Abstract: A battery includes a cathode, an anode comprising Si, an electrolyte comprising glyme, and a lithium salt having at least one fluorine or boron atom in the anion. The glyme can have the formula CH3(OCH2CH2)nOCH3, where 1?n?4. The glyme can have the formula CnH2nOm, where 8?n?4 and 4?m?1. The electrolyte can further include an additive, wherein the additive has low solubility for the lithium salts such that the additive does not change the coordination of the ions in the glyme, has a viscosity<1 cP at 25° C., and is miscible with the glyme. An electrolyte for a battery and a method of making a battery are also discussed.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte composition comprising the following components: (i) an organic polymer comprising a polymeric backbone and pendant groups, wherein at least a portion of the pendant groups contain an anionic group associated with a first metal ion; (ii) a solvent homogeneously incorporated in the polymer to result in a polymer gel system; and (iii) a metal salt dissolved in the solvent in a molar concentration of 0.05 M to 1.5 M and containing a second metal ion associated with an anion, provided that the first and second metal ions are the same. Also described herein are solid-state batteries comprising: a) an anode; (b) a cathode; and (c) the solid electrolyte composition described above.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium battery includes LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, Cr, Zr and V, and x is between 0.005-0.02. The LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 can be coated with Mn2P2O7. The Mn2P2O7 can be 1-3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 and Mn2P2O7. A cathode composition, a lithium battery, and a method of making a lithium battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cathode and a battery providing the cathode is provided. The cathode comprises a lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide comprises nickel, aluminum, and iron. The lithium metal oxide is substantially free of cobalt. The battery comprises an anode, the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte (SE) composition comprising: (i) a crosslinked organic polymer containing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen atoms; (ii) an inorganic component having a metal oxide or metal sulfide composition and which is distributed throughout the crosslinked organic polymer and interacts by hydrogen bonding with the crosslinked organic polymer; and (iii) metal ions selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and aluminum. Also described herein are solid-state batteries comprising: a) an anode; (b) a cathode; and (c) the solid electrolyte composition described above.

Abstract: A solid electrolyte (SE) composition comprising a homogeneous blend of lithium thiophosphate particles and a polyalkylene oxide, wherein the lithium thiophosphate particles have the formula xLi2S.(1?x)P2S5 wherein x is a value within a range of 0.5-0.9, and wherein said polyalkylene oxide is present in an amount of 0.1-10 wt % of the solid electrolyte. Also described herein is a solid-state lithium-based battery comprising: a) an anode; (b) a cathode; and c) the SE composition described above. Further described herein is a method for producing the SE composition, comprising: (i) homogeneously mixing Li2S, P2S5, a polyalkylene oxide, and a solvent to form a liquid solution or liquid homogeneous dispersion, and (ii) heating the liquid solution or liquid homogeneous dispersion produced in step (i) to remove the solvent and produce the SE composition.

Abstract: A battery includes a redox flow anode chamber coupled to an anode current collector, a separator, and an external container in fluid connection with the redox flow anode chamber. The external container has therein a solid phosphorus material. A first redox-active mediator and the second redox-active mediator are circulated through the half-cell electrode chamber and the external container. During a charging cycle the first redox-active mediator is reduced at the current collector electrode and the reduced first mediator reduces the phosphorus material, and wherein during a discharging cycle the second redox-active mediator is oxidized at the anode current collector electrode, and the second redox-active mediator is then reduced by the reduced phosphorus material. A method of operating a battery and a method of making a battery are also discussed.

Abstract: A graft copolymer composition comprising the following structure: wherein: Ax represents a polymer backbone having a number of polymerized monomer units x; [By] represents a multiplicity of a graft polymer side chain having a number of polymerized monomer units y, and at least a portion of the monomer units in By contains a group —C(O)OM, with M independently selected from H and alkali metals; [C] represents a multiplicity of positions on the polymer backbone Ax where the graft polymer side chain B or any other graft polymer side chain is not attached; the subscript w represents a grafting density of the group By, wherein w is an integer within a range of 10-50%; and the subscript z represents a density of the group C, wherein z=(100?w) %. The invention is also directed to lithium-ion batteries in which the above-described composition is incorporated in an anode of the battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising carbon fibers, a binder composition with conductive carbon, and a lithium rich composition. The lithium rich composition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Li1+x(My MzII MwIII)O2 where x+y+z+w=1, and where M, MII and MIII are interchangeably manganese, nickel and cobalt, and LiM*2-xMx*IIO4, where M* and M*II are manganese and nickel, respectively, with x=0.5. A negative electrode comprises carbon fibers having bound thereto silicon nanoparticles, and a mesophase pitch derived carbon binder between the silicon nanoparticles and the carbon fibers. An electrolyte is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Methods of making positive and negative electrodes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A crosslinked polymer composition comprising: (i) a base polymer containing a multiplicity of at least one type of functional group selected from amino, amido, thiol, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, and epoxy groups; (ii) a multiplicity of hydroxylated benzene rings covalently linked to the base polymer, wherein each hydroxylated benzene ring contains at least two hydroxy groups, and with at least two of the hydroxy groups on said hydroxylated benzene rings being free as OH groups; and (iii) a multiplicity of crosslinking groups that crosslink at least two of said functional groups in the base polymer. The invention is also directed to lithium-ion batteries in which the above-described composition is incorporated in an electrode of the battery, and also directed to methods of operating a lithium-ion battery in which the above-described crosslinked polymer composition is incorporated in an electrode thereof.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium battery includes LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 where M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, Cr, Zr and V, and x is between 0.005-0.02. The LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2MxO2 can be coated with Mn2P2O7. The Mn2P2O7 can be 1-3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the LiNi0.5-x/2Mn0.5-x/2 MxO2 and Mn2P2O7. A cathode composition, a lithium battery, and a method of making a lithium battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cathode and a battery providing the cathode is provided. The cathode comprises a lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide comprises nickel, aluminum, and iron. The lithium metal oxide is substantially free of cobalt. The battery comprises an anode, the cathode, a separator, and an electrolyte.

