Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode having a electrode active material, a second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaVbNbc(PO4)3, wherein 0<a<9, and 0<b,c<2.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyanion-based electrode active material for use in a secondary or rechargeable electrochemical cell, wherein the electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaMb(SO4)2Zd.

Abstract: A modular and scalable power source can be used to supplement and/or replace existing sources of power. In some embodiments, a DC source can be used to charge a battery in a host system, provide power as a back-up system, or be a primary source of power. The power source includes a set of battery units and one or more circuits that provide an alternative signal path around the battery units if the battery units are at a particular charge level. Temperature sensors are used to turn off or otherwise adjust the alternative signal paths if the temperatures of the alternative signal paths become too high.

Abstract: A secondary electrochemical cell is described having (a) a first electrode comprising an active material of the formula LiaCoeFefM1gM2hM3iXY4, (b) a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to said first electrode; and (c) an electrolyte comprising an electrolyte salt, a cyclic ester and a carbonate selected from the group consisting of alkyl carbonates, alkylene carbonates, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making electrode active materials represented by the general formula: Aa(VO)bXO4, wherein: (a) A is an alkali metal or mixture of alkali metals, and 0<a<4; (b) 0<b<2; (c) X is selected from the group consisting of phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), arsenic (As), silicon (Si), and combinations thereof; and wherein A, X, a and b are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the electrode active material in its nascent (as prepared or synthesized) state.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the preparation of an “optimized” VPO4 phase or V—P—O/C precursor. The VPO4 precursor is an amorphous or nanocrystalline powder. The V—P—O/C precursor is amorphous in nature and contains finely divided and dispersed carbon. Throughout the specification it is understood that the VPO4 precursor and the V—P—O/C precursor materials can be used interchangeably to produce the final vanadium phosphates, with the V—P—O/C precursor material being the preferred precursor. The precursors can subsequently be used to make vanadium based electroactive materials and use of such precursor materials offers significant advantages over other processes known for preparing vanadium phosphate compounds.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer program products are disclosed for determining a reported state of charge (“SOC”) of a battery system, the methods, apparatus, and computer program products including determining the reported SOC according to a first determining method when a previous SOC is greater than a first SOC threshold percentage and less than or equal to 100%; determining the reported SOC according to a second determining method when the previous SOC is greater than a second threshold percentage and less than or equal to the first SOC threshold percentage; and determining the reported SOC according to a third determining method when the previous SOC is greater than or equal to 0% and less than or equal to the second SOC threshold percentage.

Abstract: Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Abstract: This disclosure includes battery systems and operational methods. According to one aspect, a battery system includes conversion circuitry, a plurality of main terminals configured to be coupled with a load, a charger and a plurality of rechargeable battery modules which are coupled in series with one another intermediate the main terminals, switching circuitry configured to couple a first of the battery modules with an input of the conversion circuitry, and the conversion circuitry being configured to modify an electrical characteristic of electrical energy received from the first of the battery modules and to output the electrical energy having the modified characteristic to a second of the battery modules.

Abstract: The invention is directed to synthesizing a phosphate-based electrode active material. The method includes the step of reacting two or more starting materials collectively containing at least a PO33? anion, an alkali metal and a metal which is redox active in the final reaction product, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the phosphate-based electrode active material.

Abstract: Electrical systems, power supply apparatuses, and power supply operational methods are described.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and controlling at least one electrochemical cell is disclosed and described, having a cell management device in electrical communication with the electrochemical cell. The cell management device monitors the electrochemical cell and controls electrical input into and output from the electrochemical cell based on a predetermined set of conditions.

Abstract: Methods for producing an electrode active material precursor, comprising; a) producing a mixture comprising particles of lithium hydrogen phosphate, having a first average particle size, and a metal hydroxide, having a second average particle size; and b) grinding said mixture in a jet mill for a period of time suitable to produce a generally homogeneous mixture of particles having a third average size smaller than said first average size. The precursor may be used as a starting material for making electrode active materials for use in a battery, comprising lithium, a transition metal, and phosphate or a similar anion.

Abstract: Active materials for rechargeable batteries have a general formula Aa(MO)bM?cXO4 where A represents an alkali metal or mixture of alkali metals, a is greater than about 0.1 and less than or equal to about 2; MO is an ion containing a transition metal M not in its highest oxidation state, M? represents a metal, or mixture of metals, and b is greater than 0 and less than or equal to about 1, c is less than 1 wherein a, b and c are selected so as to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound, and X is phosphorus, arsenic, or sulfur, or mixtures thereof. Preferred active materials are alkali metal vanadyl metal phosphates of general formula Aa(VO)bM?cPO4 where a and b are both greater than 0 and c may be zero or greater. New synthetic routes are provided to alkali metal mixed metal phosphates where at least one of the starting materials is a metal-oxo group (MO)3+, where M represents a metal in a +5 oxidation state.

Abstract: Battery charge indication methods, battery state of charge monitoring devices, rechargeable batteries, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a battery charge indication method includes first determining a state of charge of a battery at a first moment in time using a first method, second determining a state of charge of the battery at a second moment in time using a second method different than the first method, and providing information regarding the state of charge of the battery at the first and second moments in time using information of the first and second determinings.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making electrode active materials represented by the general formula: Aa(VO)bXO4, wherein: (a) A is an alkali metal or mixture of alkali metals, and 0<a<4; (b) 0<b<2; (c) X is selected from the group consisting of phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), arsenic (As), silicon (Si), and combinations thereof; and wherein A, X, a and b are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the electrode active material in its nascent (as prepared or synthesized) state.

Abstract: Electrode active materials comprising two or more groups of particles having differing chemical compositions, wherein each group of particles comprises a material selected from: (a) materials of the formula A1 aM1 b(XY4)cZd; and (b) materials of the formula A2eM2fOg; and (c) materials of the formula A3hMniO4; wherein (i) A1, A2, and A3 are Li, Na, or K; (ii) M1and M3 comprise a transition metal; (iv) XY4 a phosphate or similar moiety; and (v) Z is OH, or halogen.

Abstract: Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, and a phosphate or similar moiety, of the formula: Aa+xMbP1-xSixO4 wherein (a) A is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and mixtures thereof, and 0<a<1.0 and 0?x?1; (b) M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, where 0<b?2; and wherein M, a, b, and x are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound.

Abstract: Sodium ion batteries are based on sodium based active materials selected among compounds of the general formula AaMb(XY4)cZd, wherein A comprises sodium, M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, Z is OH or halogen, and XY4 represents phosphate or a similar group. The anode of the battery includes a carbon material that is capable of inserting sodium ions. The carbon anode cycles reversibly at a specific capacity greater than 100 mAh/g.

Abstract: Battery charge indication methods, battery state of charge monitoring devices, rechargeable batteries, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a battery charge indication method includes first determining a state of charge of a battery at a first moment in time using a first method, second determining a state of charge of the battery at a second moment in time using a second method different than the first method, and providing information regarding the state of charge of the battery at the first and second moments in time using information of the first and second determinings.