Abstract: A method for delaminating an electrode material of an electrode sheet from a current collector of the electrode sheet comprises positioning the electrode sheet in a sonicating bath, and at least partially within a target area of a sonotrode, wherein, in the target area, the distance between a front face of the sonotrode and the electrode sheet is less than or equal to 2 cm; and ultrasonically treating the electrode sheet, using the sonotrode, with a power density at the sonotrode front face greater than or equal to 50 W/cm2. An electrode material delaminating apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of operating a rechargeable sodium ion cell, wherein the cell comprises an anode material which is a disordered carbon and a nickel-containing sodium oxide cathode material comprises: in a formation charge phase, charging the cell to a first voltage at which sodium is irreversibly liberated from the cathode material; and in a subsequent charge-discharge cycle, charging the cell to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The voltage to which the cell is charged in the formation charge phase may be selected such that the amount of sodium irreversibly liberated from the cathode material in the formation charge phase substantially equals the amount of sodium deposited in a surface electrolyte layer on the anode in the formation charge phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AuM1vM2wM3x02±? wherein A is one or more alkali metals; M1 comprises one or more redox active metals with an oxidation state in the range +2 to +4; M2 comprises tin, optionally in combination with one or more transition metals; M3 comprises one or more transition metals either alone or in combination with one or more non-transition elements selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, other metals, metalloids and non-metals, with an oxidation state in the range +1 to +5; wherein the oxidation state of M1, M2, and M3 are chosen to maintain charge neutrality and further wherein ? is in the range 0???0.4; U is in the range 0.3<U<2; V is in the range 0.1?V<0.75; W is in the range 0<W<0.75; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; and (U+V+W+X)<4.0. Such materials are useful, for example as electrode materials, in rechargeable battery applications.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode comprising one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds of the formula: AaM1bM2cXdOe wherein A comprises sodium or a mixture of sodium with lithium and/or potassium M1 comprises one or more transition metals, wherein M1 is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher oxidation state, M2 comprises one or more non transition metals and/or metalloids, X comprises at least 40 mol % silicon, a is >0, b is >0 c is ?0, d is ?1, e is ?2, wherein the values of a, b, c, d, and e are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound; and further wherein the one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds does not include Na2MnSiO4.

Abstract: A coated metal ion containing material, includes a core comprising a metal ion containing material and a hydrophobic coating at least partially coating the core. A method of forming a coated metal ion containing material includes: combining the metal ion containing material and one or more hydrophobic coating materials; and milling the metal ion containing material and the one or more hydrophobic coating materials to coat the metal ion containing material with the one or more hydrophobic coating materials to provide a core comprising the metal ion containing material and a hydrophobic coating at least partially coating the core.

Abstract: A metal-ion electrochemical cell contains a composite anode (40) comprising a support matrix (40a) and electrochemically active metal droplets (40b) dispersed through the support matrix (40a). The metal droplets have a melting point of 100° C. or lower, and may have a melting point of 40° C. or lower or a melting point of 20° C. or lower. The cell also includes a composite cathode (60) containing an intercalation material for the metal, and a conducting electrolyte medium (50) located between the anode and the cathode. The metal-ion consists of one or more of: sodium, zinc, magnesium, aluminium and calcium. In another embodiment, the cell further contains a conductive spacer layer disposed between the anode current collector and the composite anode. In this embodiment the metal-ion may consist of one or more of: lithium, sodium, zinc, magnesium, aluminium and calcium.

