Abstract: A breakdown inhibitor for electrochemical cells, which acts by trapping nucleophiles that are produced at high voltage.

Abstract: The preset invention is a hierarchically-structured carbon microbead and method for forming the microbead utilizing hydrothermal carbonization of a biomass/catalyst mixture to produce partially carbonized amorphous microspheres, wherein the biomass is an inexpensive material containing a high oxygen content component (e.g., sugar, starch, alcohol), and the catalyst is a metal or metal-containing compound, preferably a transition metal compound, and more specifically a transition metal selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed where the amorphous microspheres are heated to a temperature that is sufficiently high so as to result in carbonization, graphitization, and production of a carbonaceous coating or shell on the core of the microbead.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte, and optionally, a separator, wherein at least one of the positive electrode, negative electrode, electrolyte or the optional separator includes a breakdown inhibitor.

Abstract: A pseudocapacitor employs plates having an active material of a nanoparticles sized ceramic mixed ionic-electronic conductor such as may have the nominal formula of ABO3, A2BO4, AB2O4, and AO2, where A and B are metals. The active material may be prepared to promote sublattice vacancies to provide for the storage of additional charge.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage device includes a first electrode; a second electrode; a separator; and an electrolyte; where the separator is an electronic insulator; the separator is positioned between the first and second electrodes; the separator includes a first surface proximal to the first electrode and a second surface proximal to the second electrode; the separator is configured to support an electric double layer at the first surface, the second surface, or at both the first surface and the second surface; and the device is an electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: A pseudocapacitor employs plates having an active material of a nanoparticles sized ceramic mixed ionic-electronic conductor such as may have the nominal formula of ABO3, A2BO4, AB2O4, and AO2, where A and B are metals. The active material may be prepared to promote sublattice vacancies to provide for the storage of additional charge.

Abstract: An electrical energy storage device includes a first electrode; a second electrode; a separator; and an electrolyte; where the separator is an electronic insulator; the separator is positioned between the first and second electrodes; the separator includes a first surface proximal to the first electrode and a second surface proximal to the second electrode; the separator is configured to support an electric double layer at the first surface, the second surface, or at both the first surface and the second surface; and the device is an electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: The preset invention is a hierarchically-structured carbon microbead and method for forming the microbead utilizing hydrothermal carbonization of a biomass/catalyst mixture to produce partially carbonized amorphous microspheres, wherein the biomass is an inexpensive material containing a high oxygen content component (e.g., sugar, starch, alcohol), and the catalyst is a metal or metal-containing compound, preferably a transition metal compound, and more specifically a transition metal selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed where the amorphous microspheres are heated to a temperature that is sufficiently high so as to result in carbonization, graphitization, and production of a carbonaceous coating or shell on the core of the microbead.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making unsupported particles of a base metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel, which comprises combining an aqueous solution or suspension of a base metal salt, a strong base so that the resulting combination has an effective hydroxide ion concentration, and a reducing agent, which is then subjected to an autocatalytic reaction at about atmospheric pressure to form a precipitate of the metal. The unsupported base metal particles exhibit an anisometric morphology, generally platetlet or disk-shaped, and have a relatively high aspect or width to thickness ratio, which is preferably three or greater, exhibit ferromagnetic properties, and one or more of these base metals may be formed to exhibit a single magnetic domain. The resulting precipitate of metal particles may be formed as an agglomerate as by subjecting the precipitate to aging or to external means.

Abstract: The present invention provides for nanostructured metal compacts exhibiting a preferred grain orientation formed from nanosize metal particles, preferably having anisometric morphology. The compact may comprise a single-phase metal powder, that is, a metal powder comprised of a single element, or may be an alloy, or the metal powder may be admixed with another component thereby resulting in a compact exhibiting heterogenous properties. The metal particles are fabricated or compacted, as by a powder metallurgical process, utlizing a relatively high pressure sufficient to form a compact, object, body, article, product or the like, with desired integrity and desity. The particles tend to become oriented with their largest dimension perpendicular to the direction of the applied force. Compaction occurs at about ambient temperature, but may be at subambient or elevated temperatures provided this temperature variation is not deleterious to the grain structure of the compact.