Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a polymer composite film, comprising the steps of: (a) mixing a phthalocyanine compound with a polymer or its precursor and a liquid to form a slurry and forming the slurry into a wet film on a solid substrate, wherein the polymer is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyimide, polyamide, polyoxadiazole, polybenzoxazole, polybenzobisoxazole, polythiazole, polybenzothiazole, polybenzobisthiazole, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polybenzimidazole, polybenzobisimidazole, and combinations thereof; and (b) removing the liquid from the wet film and, in some embodiments, converting the precursor to the polymer to form the polymer composite film comprising from 0.1% to 50% by weight of the phthalocyanine compound dispersed in the polymer.

Abstract: Provided is a laminated graphitic layer as an elastic heat spreader, the layer comprising: (A) a plurality of graphitic or graphene films prepared from (i) graphitization of a polymer film or pitch film, (ii) aggregation or bonding of graphene sheets, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), wherein the graphitic or graphene film has a thermal conductivity of at least 200 W/mK, an electrical conductivity no less than 3,000 S/cm, and a physical density from 1.5 to 2.25 g/cm3; and (B) a conducting polymer network adhesive that bonds together the graphitic or graphene films to form the laminated graphitic layer; wherein the conductive polymer network adhesive is in an amount from 0.001% to 30% by weight and wherein the laminated graphitic layer preferably has a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 1% to 50% and an in-plane thermal conductivity from 100 W/mK to 1,750 W/mK.

Abstract: Provided is a composite layer of expanded graphite flakes and anode particles being dispersed in a conducting polymer network for a lithium battery anode (negative electrode), the layer comprising a mixture of a conducting polymer network, multiple expanded graphite flakes, and multiple particles of an anode active material, wherein the anode particles have a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 20 ?m and occupy from 30% to 98% by weight, the expanded graphite flakes occupy from 0.01% to 25% by weight, and the conducting polymer network occupies from 1% to 30% by weight based on the total mixture weight and wherein the expanded graphite flakes and the conducting polymer network together form dual conducting pathways for both electrons and lithium ions having an electron conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 103 S/cm and lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 to 5.0×10?3 S/cm when measured at room temperature.

Abstract: A process for producing an electrode for an alkali metal battery, comprising: (a) Continuously feeding an electrically conductive porous layer to an anode or cathode material impregnation zone, wherein the conductive porous layer has two opposed porous surfaces and contain interconnected conductive pathways and at least 70% by volume of pores; (b) Impregnating a wet anode or cathode active material mixture into the porous layer from at least one of the two porous surfaces to form an anode or cathode electrode, wherein the wet anode or cathode active material mixture contains an anode or cathode active material and an optional conductive additive mixed with a liquid electrolyte; and (c) Supplying at least a protective film to cover the at least one porous surface to form the electrode.

Abstract: Provided is a composite layer of graphene sheets and anode particles being dispersed in a conducting polymer network for a lithium battery anode (negative electrode), the layer comprising a mixture of a conducting polymer network, multiple graphene sheets, and multiple particles of an anode active material, wherein the anode particles have a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 20 ?m and occupy from 30% to 98% by weight, the graphene sheets occupy from 0.01% to 25% by weight, and the conducting polymer network occupies from 1% to 30% by weight based on the total mixture weight and wherein the graphene sheets and the conducting polymer network together form dual conducting pathways for both electrons and lithium ions having an electron conductivity from 10?8 S/cm to 103 S/cm and lithium ion conductivity from 10?8 to 5.0×10?3 S/cm when measured at room temperature.

Abstract: Provided is a composite thin film current collector for a battery or supercapacitor, the thin film comprising graphene sheets dispersed in or bonded by an electron-conducting polymer network (also referred to as conducting network polymer, crosslinked polymer, or hydrogel polymer) wherein the composite thin film has a thickness from 2 nm to 500 ?m and an electrical conductivity from 10?4 to 104 S/cm and wherein the graphene sheets occupy from 10% to 99% by weight and the polymer network from 1% to 90% by weight of the total composite weight.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing a thin film graphene-bonded metal foil current collector for a battery or supercapacitor, said process comprising: (a) providing a graphene suspension comprising graphene sheets dispersed in a liquid medium; (b) operating a micro-gravure coater to deposit a layer of the graphene suspension onto at least one of the two primary surfaces of a metal foil to form a wet layer of graphene deposited thereon; and (c) removing said fluid medium from the deposited wet layer to form a dry layer of graphene, having a layer thickness from 1 nm to 100 nm. Optionally, the process may include heat treating the dry layer of graphene at a temperature from 35° C. to 3,000° C.

