Abstract: The invention relates to a novel process for the preparation of metal-containing compounds comprising the steps of a) forming a mixture comprising i) elemental phosphorus and ii) one or more metal-containing precursor compounds, and b) heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 150° C. Materials made by such a process are useful, for example, as electrode materials in alkali metal-ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel electrodes containing one or more active materials comprising: Aa M1v M2w M3x M4Y M5z O2-C(Formula 1) wherein A comprises either sodium or a mixed alkali metal in which sodium is the constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state 2+, M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state less than or equal to 4+, and M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0?a?1 v>0 at least one of w and y is >0 x?0 z?0 c>0.1 where (a, v, w, x, y, z and c) are chosen to maintain electroneutrality. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in sodium-ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: AuM1vM2wM3XM4yM5zO2 wherein A comprises one or more alkali metals selected from lithium, sodium and potassium; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2 M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminium, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; further wherein U is in the range 1<U<2; V is in the range 0.25<V<1; W is in the range 0<W<0.75; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; Y is in the range 0?Y<0.5; Z is in the range 0?Z<0.5; and further wherein (U+V+W+X+Y+Z)?3.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: A1-?Ni0.5M10.5-xM2xO2 wherein A comprises one or more alkali metals selected from lithium, sodium and potassium; M1 and M2 each comprise a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; further wherein 0???0.1; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; wherein when X=0 then M1?Mn or Ti. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in sodium ion and/or lithium ion and/or potassium ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: A1-?M1VM2WM3XM4YM5ZO2 wherein A is one or more alkali metals comprising sodium and/or potassium either alone or in a mixture with lithium as a minor constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2; M2 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminium, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; wherein 0???0.1 V is in the range 0<V<0.5; W is in the range 0<W?0.5; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; Y is in the range 0?Y<0.5; Z is ?0; and further wherein V+W+X+Y+Z=1. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in sodium ion battery applications.

Abstract: A compound of formula Ab?MgaMbXy or Ab?MgaMb(XOz)y for use as electrode material in a magnesium battery is disclosed, wherein A, M, X, b?, a, b, y, and z are defined herein.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel materials of the formula: A1-?M1vM2wM3xM4yM5zO2 wherein A comprises either lithium or a mixed alkali metal in which lithium is the major constituent; M1 is nickel in oxidation state +2 M2 comprises a metal in illation state +4 selected from one or more of manganese, titanium and zirconium; M3 comprises a metal in oxidation state +2, selected from one or more of magnesium, calcium, copper, zinc and cobalt; M4 comprises a metal in oxidation state +4, selected from one or more of titanium, manganese and zirconium; M5 comprises a metal in oxidation state +3, selected from one or more of aluminium, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, chromium, vanadium, scandium and yttrium; wherein 0???0.1; V is in the range 0<V<0.5; W is in the range 0<W?0.5; X is in the range 0?X<0.5; Y is in the range 0?Y<0.5; Z is ?0; wherein when M5=cobalt then X?0.1; and further wherein V+W+X+Y+Z=1. Such materials are useful, for example, as electrode materials in lithium ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes that contain active materials of the formula: AaMbXzOy wherein A is one or more alkali metals selected from lithium,sodium and potassium; M is selected from one or more transition metals and/or one or more non-transition metals and/or one or more metalloids; X comprises one or more atoms selected from niobium, antimony, tellurium, tantalum, bismuth and selenium; and further wherein 0<a?6; b is in the range: 0<b?4; x is in the range 0<x?1 and y is in the range 2?y?10. Such electrodes are useful in, for example, sodium and/or lithium ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes that contain active materials of the formula: NaaXbMcM?d(condensed polyanion)e(anion)f; where X is one or more of Na+, Li+ and K+; M is one or more transition metals; M? is one or more non-transition metals; and where a>b; c>0; d?0; e?1 and f?0. Such electrodes are useful in, for example, sodium ion battery applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to electrodes that contain active materials of the formula: AaMb(SO4)cXx wherein A is a single or mixed alkali metal phase comprising one or more of sodium, potassium, lithium mixed with sodium, lithium mixed with potassium or lithium mixed with sodium and potassium; M is selected from one or more transition metals and/or non-transition metals and/or metalloids; X is a moiety comprising one or more atoms selected from halogen and OH; and further wherein 1<a<3; b is in the range: 0<b?2; c is in the range: 2?c?3 and x is in the range 0?x?1. Such electrodes are useful in, for example, sodium ion battery applications.

