Abstract: A rechargeable lithium metal or lithium-ion cell comprising a cathode having a cathode active material and/or a conductive supporting structure, an anode having an anode active material and/or a conductive supporting nano-structure, a porous separator electronically separating the anode and the cathode, a highly concentrated electrolyte in contact with the cathode active material and the anode active material, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in an ionic liquid solvent with a concentration greater than 3 M. The cell exhibits an exceptionally high specific energy, a relatively high power density, a long cycle life, and high safety with no flammability.

Abstract: Methods and systems for peak detection as part of automatic gain control in high-speed communications are provided. A peak detection system uses a portion of an input signal to generate a reference signal for comparison with the input signal. The comparison produces a differential error signal that is in turn used to produce one or more full swing pulses based on the comparison. A pulse counter counts the pulses, and if the count in a single clock cycle is above a determined threshold, a binary error signal is set to indicate a need for correction.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising: (a) an anode comprising a prelithiated lithium storage material or a combination of a lithium storage material and a lithium ion source; (b) a hybrid cathode active material composed of a meso-porous structure of a carbon, graphite, metal, or conductive polymer and a phthalocyanine compound, wherein the meso-porous structure is in an amount of from 1% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the meso-porous structure and the phthalocyanine combined, and wherein the meso-porous structure has a pore with a size from 2 nm to 50 nm to accommodate phthalocyanine compound therein; and (c) an electrolyte or electrolyte/separator assembly. This secondary cell exhibits a long cycle life and the best cathode specific capacity and best cell-level specific energy of all rechargeable lithium-ion cells ever reported.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising: (a) an anode; (b) a cathode comprising a hybrid cathode active material composed of a graphene material and a phthalocyanine compound, wherein the graphene material is in an amount of from 0.1% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of the graphene material and the phthalocyanine compound combined; and (c) a porous separator disposed between the anode and the cathode and electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode and the cathode. This secondary cell exhibits a long cycle life and the best cathode specific capacity and best cell-level specific energy of all rechargeable lithium-ion cells ever reported.

Abstract: A process for producing a highly oriented graphene film (HOGF), comprising: (a) preparing a graphene oxide (GO) dispersion having GO sheets dispersed in a fluid medium; (b) dispensing and depositing the dispersion onto a surface of a supporting substrate to form a layer of GO, wherein the dispensing and depositing procedure includes subjecting the dispersion to an orientation-inducing stress; (c) removing the fluid medium to form a dried layer of GO having an inter-plane spacing d002 of 0.4 nm to 1.2 nm; (d) slicing the dried layer of GO into multiple pieces of dried GO and stacking at least two pieces of dried GO to form a mass of multiple pieces of GO; and (f) heat treating the mass under an optional first compressive stress to produce the HOGF at a first heat treatment temperature higher than 100° C. to an extent that an inter-plane spacing d002 is decreased to a value less than 0.4 nm.

Abstract: A process for producing a bulk highly oriented graphene structure, comprising: (a) preparing a graphene oxide dispersion having graphene oxide (GO) sheets dispersed in a fluid medium; (b) dispensing and depositing the dispersion onto a surface of a supporting substrate to form a layer of GO, wherein the dispensing and depositing procedure includes subjecting the dispersion to an orientation-inducing stress; (c) removing the fluid medium to form a dried layer of GO having an inter-plane spacing d002 of 0.4 nm to 1.2 nm; (d) slicing the dried layer of GO into multiple pieces of dried GO and stacking at least two pieces of dried GO to form a mass of multiple pieces of GO; and (f) heat treating the mass under an optional first compressive stress to produce the highly oriented graphene structure at a first heat treatment temperature higher than 100° C. to an extent that an inter-plane spacing d002 is decreased to a value less than 0.4 nm.