Abstract: Provided is method of improving fast-chargeability of a lithium secondary battery, wherein the method comprises disposing a lithium ion reservoir between an anode and a porous separator and configured to receive lithium ions from the cathode through the porous separator when the battery is charged and to enable the lithium ions to enter the anode in a time-delayed manner. In some embodiments, the reservoir comprises a conducting porous framework structure having pores and lithium-capturing groups residing in the pores, wherein the lithium-capturing groups are selected from (a) redox forming species that reversibly form a redox pair with a lithium ion; (b) electron-donating groups interspaced between non-electron-donating groups; (c) anions and cations wherein the anions are more mobile than the cations; or (d) chemical reducing groups that partially reduce lithium ions from Li+1 to Li+?, wherein 0<?<1.

Abstract: A method of producing isolated graphene sheets from a layered graphite, comprising: (a) forming an alkali metal ion-intercalated graphite compound by an electrochemical intercalation which uses a liquid solution of an alkali metal salt dissolved in an organic solvent as both an electrolyte and an intercalate source, layered graphite material as an anode material, and a metal or graphite as a cathode material, and wherein a current is imposed upon a cathode and an anode at a current density for a duration of time sufficient for effecting the electrochemical intercalation of alkali metal ions into interlayer spacing; and (b) exfoliating and separating hexagonal carbon atomic interlayers (graphene planes) from the alkali metal ion-intercalated graphite compound using ultrasonication, thermal shock exposure, exposure to water solution, mechanical shearing treatment, or a combination thereof to produce isolated graphene sheets.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a non-flammable quasi-solid electrolyte for a lithium battery, the method comprising (A) dissolving a lithium salt in a first liquid solvent to obtain a mixture having a first concentration of lithium salt less than 3.0 M (mole/L), but greater than 0.001M; and (B) removing a portion of the first liquid solvent to obtain the quasi-solid electrolyte having a final lithium salt concentration higher than the first concentration so that the electrolyte exhibits a vapor pressure less than 0.01 kPa when measured at 20° C., a vapor pressure less than 60% of the vapor pressure of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point at least 20 degrees Celsius higher than a flash point of the first liquid solvent alone, a flash point higher than 150° C., or no detectable flash point.

Abstract: Provided is apparatus for introducing a quasi-solid electrolyte into one or a plurality of lithium battery cells, the apparatus comprising: (a) a cell-holding device to hold one or a plurality of lithium battery cells and is in a working relation to a liquid electrolyte-filling device that injects a liquid electrolyte into the battery cells, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a first liquid solvent having a first lithium salt concentration from 0.001 M to 3.0 M (mole/L); and (b) a solvent vapor-removing device in a working relation to the cell-holding device, wherein the vapor-removing device comprises a pumping device to move solvent vapors away from the battery cells so that the electrolyte has a final lithium salt concentration higher than the first concentration and higher than 2.0 M. Also provided is a method of operating the apparatus.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing one or a plurality of lithium cells, comprising: (a) providing at least a dry lithium cell, comprising a cathode, an anode, a porous separator, and a protective casing, wherein the dry cell is electrolyte-free or contains an initial amount of electrolyte less than a final desired amount; (b) injecting a liquid electrolyte into at least a dry cell to form at least a wet cell, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a lithium salt dissolved in a first liquid solvent having a first lithium salt concentration from 0.001 M to 3.0 M; (c) removing portion of the liquid solvent from at least a wet cell to obtain at least a lithium cell comprising a quasi-solid electrolyte having a final lithium salt concentration higher than first concentration and higher than 2.0 M; and (d) optionally sealing the protective housing to produce the lithium cell(s).

Abstract: Lacrosse heads are provided that include a polymer and graphene. The graphene increases the durability of the lacrosse heads. Also provided is equipment for other contact sports that include graphene to increase durability.

