Abstract: Silicon oxide based materials, including composites with various electrical conductive compositions, are formulated into desirable anodes. The anodes can be effectively combined into lithium ion batteries with high capacity cathode materials. In some formulations, supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize cycling as well as to reduce effects of first cycle irreversible capacity loss. Batteries are described with surprisingly good cycling properties with good specific capacities with respect to both cathode active weights and anode active weights.

Abstract: Silicon oxide based materials, including composites with various electrical conductive compositions, are formulated into desirable anodes. The anodes can be effectively combined into lithium ion batteries with high capacity cathode materials. In some formulations, supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize cycling as well as to reduce effects of first cycle irreversible capacity loss. Batteries are described with surprisingly good cycling properties with good specific capacities with respect to both cathode active weights and anode active weights.

Abstract: Batteries with particularly high energy capacity and low internal impedance have been described herein. The batteries can exhibit extraordinary long cycling with acceptable low amounts of fade. Pouch batteries using high specific capacity lithium rich metal oxide as positive electrode material combined with graphitic carbon anode can reach an energy density of at least about 180 Wh/kg at a rate of C/3 from 4.35V to 2V at room temperature while having a room temperature areas specific DC resistance of no more than about 75 ohms-cm2 at 20% SOC based on a full charge to 4.35V. High specific capacity lithium rich metal oxide with specific stoichiometry ranges used in these batteries are disclosed.

Abstract: A composite coated form of lithium cobalt oxide is described that can achieve improved cycling at higher voltages. Liquid phase and combined liquid and solid phase coating processes are described to effectively form the composite coated powders. The improved cycling positive electrode materials can be effectively combined with either graphitic carbon negative electrode active materials or silicon based high capacity negative electrode active materials. Improved battery designs can achieve very high volumetric energy densities in practical battery formats and with reasonable cycling properties.

Abstract: High capacity silicon based anode active materials are described for lithium ion batteries. These materials are shown to be effective in combination with high capacity lithium rich cathode active materials. Supplemental lithium is shown to improve the cycling performance and reduce irreversible capacity loss for at least certain silicon based active materials. In particular silicon based active materials can be formed in composites with electrically conductive coatings, such as pyrolytic carbon coatings or metal coatings, and composites can also be formed with other electrically conductive carbon components, such as carbon nanofibers and carbon nanoparticles. Additional alloys with silicon are explored.

Abstract: High capacity silicon based anode active materials are described for lithium ion batteries. These materials are shown to be effective in combination with high capacity lithium rich cathode active materials. Supplemental lithium is shown to improve the cycling performance and reduce irreversible capacity loss for at least certain silicon based active materials. In particular silicon based active materials can be formed in composites with electrically conductive coatings, such as pyrolytic carbon coatings or metal coatings, and composites can also be formed with other electrically conductive carbon components, such as carbon nanofibers and carbon nanoparticles. Additional alloys with silicon are explored.

Abstract: Improved high energy capacity designs for lithium ion batteries are described that take advantage of the properties of high specific capacity anode active compositions and high specific capacity cathode active compositions. In particular, specific electrode designs provide for achieving very high energy densities. Furthermore, the complex behavior of the active materials is used advantageously in a radical electrode balancing design that significantly reduced wasted electrode capacity in either electrode when cycling under realistic conditions of moderate to high discharge rates and/or over a reduced depth of discharge.

Abstract: Supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize lithium ion batteries with lithium rich metal oxides as the positive electrode active material. Dramatic improvements in the specific capacity at long cycling have been obtained. The supplemental lithium can be provided with the negative electrode, or alternatively as a sacrificial material that is subsequently driven into the negative electrode active material. The supplemental lithium can be provided to the negative electrode active material prior to assembly of the battery using electrochemical deposition. The positive electrode active materials can comprise a layered-layered structure comprising manganese as well as nickel and/or cobalt.

Abstract: A porous silicon based material comprising porous crystalline elemental silicon formed by reducing silicon dioxide with a reducing metal in a heating process followed by acid etching is used to construct negative electrode used in lithium ion batteries. Gradual temperature heating ramp(s) with optional temperature steps can be used to perform the heating process. The porous silicon formed has a high surface area from about 10 m2/g to about 200 m2/g and is substantially free of carbon. The negative electrode formed can have a discharge specific capacity of at least 1800 mAh/g at rate of C/3 discharged from 1.5V to 0.005V against lithium with in some embodiments loading levels ranging from about 1.4 mg/cm2 to about 3.5 mg/cm2. In some embodiments, the porous silicon can be coated with a carbon coating or blended with carbon nanofibers or other conductive carbon material.

Abstract: Mixed phase complex lithium metal oxides are described with an overall stoichiometry represented by a formula Li1+aNibCocMndOx, ?0.05?a?0.14, 0.1?b?0.25, 0?c?0.2, 0.45?d?0.8, a+b+c+d=1 and (1+a)/(b+c+d)?1.325. The compositions are generally very high in manganese content. The compositions can have x-ray diffractograms and differential capacity profiles suggesting the presence of a layered (Li2MnO3)—layered (LiMetalO2)—spinel crystal structure. The compositions can exhibit surprisingly low first cycle irreversible capacity losses while maintaining high specific discharge capacities, even at high discharge rates. Stabilizing coatings have been found to further significantly improve performance.

