Abstract: Composite electrode material for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electroactive material; and a polymeric binder including pendant carboxyl groups, characterized in that (i) the electroactive material includes one or more components selected from the group including an electroactive metal, an electroactive semi-metal, an electroactive ceramic material, an electroactive metalloid, an electroactive semi-conductor, an electroactive alloy of a metal, an electroactive alloy of a semi metal and an electroactive compound of a metal or a semi-metal, (ii) the polymeric binder has a molecular weight in the range 300,000 to 3,000,000 and (iii) 50 to 90% of the carboxyl groups of the polymeric binder are in the form of a metal ion carboxylate salt. A method of making a composite electrode material, an electrode, cells including electrodes and devices using such cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery cell includes an anode having electroactive material-containing particles wherein the electroactive material is selective from one or more of silicon, germanium, and tin. A cathode includes an active material adapted to incorporate lithium and also to liberate lithium electrochemically. The anode is adapted to incorporate lithium during lithiation. Also provided is an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes both a cyclic carbonate having a vinyl group and a fluorinated cyclic carbonate. The total amount of the cyclic carbonate including a vinyl group and the fluorinated cyclic carbonate together is in the range of 3.5 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A composite particle for inclusion in a composite material of the sort used in electrochemical cells, metal ion batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, lithium air batteries, flow cell batteries, other energy storage devices such as fuel cells, thermal batteries, photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, filters and the like is provided. The composite particle comprises a particle core and a polymeric coating applied thereto. The present invention provides a composite material including a composite particle, methods of manufacturing both composite particles and composite materials and devices including such materials and particles.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery cell includes an anode having electroactive material-containing particles wherein the electroactive material is selective from one or more of silicon, germanium, and tin. A cathode includes an active material adapted to incorporate lithium and also to liberate lithium electrochemically. The anode is adapted to incorporate lithium during lithiation. Also provided is an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes both a cyclic carbonate having a vinyl group and a fluorinated cyclic carbonte. The total amount of the cyclic carbonate including a vinyl group and the fluorinated cyclic carbonate together is in the range of 3.5 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: The present invention claims the addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) and optionally also fluoroethylene carbonate to the electrolyte of lithium ion cells having a structural silicon composite anode, i.e. an anode containing fibers or particles of silicon. The additive significantly improves the cycling performance of the cells. A VC content in the range 3.5-8 wt % based on the weight of the electrolyte has been found to be optimum.

Abstract: A binder composition for inclusion in a composite material used in the formation of an electrode for inclusion in a secondary battery is provided. The binder composition comprises a metai ion sait of a carboxyiic acid of a poiymer or a copolymer, wherein the polymer or copolymer includes as a substituent one or more carboxyl comprising groups derived from a carboxyl comprising monomer unit selected from the group consisting an acrylic acid, an acrylic acid derivative, a maleic acid, a maleic acid derivative, a maleic anhydride and a maleic anhydride derivative, characterised in that 80 to 20% of the carboxyl groups are derived from an acrylic acid, an acrylic acid derivative, a maleic acid or a maleic acid derivative and 20 to 80% of the carboxyl groups are derived from maleic anhydride or a maleic anhydride derivative, but excluding lithium polyethylene-alt-maleic anhydride and lithium and sodium poly(maleic acid-co- acrylic acid).

Abstract: The present invention claims the addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) and optionally also fluoroethylene carbonate to the electrolyte of lithium ion cells having a structural silicon composite anode, i.e. an anode containing fibres or particles of silicon. The additive significantly improves the cycling performance of the cells. A VC content in the range 3.5-8 wt % based on the weight of the electrolyte has been found to be optimum.