Abstract: A composite electrode includes: a conductive matrix including an electrically conductive material and a binder; an active electrode material dispersed in the conductive matrix; and a microporous ionically conducting solid dispersed in the conductive matrix. In some embodiments, the composite electrode is formed from a composite slurry, including: a solvent; a conductive matrix dispersed in the solvent, the conductive matrix including an electrically conductive material and a binder; an active electrode material dispersed in the solvent; and a microporous ionically conducting solid dispersed in the solvent.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention provides a method comprising: manufacturing a sodium ion secondary cell having an anode and a cathode, the anode comprising a negative electrode active material comprising disordered carbon on an anode substrate, and the cathode comprising a comprising a nickel-containing sodium oxide positive electrode active material on a cathode substrate; and in a cycling phase, charging the cell to a first voltage; wherein the ratio of the mass of the negative electrode active material to the mass of the positive electrode active material is greater than 0.37 and is less than 1.2.

Abstract: A method of operating a rechargeable sodium ion cell, wherein the cell comprises an anode material which is a disordered carbon and a nickel-containing sodium oxide cathode material comprises: in a formation charge phase, charging the cell to a first voltage at which sodium is irreversibly liberated from the cathode material; and in a subsequent charge-discharge cycle, charging the cell to a second voltage lower than the first voltage. The voltage to which the cell is charged in the formation charge phase may be selected such that the amount of sodium irreversibly liberated from the cathode material in the formation charge phase substantially equals the amount of sodium deposited in a surface electrolyte layer on the anode in the formation charge phase.

Abstract: A composition comprises the general formula Xu Niv Zb Mnx Tiy Snw, O2, wherein: X consists of sodium or a mixture of group 1 metals having sodium as the major constituent; Z is one or more alkali metals selected from the group consisting of lithium and sodium; the X constituent and the Z constituent are present at crystallographically distinct sites when the compound is in a solid phase; 0<u 0<b<0.27; 0.1<v<½; 0<w? 4/12; 3/12?x; and w+x+y=1?(b+v). It has been found that such materials may be charged to a capacity that is greater than the theoretical charging capacity of the material, as determined from the content of redox active elements in the material.

Abstract: A carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes a composition represented by (1-a)Sn1-xM1x+aM2+cC, wherein: M1 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; M2 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; x is 0?x?1; a is 0?a?1; and c is 0<c?99. A method of forming the carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes the steps of dissolving one or more precursor materials in a solvent to form a solution; adding an organic carbon forming precursor to the solution to form a mixture; heating the mixture in an autoclave reactor for a prescribed period of time; separating solids formed from the mixture after the heating; washing the separated solids with a washing solvent; and heating the washed solids under a non-oxidizing atmosphere to form the carbon-metal/alloy composite material.

Abstract: A porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes a composition represented by (1?a)Sn1-xM1x+aM2+cC, wherein: M1 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; M2 includes one or more transition metals, metals, or metalloids; x is 0?x?1; a is 0?a?1; and c is 0<c?99. A method of forming the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material includes the steps of dissolving one or more metal salts and a metal salt of polysaccharide to form a mixture; subjecting the mixture to heat treatment under an inert atmosphere to form carbon-metal/alloy composite material and metal salt by-product; and washing the formed carbon-metal/alloy composite material and the metal salt by-product with washing solvent to remove the metal salt by-product and obtain the porous carbon-metal/alloy composite material.

Abstract: Materials are presented of the formula: AxMyMiziO2?d, where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; x>0; M is a metal or germanium; y>0; Mi, for i=1, 2, 3 . . . n, is a transition metal or an alkali metal; zi?0 for each i=1, 2, 3 . . . n; 0<d?0.5; the values of x, y, zi and d are such as to maintain charge neutrality; and the values of x, y, zi and d are such that x+y+?zi>2?d. The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications. Also presented is a method of preparing a compound having the formula AxMyMiziO2?d.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrode comprising one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds of the formula: AaM1bM2cXdOe wherein A comprises sodium or a mixture of sodium with lithium and/or potassium M1 comprises one or more transition metals, wherein M1 is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher oxidation state, M2 comprises one or more non transition metals and/or metalloids, X comprises at least 40 mol % silicon, a is >0, b is >0 c is ?0, d is ?1, e is ?2, wherein the values of a, b, c, d, and e are selected to maintain the electroneutrality of the compound; and further wherein the one or more sodium-containing transition metal silicate compounds does not include Na2MnSiO4.

