dendrites  120  through the separator  108  of battery  100 A can impart conductivity to the separator  108 , as dendrites  120  comprise electronically conductive lithium material. In embodiments, where the separator  108  is configured to shut down the battery  100 A by forming a nonconductive barrier (e.g., due to heating effects that may be associated with overcharging), dendrite growth through the separator  108  can render the separator conductive and therefore an ineffective shutdown mechanism. As a result, the dendrites  120  can present an additional safety hazard, even if the dendrites do not extend sufficiently between the electrodes to cause a short, by at least partially suppressing the ability of the separator  108  to shut down the battery  100 A in the event of the battery temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. 
     Electrochemically-Neutral Porous Layer 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an electrochemically-neutral porous layer that is configured to permit lithium ion transport and resist lithium dendrite growth, according to some embodiments. The electrochemically-neutral porous layer, also referred to herein interchangeably as a “porous layer,” can be included in any of the porous layers included in any of the embodiments included herein. 
     In some embodiments, an electrochemically-neutral porous layer is configured to permit at least some charge carriers, including lithium ions, to pass through the layer and is further configured to at least partially suppress or inhibit certain materials, including lithium dendrites, from growing through the layer. As a result, the porous layer is configured to at least partially suppress or inhibit lithium dendrites growing on one side of the porous layer from growing through the porous layer to another side of the porous layer. 
     Lithium atoms and lithium ions can have different sizes, i.e., a lithium ion is smaller in radius than the radius of the atom. The size of an atom can be expressed as the “atomic radius” of the atom, and the size of an ion can be expressed as the “ionic radius” of the ion. While some ions, including anions, have an ionic radius that is larger than the atomic radius of the corresponding atom, other ions, including the lithium ion, can have an ionic radius that is smaller than the atomic radius of the corresponding atom. For example, a lithium atom  230  is understood to have an atomic radius  231  of approximately 145-182 picometers. In addition, the radius of lithium in a metallic lattice is further understood to be approximately 152 picometers. In contrast, the ionic radius  221  of the lithium ion  220  (having a +1 charge) is understood to be approximately 68-78 picometers. 
     In some embodiments, a porous layer that permits lithium ion transport and resists, inhibits or suppresses lithium dendrite growth includes a structure that further includes a set of pores through which charge carriers, including lithium ions, can pass. The pores have diameters that are sufficiently large to permit lithium ions to pass through the pores and sufficiently small to suppress lithium dendrites from growing through the pores. In some embodiments, the pores have diameters that are sufficiently large to permit lithium ions to pass through the pores, referred to herein as lithium ion transport, and sufficiently small to suppress lithium metal lattices, lithium dendrites, or some combination thereof, etc., from growing through the pore. 
     Due at least in part to aggregation of lithium atoms to form dendrites, if pore diameter is sized between approximately 10 and 200 nanometers, the lithium ion  220  can pass through pores  210  but a dendrite, e.g., metallic lattice that may include lithium, may be too large to pass through one or more of the pores  210 ; that is, the dendrite may be resisted, impeded, or suppressed from passing through one or more of the pores  210 . 
     In some embodiments, an electrochemically-neutral state of the porous layer mitigates reaction hazards associated with the presence of the porous layer in a lithium battery. The electrochemically-neutral porous layer is less prone to chemically interacting with chemical elements of the lithium battery than, e.g., an electrochemically active layer, which could otherwise pose a safety hazard from unexpected and harmful chemical reactions between the layer and one or more chemical substances in the battery. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 2 , porous layer  200  includes a structure  202  that forms an arrangement of pores  210  that extend through opposite surfaces of the layer  200 . The arrangement of pores  210  can include pores  210  having a substantially uniform diameter  212  between approximately 20 nanometers and approximately 200 nanometers, although pores with diameters as large as 500 nanometers may impede, resist, or otherwise at least partially suppress dendrites from passing through the porous layer  200 . In some embodiments, the porous layer  200  structure  202  is comprised of one or more various materials that result in an electrochemically-neutral dielectric structure  202  and where the porous layer permits lithium ion flow through the pores and resists/inhibits passage of lithium dendritic structures through the pores. In some embodiments, structure  202  comprises anodic aluminum oxide (AAO), and the porous layer  200  can be referred to as a porous AAO layer. AAO is a suitable material from which to form the structure  202  due to its dielectric nature and because it can be formed into a porous layer with pores sized to permit flow of lithium ions through the pores and to resist/inhibit flow of macroscopic lithium structures (e.g., dendrites) through the pores. Other materials may be suitable to form a thin layer (e.g., thickness approximately 50-100 microns) such as the structure  202 , and are dielectric and can be formed into a porous layer. Some or all of the pores of the structure  202  formed from another material may have diameters sized to permit lithium ions to pass through from a first surface of the structure to a second surface of the structure, and impede lithium dendrites from passing through from the first surface of the structure to the second surface of the structure. 
     As shown, some or all of the pores  210  have a sufficiently large diameter  212  to permit lithium ions  220  that have a radius  221  to pass through the pores of the porous layer  200 . Conversely, some or all of the pores  210  have a sufficiently small diameter  212  to resist, impede, inhibit, or suppress clusters of atoms (e.g., clusters of lithium atoms  230 , each lithium atom  230  having a radius  231 ) such as dendrites or dendrite clusters, from passing through the pores of the porous layer  200 . In some embodiments, the pores  210  are sufficiently small to resist, impede, inhibit, or suppress metal lattices comprising lithium, including lithium dendrites, from growing through the layer via the pores  210 . As a result, lithium dendrite growth through the pores in the layer  200  is resisted, impeded, inhibited, or at least partially suppressed. 
     In some embodiments, one or more electrolyte substances are included in the porous layer  200 , where the one or more electrolyte substances facilitate ionic transport between opposite surfaces of the porous layer  200  via one or more of the pores  210 , the structure  202  of the layer  200 , etc. For example, a liquid electrolyte substance can be included within the porous structure of the porous layer  200 , where the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport, including transport of lithium ions  220 , through the porous layer  200 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded view of a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer that suppresses lithium dendrite growth between the electrodes, according to some embodiments. The battery  300  shown in  FIG. 3  can include any of the lithium batteries included in any of the embodiments herein, including a battery that includes a liquid electrolyte, a battery that includes a solid electrolyte, a battery that includes at least one liquid electrode, or some combination thereof. 
     Battery  300  includes an anode  302 , a cathode  304 , and an electrochemically-neutral porous layer  310  between the two electrolyte regions, where the porous layer  310  includes a set of pores  312  that extend between opposite surfaces of the layer  310  and the opposite surfaces of the layer  310  face into opposite portions of the battery  300 . The illustrated view of the battery  300  is an exploded view to better illustrate features of the battery  300 , e.g., in  FIG. 3 , the electrodes (e.g., anode  302  and cathode  304 ) are separated from the porous layer  310  by separation distances  306  and  307 , respectively. In some embodiments, one or both of the separation distances  306 ,  307  is substantially absent (e.g., of substantially zero length), such that at least one surface of the porous layer  310  contacts a surface of at least one of the electrodes  302 ,  304 . In some embodiments, one or more portions of the battery  300  are located between the porous layer  310  and at least one electrode  302 ,  304 . In one example, battery  300  can include a separator layer (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) between the cathode  304  and the porous layer  310 , while porous layer  310  can be in physical contact with a surface of the anode  302 , and a liquid electrolyte can be included in the separator layer (also “separator” herein) between the cathode  304  and the porous layer  310 . In various embodiments, the separator layer may include any of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyimide (PI), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or a combination thereof. When a separator is present, the porous layer  310  can be of help in the event of thermal failure of the separator (i.e., when the separator is melting). For example, the porous layer  310  may reduce a melting propagation rate of the separator at high temperatures, and may also prevent the anode from directly contacting the cathode as the separator melts. 
     In another example, battery  300  can include a solid electrolyte layer (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) between the porous layer  310  and at least one of the electrodes  302 ,  304 , and the porous layer can be in physical contact with at least one other of the electrodes  302 ,  304 . In some embodiments, one of the electrolyte regions is absent, and one of the surfaces of the porous layer  310  is in physical contact with at least a portion of a surface of one of the electrodes  302 ,  304 . 
     In some embodiments, the porous layer  310  permits lithium ion transport across the porous layer  310  and resists, impedes, or at least partially suppresses lithium dendrite growth across the porous layer  310 . As a result, the porous layer  310  facilitates functioning of the battery  300 . That is, the porous layer  310  facilitates the exchange of lithium ions  320  between the electrodes  302 ,  304  and the porous layer  310  resists, impedes, or at least partially suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites  330  in the portion of the battery that includes the electrode  302  from which the dendrites originate and may help to prevent the lithium dendrites  330  from establishing one or more electrical shorts between the electrodes  302  and  304 . 
     As shown, lithium dendrites  330  are growing from a surface of the anode  302 . In some embodiments, the anode  302  is comprised of one or more materials that include lithium metal. As the battery  300  is repeatedly charged and discharged over time, the lithium dendrites  330  can “grow” outward from the anode  302  to a proximate surface of the porous layer  310 . In some embodiments, separation distance  307  between the anode  302  and the porous layer  310  is minimal, and dendrites protruding from the anode  302  grow directly into contact with the proximate surface of the porous layer  310 . 
     As further shown, the porous layer  310 , while permeable to the lithium ions  320 , is resistant to the lithium dendrites  330 . As a result, dendrites  330  that reach the layer  310  from the anode  302  are impeded or resisted from growing through the layer  310 . Thus, the potential for an electrical short caused by a lithium dendrite connecting the electrodes  302 ,  304  may be mitigated by porous layer  310 . 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a porous layer that includes pores having a particular selected target pore size, a structure having a particular selected thickness, or both a particular selected pore size and a particular selected thickness. A porous layer can further have a selected material composition. The target pore diameter can be predetermined, and a particular porous layer material that includes pores having the predetermined target pore diameter can be selected and utilized to form the layer  310  included in the battery. 
     A predetermined pore diameter of a porous layer material configured to at least partially suppress lithium dendrite growth can include a range of pore diameters. In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth (or dendrite growth of other metals or metal alloys, e.g., due to contamination of the anode). includes pores having a target pore diameter of 500 nanometers In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth includes pores having a target pore diameter of 100 nanometers. In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth includes pores having a target pore diameter of 20 nanometers. 
     A predetermined porous layer thickness of a porous layer material that is configured to at least partially suppress lithium dendrite growth can include a range of thicknesses, e.g., approximately 2 μm-20 μm. In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth includes a structure having a thickness of approximately 50 micrometers. In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth includes a structure having a thickness of approximately 15 micrometers. In some embodiments, a porous AAO layer that is included in the lithium battery and at least partially suppresses lithium metal growth includes a structure having a thickness of approximately 1 micrometer. 
     In some embodiments, one or more electrolyte substances included in one or more portions of the battery  300  facilitate ionic transport through the porous layer  310 . Such electrolyte substances can include one or more liquid electrolyte substances. For example, a liquid electrolyte substance can be included within the porous layer  310 , where the liquid electrolyte may facilitate ionic transport, including transport of lithium ions  320 , through the porous layer  310 . In some embodiments, a liquid electrolyte substance is included in one or more other portions of the battery  300 . For example, where one or more of anode  302  and cathode  304  includes a porous structure, a liquid electrolyte can be included within the porous structure of the respective electrode, such that the liquid electrolyte can facilitate ionic transport between the respective electrode and one or more other portions of the battery  300 , including the porous layer  310 . 
       FIGS. 4A-4D  illustrate perspective views of lithium batteries that include an electrochemically-neutral porous layer and at least one battery separator, according to some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a liquid electrolyte. The liquid electrolyte can be included in one or more particular portions of the battery. For example, the liquid electrolyte can be included in a battery separator, which may be located between the electrodes of the battery. In another example, one or more layers of the battery are immersed in the liquid electrolyte. In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer and a battery separator. The porous layer can suppress dendrite growth, and the battery separator can, in addition to separating the electrodes, shut down the battery based at least in part upon a local temperature of the separator. In addition, because the porous layer can resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium dendrite growth, the porous layer can resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium dendrites from growing through a separator located on an opposite side of the porous layer from the dendrites, so that the dendrites are suppressed from interfering with the shutdown of a battery in the event that a threshold temperature is exceeded for the separator. For example, because a porous layer can resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium dendrites from growing through a battery separator, a nonconductive barrier layer, typically formed by the separator when the threshold temperature is exceeded, is not compromised by lithium dendrites spanning through the separator. Additionally, the porous layer may reduce the melting propagation rate of the separator at high temperatures, and may also prevent the anode from directly contacting the cathode as the separator melts. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a battery that includes a liquid electrolyte, a single battery separator, and a porous layer situated between electrodes of the battery. As shown, battery  400 A includes a cathode  401  a battery separator  404 , a porous layer  406 , an anode  408 , and a liquid electrolyte  402  in which elements  401 - 408  are immersed. In some embodiments (not shown), the liquid electrolyte  402  is included in the separator  404  and is not included in other layers (e.g., cathode  401 , porous layer  406 , anode  408 ) of the battery  400 A. The battery separator  404  can be a separator layer. As shown, the battery  400 A is configured to resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium dendrites, which may grow from the anode  408 , from passing through the porous layer  406  and reaching separator  404 . As shown, the porous layer  406  can abut a surface of the anode  408  such that the porous layer  406  is in physical contact with at least a portion of a surface of the anode  408 . 
     In some embodiments, each layer  404 ,  406  comprises a thin film layer, one or more of which can be provided via any known thin film device fabrication techniques. For example, one or more of layers  404 ,  406  can be applied to one or more other layers in battery  400 A via one or more of coating, depositing, lamination, etc. In some embodiments, one or more layers provides at least some structural support to another layer, and some layers are combined before the combination of layers is applied to one or more other portions of the battery. For example, the porous layer  406  can be laminated to the separator layer  404 . The combined layers  404 ,  406  can then be applied to one or more of the electrodes  401 ,  408  via known lamination techniques. In some embodiments, one or more layers are pre-formed and stacked to form the battery  400 A. For example, separator layer  404  and porous layer  406  can be formed via cutting, partitioning, stamping, etc. of one or more larger structures of separator material and porous layer material, respectively, prior to coupling the layers  404 ,  406  via one or more various thin film device fabrication techniques. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a battery that includes a liquid electrolyte, a porous layer, and two battery separators between the electrodes of the battery, where the two battery separators are located on opposite sides of the porous layer. As shown, battery  400 B includes a cathode  462 , a battery separator  458 , a porous layer  456 , an additional battery separator  454 , an anode  452 , and a liquid electrolyte  460  in which portions  452 - 462  are immersed. In some embodiments, the liquid electrolyte  460  is included in one or more of the separators  454 ,  458  and is not included in other layers of the battery  400 B. One or more of the battery separators  458 ,  454  can be a separator layer. As shown, the battery  400 B is configured to resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium metal dendrites, which may grow from the anode  452 , from passing through the porous layer  458  and reaching the battery separator  458 . Furthermore, the additional battery separator  454  can provide additional shutdown protection (in addition to shutdown protection to be provided by the battery separator  458 ), relative to battery  400 A, in the event of an overheat condition, e.g., where a local temperature exceeds a temperature threshold. As shown, the porous layer  406  can abut a surface of the anode  408 , such that the porous layer is in physical contact with at least a portion of a surface of the anode  408 . 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a solid electrolyte region that comprises a solid electrolyte layer. Such a lithium battery can include a thin film lithium ion battery. In some embodiments, a battery includes a single layer of electrolyte material. The battery can include a porous layer and separator that are arranged in the battery to separate the electrolyte region from the battery electrode from which lithium dendrites can grow, and where at least one battery separator layer is located on a distal side of the porous layer, relative to the battery electrode from which lithium dendrites can grow. As a result, any dendrites originating from the electrode can be resisted, by the porous layer, from growing through both the battery separator and the electrolyte layer. 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a liquid electrode that includes one or more materials in a liquid state. Such a battery can include one or more of an electrolyte layer and separator that are both located between the liquid electrode and another electrode of the battery. The electrolyte layer can include a solid electrolyte layer. 
