Abstract: Anodic materials for lithium ions batteries include a current collector and a superlattice disposed on at least a portion of the current collector, the superlattice comprising: alternating layers of an anode active material and an anode inactive material; and a plurality of channels that extend from the current collector through the alternating layers of anode active material and anode inactive material.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a cathode having a primary cathode active material and an alkaline source material selected from the group consisting of Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, Li2O, Li2O2, Li2S, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, and a mixture of any two or more thereof; an anode having an anode active material; an electrolyte; and a separator.

Abstract: The complex transition metal phosphonates include one or more of compounds with the chemical formula: (1) AxMy(R(PO3)2)z; (2) AxMy(RPO3)z; (3) AxMy(R(PO3)2; nHO; (4) AxMy(RPO3); nH2O; and (5) AxMy(R(PO3)2)z(X)t, where A is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, M is a divalent or trivalent transition metal, R is an organic group, and X is OH, F or CI. For example, A is Li, Na, K, Cs, Rb, Mg, Ca and/or combinations thereof. M is Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu and/or combinations thereof. R is a C1-C5 alkyl group; e.g., CH2, C2H4, or C3H6, The complex transition metal phosphonates can be used as cathode or anode materials for rechargeable batteries.

Abstract: The lithium-sulfur rechargeable battery (10) includes a negative electrode (14) formed from a composite of sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN), carbon black and carbon nanofibers coated on an aluminum substrate. The negative electrode (14), a corresponding positive electrode (16), an electrolyte (20) and a separator (18) are each disposed within a cell housing (12). The positive electrode (16) is formed from an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or salts thereof. The alkali metal of the positive electrode (16) may be, for example, lithium, sodium, potassium or cesium, and the alkaline earth metal of the positive electrode (16) may be, for example, magnesium, calcium or barium. Alternatively, the positive electrode (16) may be formed from aluminum, silver, zinc, hydrogen or salts thereof. The electrolyte (20) is formed from an alkali metal salt dissolved in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Anodic materials for lithium ions batteries include a current collector and a superlattice disposed on at least a portion of the current collector, the superlattice comprising: alternating layers of an anode active material and an anode inactive material; and a plurality of channels that extend from the current collector through the alternating layers of anode active material and anode inactive material.

Abstract: The orthophosphate electrodes for rechargeable batteries include an anode and a cathode, each formed from an orthophosphate material, for use in a conventional electrolytic cell-type rechargeable battery. The orthophosphate anode is an anode formed from an orthophosphate material having the formula A2T2B(PO4)3, and the orthophosphate cathode is a cathode formed from an orthophosphate material having the formula A3T2B(PO4)3, where A represents an alkali metal and T and B each represent a transition metal. The alkali metal may be lithium (Li) sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb), cesium (Cs), monovalent cations thereof, or combinations thereof and each transition metal may be titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An electrode includes selenium, a selenium-containing compound, selenium-carbon composite, a selenium-containing compound-carbon composite, or a mixture thereof; a carbon electronic conductor; a binder; and a current collector; wherein: the electrode is a solid electrode.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a cathode having a primary cathode active material and an alkaline source material selected from the group consisting of Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, Li2O, Li2O2, Li2S, LiF, LiCl, LiBr, Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, and a mixture of any two or more thereof; an anode having an anode active material; an electrolyte; and a separator.

Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a composite material of general Formula (1-x)J-(x)Q wherein: J is a metal carbon alloy of formula SnzSiz?MetwMet?w?Ct; Q is a metal oxide of formula A?M?M???O?; and wherein: A is Li, Na, or K; M and M? are individually Ge, Mo, Al, Ga, As, Sb, Te, Ti, Ta, Zr, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Rt, Ru or Cd; Met and Met? are individually Ge, Mo, Al, Ga, As, Sb, Te, Ti, Ta, Zr, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Rt, Ru or Cd; 0<x<1; ? is 0, 1, or 2; 0<??1; 0????1; ? is 0.5, 1, 2, or 3; 0<t?5; 1?w?5; 0<w??5; 1?z?5; and 0<z??5.