Abstract: Composite electrode material for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electroactive material; and a polymeric binder including pendant carboxyl groups, characterised in that (i) the electroactive material includes one or more components selected from the group including an electroactive metal, an electroactive semi-metal, an electroactive ceramic material, an electroactive metalloid, an electroactive semi-conductor, an electroactive alloy of a metal, an electroactive alloy of a semi metal and an electroactive compound of a metal or a semi-metal, (ii) the polymeric binder has a molecular weight in the range 300,000 to 3,000,000 and (iii) 50 to 90% of the carboxyl groups of the polymeric binder are in the form of a metal ion carboxylate salt. A method of making a composite electrode material, an electrode, cells including electrodes and devices using such cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode for an electrochemical cell comprises mesoporous nickel hydroxide substantially free from metallic nickel or nickel oxide, together with a conductivity enhancer and a binder.

Abstract: A reversible lithium ion cell has a graphitic material as the anode material, and the electrolyte includes propylene carbonate and also a chlorinated diethyl carbonate, and a lithium salt, the concentration by weight of the chlorinated diethyl carbonate being less than 2%. The chlorinated diethyl carbonate appears to form a passivating layer on the surface of the graphite that prevents interaction of propylene carbonate with graphite, but does not impede reversible intercalation of lithium ions. Such cells may be used over a wide temperature range, and have good capacity.

Abstract: A thermal battery for operation at temperatures below about 250° C. and preferably not above about 200° C. includes a primarily CFx cathode, an electrolyte, and a lithium-based anode. The electrolyte is an organoborate lithium salt or an ionically conductive solid polymer electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium ion cell incorporates a porous polymer membrane, for example a microporous membrane. The porous polymer membrane is sandwiched between electrode layers comprising particulate insertion materials and a polymer binder. The assembled cell is then contacted with a solution comprising lithium salt, one or more organic plasticisers, and a different polymer soluble in the plasticisers, so the solution is absorbed into the porous membrane and into the electrode layers, and the solution then gels so that the components are bonded together. This procedure enables cells to be made with thin electrolyte layers, for example less than 30 &mgr;m thick.

Abstract: A polymer electrolyte comprises a polymer combined with a solution of a salt in a plasticising solvent, and the polymer is a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride (VdF), hexafluoropropylene (HFP), and chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE). The proportion by weight of vinylidene fluoride is at least 85%. The polymer has a large enough molecular weight that its melt flow index, at 230 ° C. and 21.6 kg, is less than 5.0 g/10 min. The resulting polymer electrolyte may be referred to as a solid electrolyte or a gelled electrolyte, and is suitable for use as the separator/electrolyte in an electrochemical cell, such as a secondary lithium ion cell.

Abstract: A porous polymer membrane is made by dissolving a polymer consisting primarily of vinylidene fluoride in a suitable liquid, casting the polymer solution to form a thin layer on a substrate, and then slowly evaporating the liquid phase (without contacting the layer with any other liquids) so that a substantially uniform microporous membrane of polymer is formed. The liquid may comprise a solvent for the polymer, combined with a small proportion of a non-solvent which dissolves in the solvent. Alternatively the liquid may be a latent solvent. The evaporation process may be performed at a temperature above ambient temperature, and involves exposing the film to dry gas. The microporous membrane or film may be used to form a solid electrolyte for a lithium cell, by soaking it in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, the film combining with the electrolyte solution to form a solid electrolyte or a gelled electrolyte.

Abstract: An oxide LiMnO2 which has a layered monoclinic structure, and in which a minor part of the manganese may be replaced by another transition metal, is made by a two-stage process. Firstly NaXo2 with a layered structure of the &agr;-NaFeO2-type is made by reacting stoichiometric amounts of a sodium salt and a salt of the metal X in solution so as to form a precipitate, drying and heat treating the precipitate at a temperature between 650 and 720° C. in air, and then rapidly cooling the precipitate to room temperature in air. Then the NaXO2 is subjected to ion exchange with a lithium salt in solution in a non-alcoholic solvent at a temperature between about 140 and 210° C. The resulting lithium manganese oxide can be used as the cathode material in a rechargeable lithium cell.