Abstract: Electrical energy supply methods and electrical energy power supplies are described. According to one aspect, an electrical energy supply method includes providing first and second battery assemblies individually configured to store electrical energy, coupling the first and second battery assemblies to form a unitary device configured to supply electrical energy to a load, charging one of the first and the second battery assemblies using electrical energy from a supply at a first moment in time, discharging electrical energy from the first and second battery assemblies to the load at a second moment in time, and disabling discharging of electrical energy from the other of the first and second battery assemblies during the charging.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is a counter electrode to said first electrode, and an electrolyte material interposed there between. The first electrode includes an alkali metal phosphorous compound doped with an element having a valence state greater than that of the alkali metal.

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: The invention provides a novel polyanion-based electrode active material for use in a secondary or rechargeable electrochemical cell having a first electrode, a second electrode and an electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the two step preparation of lithium vanadium phosphate by pre-treatment of a mixture of precursor materials via high pressure at relatively low temperatures in water (hydrothermal pretreatment) and then calcining such hydrothermally pretreated precursors at relatively high temperatures for a period of time sufficient to produce lithium vanadium phosphate. The lithium vanadium phosphate so produced finds use in producing electrodes for electrochemical cells.

Abstract: This invention relates to electrode active materials, electrodes, and batteries. In particular, this invention relates to active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, transition metals, +3 oxidation state non-transition elements, and phosphates or similar moieties.

Abstract: The invention provides novel lithium-mixed metal materials which, upon electrochemical interaction, release lithium ions, and are capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-mixed metal materials. Methods for making the novel lithium-mixed metal materials and methods for using such lithium-mixed metal materials in electrochemical cells are also provided. The lithium-mixed metal materials comprise lithium and at least one other metal besides lithium. Preferred materials are lithium-mixed metal phosphates which contain lithium and two other metals besides lithium.

Abstract: This invention relates to electrode active materials, electrodes, and batteries. In particular, this invention relates to active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, iron, cobalt, and other transition metals, and phosphates or similar moieties.

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: The present invention relates to a method for preparing an electroactive metal polyanion or a mixed metal polyanion comprising forming a slurry comprising a polymeric material, a solvent, a polyanion source or alkali metal polyanion source and at least one metal ion source; heating said slurry at a temperature and for a time sufficient to remove the solvent and form an essentially dried mixture; and heating said mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to produce an electroactive metal polyanion or electroactive mixed metal polyanion.

Abstract: A method for carrying out solid state reactions under reducing conditions is provided. Solid state reactants include at least one inorganic metal compound and a source of reducing carbon. The reaction may be carried out in a reducing atmosphere in the presence of reducing carbon. Reducing carbon may be supplied by elemental carbon, by an organic material, or by mixtures. The organic material is one that can form decomposition products containing carbon in a form capable of acting as a reductant. The reaction proceeds without significant covalent incorporation of organic material into the reaction product. In a preferred embodiment, the solid state reactants also include an alkali metal compound. The products of the method find use in lithium ion batteries as cathode active materials. Preferred active materials include lithium-transition metal phosphates and lithium-transition metal oxides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel battery having a first electrode comprising an electrode active material represented by the general formula AaMb(XY4)2Zd, a second electrode which is a counter-electrode to the first electrode; and an electrolyte.

Abstract: The invention provides new and novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates which, upon electrochemical interaction, release lithium ions, and are capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-metal-fluorophosphates. The lithium-metal-fluorophosphates comprise lithium and at least one other metal besides lithium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electrode active materials represented by the general formula AaMb(XY4)2Zd, wherein: (a) A is one or more alkali metals, and 0<a?8; (b) M is at least one metal capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, and 1?b?3; (c) XY4 is selected from the group consisting of X?O4?xY?x, X?O4?yY?2?y, X?S4, and a mixture thereof, where X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, S, and mixtures thereof; X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, and mixtures thereof, Y? is halogen, 0?x<3, 0<y<4, and 0<c?3; and (d) Z is OH, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and 0<d?6.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is a counter electrode to the first electrode, and an electrolyte. The first electrode includes a polyanion-based electrode active material. The electrochemical cell is in a heat transfer relationship with a heat dissipation subassembly containing one or more passive heat sinks for dissipating heat generated by the cell.

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: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a metal phosphate which comprises milling in a carbonaceous vessel a lithium source, a phosphate source, such as LiH2PO4, and a metal oxide containing a metal ion wherein the metal ion is capable of being reduced, to produced a milled mixture and heating the milled mixture in an inert atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a metal phosphate wherein the metal ion of the metal oxide is reduced in oxidation state without the direct addition of a reducing agent to the starting materials.

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: 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 A1aM1b(XY4)cZd; and (b) materials of the formula A2eM2fOg; and wherein (i) A1, A2, and A3 are Li, Na, or K; (ii) M1 and M3 comprise a transition metal; (iv) XY4 a phosphate or similar moiety; and (v) Z is OH, or halogen. In a preferred embodiment, A2eM3fOg is A3hMniO4 having an inner and an outer region, wherein the inner region comprises a cubic spinel manganese oxide, and the outer region comprises a manganese oxide enriched in Mn+4 relative to the inner region. In a preferred embodiment, the compositions also comprise a basic compound.

Abstract: The invention provides novel lithium-mixed metal materials which, upon electrochemical interaction, release lithium ions, and are capable of reversibly cycling lithium ions. The invention provides a rechargeable lithium battery which comprises an electrode formed from the novel lithium-mixed metal materials. Methods for making the novel lithium-mixed metal materials and methods for using such lithium-mixed metal materials in electrochemical cells are also provided. The lithium-mixed metal materials comprise lithium and at least one other metal besides lithium. Preferred materials are lithium-mixed metal phosphates which contain lithium and two other metals besides lithium.