Abstract: A portable power tool comprises an electric motor, actuator, or light-emitting hardware and a rechargeable power source connected to the electric motor, actuator, or light-emitting hardware, wherein the power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell (SMC). The power tools include, but are not limited to, impact driver, air compressor, alligator shear, angle grinder, band saw, belt sander, biscuit joiner, ceramic tile cutter tile saw, chainsaw, circular saw, concrete saw, cold saw, crusher, diamond blade, diamond tools, disc sander, drill, floor sander, grinding machine, heat gun, impact wrench, jackhammer, jointer, jigsaw, lathe, miter saw, nail gun, needle scaler, torque wrench, powder-actuated tools, power wrench, radial arm saw, random orbital sander, reciprocating saw, rotary reciprocating saw, rotary tool, sabre saw, sander, scroll saw, steel cut off saw, table saw, thickness planer, trimmer, wall chaser, wood router, or flashlight.

Abstract: A non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte and a rechargeable non-lithium alkali metal cell containing this electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an alkali metal salt dissolved in an organic liquid solvent with a concentration higher than 2.5 M (preferably >3.5 M) or a molecular ratio greater than 0.2 (preferably >0.3), wherein the alkali metal is selected from Na, K, a combination of Na and K, or a combination of Na and/or K with Li. The alkali metal salt concentration is sufficiently high so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure <0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure <60% of the vapor pressure of thet organic solvent when measured alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the organic liquid solvent when measured alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point.

Abstract: A non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte and a rechargeable non-lithium alkali metal cell containing this electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises an alkali metal salt dissolved in an organic liquid solvent with a concentration higher than 2.5 M (preferably >3.5 M) or a molecular ratio greater than 0.2 (preferably >0.3), wherein the alkali metal is selected from Na, K, a combination of Na and K, or a combination of Na and/or K with Li. The alkali metal salt concentration is sufficiently high so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure <0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure <60% of the vapor pressure of thet organic solvent when measured alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the organic liquid solvent when measured alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium-selenium cell comprising a cathode having a cathode active material selected from Se or SexSy (x/y ratio=0.01 to 100), an anode having an anode active material, a porous separator electronically separating the anode and the cathode, a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in a first organic liquid solvent with a lithium salt concentration sufficiently high (at least 2.0 M, more preferably >3.0 M) so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than the flash point of the first organic liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no flash point. This battery cell is non-flammable and safe, has a long cycle life, high capacity, and high energy density.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing a graphene-enhanced anode active material for use in a lithium battery. The process comprises (a) providing a continuous film of a graphene material into a deposition zone; (b) introducing vapor or atoms of a precursor anode active material into the deposition zone, allowing the vapor or atoms to deposit onto a surface of the graphene material film to form a sheet of an anode active material-coated graphene material; and (c) mechanically breaking this sheet into multiple pieces of anode active material-coated graphene; wherein the graphene material is in an amount of from 0.1% to 99.5% by weight and the anode active material is in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight, all based on the total weight of the graphene material and the anode active material combined.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cathode (positive electrode) of a lithium battery and a process for producing this cathode. The electrode comprises a cathode active material-coated graphene sheet and the graphene sheet has two opposed parallel surfaces, wherein at least 50% area (preferably >80%) of one of the two surfaces is coated with a cathode active material coating. The graphene material is in an amount of from 0.1% to 99.5% by weight and the cathode active material is in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight (preferably >80% and more preferably >90%), all based on the total weight of the graphene material and the cathode active material combined. The cathode active material is preferably an inorganic material, an organic or polymeric material, a metal oxide/phosphate/sulfide, or a combination thereof. The invention also provides a lithium battery, including a lithium-ion, lithium-metal, or lithium-sulfur battery.

Abstract: The present invention provides an anode electrode of a lithium-ion battery, comprising an anode active material-coated graphene sheet, wherein the graphene sheet has two opposed parallel surfaces and at least 50% area of one of the surfaces is coated with an anode active material and wherein the graphene material is in an amount of from 0.1% to 99.5% by weight and the anode active material is in an amount of at least 0.5% by weight (preferably at least 60%), all based on the total weight of the graphene material and the anode active material combined.