Abstract: Provided is a method of producing a graphitic film, comprising: (a) providing a suspension of a mixture of graphene oxide (GO) and aromatic molecules selected from petroleum heavy oil or pitch, coal tar pitch, a polynuclear hydrocarbon, a halogenated variant thereof, or a combination thereof, dispersed or dissolved in a liquid medium; (b) dispensing and depositing the suspension onto a surface of a supporting substrate to form a wet layer, wherein the procedure includes subjecting the suspension to an orientation-inducing stress or strain; (c) partially or completely removing the liquid medium; and (d) heat treating the resulting dried layer at a first temperature selected from 20° C. to 3,200° C. so that the GO and aromatic molecules are cross-linked, merged or fused into larger aromatic molecules to form the graphitic film, wherein the larger aromatic molecules or graphene planes in the graphitic film are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: Provided is an alkali metal-sulfur battery, comprising: (a) an anode; (b) a cathode having (i) a cathode active material slurry comprising a cathode active material dispersed in an electrolyte and (ii) a conductive porous structure acting as a 3D cathode current collector having at least 70% by volume of pores and wherein cathode active material slurry is disposed in pores of the conductive porous structure, wherein the cathode active material is selected from sulfur, lithium polysulfide, sodium polysulfide, sulfur-polymer composite, sulfur-carbon composite, sulfur-graphene composite, or a combination thereof; and (c) a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode; wherein the cathode thickness-to-cathode current collector thickness ratio is from 0.8/1 to 1/0.8, and/or the cathode active material constitutes an electrode active material loading greater than 15 mg/cm2, and the 3D porous cathode current collector has a thickness no less than 200 ?m (preferably thicker than 500 ?m).

Abstract: Provided is filtration member for use in a filtration device, said filtration member comprising a layer of woven or nonwoven fabric having two primary surfaces and a layer of chemically functionalized graphite flakes deposited on at least one of the two primary surfaces or embedded in the layer of woven or nonwoven fabric, wherein said graphite flakes comprise chemical function contain 1%-50% by weight of a non-carbon element selected from O, N, H, F, Cl, Br, I, or a combination thereof. Also provided is a face mask comprising: (a) a mask body configured to cover at least wearer's mouth and nose; and (b) a fastener to hold the mask in place on the wearer's face; wherein the mask body includes (i) an air-permeable outer layer, (ii) an inner layer located on a wearer's side when the mask is worn, and (iii) the filtration member comprising graphite flakes.

Abstract: Provided is a powder mass of multiple porous graphene balls, wherein at least one of the porous graphene balls comprises multiple graphene sheets having a catalyst, in a form of nanoparticles or coating having a diameter or thickness from 0.3 nm to 10 nm, bonded to or supported by graphene sheet surfaces, wherein the porous graphene balls have a density from 0.01 to 1.7 g/cm3 (preferably and typically from 0.1 to 1.5 g/cm3), and a specific surface area from 50 to 3,000 m2/g (preferably and typically from 200 to 2,630 m2/g). A method of producing such porous graphene balls is provided as well. Also provided is a gas storage device containing the invented powder mass as a gas-absorbing, gas-adsorbing, gas-capturing, or gas-storing medium to store a gas species therein.

Abstract: Provided is a surface-stabilized anode active material particulate (for use in a lithium battery), comprising: (a) one or a plurality of prelithiated or un-prelithiated anode active material particles (with or without a coating of carbon, graphene, or ion-conducting polymer); (b) a protecting polymer layer that wraps around, embraces or encapsulates the one or plurality of anode active material particles, wherein the protecting polymer layer has a thickness from 0.

Abstract: Provided is a battery charging system, comprising (a) at least one charging circuit to charge at least one rechargeable battery cell; and (b) a heating device to provide heat that is transported through a heat spreader element, implemented fully outside the battery cell, to heat up the battery cell to a desired temperature Tc before or during battery charging. The system may further comprise (c) a cooling device in thermal contact with the heat spreader element configured to enable transporting internal heat of the battery cell through the heat spreader element to the cooling device when the battery cell is discharged. Charging the battery at Tc enables completion of the charging of the battery in less than 15 minutes, typically less than 10 minutes, and more typically less than 5 minutes without adversely impacting the battery structure and performance. Also provided is a battery module or pack working with such a system.

Abstract: Provided is an face mask comprising: (a) a mask body configured to cover at least wearer's mouth and nose; and (b) a fastener to hold the mask in place on the wearer; wherein the mask body includes (i) an air-permeable outer layer preferably comprising a hydrophobic material (e.g. water-repelling fibers), (ii) an inner layer located on a wearer's side when the mask is worn, and (iii) a graphene foam layer disposed in the mask body between the outer layer and the inner layer or embedded (totally or partially) in the outer layer or the inner layer. The foam pore wall graphene surfaces may be deposited with an antiviral or anti-bacteria compound.