Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which comprises a first electrode and a second electrode which is a counter electrode to said first electrode. The first electrode comprises a phosphorous compound of the general formula, Li.sub.3 M'M" (PO.sub.4).sub.3. M' and M" are the same or different from one another. Where M' and E" are the same, they are metals having more than one oxidation state. Where M' and M" are different from one another, they are selected from the group of metals where at least one of M' and M" has more than one oxidation state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel composition and method for preventing decomposition of one or more electrochemical cell components comprising an electrode having an active material, and an electrolyte. The method of the invention, for the first time, effectively overcomes problems which arise between the interaction of cell components and contaminate water retained in a cell. Such contaminate water reacts with the electrolyte which comprises a salt of lithium in a solvent. Solubilizing of the salt in solution with attendant interaction between the salt and water causes formation of hydrogen-containing acids. The method of the invention effectively blocks decomposition of a lithium metal oxide cathode active material, and particularly lithium manganese oxide (LMO, nominally LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4).

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel composition and method for preventing decomposition of one or more electrochemical cell components comprising an electrode having an active material, and an electrolyte. The method of the invention, for the first time, effectively overcomes problems which arise between the interaction of cell components and contaminate water retained in a cell. Such contaminate water reacts with the electrolyte which comprises a salt of lithium in a solvent. Solubilizing of the salt in solution with attendant interaction between the salt and water causes formation of hydrogen-containing acids. The method of the invention effectively blocks decomposition of a lithium metal oxide cathode active material, and particularly lithium manganese oxide (LMO, nominally LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrochemical cell or battery which has a non-metallic negative electrode (anode). That is, no solid metal, free metal, active material is used in the cell. Rather than the conventional solid lithium metal anode, the active material of the new electrode comprises substituted carbon active material. The substituted carbon is carbonaceous material arranged in a disordered or ordered graphite structure, where atoms of carbon have been substituted in such structure by at least one other element. The invention also provides carbonaceous materials which are non-graphitic and considered amorphous, non-crystalline, highly disordered, which also have substituted therein elements other than carbon. The invention also provides a process for making such substituted carbons and for preparing an anode containing the substituted carbon.

Abstract: In a preferred method, a lithium compound is reacted with a manganese compound in the presence of gaseous ammonia produced by the decomposition of an ammonium compound. In the preferred method, the decomposition of the ammonium compound is initiated before the reaction occurs to form the lithium manganese oxide product spinel. It is also possible to have the decomposition initiated at about the same time as the reaction. It is possible to have the decomposition continue while the reaction to form the spinel occurs. The reaction to form the spinel occurs at an elevated temperature to provide a product of the desired nominal general formula, having a quantity of lithium corresponding to more than 1 atomic units of lithium for every 2 atomic units of manganese. This lithium-rich product, having greater than a 1:1 ratio of Mn.sup.+3 to Mn.sup.+4 is made possible by the presence of the ammonia decomposition gas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing an intercalation compound of the nominal general formula Li.sub.x Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4, where x is greater than 0 and less than 2, which comprises providing a manganese compound and a lithium compound and mixing such compounds in proportion which provides the desired amount of x demonstrated by the nominal general formula. The mixed compounds are then irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, desirably microwave frequency or infrared radiation whereby manganese, lithium, and oxygen combine to form the Li.sub.x Mn.sub.2 O.sub.4 having the desired quantity x of lithium. It is desired that the heating by radiation be conducted in air. Preferably, the radiation is microwave radiation and such radiation is at a frequency which causes atomic bonds to vibrate within at least a portion of the precursor compounds and/or the solvent contained in the mixture.

Abstract: A method for reducing capacity fading of an LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 spinel electrode active material comprising substituting a minor amount of Z for Mn in the LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 active material, where Z is a metal element having a +4 (IV) valence state and is characterized by an ability to form tetravalent chlorides. The Z substituted LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 active material is further characterized by a lesser rate of capacity loss with cycling as compared to LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 active material.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which is at least partially charged and which comprises a first electrode having an active material in particle form consisting essentially of at least partially lithiated graphite. The lithiated graphite particles are prepared by chemically or electrochemically inserting lithium ions into the particles prior to assembly of the cell. A second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode has an active material consisting essentially of vanadium oxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a new positive electrode active material having increased capacity and a method for operating an electrochemical lithium cell or battery which has the new positive electrode active material composition. The positive electrode comprises first and second lithium-containing active materials which are different from one another. The invention provides the ability to overcome first cycle inefficiency typically observed when using a single lithium-containing metal chalcogenide by adding a small amount of a second lithium-containing metal chalcogenide, preferably lithium copper oxide.

Abstract: The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrolyte; a negative electrode having a compatible active material; and a positive electrode comprising a lithium copper oxide intercalation compound. The positive electrode active material is characterized by an ability to deintercalate lithium ions for intercalation into the negative electrode active material. The lithium copper oxide has a proportion of 2 lithium ions per formula unit of the copper oxide and upon electrochemical interaction with a negative electrode deintercalates lithium ions whereupon the proportion of lithium ions per copper oxide formula unit is less than 2. The lithium copper oxide is a compound represented by the nominal general formula Li.sub.2 CuO.sub.2. The lithium copper oxide compound is alternatively represented by the nominal general formula Li.sub.2-x CuO.sub.2, signifying its capability to deintercalate lithium.