Abstract: A process for producing nanocomposite materials for use in batteries includes electroactive materials are incorporated within a nanosheet host material. The process may include treatment at high temperatures and doping to obtain desirable properties.

Abstract: A process for forming a surface-treatment layer on an electroactive material includes heating the electroactive material and exposing the electroactive material to a reducing gas to form a surface-treatment layer on the electroactive material, where the surface-treatment layer is a layer of partial reduction of the electroactive material.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a cathode having a primary cathode active material and an alkaline source material selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Li2O2, Li2S, LiF, LiCl, Li2Br, Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, and a mixture of any two or more thereof; an anode having an anode active material; an electrolyte; and a separator.

Abstract: A process includes suspending an electroactive material in a solvent, suspending or dissolving a carbon precursor in the solvent; and depositing the carbon precursor on the electroactive material to form a carbon-coated electroactive material. Compositions include a graphene-coated electroactive material prepared from a solution phase mixture or suspension of an electroactive material and graphene, graphene oxide, or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A rechargeable battery includes a compound having at least two active sites, R1 and R2; wherein the at least two active sites are interconnected by one or more conjugated moieties; each active site is coordinated to one or more metal ions Ma+ or each active site is configured to coordinate to one or more metal ions; and “a” is 1, 2, or 3.

Abstract: An electrolyte includes a polar aprotic solvent; an alkali metal salt; and an electrode stabilizing compound that is a monomer, which when polymerized forms an electrically conductive polymer. The electrode stabilizing compound is a thiophene, a imidazole, a anilines, a benzene, a azulene, a carbazole, or a thiol. Electrochemical devices may incorporate such electrolytes.

Abstract: An electrochemical device includes a composite material of general Formula (1?x)J-(x)Q wherein: J is a metal carbon alloy of formula SnzSiz?MetwMet?w?Ct; Q is a metal oxide of formula A?M?M???O?; and wherein: A is Li, Na, or K; M and M? are individually Ge, Mo, Al, Ga, As, Sb, Te, Ti, Ta, Zr, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Rt, Ru or Cd; Met and Met? are individually Ge, Mo, Al, Ga, As, Sb, Te, Ti, Ta, Zr, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Rt, Ru or Cd; 0<x<1; ? is 0, 1, or 2; 0<??1; 0????1; ? is 0.5, 1, 2, or 3; 0<t?5; 1?w?5; 0<w??5; 1?z?5;and 0<z??5.

Abstract: A secondary battery including a cathode having a primary cathode active material and an alkaline source material selected from the group consisting of Li2O, Li2O2, Li2S, LiF, LiCl, Li2Br, Na2O, Na2O2, Na2S, NaF, NaCl, and a mixture of any two or more thereof; an anode having an anode active material; an electrolyte; and a separator.

Abstract: An electrode includes selenium, a selenium-containing compound, selenium-carbon composite, a selenium-containing compound-carbon composite, or a mixture thereof; a carbon electronic conductor; a binder; and a current collector; wherein: the electrode is a solid electrode.

Abstract: A composite material has general Formula (1-x)J-(x)Q wherein: J is a metal carbon alloy of formula SnzSiz?MetwMet?w?Ct; Q is a metal oxide of formula A?M?M???O?; A is Li, Na, or K; M, M?, Met, and Met? are individually Ge, Mo, Al, Ga, As, Sb, Te, Ti, Ta, Zr, Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba, Li, Na, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Rt, Ru or Cd; 0<x<1; ? is 0, 1, or 2; 0<??1; 0????1; ? is 0.5, 1, 2, or 3; 0<t?5; and the sum of z, z?, w, and w? is greater than 0.

Abstract: An as-prepared cathode for a secondary battery, the cathode including an alkaline source material including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.