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 interposed between 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, wherein the internal discharge occurs upon a failure of the separator, and wherein the internal discharge activates a temperature trigger and/or a voltage trigger; and a current interrupter interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the current interrupter comprises a material that is responsive to the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, wherein the current interrupter is configured to cause, upon the activation of the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, a formation of a nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the forming 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 material is configured to transition the current interrupter from an engaged configuration to an unengaged configuration upon activation of at least the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled via a laminated connection provided by the current interrupter when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, and characterized in that the current interrupter delaminates from the first current collector to form the nonconductive gap between 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 interposed between 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, wherein the internal discharge occurs upon a failure of the separator, and wherein the internal discharge activates a temperature trigger and/or a voltage trigger; and a current interrupter interposed between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the current interrupter comprises a material that is responsive to the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, wherein the current interrupter is configured to cause, upon the activation of the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, a formation of a nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector, wherein the forming 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 material is configured to transition the current interrupter from an engaged configuration to an unengaged configuration upon activation of at least the temperature trigger and/or the voltage trigger, wherein the first electrode and the first current collector are electrically coupled via a laminated connection provided by the current interrupter when the current interrupter is in the engaged configuration, and characterized in that the current interrupter delaminates from the first current collector to form the nonconductive gap between the first electrode and the first current collector when the current interrupter is in the unengaged configuration.