Abstract: There is provided an electrochemical cell which has a non-metal negative electrode (anode on discharge). The anode is not a solid metal, is not metallic, and has no free metal. Rather, an amount of lithium ions are incorporated into the anode carbon-polymer structure. The anode of the invention has no more than a minor amount of lithium in a precharged or fully discharged state. The anode is used with lithium-containing cathodes (positive electrodes), preferably of the intercalation type. The anode of the invention is of a material which includes carbon, an electrolyte, and one or more constituents selected from the group consisting of metal and semi-metal elements and compounds and alloys thereof, other than lithium and its alloys. Such constituents are further characterized by an ability to react electrochemically with lithium by accepting and releasing lithium. Preferred metals and semi-metals include aluminum, boron and silicon, and compounds and alloys thereof, such as AlSi.

Abstract: The inventions provides a battery which comprises a first electrode, a counter electrode which forms an electrochemical couple with said first electrode, and an electrolyte. The first electrode comprises graphite particles having an interlayer distance spacing of 002 planes (d.sub.002) as determined by x-ray diffraction of 0.330 to 0.340 nanometers (nm), a crystallite size in the direction of c-axis (L.sub.c) being greater than about 90 nanometers (nm) and less than about 1000 nanometers, and at least 90 percent by weight of said graphite particles having a size less than about 24 microns (.mu.m). The electrolyte comprises a solvent mixture and a solute; the solvent mixture comprises (i) ethylene carbonate (EC), and (ii) a solvent selected from the group consisting of propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), and mixtures thereof with the ethylene carbonate being present in an amount by weight which is at least as great as the amount of any other solvent.

Abstract: A laminate is provided for use as a protective covering for inhibiting penetration of oxygen or oxygen and water therethrough and is particularly suitable for protecting components of an electrochemical cell such as a lithium battery. The laminate comprises an ionomeric polymeric layer for heat sealing layers of the laminate to one another and at least two flexible polymeric layers, one of which may comprise the ionomeric layer; and an oxygen scavenging agent incorporated in one of the flexible polymeric layers or disposed between any two of the flexible polymeric layers. It is preferred that the laminate be insulating as well for inhibiting transport of electricity as well as oxygen and water through the laminate and comprises two or more polymeric layers having, when combined, the characteristics of flexibility, electrical insulation, adhesiveness, and stability to water.

Abstract: In a new process for making a cathode current collector assembly, a cathode composition is positioned on a substrate between the substrate and a releasable layer. Next, force is applied on the releasable layer and directed toward the substrate so as to provide a smooth cathode surface in contact with the releasable layer. The cathode composition having the releasable layer maintained thereon is cooled to reduce the tackiness of the cathode composition and then the releasable layer is removed while the cathode composition remains in its condition of reduced tackiness. In an alternative process, the cathode composition is applied and then force is applied immediatly before or simultaneously with cooling the composition to a state of reduced tackiness. An electrolyte composition is applied to the smooth surface cathode and the cathode and electrolyte compositions are cured together. In a final step, an anode layer is applied onto the electrolyte composition to form a cell assembly and further curing may occur.

Abstract: The invention provides an alkoxyl additive for use in electrodes or precursor pastes of such electrodes, where such additive is hydrolyzed to thereby take-up or remove any water in the precursor paste or electrode.

Abstract: In a preferred battery, a negative electrode contains metallic lithium, a positive electrode contains transition metal chalcogen compound having a reversible lithium insertion ability, a solid electrolyte is disposed between the electrodes, and a protective layer is disposed between the solid electrolyte and the negative electrode. The protective layer contains polyvinyl pyridine (PVP) or derivatives thereof and iodine complexed with the PVP or derivatives thereof for reducing passivation of the lithium-containing negative electrode. Preferably the polyvinyl pyridine is poly-2-vinylpyridine or poly-2-vinylquinoline.

Abstract: In accordance with a preferred method, a new cathode composition is prepared in situ, in a cell, whereby such in situ formation method results in enhanced contact between the cathode composition and the current collector and between the electrolyte layer and the cathode composition. The new method provides such in situ prepared cathode composition comprising first and second polymeric materials, the first being radiation cured and ionically conductive and the second being electrochemically cured and electrically conductive. In accordance with the preferred method, the first is radiation cured before the second is electrochemically cured and the second polymeric material is cured in an electrochemical cell which comprises a preferred alkali metal-containing anode layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium battery comprising a cathode active material comprising an oxide of vanadium, which is a compound of the general formula M.sub.(1+y) (V.sub.3 O.sub.8).sub.2. M is a divalent ion having a +2 valency and y is equal to or greater than zero and preferably is less than 2. The vanadium oxide active material of the invention is prepared by a series of steps in which solid precursor compounds are successively finely divided and heat treated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithium battery comprising a cathode active material having as its major component an oxide of vanadium, which is a compound of the general formula M.sub.x V.sub.3 O.sub.8. The vanadium oxide active material of the invention is prepared by a series of steps in which a precursor ZV.sub.3 O.sub.8 -based compound undergoes quantitative ionic substitution to provide M.sub.x V.sub.3 O.sub.8, where M is a mono-, di-, tri- or tetravalent metal or semi-metal element.

Abstract: Fine particles of vanadium oxide or compound thereof, respectively represented by the general formulas V.sub.2 O.sub.5 and LiV.sub.3 O.sub.8, are prepared by freeze-drying a wet mixture containing a precursor. Alternatively, such oxide or compound is prepared in fine particle form intimately mixed with fine particles of carbon, also by freeze-drying.