An improved high energy density rechargeable battery, comprising: a first electrode (12, 14); a first current collector for transferring electrons; a second electrode (12, 14) having an opposite polarity of the first electrode; a separator separating the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the separator is configured to prevent an internal discharge between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the internal discharge occurs upon a failure of the separator; and a current interrupter interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the current interrupter comprises a thermally activatable material and/or a voltage activatable material, wherein the current interrupter is activated in response to the internal discharge, an overcharging of the battery, and/or an overheating of the battery, wherein the activation of the current interrupter transitions the current interrupter from an engaged configuration to an unengaged configuration, wherein the activation of the current interrupter causes a formation of a nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the formation of the nonconductive gap electrically decouples the first electrode from the first current collector and diverts current flow from the first current collector, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, wherein the nonconductive gap is formed between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration, characterized in that the current interrupter is layered by lamination between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, and wherein the current interrupter is configured to delaminate from the first current collector to form the nonconductive gap that electrically decouples the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration. a first electrode (12, 14); a first current collector for transferring electrons; a second electrode (12, 14) having an opposite polarity of the first electrode; a separator separating the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the separator is configured to prevent an internal discharge between the first electrode and the second electrode, and wherein the internal discharge occurs upon a failure of the separator; and a current interrupter interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the current interrupter comprises a thermally activatable material and/or a voltage activatable material, wherein the current interrupter is activated in response to the internal discharge, an overcharging of the battery, and/or an overheating of the battery, wherein the activation of the current interrupter transitions the current interrupter from an engaged configuration to an unengaged configuration, wherein the activation of the current interrupter causes a formation of a nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the formation of the nonconductive gap electrically decouples the first electrode from the first current collector and diverts current flow from the first current collector, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, wherein the nonconductive gap is formed between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration, characterized in that the current interrupter is layered by lamination between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, and wherein the current interrupter is configured to delaminate from the first current collector to form the nonconductive gap that electrically decouples the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration.