Abstract: A method for pre-lithiation of a negative electrode is disclosed, including the steps of: producing a lithium metal laminate which includes i) lithium metal foil; and ii) a buffer layer including carbonaceous material particles, inorganic compound particles, polymer compound particles or their combination, and coated on one surface of the lithium metal foil; producing a negative electrode including a negative electrode current collector, and a negative electrode active material layer formed on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector; and laminating the lithium metal laminate with the negative electrode in such a manner that the buffer layer of the lithium metal laminate is in contact with the negative electrode active material layer. A lithium metal laminate used for the method is also provided. The pre-lithiation of a negative electrode that includes a buffer layer reduces the problem of rapid volumetric swelling occurring.

Abstract: A dryer appliance and a method of operating a dryer appliance are provided. The dryer includes a drum defining a drying chamber rotatably mounted within a cabinet, an additive dispensing assembly to provide a dryer additive to the drying chamber, and a controller for initiating a drying operation. The controller obtains washer operating parameters from a washing machine, determines a drying operation based on the received parameters, initiates a dry cycle, and directs a dryer additive to be dispensed based on the dryer operating schedule.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery which includes: silicon particles; and a coating layer surrounding respective silicon particles, wherein the silicon particles have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of peak ranging from 2 to 10 in the particle diameter distribution having an average particle diameter (D50) of 1 ?m to 30 ?m, and the coating layer includes at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon and a polymer. A negative electrode and lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode active material are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for pre-detecting a defective porous polymer substrate for a separator, including selecting a porous polymer substrate having a plurality of pores; observing the selected porous polymer substrate with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to obtain an image of the porous polymer substrate; quantifying the average value of pore distribution index (PDI); correcting the quantified average value of pore distribution index to obtain the corrected average value of pore distribution index; determining whether or not the corrected average value of pore distribution index is 60 a.u. (arbitrary unit) or less; and classifying the porous polymer substrate as a good product, when the corrected average value of pore distribution index is determined to be 60 a.u. or less, and classifying the porous polymer substrate as a defective product, when the corrected average value of pore distribution index is determined to be larger than 60 a.u.

Abstract: A method of preparing a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, which includes forming a negative electrode mixture layer including a negative electrode active material on a negative electrode current collector, disposing lithium metal powder on at least a part of the negative electrode mixture layer, pressing the negative electrode mixture layer on which the lithium metal powder is disposed, wetting the pressed negative electrode mixture layer with a first electrolyte solution, and drying the wet negative electrode mixture layer. A battery including the negative electrode of the present invention has enhanced rapid charge/discharge characteristics and enhanced lifespan characteristics.

Abstract: An electrode includes an electrode active material, wherein the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material, polyvinylidene fluoride, and a conductive agent, wherein the conductive agent includes a carbon nanotube structure in which 2 to 5,000 single-walled carbon nanotube units are bonded to each other, and the carbon nanotube structure is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % to 0.5 wt % in the electrode active material layer. A secondary battery including the same, and a method of preparing the electrode are also provided.

Abstract: A method of operating a washing machine appliance includes measuring a humidity value with the humidity sensor and comparing the measured humidity value to an expected humidity value. The method also includes flagging a fault in response to the measured humidity value differing from the expected humidity value by at least a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Provided is a negative electrode active material including secondary particles assembled from silicon composite primary particles represented by Mg—SiOx (0<x<2) and artificial graphite primary particles, wherein the secondary particles assembled from silicon composite primary particles and artificial graphite primary particles are surface-coated with an amorphous carbon coating layer. The lithium secondary battery using the negative electrode active material can retain conductivity even after charge/discharge and can be prevented from degradation of cycle characteristic.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode includes a positive electrode active material layer having a positive electrode active material containing an overlithiated manganese-based oxide represented by Formula 1 below, and the negative electrode includes a negative electrode active material layer having a silicon-based negative electrode active material, LiaNibCocMndMeO2 ??[Formula 1] wherein, M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, B, Co, W, Mg, V, Ti, Zn, Ga, In, Ru, Nb, Sn, Sr, and Zr, and 1<a, 0?b?0.5, 0?c?0.1, 0.5?d<1.0, and 0?e?0.2, and. Preferably, in the Formula 1, 1.1?a?1.5, 0.1?b?0.4, 0?c?0.05, 0.5?d?0.80, and 0?e?0.1.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material including a core including silicon, and a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the core and including a coating material, wherein the coating material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of LiaVbO2 and MgH2, wherein 0.5<a<1.5 and 0.5<b<1.5 is provided. Also, a negative electrode including the negative electrode active material and a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode, are provided.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material including natural graphite, wherein a D90/D10, which is the ratio of D90 to D10, is 2.20 or less, a D50 is 6 ?m to 11 ?m, and a BET specific surface area is 2.2 m2/g or less.

