Abstract: Exfoliating transition metal oxide lithium intercalation particles having lithium ions intercalated between transition metal oxide nanosheets includes electrochemically oxidizing a transition metal in first transition metal oxide lithium intercalation particles from a first oxidation state to a second oxidation state, inserting first cations having a radius exceeding the radius of a lithium ion into the vacancies, reducing the transition metal from the second oxidation state to the first oxidation state, and exfoliating the transition metal oxide nanosheets from the second transition metal oxide lithium intercalation particles to yield dispersed transition metal oxide nanosheets comprising the transition metal in the first oxidation state and oxygen. The dispersed transition metal oxide nanosheets can be reassembled to yield a material suitable for a lithium-ion battery cathode.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium-ion battery including a film having a multiplicity of nanowires, each nanowire including a lithium-ion conductive material, and a lithium-ion battery including the solid electrolyte. The multiplicity of nanowires may be formed in an electrospinning process. The lithium-ion battery may be formed by compressing the solid electrolyte between an anode layer and a cathode layer.

Abstract: A transition metal hydroxy-anion electrode material for lithium-ion battery cathodes includes the charge-neutral structure Mx(OH)n(XO4)m, where M is one or more transition metals, x is the total number of transition metal atoms, X is sulfur or phosphorus, and x, n, and m are integers. (OH)n(XO4)m is a hydroxysulfate or hydroxyphosphate, and M can be one or more (e.g., a solid solution of) transition metals selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, manganese, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum. A lithium-ion battery may have a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material, and an electronic device may include a lithium-ion battery having a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte for a lithium-ion battery including a film having a multiplicity of nanowires, each nanowire including a lithium-ion conductive material, and a lithium-ion battery including the solid electrolyte. The multiplicity of nanowires may be formed in an electrospinning process. The lithium-ion battery may be formed by compressing the solid electrolyte between an anode layer and a cathode layer.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to a nanowire mesh solar fuels generator. In one aspect, a nanowire mesh solar fuels generator includes (1) a photoanode configured to perform water oxidation and (2) a photocathode configured to perform water reduction. The photocathode is in electrical contact with the photoanode. The photoanode may include a high surface area network of photoanode nanowires. The photocathode may include a high surface area network of photocathode nanowires. In some embodiments, the nanowire mesh solar fuels generator may include an ion conductive polymer infiltrating the photoanode and the photocathode in the region where the photocathode is in electrical contact with the photoanode.

Abstract: A transition metal hydroxy-anion electrode material for lithium-ion battery cathodes includes the charge-neutral structure Mx(OH)n(XO4)m, where M is one or more transition metals, x is the total number of transition metal atoms, X is sulfur or phosphorus, and x, n, and m are integers. The polyanion material has a nanostructured morphology. (OH)n(XO4)m is a hydroxysulfate or hydroxyphosphate, and M can be one or more (e.g., a solid solution of) transition metals selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, manganese, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum. A lithium-ion battery may have a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material, and an electronic device may include a lithium-ion battery having a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material.

Abstract: Forming a metal oxide by treating an acidic solution containing a metal to yield a precursor in the form of a semi-liquid, semi-solid or solid, and treating the precursor to yield a product including the metal oxide. An organic or inorganic component may be combined with the precursor to yield a second semi-liquid, semi-solid or solid. The product may be treated to yield a new material. In some cases, the metal oxide has an empirical formula HxM2A1y-A2z, where M represents a transition metal or any combination of transition metals in Groups 3-12; A1 is a first oxyanion; A2 is a second oxyanion; 0?x?3; 0?y?3; 0?z?3; and y+z>0.

Abstract: An anode for a rechargeable battery includes a Type II clathrate having the formula MxX136, where a cage structure is formed by X, M represents one or more guest ions, and 0<x<24. When x=0, no guest ion is present in the cage structure. X may be Si, Ge, Sn, or a combination thereof. M may be an ion of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ba, Sr, Ca, CI, Br, I, Eu, P, Te, Li, Mg, or a combination thereof. A rechargeable battery including the anode (e.g., as an anode) includes a cathode and an electrolyte in contact with the anode and the cathode. Forming the anode may include preparing a composition including the Type II clathrate contacting the composition with a current collector to form the anode. Guest ions may be electrochemically inserted and removed from the cage structure during operation of the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A transition metal hydroxy-anion electrode material for lithium-ion battery cathodes includes the charge-neutral structure Mx(OH)n(XO4)m, where M is one or more transition metals, x is the total number of transition metal atoms, X is sulfur or phosphorus, and x, n, and m are integers. (OH)n(XO4)m is a hydroxysulfate or hydroxyphosphate, and M can be one or more (e.g., a solid solution of) transition metals selected from the group consisting of copper, iron, manganese, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, zinc, chromium, and molybdenum. A lithium-ion battery may have a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material, and an electronic device may include a lithium-ion battery having a cathode including Mx(OH)n(XO4)m as a cathode material.