Abstract: A supercapacitor according to the present invention includes a negative carbon-comprising electrode which does not intercalate sodium, and a positive carbon-comprising electrode. An electrolyte composition comprises sodium hexafluorophosphate and a non-aqueous solvent comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The supercapacitor has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.0 V to 3.5 V (full cell voltage). The electrolyte has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.05 V to 3.9 V vs. Na/Na+. A method of making and a method of operating a supercapacitor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A supercapacitor according to the present invention includes a negative carbon-comprising electrode which does not intercalate sodium, and a positive carbon-comprising electrode. An electrolyte composition comprises sodium hexafluorophosphate and a non-aqueous solvent comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The supercapacitor has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.0 V to 3.5 V (full cell voltage). The electrolyte has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.05 V to 3.9 V vs. Na/Na+. A method of making and a method of operating a supercapacitor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A supercapacitor according to the present invention includes a negative carbon-comprising electrode which does not intercalate sodium, and a positive carbon-comprising electrode. An electrolyte composition comprises sodium hexafluorophosphate and a non-aqueous solvent comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, triethylene glycol dimethyl ether, and tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether. The supercapacitor has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.0 V to 3.5 V (full cell voltage). The electrolyte has an electrochemical voltage window of from +0.05 V to 3.9 V vs. Na/Na+. A method of making and a method of operating a supercapacitor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A battery includes a redox flow anode chamber coupled to an anode current collector, a separator, and an external container in fluid connection with the redox flow anode chamber. The external container has therein a solid phosphorus material. A first redox-active mediator and the second redox-active mediator are circulated through the half-cell electrode chamber and the external container. During a charging cycle the first redox-active mediator is reduced at the current collector electrode and the reduced first mediator reduces the phosphorus material, and wherein during a discharging cycle the second redox-active mediator is oxidized at the anode current collector electrode, and the second redox-active mediator is then reduced by the reduced phosphorus material. A method of operating a battery and a method of making a battery are also discussed.

Abstract: A crosslinked polymer composition comprising: (i) a base polymer containing a multiplicity of at least one type of functional group selected from amino, amido, thiol, carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester, and epoxy groups; (ii) a multiplicity of hydroxylated benzene rings covalently linked to the base polymer, wherein each hydroxylated benzene ring contains at least two hydroxy groups, and with at least two of the hydroxy groups on said hydroxylated benzene rings being free as OH groups; and (iii) a multiplicity of crosslinking groups that crosslink at least two of said functional groups in the base polymer. The invention is also directed to lithium-ion batteries in which the above-described composition is incorporated in an electrode of the battery, and also directed to methods of operating a lithium-ion battery in which the above-described crosslinked polymer composition is incorporated in an electrode thereof.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes an anode and a cathode. The cathode includes a lithium, manganese, nickel, and oxygen containing compound. An electrolyte is disposed between the anode and the cathode. A protective layer is deposited between the cathode and the electrolyte. The protective layer includes pure lithium phosphorus oxynitride and variations that include metal dopants such as Fe, Ti, Ni, V, Cr, Cu, and Co. A method for making a cathode and a method for operating a battery are also disclosed.

Abstract: A graft copolymer composition comprising the following structure: wherein: Ax represents a polymer backbone having a number of polymerized monomer units x; [By] represents a multiplicity of a graft polymer side chain having a number of polymerized monomer units y, and at least a portion of the monomer units in By contains a group —C(O)OM, with M independently selected from H and alkali metals; [C] represents a multiplicity of positions on the polymer backbone Ax where the graft polymer side chain B or any other graft polymer side chain is not attached; the subscript w represents a grafting density of the group By, wherein w is an integer within a range of 10-50%; and the subscript z represents a density of the group C, wherein z=(100?w) %. The invention is also directed to lithium-ion batteries in which the above-described composition is incorporated in an anode of the battery.

Abstract: A lithium ion battery includes a positive electrode comprising carbon fibers, a binder composition with conductive carbon, and a lithium rich composition. The lithium rich composition comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of Li1+x(My MzII MwIII)O2 where x+y+z=1, and xLi2MnO3(1?x)LiMO2, where x=0.2-0.7, and where M, MII and MIII are interchangeably manganese, nickel and cobalt, and LiM2-xMxIIO4, where M and MII are manganese and nickel, respectively, with x=0.5. A negative electrode comprises carbon fibers having bound thereto silicon nanoparticles, and a mesophase pitch derived carbon binder between the silicon nanoparticles and the carbon fibers. An electrolyte is interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Methods of making positive and negative electrodes are also disclosed.