Abstract: An anode active material for secondary batteries which has improved cycle swelling characteristics and rapid charge performance, an anode comprising same, and a method for manufacturing same, in which the anode active material is manufactured by modifying the surface of natural graphite particles. The natural graphite particles have a Dmax/Dmin value of 1.6 to 2.1 in the particle size distribution thereof and have, formed in the surface thereof, pores having a diameter of 0.5 ?m to 2.0 ?m.

Abstract: An anode active material for a secondary battery that has improved cycle swelling properties and rapid charge performance, an anode comprising same, and a method for manufacturing same. The anode active material is a mixture of artificial graphite and spherical natural graphite, wherein the spherical natural graphite has an average particle diameter (D 50) of 12 ?m or less, with D 90-D 10 value ranging from 5 ?m to 12 ?m.

Abstract: A negative electrode active material that includes an active material core that allows the intercalation and deintercalation of lithium ions; and a conductive material that is attached to a surface of the active material core through an organic linker. The conductive material includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a linear conductive material and a planar conductive material. The organic linker is a compound that includes a hydrophobic structure and a substituent including a polar functional group.

Abstract: An electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery including a wettability-improving additive having a trifluoromethylsulfonyl group. The electrolyte has reduced surface tension to improve the wettability of an electrode assembly with the electrolyte. Therefore, it is possible to ensure high electrolyte wettability even when the electrolyte includes a high-boiling point solvent or a high concentration of lithium salt.

Abstract: A negative electrode including: a negative electrode current collector; and a negative electrode active material layer on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode is pre-lithiated and the negative electrode active material layer includes a silicon-based material and a carbonaceous material. In addition, a graphene sheet having 2 layers to 15 layers is on the negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode is advantageous in terms of storage and safety. A lithium secondary battery using the negative electrode shows reduced initial irreversibility, and thus provides increased efficiency.

Abstract: A method for producing a composite conductive material having excellent dispersibility is provided. The method includes supporting a catalyst on surfaces of carbon particles; heat treating the catalyst in a helium or hydrogen atmosphere such that the catalyst penetrate the surfaces of the carbon particles and are impregnated beneath the surfaces of the carbon particles at a contact point between the carbon particles and the impregnated catalyst; and heating the carbon particles having the impregnated catalyst disposed therein in the presence of a source gas to grow carbon nanofibers from the impregnated catalyst to form a composite conductive material, wherein the source gas contains a carbon source, and wherein the carbon nanofibers extend from the contact point to above the surfaces of the carbon particles.

Abstract: An electrode includes an electrode active material, wherein the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material, polyvinylidene fluoride, and a conductive agent, wherein the conductive agent includes a carbon nanotube structure in which 2 to 5,000 single-walled carbon nanotube units are bonded to each other, and the carbon nanotube structure is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % to 0.5 wt % in the electrode active material layer. A secondary battery including the same, and a method of preparing the electrode are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode active material which includes: a silicon oxide composite including i) Si, ii) a silicon oxide represented by SiOx (0<x?2), and iii) magnesium silicate containing Si and Mg; and a carbon coating layer positioned on the surface of the silicon oxide composite and including a carbonaceous material, wherein X-ray diffractometry of the negative electrode active material shows peaks of Mg2SiO4 and MgSiO3 at the same time and shows no peak of MgO; the ratio of peak intensity, I (Mg2SiO4)/I (MgSiO3), which is intensity I (Mg2SiO4) of peaks that belong to Mg2SiO4 to intensity I (MgSiO3) of peaks that belong to MgSiO3 is smaller than 1, the peaks that belong to Mg2SiO4 are observed at 2?=32.2±0.2°, and the peaks that belong to MgSiO3 are observed at 2?=30.9±0.2°.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same are provided. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a compound represented by the following formula, R1-O—CH2—R2, in an amount of 2 wt % to 50 wt % based on a total weight of the non-aqueous electrolyte, an organic solvent containing a nitrile-based solvent in an amount of 90 vol % to 100 vol %, and a lithium salt.