Abstract: A method is disclosed for synthesizing a crystalline metal oxide powder material containing two or more uniformly distributed metal elements. Crystalline, water containing, oxygen containing inorganic acid salts of the metals are heated to liquefy the salts. The apparent solution contains a uniform mixture of the metal elements. The water is removed from the liquid and the resulting powder calcined in air to decompose the acid salts to a mixed metal crystalline oxide. The method is particularly useful to make doped LiNiO2 type crystals using hydrated nitrate or nitrite salts of Li, Ni and the dopant elements. Examples of useful salts are LiNO3.H2O, Ni(NO3)2.6H2O, Co(NO3)2.6H2O, Al(NO3)3.9H2O, and Mg(NO3)2.6H2O.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for synthesizing a crystalline metal oxide powder material containing two or more uniformly distributed metal elements. Crystalline, water containing, oxygen containing inorganic acid salts of the metals are heated to liquefy the salts. The apparent solution contains a uniform mixture of the metal elements. The water is removed from the liquid and the resulting powder calcined in air to decompose the acid salts to a mixed metal crystalline oxide. The method is particularly useful to make doped LiNiO2 type crystals using hydrated nitrate or nitrite salts of Li, Ni and the dopant elements. Examples of useful salts are LiNO3.H2O, Ni(NO3)2.6H2O, Co(NO3)2.6H2O, Al(NO3)3.9H2O, and Mg(NO3)2.6H2O.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the kinetics of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of complex chemical hydrides using mechanomixing and/or mechanomilling. The mechanomixing makes hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of complex chemical hydrides reversible at much reduced temperature and pressure. The mechanomilling reduces particle size or grain size of the decomposition byproducts, further increasing surface area and intimate contact of the byproducts. In the process of the present invention, complex chemical hydrides can be utilized as a reversible hydrogen storage media for various applications such as transportation, including fuel cells. The process is simple and inexpensive.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the kinetics of hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of complex chemical hydrides using mechanomixing and/or mechanomilling. The mechanomixing makes hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of complex chemical hydrides reversible at much reduced temperature and pressure. The mechanomilling reduces particle size or grain size of the decomposition byproducts, further increasing surface area and intimate contact of the byproducts. In the process of the present invention, complex chemical hydrides can be utilized as a reversible hydrogen storage media for various applications such as transportation, including fuel cells. The process is simple and inexpensive.

Abstract: A hydrogen fuel storage composition is prepared by mixing and reacting, on an atomic proportion basis, one part of an alkali metal selected form the group of lithium, sodium or potassium with eight to 24 parts of carbon under conditions of temperature and pressure such that a fully-reacted alkali metal intercalated graphitic carbon composite is formed. When suitably prepared, such a composite can reversibly absorb ten percent or more of its weight of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A novel high energy density electrode for rechargeable lithium batteries, and process of making same has been developed. The process forms a composite which (1) comprises submicron particles of lithium-alloying sp elements embedded in a conductive matrix of carbon, graphite or a lithium-containing, ionically-conductive glass, and (2) is capable of reversibly accepting and donating lithium. The particles are produced within the conductive matrix through the reaction of halides (e.g., Cl) of the sp elements with Si, B, S or P, which forms volatile halides (e.g., SiClx, SCIx, BCIx and PCIx) and submicron size (i.e., less than 0.1 micron, and preferably nanometer size) sp element particles distributed throughout the matrix. By sp element is meant an element whose valence electrons reside in the s and p orbitals of the atoms and are found in the third, fourth and fifth rows of the group III, IV and V elements of the periodic table.

Abstract: A method of making a secondary, cathode-loaded, lithium-ion cell having a carbon anode including the principal step of cathodizing the carbon in a non-aqueous lithium-ion-conducting solution to deactivate the carbon by neutralizing or passivating any active sites therein.

Abstract: A secondary lithium ion cell having an anode, a cathode and a nonaqueous electrolyte wherein the cathode comprises sub-micron-size amorphous, microporous, lithium-intercalateable manganese oxide having an internal surface area greater than about 100 m.sup.2 /g. The cathode may include an electrically conductive lithium-intercalateable polymer binder. A sol-gel process for making the amorphous quatravalent manganese oxide is disclosed.

Abstract: A secondary lithium ion cell having an anode, a cathode and a nonaqueous electrolyte wherein the cathode comprises sub-micron-size amorphous, microporous, lithium-intercalateable manganese oxide having an internal surface area greater than about 100 m.sup.2 /g. The cathode may include an electrically conductive lithium-intercalateable polymer binder. A sol-gel process for making the amorphous quatravalent manganese oxide is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making a secondary, lithium-ion cell having a carbon anode including the step of deactivating the carbon anode by heating the carbon in the presence of oxygen for a time sufficient and at a temperature sufficient to selectively oxidize undesirable, highly reactive carbon atoms therefrom prior to assembling the cell, and a stochiometrically balanced cell made from such deactivated carbon.