Abstract: Materials are presented of the formula: Ax My Mizi O2?d, where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; x>0; M is a metal or germanium; y>0; Mi, for i=1, 2, 3 . . . n, is a transition metal or an alkali metal; zi?0 for each i=1, 2, 3 . . . n; 0<d?0.5; the values of x, y, zi and d are such as to maintain charge neutrality; and the values of x, y, zi and d are such that x+y+?zi>2?d. The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications. Also presented is a method of preparing a compound having the formula Ax My Mizi O2?d.

Abstract: Materials are presented of the formula: AxMyMiziO2?d, where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; x>0.5; M is a transition metal; y>0; Mi, for i=1, 2, 3 . . . n, is a metal or germanium; z1>0 zi?0 for each i=2, 3 . . . n; 0<d?0.5; the values of x, y, zi and d are such as to maintain charge neutrality; and the values of y, zi and d are such that y+?zi>½(2?d). The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AuM1vM2wM3x02±? wherein A is one or more alkali metals; M1 comprises one or more redox active metals with an oxidation state in the range +2 to +4; M2 comprises tin, optionally in combination with one or more transition metals; M3 comprises one or more transition metals either alone or in combination with one or more non-transition elements selected from alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, other metals, metalloids and non-metals, with an oxidation state in the range +1 to +5; wherein the oxidation state of M1, M2, and M3 are chosen to maintain charge neutrality and further wherein ? is in the range 0???0.4; U is in the range 0.3<U<2; V is in the range 0.1?V<0.75; W is in the range 0<W<0.75; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; and (U+V+W+X)<4.0. Such materials are useful, for example as electrode materials, in rechargeable battery applications.

Abstract: A layered oxide material having a composition represented by Chemical Formula (1): AwMjxMiyO2??(1) wherein A is sodium or is a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; w>0; Mj is a transition metal not including Ni or is a mixture of transition metals not including Ni; x>0; j?1; Mi includes either one or more alkali metals, one or more alkaline earth metals, or a mixture of one or more alkali metals and one or more alkaline earth metals; y>0; i?1; and ?(Mj+Mi)?3. A method of forming the layered oxide material includes the steps of mixing one or more precursors in a solvent to form a mixture; heating the mixture to form a reaction product; and cooling the reaction product under air or inert atmosphere.

Abstract: A macroporous sodium transition metal silicate material includes a composition represented by AaM1bM2cXdOe, wherein A is sodium or a mixture of sodium with lithium and/or potassium; M1 is one or more transition metals; M2 is one or more metals and/or metalloids; X is silicon or a mixture containing silicon and one or more elements selected from phosphorus, boron and aluminium; a is >0; b is >0; c is ?0; d is ?1; and e is ?2. A method of forming the macroporous sodium transition metal silicate material includes mixing one or more transition metal precursor materials in a solvent to form a transition metal mixture; adding one or more silicate precursors to the transition metal mixture to form a precursor mixture; raising the pH of the precursor mixture to form a precipitate; stirring the mixture; aging and drying the mixture; washing the mixture; and drying.

Abstract: Materials are presented of the formula: Ax My Mizi O2-d, where A is sodium or a mixed alkali metal including sodium as a major constituent; x>0; M is a metal or germanium; y>0; Mi, for i=1, 2, 3 . . . n, is a transition metal or an alkali metal; zi?0 for each i=1, 2, 3 . . . n; 0<d?0.5; the values of x, y, zi and d are such as to maintain charge neutrality; and the values of x, y, zi and d are such that x+y+?zi>2-d. The formula includes compounds that are oxygen deficient. Further the oxidation states may or may not be integers i.e. they may be whole numbers or fractions or a combination of whole numbers and fractions and may be averaged over different crystallographic sites in the material. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in rechargeable battery applications. Also presented is a method of preparing a compound having the formula Ax My Mizi O2-d.