       FIG. 4C  illustrates a battery that includes a single electrolyte layer, a single battery separator, and a porous layer between the electrodes of the battery. At least one of the electrodes can include a liquid electrode. As shown, battery  400 C includes a cathode  411 , an electrolyte layer  412 , a battery separator  414 , a porous layer  416 , and an anode  418 . The electrolyte layer  412  can include a solid electrolyte layer. The battery separator  414  can be a separator layer. As shown, the battery  400 C is configured to resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium metal dendrites, which may originate from the anode  418 , from passing through the porous layer  416  and reaching separator  414 . In some embodiments, one or more of electrodes  411 ,  418  include a liquid material. As shown, the porous layer  416  can be located adjacent to a surface of the anode  418 . In some embodiments, a surface of the porous layer  416  can abut a surface of the anode  418 . 
     In some embodiments, each layer  412 ,  414 ,  416  comprises a thin film layer, one or more of which can be provided via any known thin film device fabrication techniques. For example, one or more of layers  412 ,  414 ,  416  can be applied to one or more other layers in battery  400 C via one or more of coating, depositing, lamination, etc. In some embodiments, one or more layers provides at least some structural support to another layer, and some layers are combined before the combination of layers is applied to one or more other portions of the battery. For example, the porous layer  416  can be laminated to the separator layer  414 , and the solid electrolyte layer can be applied to the other surface of the separator layer  414  via one or more of coating, deposition, lamination, etc. The combined layers  412 ,  414 ,  416  can then be applied to one or more of the electrodes  411 ,  418  via known lamination techniques. In some embodiments, one or more layers are pre-formed and stacked to form the battery. For example, separator layer  414  and porous layer  416  can be formed, via cutting, partitioning, stamping, etc. of one or more larger structures of separator material and porous layer material, respectively, prior to coupling the layers  414 ,  416  via one or more various thin film device fabrication techniques. 
     In some embodiments (not shown), the porous layer  416  is located between the separator  414  and electrolyte layer  412 , such that the electrolyte layer  412  and separator  414  are adjacent to opposite surfaces of the porous layer  416 . In some embodiments (not shown), the porous layer  416  is included within the electrolyte layer  412 , such that one surface of the porous layer  416  is adjacent to or abuts, electrolyte material. In some embodiments (not shown), the porous layer  416  is included within a separator  414 , such that one surface of the porous layer  416  is adjacent to, or abuts, separator material. 
       FIG. 4D  illustrates a battery that includes a single electrolyte layer, a porous layer, and two battery separators between the electrodes of the battery, where the two battery separators are located on opposite sides of the porous layer. As shown, battery  400 D includes a cathode  482 , an electrolyte layer  480 , a battery separator  478 , a porous layer  476 , another battery separator  474 , and an anode  408 . The electrolyte layer  480  can include a solid electrolyte layer. One or more of the battery separators  478 ,  474  can be a separator layer. As shown, the battery  400 D is configured to resist, impede, or at least partially suppress lithium dendrites, which may grow from the anode  472 , from passing through the porous layer  478  and reaching separator  478 . The additional separator  474  can provide additional shutdown protection, relative to battery  400 C, in the event of an overheat condition where a local temperature (e.g., within battery  400 D) exceeds a temperature threshold. The porous layer may reduce the melting propagation rate of the separator at high temperatures, and may also prevent the anode from directly contacting the cathode as the separator melts. As shown, the porous layer  476  can be located adjacent to, or abutting, a surface of the anode  472 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more liquid electrolyte substances are included in one or more portions of the battery, where the one or more liquid electrolyte substances facilitate ionic transport between the one or more portions of the battery and one or more other portions of the battery. For example, in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4C , a liquid electrolyte can be included in porous layer  416  and separator  414 , and electrolyte  412  can be a solid electrolyte layer, where the liquid electrolyte included therein facilitates ionic transport between the anode  418  and the solid electrolyte layer  412 , such that ionic transport between anode  418  and cathode  411  via layers  412 - 416  is facilitated. In some embodiments, one or more of the cathode and the anode can comprise a porous structure in which a liquid electrolyte substance is included, where the liquid electrolyte substance facilitates ionic transport between the respective electrode and a portion of the battery in physical contact with one or more surfaces of the respective electrode. In another example, in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4D , a liquid electrolyte can be included in porous layer  476  and in separators  474  and  478 , and electrolyte  480  can be a solid electrolyte layer, where the liquid electrolyte included therein facilitates ionic transport between the anode  472  and the solid electrolyte layer  480 , such that ionic transport between anode  472  and cathode  482  via layers  474 - 480  is facilitated. In some embodiments, one or more of the cathode and the anode can comprise a porous structure in which a liquid electrolyte substance is included, where the liquid electrolyte substance facilitates ionic transport between the respective electrode and a portion of the battery in physical contact with one or more surfaces of the respective electrode. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a lithium battery that includes multiple layers arranged in a cylindrical coil configuration, according to some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery, which includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, includes one or more particular configurations of battery components. For example, the multiple battery components in a battery, including one or more of an anode, cathode, battery separator, porous layer, electrolyte layer, etc., can be separate layers that are rolled into a cylindrical coil configuration. In some embodiments, the anode, cathode, porous layer, and a battery separator can be rolled into a cylindrical configuration of layers and immersed in a liquid electrolyte. As shown in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a battery  500  includes a cylindrical coil configuration  502  of layers, which includes battery separator layers  504 ,  512 , a porous layer  509 , an anode layer  508 , and a cathode layer  506 . The cylindrical coil configuration  502  of layers can be immersed in a liquid electrolyte  510 . In some embodiments, the battery  500  includes a solid electrolyte layer, which can be rolled, along with the layers  504 ,  506 ,  508 ,  509 ,  512  into the cylindrical coil configuration  502 . The porous layer  509  can impede or resist dendrites, which may grow from anode  508 , from piercing the separator  504  and contacting the cathode layer  506 , so as to cause an electrical short circuit. The porous layer  509  can also be of help during thermal failure of the separator  504  (i.e., when the separator  504  is melting). For example, the porous layer  509  may reduce the melting propagation rate of the separator at high temperatures, and may also prevent the anode layer  508  from directly contacting the cathode layer  506  as the separator melts. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, according to some embodiments. 
     In some embodiments, a lithium battery includes a thin film lithium ion battery that includes solid electrolyte layers. The solid electrolyte in a thin film lithium ion battery can include a mixture of a solid electrolyte and one or more binder materials. For example, an electrolyte layer in the battery can include one or more of LiPON, a PVDF binder, a CMC binder, an Acrylic binder, etc. 