Abstract: Disclosed is a facile and cost effective method of producing nano silicon powder or graphene-doped silicon nano powder having a particle size smaller than 100 nm. The method comprises: (a) preparing a silicon precursor/graphene nano composite; (b) mixing the silicon precursor/graphene nano composite with a desired quantity of magnesium; (c) converting the silicon precursor to form a mixture of graphene-doped silicon and a reaction by-product through a thermal and/or chemical reduction reaction; and (d) removing the reaction by-product from the mixture to obtain graphene-doped silicon nano powder.

Abstract: A separator-electrolyte layer product for use in a lithium battery, comprising: (a) a porous thin-film separator selected from a porous polymer film, a porous mat, fabric, or paper made of polymer or glass fibers, or a combination thereof, wherein the separator has a thickness less than 500 ?m; and (b) a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in a liquid solvent up to a concentration no less than 3 M; wherein the porous thin-film separator is coated with the quasi-solid electrolyte so that the layer product exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure less than 60% of the vapor pressure of the liquid solvent alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point.

Abstract: A process for producing a separator-electrolyte layer for use in a lithium battery, comprising: (a) providing a porous separator; (b) providing a quasi-solid electrolyte containing a lithium salt dissolved in a first liquid solvent up to a first concentration no less than 3 M; and (c) coating or impregnating the separator with the electrolyte to obtain the separator-electrolyte layer with a final concentration ?the first concentration so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure less than 60% of that of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point. A battery using such a separator-electrolyte is non-flammable and safe, has a long cycle life, high capacity, and high energy density.

Abstract: This invention provides a vehicle powered by a surface-mediated cell (SMC)-based power source, comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting the frame or a propeller connected to the frame, a drive unit connected to the wheel or propeller, and a power source electrically connected to the drive unit, wherein the power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell. The vehicle can be a micro-EV (using the SMC for the stop-start function), HEV, plug-in HEV, all-electric vehicle, power-assisted bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, tricycle, automobile, wheelchair, fork lift, golf cart, specialty vehicle, bus, truck, train, rapid-transit vehicle, boat, or air vehicle. The ultra-high power density enables the SMC to provide pulsed power or increased current demands when the vehicle is accelerating or hill-climbing. The SMC also enables the power source to recuperate the braking energy when the vehicle decelerates, brakes, or simply moves down-hill.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium cell comprising a cathode having a cathode active material, an anode having an anode active material, a porous separator electronically separating the anode and the cathode, a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte in contact with the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in a first organic liquid solvent with a concentration sufficiently high so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than the flash point of the first organic liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no flash point. This battery cell is non-flammable and safe, has a long cycle life, high capacity, and high energy density.

Abstract: A surface-mediated cell (SMC) comprising: (a) a cathode comprising a carbon-based cathode active material having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon; (b) an anode comprising an anode current collector alone, or combined anode current collector and anode active material; (c) a porous separator disposed between the anode and the cathode; (d) a lithium-containing electrolyte, wherein the anode and/or cathode active material has a specific surface area no less than 100 m2/g in direct physical contact with the electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto; and (e) a lithium source disposed in at least one of the two electrodes when the cell is made, and the cell has an open-circuit voltage (OCV) of at least 0.8 volts; wherein the cell operates between a lower voltage limit lower than the OCV and an upper limit of between 3.8 and 4.5 volts.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium metal or lithium-ion cell comprising a cathode having a cathode active material and/or a conductive supporting structure, an anode having an anode active material and/or a conductive supporting nano-structure, a porous separator electronically separating the anode and the cathode, a highly concentrated electrolyte in contact with the cathode active material and the anode active material, wherein the electrolyte contains a lithium salt dissolved in an ionic liquid solvent with a concentration greater than 3 M. The cell exhibits an exceptionally high specific energy, a relatively high power density, a long cycle life, and high safety with no flammability.