Abstract: A method of depositing an active material for a metal ion battery comprising the steps of: providing a conductive material in an electrodeposition bath wherein the electrodeposition bath contains an electrolyte comprising a source of the active material; and electrodepositing the active material onto a surface of the conductive material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a convenient process for making lithium sulfide involving heating one or more lithium-containing compounds and sulphur, wherein the heating step is performed at a temperature of 600 to 1500° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel polyanion-based electrode active material for use in a secondary or rechargeable electrochemical cell, wherein the electrode active material is represented by the general formula AaMb(SO4)2Zd.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the preparation of an “optimized” VPO4 phase or V—P—O/C precursor. The VPO4 precursor is an amorphous or nanocrystalline powder. The V—P—O/C precursor is amorphous in nature and contains finely divided and dispersed carbon. Throughout the specification it is understood that the VPO4 precursor and the V—P—O/C precursor materials can be used interchangeably to produce the final vanadium phosphates, with the V—P—O/C precursor material being the preferred precursor. The precursors can subsequently be used to make vanadium based electroactive materials and use of such precursor materials offers significant advantages over other processes known for preparing vanadium phosphate compounds.

Abstract: A compound of formula Ab?MgaMbXy or Ab?MgaMb(XOz)y for use as electrode material in a magnesium battery is disclosed, wherein A, M, X, b?, a, b, y, and z are defined herein.

Abstract: A compound of formula Ab?MgaMbXy or Ab?MgaMb(XOz)y for use as electrode material in a magnesium battery is disclosed, wherein A, M, X, b?, a, b, y, and z are defined herein.

Abstract: A system and method, comprising: an interface port to a data communication network; a processor and associated memory, configured to execute a content browser, and a browser plugin, the browser plugin filtering at least a portion of data received by the content browser, and at least one of selectively blocking, modifying, or permitting interaction of a user with the received data, in dependence on at least a user-associated configuration file received from a remote resource through the interface port, and communicating at least one item of information which is blocked from access by the user; and a display port, configured to output information defining a user presentation of browser output. Communications between the remote resource and the plugin or browser may be encrypted. For example, the plugin receives user login information from the remote resource, and automatically fills in a login page for an Internet resource, while preventing user-access to the login information itself.

Abstract: Active materials of the invention contain at least one alkali metal and at least one other metal capable of being oxidized to a higher oxidation state. Preferred other metals are accordingly selected from the group consisting of transition metals (defined as Groups 4-11 of the periodic table), as well as certain other non-transition metals such as tin, bismuth, and lead. The active materials may be synthesized in single step reactions or in multi-step reactions. In at least one of the steps of the synthesis reaction, reducing carbon is used as a starting material. In one aspect, the reducing carbon is provided by elemental carbon, preferably in particulate form such as graphites, amorphous carbon, carbon blacks and the like. In another aspect, reducing carbon may also be provided by an organic precursor material, or by a mixture of elemental carbon and organic precursor material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to synthesizing a phosphate-based electrode active material. The method includes the step of reacting two or more starting materials collectively containing at least a PO33? anion, an alkali metal and a metal which is redox active in the final reaction product, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the phosphate-based electrode active material.

Abstract: An electrode active material comprising two or more groups of particles having differing chemical compositions, wherein each group of particles comprises a material selected from: (a) materials of the formula A2eM2fOg; and (b) materials of the formula A3hMniO4; wherein (i) A2, and A3 are independently selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and mixtures thereof, 0<e?6 and h?2.0; (ii) M2 is one or more metals, comprising at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mo, V, Zr, Ti, Mo, and Cr, and 1?f?6; (iii) 0<g?15; (iv) M2, e, f, g, h, and i, are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound; and (v) said material of the formula A3hMniO4 has an inner and an outer region, wherein the inner region comprises a cubic spinel manganese oxide, and the outer region comprises a manganese oxide that is enriched in Mn+4 relative to the inner region.