     In some embodiments, one or more of the layers in a thin film lithium ion battery can be provided via one or more various known thin film device fabrication techniques. For example, one or more of the layers in a thin film lithium ion battery, including one or more electrode layers, separator layers, electrolyte layers, porous layers, etc. can be provided in a battery via one or more of lamination, coating, deposition, etc. of the respective layers. In some embodiments, a thin film lithium ion battery is fabricated on one or more substrates. 
       FIG. 6  shows a thin film lithium ion battery  600 , which includes a stack  601  of thin film layers provided on a substrate  602 . The stack  601  includes an anode current collector  604 , an anode layer  608 , a porous layer  610 , an electrolyte layer  612 , a cathode layer  614 , and a cathode current collector  618 . In some embodiments, the anode layer  608  comprises a lithium metal layer, and the porous layer  610  comprises a porous AAO layer. In some embodiments, the stack  601  further includes an encapsulation layer  620  that can resist permeation into the stack  601 , from an external environment, one or more various environmental elements, which can include one or more of particular matter, precipitation, moisture, etc. In some embodiments, the electrolyte layer  612  includes a solid electrolyte layer. 
     As shown, the battery  600  includes a thin film stack  601  of layers. The multiple layers can be applied on the substrate  602 , via a thin film device fabrication technique, to form the battery  600 . Some layers can be pre-formed and stacked to form at least a portion of the stack  601 . Some layers can be formed on other layers that are previously applied to the substrate  602  to form at least a portion of the stack. For example, the porous layer  610  can be pre-formed from a bulk supply of porous layer material and the electrolyte layer  612  can be formed on a surface of the porous layer  610  via one or more of a coating technique, a deposition technique, a lamination technique, etc., to which the combined porous layer  610  and electrolyte layer  612  can be subsequently applied to the anode  608  via, e.g., lamination. 
     In some embodiments, one or more layers can provide at least some structural support of one or more other layers of the battery  600 . For example, a solid electrolyte layer (e.g., electrolyte layer  612 ) can be at least partially structurally supported by the porous layer  610 . 
     In some embodiments, one or more electrolyte substances are included in the porous layer  610 , where the one or more electrolyte substances facilitate ionic transport between opposite surfaces of the porous layer  610  via one or more of the pores included in the porous layer. For example, a liquid electrolyte substance can be included within the porous layer  610 , where the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport, including the transport of lithium ions, through the porous layer  610  between the anode  608  and the electrolyte layer  612 , such that ionic transport between electrodes  608 ,  614  via electrolyte layer  612  and porous layer  610  is facilitated. In some embodiments, a liquid electrolyte substance is included in one or more of the electrodes  608 ,  614 . For example, where the anode  608  comprises a porous structure, a liquid electrolyte can be included in the anode  608 , and the liquid electrolyte can facilitate ionic transport between the anode  608  and the porous layer  610 . 
     It will be understood that the illustrated portions of battery  600  can be arranged in other configurations and include additional components. For example, in another configuration (not shown), battery  600  can include an electrolyte layer between porous layer  610  and anode  608 , such that a surface of the porous layer that is distal from the anode  608  is in physical contact with a surface of the cathode  614 . The cathode  614  can include a porous structure, and a liquid electrolyte can be included in the porous structure of both the porous layer and the cathode  614 . In some embodiments, a liquid electrolyte is included only in the porous layer omitted from either of the electrodes  608 ,  614 . In some embodiments, one or more battery separators are located in physical contact with one or more surfaces of the porous layer, and a liquid electrolyte can be included in the separators. For example, in an embodiment where a solid electrolyte layer is included between the porous layer  610  and the anode  608 , a battery separator can be located between the porous layer  610  and the cathode  614 , and a liquid electrolyte can be included in both the battery separator and the porous layer  610 , such that the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport between the solid electrolyte layer and the cathode  614  via the porous layer  610  and the battery separator, to facilitate ionic transport between the anode  608  and the cathode  614  via the solid electrolyte layer, the porous layer  610 , and the battery separator. The porous layer  610  can be of additional help during thermal failure of the battery separator (i.e., when the battery separator is melting). For example, the porous layer  610  may reduce the melting propagation rate of the battery separator at high temperatures, and may also prevent the anode from directly contacting the cathode as the battery separator melts. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, according to some embodiments. 
       FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of a thin film lithium ion battery  700  that includes a substrate  702  and a stack  701  of layers, which includes a cathode current collector  704 , a cathode layer  708 , a porous layer  710 , an electrolyte layer  712 , an anode layer  714 , an anode current collector  718 , and an encapsulation layer  720  applied on the substrate  702 . In some embodiments, the anode layer  714  comprises a layer of lithium metal, and the porous layer comprises a porous AAO layer. In some embodiments, the electrolyte layer  612  includes a solid electrolyte layer. As shown, in some embodiments the various layers in the battery can be conforming layers, having various thicknesses, which can be applied on a substrate via one or more various known thin film device fabrication techniques. 
     In some embodiments, one or more electrolyte substances are included in the porous layer  710 , where the one or more electrolyte substances facilitate ionic transport between opposite surfaces of the porous layer  710  via one or more of the pores included in the porous layer  710 . For example, a liquid electrolyte substance can be included within the porous structure of the porous layer  710 , where the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport, including the transport of lithium ions, through the porous layer  710  between the anode  714  and the electrolyte layer  712 , such that ionic transport between electrodes  708 ,  714  via electrolyte layer  712  and porous layer  710  is facilitated. 
     It will be understood that the illustrated portions of battery  700  can be arranged in other configurations and include additional components. For example, battery  700  can include an electrolyte layer (not shown) between porous layer  710  and cathode  708 , such that a surface of the porous layer that is distal from the cathode  708  is in physical contact with a surface of the anode  714 . The anode  714  can include a porous structure, and a liquid electrolyte can be included in the porous structure of both the porous layer and the anode  714 . In some embodiments, a liquid electrolyte is included in the porous layer and not either of the electrodes  708 ,  714 . In some embodiments, one or more battery separators (not shown) are located in physical contact with one or more surfaces of the porous layer, and a liquid electrolyte can be included in the battery separators. For example, where a solid electrolyte layer is included between the porous layer  710  and the cathode  708 , a battery separator can be located between the porous layer  710  and the anode  714 , and a liquid electrolyte can be included in both the battery separator and the porous layer  710  such that the liquid electrolyte facilitates ionic transport between the electrolyte layer and the anode  714  via the porous layer  710  and the battery separator, facilitating ionic transport between the cathode  708  and the anode  714  via the electrolyte layer, the porous layer  710 , and the battery separator. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a lithium battery that includes an electrochemically-neutral porous layer and one or more extended structures coupled to one or more sides of the porous layer, according to some embodiments. The lithium battery  800  shown in  FIG. 8  can be included in any of the embodiments herein. 
     In some embodiments, a porous layer is coupled with an extended structure to collectively comprise a support structure that can structurally support at least one layer of solid electrolyte. The support structure can provide a skeleton structure that can support a particular shape of a solid electrolyte layer applied on one or more surfaces of the support structure. The extended structure to which the porous layer is coupled can include one or more various materials. For example, the extended structure can comprise an aluminum foil structure. The extended structure can be coupled to an outer side, also referred to interchangeably herein as an outer “edge”, of the porous layer, such that the extended structure extends from the porous layer, establishing a frame of one or more sides of the porous layer. 
