Abstract: The method described allows the selection and/or design of anode and cathode materials by n- or p-doping semiconductor material. Such doped materials are suitable for use in electrodes of lithium ion batteries. As one advantage, the anode and the cathode may be produced using anodes and cathodes that are derived from the same semiconductor material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing colloidal graphene dispersions comprising the steps of (i) dispersing graphite oxide in a dispersion medium to form a colloidal graphene oxide or multi-graphene oxide dispersion (ii) thermally reducing the graphene oxide or multi-graphene oxide in dispersion. Dependent on the method used for the preparation of the starting dispersion a graphene or a multi-graphene dispersion is obtained that can be further processed to multi-graphene with larger inter-planar distances than graphite. Such dispersions and multi-graphenes are for example suitable materials in the manufacturing of rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: Nanocomposits of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer and electronically active material, in particular PEDOT and LiFePO4, were found to be significantly better compared to bare and carbon coated LiFePO4 in carbon black and graphite filled non conducting binder. The conductive polymer containing composite outperformed the other two samples. The performance of PEDOT composite was especially better in the high current regime with capacity retention of 82% after 200 cycles. Hence an electrode based on composite made of conductive, nanoparticulate polymer and electronically active material, in particular LiFePO4 and PEDOT nanostubs, with its higher energy density and increased resistance to harsh charging regimes proved to dramatically extend the high power applicability of materials such as LiFePO4.

Abstract: Described is an anode material which is a transition metal nitride or carbide in form of nanoparticles, preferably a nitride or carbide with one nitrogen or carbon per metal, and especially a nitride or carbide having rock salt structure. A preferred anode material is vanadium nitride, in particular carbon coated vanadium nitride having a mean particle size of <500 nm. Embedded in an electrically conducting environment, such nanoparticulate material, in particular the vanadium nitride shows exceptional good charging-discharging cycle stability.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a separator plate for use in a fuel cell stack with a substantially circular or oval main surface wherein a fluid flow path is defined by a plurality of channels extending substantially in parallel to each other and leading a fluid from a fluid supply port to a fluid discharge port. Adjacent channels merge such as to decrease the number of parallel channels from the supply port to the discharge port, thereby decreasing a cross sectional area of the flow path.