Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making sodium-ion cells, particularly sodium-ion cells which are capable of safe storage and/or transportation, comprising the steps: a) constructing a sodium-ion cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, optionally performing one more charge/discharge operations on the sodium-ion cell; and b) treating the sodium-ion cell to ensure that it is in a state of charge of from 0% to 20%.

Abstract: The invention relates to doped nickelate-containing compounds comprising AaM1VM2WM3XM4yM5ZO2-c wherein A comprises either sodium or a mixed alkali metal in which sodium is the major constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, and M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0?a<1, v>0, at least one of w and y is >0 x?0, z?0 wherein c is determined by a range selected from 0<c?0.1 and wherein (a, v, w, x, y, z and c) are chosen to maintain electroneutrality.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel material comprising X/hard carbon composite and to a process for their preparation, the process comprising the steps: a) forming a mixture comprising i) one or more hard carbon-starting materials, ii) one or more starting materials which comprise one or more of the component elements of X, and optionally iii) one or more secondary carbon-containing materials; and b) heating the resulting mixture at 100° C. to 1500° C. to yield the material comprising the X/hard carbon composite; wherein X comprises one or more component elements selected from antimony, tin, phosphorus, sulfur, boron, aluminium, gallium, indium, germanium, lead, arsenic, bismuth, titanium, molybdenum, selenium, tellurium, cobalt and nickel and wherein X is present in an amount of at least 5% by weight of the material comprising the X/hard carbon composite.

Abstract: A method of operating a rechargeable sodium ion cell, wherein the cell comprises an anode material which is a disordered carbon and a nickel-containing sodium oxide cathode material comprises: in a formation charge phase, charging the cell to a first voltage at which sodium is irreversibly liberated from the cathode material; and in a subsequent charge-discharge cycle, charging the cell to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The voltage to which the cell is charged in the formation charge phase may be selected such that the amount of sodium irreversibly liberated from the cathode material in the formation charge phase substantially equals the amount of sodium deposited in a surface electrolyte layer on the anode in the formation charge phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes comprising doped nickelate-containing compositions comprising a first component-type comprising one or more components with an O3 structure of the general formula: AaM1vM2wM3xM4yM5zO2 wherein A comprises one or more alkali metal selected from sodium, lithium and potassium M1 is nickel in oxidation state 2+, M2 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, M3 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, and M5 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0.85?a?1; 0<v<0.

Abstract: The invention relates to doped nickelate-containing material with the general formula: Aa M1v M2w M3x M4y M5z O2-? wherein A comprises one or more alkali metals selected from sodium, lithium and potassium; M1 is nickel in oxidation state 2+, M2 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, M3 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, and M5 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0.4?a<0.9, 0<v<0.5, at least one of w and y is >0, x>0, z?0, 0???0.1, and wherein a, v, w, x, y and z are chosen to maintain electroneutrality.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AuM1vM2wM3x02±? wherein A is one or more alkali metals; M1 comprises one or more redox active metals with an oxidation state in the range +2 to +4; M2 comprises tin, optionally in combination with one or more transition metals; M3 comprises one or more transition metals either alone or in combination with one or more non-transition elements selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, other metals, metalloids and non-metals, with an oxidation state in the range +1 to +5; wherein the oxidation state of M1, M2, and M3 are chosen to maintain charge neutrality and further wherein ? is in the range 0???0.4; U is in the range 0.3<U<2; V is in the range 0.1?V<0.75; W is in the range 0<W<0.75; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; and (U+V+W+X)<4.0. Such materials are useful, for example as electrode materials, in rechargeable battery applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode comprising one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds of the formula: AaM1bM2cXdOe wherein A comprises sodium or a mixture of sodium with lithium and/or potassium M1 comprises one or more transition metals, wherein M1 is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher oxidation state, M2 comprises one or more non transition metals and/or metalloids, X comprises at least 40 mol % silicon, a is >0, b is >0 c is ?0, d is ?1, e is ?2, wherein the values of a, b, c, d, and e are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound; and further wherein the one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds does not include Na2MnSiO4.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes comprising doped nickelate-containing compositions comprising a first component-type comprising one or more components with an 03 structure of the general formula: AaM1V M2W M3X M4y M5Z O2 wherein A comprises one or more alkali metal selected from sodium, lithium and potassium; M1 is nickel in oxidation state 2+, M2 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, M3 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 4+, and M5 comprises one or more metals in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0.85?a?1; 0<v<0.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel solid state process for the preparation of metal-containing compounds comprising the steps i) forming a reaction mixture comprising one or more metal-containing precursor compounds and optionally one or more non-metal-containing reactants, and ii) using one or more hypophosphite-containing materials as a reducing agent; wherein one or more of the hypophosphite-containing materials is used as an agent to reduce one or more of the metal-containing precursor compounds; and further wherein the process is performed in the absence of an oxidizing atmosphere. Materials made by such a process are useful, for example, as electrode materials in alkali metal-ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of metal-containing compounds comprising the steps of a) forming a mixture comprising i) elemental phosphorus and ii) one or more metal-containing precursor compounds, and b) heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 150° C. Materials made by such a process are useful, for example, as electrode materials in alkali metal-ion battery applications.

Abstract: A method of operating a rechargeable sodium ion cell, wherein the cell comprises an anode material which is a disordered carbon and a nickel-containing sodium oxide cathode material comprises: in a formation charge phase, charging the cell to a first voltage at which sodium is irreversibly liberated from the cathode material; and in a subsequent charge-discharge cycle, charging the cell to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The voltage to which the cell is charged in the formation charge phase may be selected such that the amount of sodium irreversibly liberated from the cathode material in the formation charge phase substantially equals the amount of sodium deposited in a surface electrolyte layer on the anode in the formation charge phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: A1-?M1VM2WM3XM4YM5ZO2 wherein A is one or more alkali metals comprising sodium and/or potassium either alone or in a mixture with lithium as a minor constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2; M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminum, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; wherein 0???0.1 V is in the range 0<V<0.5; W is in the range 0<W?0.5; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; Y is in the range 0?Y<0.5; Z is ?0; and further wherein V+W+X+Y+Z=1. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in sodium ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AuM1vM2wM3XM4yM5ZO2 wherein A comprises one or more alkali metals selected from lithium, sodium and potassium; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2 M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminum, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; further wherein U is in the range 1<U<2; V is in the range 0.25<V<1; W is in the range 0<W<0.75; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; Y is in the range 0?Y<0.5; Z is in the range 0?Z<0.5; and further wherein (U+V+W+X+Y+Z)?3.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for making sodium-ion cells, particularly sodium-ion cells which are capable of safe storage and/or transportation, comprising the steps: a) constructing a sodium-ion cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, optionally performing one more charge/discharge operations on the sodium- ion cell; and b) treating the sodium-ion cell to ensure that it is in a state of charge of from 0% to 20%.

Abstract: Materials are presented of the formula: Ax My Mizi O2?d, where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; x>0; M is a metal or germanium; y>0; Mi, for i=1, 2, 3 . . . n, is a transition metal or an alkali metal; zi?0 for each i=1, 2, 3 . . . n; 0<d?0.5; the values of x, y, zi and d are such as to maintain charge neutrality; and the values of x, y, zi and d are such that x+y+?zi>2?d. The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications. Also presented is a method of preparing a compound having the formula Ax My Mizi O2?d.