     In some embodiments, an electrolyte layer is applied to a structure that comprises a porous layer that is coupled to an extended structure, such that the porous layer and extended structure collectively provide structural support to the electrolyte layer, which can include a solid electrolyte layer. In some embodiments, the extended structure provides the structural support. In some embodiments, the electrolyte layer is applied to a limited portion of the combined porous layer and extended structure, so that the electrolyte layer encompasses an entirety of a surface of the porous layer and at least partially encompasses a surface of the extended structure. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a lithium battery  800  that is shown, via exploded view, in three portions: a first portion  801 A, a second portion  801 B, and a stack  810  that is separated from the portions  801 A and  801 B in the illustration by the respective separations  806 A-B. The battery portions  801 A-B can include one or more various battery components, including one or more electrodes, electrolytes, current collectors, some combination thereof, etc. 
     It will be understood that, in some embodiments, an illustrated separation between various portions of a battery in an illustrated exploded view of the battery are included for illustration purposes. For example, in the illustrated embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , separation  806 A between battery portion  801 A and stack  810  in the exploded view of battery  800  may be minimal within the battery  800 , such that portions or an entirety of a surface of stack  810  is in physical contact with (e.g., abuts) a surface of battery portion  801 A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , stack  810  includes a porous layer  812 , which can include any of the porous layer embodiments included herein, and an electrolyte layer  814  that is applied to at least one surface of the porous layer  812 . The electrolyte layer  814  can include a solid electrolyte layer. The porous layer  812  can include an electrolyte that is included within the porous structure of the porous layer; such an electrolyte can include a liquid electrolyte. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 8 , stack  810  includes one or more extended structures  816 A,  816 B that can be coupled to one or more sides of the porous layer  812  to establish a base structure  811 . Although the illustrated view of the stack  810  illustrates two separate extended structures  816 A,  816 B coupled to opposite sides of the porous layer  812 , it will be understood that, in some embodiments, a single extended structure  816  extends around all sides of the porous layer  812  such that the extended structure  816  establishes a “frame” of the porous layer and the two separate structure portions  816 A,  816 B shown in  FIG. 8  are portions of a single continuous extended structure  816 . 
     As shown, the electrolyte layer  814  is applied to a surface of the base structure  811 , such that the base structure  811  provides structural support to the electrolyte layer  814 . In some embodiments, the structure portions  816 A,  816 B comprise an aluminum (e.g., aluminum foil) structure that extends from one or more sides of the porous layer  812 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . An electrolyte layer  814  may be applied to both the porous layer  812  and at least a portion of the extended structure  816  that comprises the base structure  811 , so that at least a portion of the porous layer  812  and the extended structures  816 A,  816 B comprising the base structure  811  collectively provide structural support to the electrolyte layer  814 . In some embodiments, the extended structures  816 A,  816 B comprise an entirety of the structural support provided to the electrolyte layer  814  by the base structure  811 . 
     The porous layer  812 , extended structures  816 A and  816 B, and electrolyte layer  814  can be coupled, as a stack  810 , to one or more of the battery portions  801 A,  801 B such that battery  800  is fabricated. For example, stack  810  can be initially coupled to battery portion  801 A via surfaces of at least the porous layer  812  and subsequently coupled to battery portion  801 B via one or more surfaces of one or more of the electrolyte layer  814 , porous layer  812 , extended structures  816 A and  816 B, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the extended structures  816 A,  816 B at least partially restricts an electrolyte included in the porous layer  812 , including a liquid electrolyte, from leaving the porous layer  812  via the sides of the porous layer that are coupled to at least one extended structure  816 A,  816 B. 
     Battery Fabrication 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of techniques may be used to fabricate a lithium battery. In some embodiments, a lithium battery that is configured to at least partially resist, impede, or suppress lithium dendrite growth between electrodes in the battery can be at least partially fabricated via various techniques. 
     In some embodiments, one or more sets of materials used to form one or more components of the lithium battery are provided to process as material stock. For example, where the battery includes a solid electrolyte layer, the solid electrolyte material can be provided as a powder stock, which can be mixed with one or more selected binders and applied to another formed battery layer, including the porous layer, via one or more various application processes, including coating, deposition, lamination, or some combination thereof. The porous layer can be applied to one or more portions of the battery, including one or more electrodes, via one or more various processes, including coating, depositing, laminating, etc. of the porous layer, and any layers applied to the porous layer, to the one or more battery portions. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a process  900  for fabricating a lithium battery, according to some embodiments. The fabricating can be controlled by one or more computer systems, which are described further below. 
     At block  902 , a set of battery components are obtained. Battery components can include one or more battery electrodes, including one or more cathodes, anodes, etc. Battery components can include an electrochemically-neutral porous layer, an electrolyte material, a battery separator, etc. In some embodiments, one or more of the battery components are obtained as a set of material that can be used to form one or more layers of the battery. For example, the electrochemically-neutral porous layer can be obtained as a roll of layer material that can be cut, segmented, partitioned, etc. to form an individual layer for an individual battery. In another example, starting material of an electrolyte layer, including LiPON, one or more additional materials, including PVDF binders, CMC binders, acrylic binders, etc., can be obtained as a mass of material stock that can be applied to one or more surfaces, as described further below, to form one or more electrolyte layers. In some embodiments, obtaining the battery components includes obtaining an anode material that is used to form one or more anodes of the battery, where the anode material comprises lithium metal. 
     In some embodiments, obtaining a set of battery components includes obtaining an electrochemically-neutral porous layer material that includes a particular material composition, a pore structure of pores having a particular selected pore size and a particular selected layer material thickness. For example, the electrochemically-neutral porous layer material can include an anodic aluminum oxide layer material that includes pores having an approximate pore diameter that does not exceed approximately 100 nanometers, and a having a thickness of 1-50 micrometers. In some embodiments, the pores in the layer material include pores having an approximate pore diameter between 10 nanometers and 100 nanometers, and in other embodiments the pores in the layer material may have an approximate port diameter between 20 nanometers and 500 nanometers. 
     At block  910 , the electrochemically-neutral porous layer is provided between the electrodes of the battery. Such providing can include applying the porous layer to a portion of the battery that includes a single electrode, and subsequently applying the other electrode to the portion that includes the applied porous layer. 
     As shown by blocks  912 ,  914 ,  916 , and  917 , the providing can include various elements. As shown at block  912 , the electrochemically-neutral porous layer can be formed from the obtained layer material. Such layer formation can include partitioning, cutting, etc. an obtained set of layer material stock into an individual layer. In some embodiments, forming the layer includes applying at least some of the layer material to a substrate, carrier film, etc. Such applying of material to form a layer can include any known method for forming a layer from a material stock, including atomic layer deposition, coating of materials, lamination of materials, etc. 
     At block  914 , where the lithium battery being fabricated is to comprise at least one solid electrolyte layer, at least one solid electrolyte layer material can be applied to at least one surface of the porous layer, such that at least one solid electrolyte layer is formed on the at least one surface of the porous layer. The solid electrolyte material can include any known solid electrolytes, including LiPON, a mixture that includes one or more of PVDF binders, CMC binders, acrylic binders, etc. Applying solid electrolyte layer material to a surface of the porous layer can include one or more of coating the material over at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, depositing the material over at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, laminating the material on at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, etc. 
     Applying the solid electrolyte material to a particular selected portion of the porous layer can result in forming a solid electrolyte layer that extends over a selected particular portion of the porous layer in a particular selected pattern. In some embodiments, applying the solid electrolyte material to the porous layer results in the formation of a solid electrolyte layer that is at least partially structurally supported by the porous layer. For example, the porous layer material can provide a structural skeleton structure that supports a particular shape of the solid electrolyte layer applied on one or more surfaces of the porous layer. In some embodiments, one or more solid electrolyte layers are applied on multiple surfaces of the porous layer, such that multiple separate solid electrolyte layers are formed. 
     At block  916 , one or more battery separator materials are applied to one or more sides of the porous layer, such that one or more battery separator layers are formed. Applying battery separator material to a side of the porous layer can include one or more of coating the material over at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, depositing the material over at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, laminating the material on at least a particular selected portion of the porous layer to form the solid electrolyte layer, etc. 
