Dry process membrane, battery separator and lithium ion battery

Disclosed are novel or improved microporous battery separator membranes, separators, batteries including such separators, methods of making such membranes, separators and/or batteries, and/or methods of using such membranes, separators and/or batteries. Further disclosed is a laminated multilayer polyolefin film having an outer layer comprising one or more polyethylenes, the outer layer being designed to provide an outer surface having a low needle withdrawal force. Also disclosed are battery separators having increased electrolyte absorption capacity in the separator/electrode interface region that can improve cycling. Also disclosed is a battery separator having improved adhesion to any number of coatings. Also described are battery separators with adjustable thermal shutdown that can raise or lower the onset temperature of thermal shutdown and can change or increase the rate of thermal shutdown. Also disclosed are multilayer battery separator membranes having enhanced web handling performance in the manufa