Abstract: Desirable electrolyte compositions are described that are suitable for high voltage lithium ion batteries with a rated charge voltage at least about 4.45 volts. The electrolyte compositions can comprise ethylene carbonate and solvent composition selected from the group consisting of dimethyl carbonate, methyl ethyl carbonate, ?-butyrolactone, ?-valerolactone or a combination thereof. The electrolyte can further comprise a stabilization additive. The electrolytes can be effectively used with lithium rich positive electrode active materials.

Abstract: High rate deposition methods comprise depositing a powder coating from a product flow. The product flow results from a chemical reaction within the flow. Some of the powder coatings consolidate under appropriate conditions into an optical coating. The substrate can have a first optical coating onto which the powder coating is placed. The resulting optical coating following consolidation can have a large index-of-refraction difference with the underlying first optical coating, high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity across the substrate and high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity between coatings formed on different substrates under equivalent conditions. In some embodiments, the deposition can result in a powder coating of at least about 100 nm in no more than about 30 minutes with a substrate having a surface area of at least about 25 square centimeters.

Abstract: Lithium rich metal oxyfluorides are described with high specific capacity and, good cycling properties. The materials have particularly good high rate capabilities. The fluorine dopant can be introduced in a low temperature process to yield the materials with desirable cycling properties. In some embodiments, the positive electrode active materials have a composition represented approximately by the formula Li1+xNi?Mn?Co?A?O2?zFz where: x is from about 0.02 to about 0.19, ? is from about 0.1 to about 0.4, ? is from about 0.35 to about 0.869, ? is from about 0.01 to about 0.2, ? is from 0.0 to about 0.1 and z is from about 0.01 to about 0.2, where A is Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Composite silicon based materials are described that are effective active materials for lithium ion batteries. The composite materials comprise processed, e.g., high energy mechanically milled, silicon suboxide and graphitic carbon in which at least a portion of the graphitic carbon is exfoliated into graphene sheets. The composite materials have a relatively large surface area, a high specific capacity against lithium, and good cycling with lithium metal oxide cathode materials. The composite materials can be effectively formed with a two step high energy mechanical milling process. In the first milling process, silicon suboxide can be milled to form processed silicon suboxide, which may or may not exhibit crystalline silicon x-ray diffraction. In the second milling step, the processed silicon suboxide is milled with graphitic carbon. Composite materials with a high specific capacity and good cycling can be obtained in particular with balancing of the processing conditions.

Abstract: High rate deposition methods comprise depositing a powder coating from a product flow. The product flow results from a chemical reaction within the flow. Some of the powder coatings consolidate under appropriate conditions into an optical coating. The substrate can have a first optical coating onto which the powder coating is placed. The resulting optical coating following consolidation can have a large index-of-refraction difference with the underlying first optical coating, high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity across the substrate and high thickness and index-of-refraction uniformity between coatings formed on different substrates under equivalent conditions. In some embodiments, the deposition can result in a powder coating of at least about 100 nm in no more than about 30 minutes with a substrate having a surface area of at least about 25 square centimeters.

Abstract: Silicon based anode active materials are described for use in lithium ion batteries. The silicon based materials are generally composites of nanoscale elemental silicon with stabilizing components that can comprise, for example, silicon oxide-carbon matrix material, inert metal coatings or combinations thereof. High surface area morphology can further contribute to the material stability when cycled in a lithium based battery. In general, the material synthesis involves a significant solution based processing step that can be designed to yield desired material properties as well as providing convenient and scalable processing.

Abstract: Lithium rich and manganese rich lithium metal oxides are described that provide for excellent performance in lithium-based batteries. The specific compositions can be engineered within a specified range of compositions to provide desired performance characteristics. Selected compositions can provide high values of specific capacity with a reasonably high average voltage. Compositions of particular interest can be represented by the formula, x Li2MnO3.(1?x) Li Niu+?Mnu??CowAyO2). The compositions undergo significant first cycle irreversible changes, but the compositions cycle stably after the first cycle.

Abstract: Improved cycling of high voltage lithium ion batteries is accomplished through the use of a formation step that seems to form a more stable structure for subsequent cycling and through the improved management of the charge-discharge cycling. In particular, the formation charge for the battery can be performed at a lower voltage prior to full activation of the battery through a charge to the specified operational voltage of the battery. With respect to management of the charging and discharging of the battery, it has been discovered that for the lithium rich high voltage compositions of interest that a deeper discharge can preserve the cycling capacity at a greater number of cycles. Battery management can be designed to exploit the improved cycling capacity obtained with deeper discharges of the battery.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material comprising a lithium rich metal oxide active composition coated with aluminum zinc oxide coating composition is disclosed. The aluminum zinc oxide can be represented by the formula AlxZn1-3x/2O, where x is from about 0.01 to about 0.6. In some embodiments, the material can have an average voltage that is very stable with cycling, and a specific capacity of at least about 175 mAh/g and an average voltage of at least about 3.55V discharged at a rate of C/3 from 4.6V to 2V against lithium. The material can further comprise an overcoat of metal halide over the aluminum zinc oxide coating. In some embodiments, the material can have from about 1 mole percent to about 15 mole percent aluminum zinc oxide coating and from about 0.5 mole percent to about 3 mole percent aluminum halide overcoat.

Abstract: Lithium rich and manganese rich lithium metal oxides are described that provide for excellent performance in lithium-based batteries. The specific compositions can be engineered within a specified range of compositions to provide desired performance characteristics. Selected compositions can provide high values of specific capacity with a reasonably high average voltage. Compositions of particular interest can be represented by the formula, x Li2MnO3.(1?x) Li Niu+?Mnu??CowAyO2. The compositions undergo significant first cycle irreversible changes, but the compositions cycle stably after the first cycle.