     At block  917 , the porous layer is applied to a portion of the lithium battery. The portion of the lithium battery can include one or more electrodes, such that applying the porous layer includes applying at least a portion of the porous layer directly to at least one surface of at least one electrode. 
     At block  914 , a solid electrolyte layer is applied to at least one surface of the porous layer, and applying the porous layer to a battery portion includes applying the combined porous layer and solid electrolyte layer to the battery portion, subsequent to forming the solid electrolyte layer on one or more surfaces of the porous layer. Applying the porous layer to the battery portion can include applying a surface of the porous layer that is distal from the surface on which the solid electrolyte layer is formed, to the battery portion, such that the porous layer is located between the solid electrolyte layer and the battery portion. 
     At block  916 , in some embodiments, the battery separator is applied to at least one surface of the porous layer. At block  917 , the method includes applying the porous layer to a battery portion, which includes applying the combined porous layer and battery separator to the battery portion subsequent to applying the battery separator on one or more surfaces of the porous layer. Applying the porous layer to the battery portion can include applying a surface of the porous layer that is distal from the surface on which the battery separator is applied, to the battery portion, such that the porous layer is located between the battery separator and the battery portion. 
     Applying the porous layer to the battery portion can include one or more of coating the porous layer over at least a particular selected portion of the battery portion, depositing the porous layer over at least a particular selected portion of the battery portion, laminating the porous layer over at least a particular selected portion of the battery portion, etc. 
     At block  918 , a remainder of the battery components is applied to the battery portion, such that the battery is fabricated. The application can include stacking multiple separate layers over the porous layer that is applied to the battery portion. In some embodiments, the application includes applying an electrode, current collector, thin film layer, encapsulation layer, or some combination thereof over the applied porous layer to complete the fabrication of the battery. 
     In some embodiments, fabricating the lithium battery includes applying a liquid electrolyte to one or more portions of the battery. For example, one or more of forming the porous layer (block  912 ), applying the separator to the porous layer  916 , applying the porous layer to a battery portion (block  917 ), and applying a remainder of battery components to the battery portion (block  912 ) can include applying a liquid electrolyte substance to one or more of the porous layer, the battery separator, one or more of the electrodes, or some combination thereof. 
     Electronic Device Examples 
     Embodiments of electronic devices in which embodiments of batteries as described herein may be used are described. 
     Attention is now directed toward embodiments of portable devices with cameras.  FIG. 10  illustrates device  1000 , which may be powered by one or more of the batteries described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . 
     Device  1000  is a multifunction device (e.g., a computing device) that may include memory  1002  (that may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), memory controller  1022 , one or more processing units (CPU&#39;s)  1020 , peripherals interface  1018 , RF circuitry  1008 , audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , touch-sensitive display system  1012 , microphone  1013 , input/output (I/O) subsystem  1006 , other input or control devices  1016 , and external port  1024 . Device  1000  may include one or more optical sensors  1064 . These components may communicate over one or more communication buses or signal lines  1003 . 
     Memory  1002  may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices, flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices. Access to memory  1002  by other components of device  1000 , such as CPU  1020  and the peripherals interface  1018 , may be controlled by memory controller  1022 . 
     Peripherals interface  1018  can be used to couple input and output peripherals of the device to CPU  1020  and memory  1002 . The one or more processors  1020  run or execute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored in memory  1002  to perform various functions for device  1000  and to process data. 
     In some embodiments, peripherals interface  1018 , CPU  1020 , and memory controller  1022  may be implemented on a single chip, such as chip  1004 . In some other embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips. 
     RF (radio frequency) circuitry  1008  receives and sends RF signals, also called electromagnetic signals. RF circuitry  1008  converts electrical signals to/from electromagnetic signals and communicates with communications networks and other communications devices via the electromagnetic signals. 
     Audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , and microphone  1013  provide an audio interface between a user and device  1000 . Audio circuitry  1010 , which can include one or more audio communication interfaces, receives audio data from peripherals interface  1018 , converts the audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electrical signal to speaker  1011 . Speaker  1011  converts the electrical signal to human-audible sound waves. Audio circuitry  1010  also receives electrical signals converted by microphone  1013  from sound waves. Audio circuitry  1010  converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits the audio data to peripherals interface  1018  for processing. Audio data may be retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory  102  and/or RF circuitry  1008  by peripherals interface  1018 . In some embodiments, audio circuitry  1010  also includes a headset jack (e.g.,  1012 ,  FIG. 10 ). The headset jack provides an interface between audio circuitry  1010  and removable audio input/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headset with both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input (e.g., a microphone). 
     I/O subsystem  1006  couples input/output peripherals on device  1000 , such as touch screen  1012  and other input control devices  1016 , to peripherals interface  1018 . I/O subsystem  1006  may include display controller  1056  and one or more input controllers  1060  for other input or control devices. The one or more input controllers  160  receive/send electrical signals from/to other input or control devices  1016 . The other input control devices  1016  may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons, rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, joysticks, click wheels, and so forth. In some alternative embodiments, input controller(s)  1060  may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infrared port, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or more buttons (e.g.,  1008 ,  FIG. 10 ) may include an up/down button for volume control of speaker  1011  and/or microphone  1013 . The one or more buttons may include a push button (e.g.,  1006 ,  FIG. 10 ). 
     Touch-sensitive display  1012  provides an input interface and an output interface between the device and a user. Display controller  1056  receives and/or sends electrical signals from/to touch screen  1012 . Touch screen  1012  displays visual output to the user. The visual output may include graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof (collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all of the visual output may correspond to user-interface objects. 
     Touch screen  1012  has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensors that accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact. Touch screen  1012  and display controller  1056  (along with any associated modules and/or sets of instructions in memory  1002 ) detect contact (and any movement or breaking of the contact) on touch screen  1012  and converts the detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g., one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed on touch screen  1012 . In an example embodiment, a point of contact between touch screen  1012  and the user corresponds to a finger of the user. 
     Device  1000  also includes power system  1062  for powering the various components. Power system  1062  may include a power management system, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current (AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a power converter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emitting diode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation, management and distribution of power in portable devices. 
     Device  1000  may also include one or more optical sensors or cameras  1064 .  FIG. 10  shows an optical sensor coupled to optical sensor controller  1058  in I/O subsystem  1006 . Optical sensor  1064  may include charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Optical sensor  1064  receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with imaging module  1043  (also called a camera module), optical sensor  1064  may capture still images or video. In some embodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of device  1000 , opposite touch screen display  1012  on the front of the device, so that the touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder for still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, another optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user&#39;s image may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views the other videoconference participants on the touch screen display. 
     Device  1000  may also include one or more proximity sensors  1066 .  FIG. 10  shows proximity sensor  1066  coupled to peripherals interface  1018 . Alternatively, proximity sensor  1066  may be coupled to input controller  1060  in I/O subsystem  1006 . In some embodiments, the proximity sensor turns off and disables touch screen  1012  when the multifunction device is placed near the user&#39;s ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call). 
     Device  1000  includes one or more orientation sensors  1068 . In some embodiments, the one or more orientation sensors include one or more accelerometers (e.g., one or more linear accelerometers and/or one or more rotational accelerometers). 
     In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory  1002  include operating system  1026 , communication module (or set of instructions)  1028 , contact/motion module (or set of instructions)  1030 , graphics module (or set of instructions)  1032 , text input module (or set of instructions)  1034 , Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set of instructions)  1035 , arbiter module  1057  and applications (or sets of instructions)  1036 . Furthermore, in some embodiments memory  1002  stores device/global internal state  1057 . Device/global internal state  1057  includes one or more of: active application state, indicating which applications, if any, are currently active; display state, indicating what applications, views or other information occupy various regions of touch screen display  1012 ; sensor state, including information obtained from the device&#39;s various sensors and input control devices  1016 ; and location information concerning the device&#39;s location and/or attitude. 
     Communication module  1028  facilitates communication with other devices over one or more external ports  1024  and also includes various software components for handling data received by RF circuitry  1008  and/or external port  1024 . External port  1024  (e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devices or indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.). 
     Contact/motion module  1030  may detect contact with touch screen  1012  (in conjunction with display controller  1056 ) and other touch sensitive devices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). Contact/motion module  1030  includes various software components for performing various operations related to detection of contact, such as determining if contact has occurred (e.g., detecting a finger-down event), determining if there is movement of the contact and tracking the movement across the touch-sensitive surface (e.g., detecting one or more finger-dragging events), and determining if the contact has ceased (e.g., detecting a finger-up event or a break in contact). Contact/motion module  1030  receives contact data from the touch-sensitive surface. Determining movement of the point of contact, which is represented by a series of contact data, may include determining speed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or an acceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point of contact. These operations may be applied to single contacts (e.g., one finger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g., “multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, contact/motion module  1030  and display controller  1056  detect contact on a touchpad. 
     Graphics module  1032  includes various known software components for rendering and displaying graphics on touch screen  1012  or other display, including components for changing the intensity of graphics that are displayed. In some embodiments, graphics module  1032  stores data representing graphics to be used. Each graphic may be assigned a corresponding code. Graphics module  1032  receives, from applications etc., one or more codes specifying graphics to be displayed along with, if necessary, coordinate data and other graphic property data, and then generates screen image data to output to display controller  1056 . 
     Text input module  1034 , which may be a component of graphics module  1032 , provides soft keyboards for entering text in various applications (e.g., contacts  1037 , e-mail  1040 , IM  141 , browser  1047 , and any other application that needs text input). 
     GPS module  1035  determines the location of the device and provides this information for use in various applications (e.g., to telephone  1038  for use in location-based dialing, to camera module  1043  as picture/video metadata, and to applications that provide location-based services such as weather widgets, local yellow page widgets, and map/navigation widgets). 
     Applications  1036  may include the following modules (or sets of instructions), or a subset or superset thereof:
         contacts module  1037  (sometimes called an address book or contact list);   telephone module  1038 ;   video conferencing module  1039 ;   e-mail client module  1040 ;   instant messaging (IM) module  1041 ;   workout support module  1042 ;   camera module  1043  for still and/or video images;   image management module  1044 ;   browser module  1047 ;   calendar module  1048 ;   widget modules  1049 , which may include one or more of: weather widget  1049 - 1 , stocks widget  1049 - 2 , calculator widget  1049 - 3 , alarm clock widget  1049 - 4 , dictionary widget  1049 - 5 , and other widgets obtained by the user, as well as user-created widgets  1049 - 6 ;   widget creator module  1050  for making user-created widgets  1049 - 6 ;   search module  1051 ;   video and music player module  1052 , which may be made up of a video player   module and a music player module;   notes module  1053 ;   map module  1054 ; and/or   online video module  1055 .       

     Examples of other applications  1036  that may be stored in memory  1002  include other word processing applications, other image editing applications, drawing applications, presentation applications, JAVA-enabled applications, encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voice replication. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , contacts module  1037  may be used to manage an address book or contact list (e.g., stored in application internal state  1092  of contacts module  1037  in memory  1002 ), including: adding name(s) to the address book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associating telephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or other information with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizing and sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses to initiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone  1038 , video conference  1039 , e-mail  1040 , or IM  1041 ; and so forth. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , microphone  1013 , touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , telephone module  1038  may be used to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to a telephone number, access one or more telephone numbers in address book  1037 , modify a telephone number that has been entered, dial a respective telephone number, conduct a conversation and disconnect or hang up when the conversation is completed. As noted above, the wireless communication may use any of a variety of communications standards, protocols and technologies. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , microphone  1013 , touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , optical sensor  1064 , optical sensor controller  1058 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , contact list  1037 , and telephone module  1038 , videoconferencing module  109  includes executable instructions to initiate, conduct, and terminate a video conference between a user and one or more other participants in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , e-mail client module  1040  includes executable instructions to create, send, receive, and manage e-mail in response to user instructions. In conjunction with image management module  1044 , e-mail client module  1040  makes it very easy to create and send e-mails with still or video images taken with camera module  1043 . 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , the instant messaging module  1041  includes executable instructions to enter a sequence of characters corresponding to an instant message, to modify previously entered characters, to transmit a respective instant message (for example, using a Short Message Service (SMS) or Multimedia Message Service (MMS) protocol for telephony-based instant messages or using XIVIPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS for Internet-based instant messages), to receive instant messages and to view received instant messages. In some embodiments, transmitted and/or received instant messages may include graphics, photos, audio files, video files and/or other attachments as are supported in a MMS and/or an Enhanced Messaging Service (EMS). As used herein, “instant messaging” refers to both telephony-based messages (e.g., messages sent using SMS or MMS) and Internet-based messages (e.g., messages sent using XMPP, SIMPLE, or IMPS). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , GPS module  1035 , map module  1054 , and music player module  1046 , workout support module  1042  includes executable instructions to create workouts (e.g., with time, distance, and/or calorie burning goals); communicate with workout sensors (sports devices); receive workout sensor data; calibrate sensors used to monitor a workout; select and play music for a workout; and display, store and transmit workout data. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , optical sensor(s)  1064 , optical sensor controller  1058 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and image management module  1044 , camera module  1043  includes executable instructions to capture still images or video (including a video stream) and store them into memory  1002 , modify characteristics of a still image or video, or delete a still image or video from memory  1002 . 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , and camera module  1043 , image management module  1044  includes executable instructions to arrange, modify (e.g., edit), or otherwise manipulate, label, delete, present (e.g., in a digital slide show or album), and store still and/or video images. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , browser module  1047  includes executable instructions to browse the Internet in accordance with user instructions, including searching, linking to, receiving, and displaying web pages or portions thereof, as well as attachments and other files linked to web pages. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , e-mail client module  1040 , and browser module  1047 , calendar module  1048  includes executable instructions to create, display, modify, and store calendars and data associated with calendars (e.g., calendar entries, to do lists, etc.) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , and browser module  1047 , widget modules  1049  are mini-applications that may be downloaded and used by a user (e.g., weather widget  1049 - 1 , stocks widget  1049 - 2 , calculator widget  10493 , alarm clock widget  1049 - 4 , and dictionary widget  1049 - 5 ) or created by the user (e.g., user-created widget  1049 - 6 ). In some embodiments, a widget includes an HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) file, a CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) file, and a JavaScript file. In some embodiments, a widget includes an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and a JavaScript file (e.g., Yahoo! Widgets). 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , and browser module  1047 , the widget creator module  1050  may be used by a user to create widgets (e.g., turning a user-specified portion of a web page into a widget). 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , search module  1051  includes executable instructions to search for text, music, sound, image, video, and/or other files in memory  1002  that match one or more search criteria (e.g., one or more user-specified search terms) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , RF circuitry  1008 , and browser module  1047 , video and music player module  1052  includes executable instructions that allow the user to download and play back recorded music and other sound files stored in one or more file formats, such as MP3 or AAC files, and executable instructions to display, present or otherwise play back videos (e.g., on touch screen  1012  or on an external, connected display via external port  1024 ). In some embodiments, device  1000  may include the functionality of an MP3 player. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , and text input module  1034 , notes module  1053  includes executable instructions to create and manage notes, to do lists, and the like in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with RF circuitry  1008 , touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , text input module  1034 , GPS module  1035 , and browser module  1047 , map module  1054  may be used to receive, display, modify, and store maps and data associated with maps (e.g., driving directions; data on stores and other points of interest at or near a particular location; and other location-based data) in accordance with user instructions. 
     In conjunction with touch screen  1012 , display system controller  1056 , contact module  1030 , graphics module  1032 , audio circuitry  1010 , speaker  1011 , RF circuitry  1008 , text input module  1034 , e-mail client module  1040 , and browser module  1047 , online video module  1055  includes instructions that allow the user to access, browse, receive (e.g., by streaming and/or download), play back (e.g., on the touch screen or on an external, connected display via external port  1024 ), send an e-mail with a link to a particular online video, and otherwise manage online videos in one or more file formats, such as H.264. In some embodiments, instant messaging module  1041 , rather than e-mail client module  1040 , is used to send a link to a particular online video. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a portable electronic device  1100  that may be powered by one or more of the batteries described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . Touch screen  1012  may display one or more graphics, also referred to herein as graphical representations, icons, etc., within user interface (UI)  1100 . UI  1100  can include a graphical user interface (GUI). In this embodiment, as well as others described below, a user may select one or more of the graphics by making a gesture on the graphics, for example, with one or more fingers  1102  (not drawn to scale in the Figure) or one or more styluses  1103  (not drawn to scale in the figure). 
     Device  1100  may also include one or more physical buttons, such as “home” or menu button  1104 . As described previously, menu button  1104  may be used to navigate to any application  1036  in a set of applications that may be executed on device  1000 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the menu button is implemented as a soft key in a graphics user interface (GUI) displayed on touch screen  1012 . 
     In one embodiment, device  1000  includes touch screen  1012 , menu button  1104 , push button  1106  for powering the device on/off and locking the device, volume adjustment button(s)  1108 , Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card slot  1110 , head set jack  1112 , and docking/charging external port  1024 . Push button  1106  may be used to turn the power on/off on the device by depressing the button and holding the button in the depressed state for a predefined time interval; to lock the device by depressing the button and releasing the button before the predefined time interval has elapsed; and/or to unlock the device or initiate an unlock process. In an alternative embodiment, device  1000  also may accept verbal input for activation or deactivation of some functions through microphone  1013 . 
     It should be noted that, although many of the examples herein are given with reference to optical sensor/camera  1064  (on the front of a device), a rear-facing camera or optical sensor that is pointed opposite from the display may be used instead of or in addition to an optical sensor/camera  1064  on the front of a device. 
     Example Computer System 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example computer system  1200  that may be powered by one or more of the batteries described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-8 . In different embodiments, computer system  1200  may be any of various types of devices, including, but not limited to, a personal computer system, desktop computer, laptop, notebook, tablet, slate, pad, or netbook computer, cell phone, smartphone, PDA, portable media device, mainframe computer system, handheld computer, workstation, network computer, a camera or video camera, a set top box, a mobile device, a consumer device, video game console, handheld video game device, application server, storage device, a television, a video recording device, a peripheral device such as a switch, modem, router, or in general any type of computing or electronic device. 
     Various embodiments of one or more functional components of an electronic device, a process for fabricating a lithium battery, etc., as described herein, may be executed in one or more computer systems  1200 , which may interact with various other devices. Note that any component, action, or functionality described above with respect to  FIG. 1-11  may be implemented on one or more computers configured as computer system  1200  of  FIG. 12 , according to various embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, computer system  1200  includes one or more processors  1210  coupled to a system memory  1220  via an input/output (I/O) interface  1230 . Computer system  1200  further includes a network interface  1240  coupled to I/O interface  1230 , and one or more input/output devices  1250 , such as cursor control device  1260 , keyboard  1270 , and display(s)  1280 . In some cases, it is contemplated that embodiments may be implemented using a single instance of computer system  1200 , while in other embodiments multiple such systems, or multiple nodes making up computer system  1200 , may be configured to host different portions or instances of embodiments. For example, in one embodiment some elements may be implemented via one or more nodes of computer system  1200  that are distinct from those nodes implementing other elements. 
     System memory  1220  may be configured to store camera control program instructions  1222  and/or voice communication control data accessible by processor  1210 . In various embodiments, system memory  1220  may be implemented using any suitable memory technology, such as static random access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type of memory. In the illustrated embodiment, program instructions  1222  may be configured to implement a point-to-point voice communication application incorporating any of the functionality described above. Additionally, program instructions  1222  of memory  1220  may include any of the information or data structures described above. In some embodiments, program instructions and/or data may be received, sent or stored upon different types of computer-accessible media or on similar media separate from system memory  1220  or computer system  1200 . While computer system  1200  is described as implementing the functionality of functional blocks of previous Figures, any of the functionality described herein may be implemented via such a computer system. 
     In one embodiment, I/O interface  1230  may be configured to coordinate I/O traffic between processor  1210 , system memory  1220 , and any peripheral devices in the device, including network interface  1240  or other peripheral interfaces, such as input/output devices  1250 . In some embodiments, I/O interface  1230  may perform any necessary protocol, timing or other data transformations to convert data signals from one component (e.g., system memory  1220 ) into a format suitable for use by another component (e.g., processor  1210 ). In some embodiments, I/O interface  1230  may include support for devices attached through various types of peripheral buses, such as a variant of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard, for example. In some embodiments, the function of I/O interface  1230  may be split into two or more separate components, such as a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. Also, in some embodiments some or all of the functionality of I/O interface  1230 , such as an interface to system memory  1220 , may be incorporated directly into processor  1210 . 
     Network interface  1240  may be configured to allow data to be exchanged between computer system  1200  and other devices attached to a network  1285  (e.g., carrier or agent devices) or between nodes of computer system  1200 . Network  1285  may in various embodiments include one or more networks including but not limited to Local Area Networks (LANs) (e.g., an Ethernet or corporate network), Wide Area Networks (WANs) (e.g., the Internet), wireless data networks, some other electronic data network, or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, network interface  1240  may support communication via wired or wireless general data networks, such as any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example; via telecommunications/telephony networks such as analog voice networks or digital fiber communications networks; via storage area networks such as Fibre Channel SANs, or via any other suitable type of network and/or protocol. 
     Input/output devices  1250  may, in some embodiments, include one or more display terminals, keyboards, keypads, touchpads, scanning devices, voice or optical recognition devices, or any other devices suitable for entering or accessing data by one or more computer systems  1200 . Multiple input/output devices  1250  may be present in computer system  1200  or may be distributed on various nodes of computer system  1200 . In some embodiments, similar input/output devices may be separate from computer system  1200  and may interact with one or more nodes of computer system  1200  through a wired or wireless connection, such as over network interface  1240 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , memory  1220  may include program instructions  1222 , which may be processor-executable to implement any element or action described above. In one embodiment, the program instructions may implement the methods described above. In other embodiments, different elements and data may be included. Note that data may include any data or information described above. 
     The methods described herein, e.g., the method described in  FIG. 9  and corresponding paragraphs, may be implemented via software, hardware, or a combination thereof in different embodiments (e.g., automated assembly of a battery). In addition, the order of execution of some the blocks of the methods (e.g., the method described in  FIG. 9 ) may be changed, and various elements may be added, reordered, combined, omitted, modified, etc. 
     Various modifications and changes may be made as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. The various embodiments described herein are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Many variations, modifications, additions, and improvements are possible. Accordingly, plural instances may be provided for components described herein as a single instance. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of claims that follow. Finally, structures and functionality presented as discrete components in the example configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of embodiments as defined in the claims that follow.