Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode that includes an active material including silicon. The electrochemical cell further includes a positive electrode that includes a first lithium metal oxide and a second lithium metal oxide. The first lithium metal oxide includes a material having (i) a nickel content of less than 30 mole %, based on the total moles of non-lithium metals in the first lithium metal oxide; and (ii) a D50 of greater than 2 micrometers. The second lithium metal oxide includes a material having (i) a nickel content of greater than 30 mole %, based on the total moles of non-lithium metals in the first lithium metal oxide; and (ii) a D50 of less than 2 micrometers. The second lithium metal oxide is provided in the positive electrode composition in an amount of less than 20 wt. %, based on the total weight of the first lithium metal oxide and second lithium metal oxide in the positive electrode composition.

Abstract: Lithium metal electrodes including a graphite-modified surface and the methods for making the electrodes are provided. Electrochemical device components include a lithium metal electrode having a first major surface, and a surface layer disposed on the first major surface of the lithium metal electrode. The surface layer has a composition including a compound of graphite and lithium. The surface layer is electrically conductive and lithium-ion conductive, and the surface layer is chemically compatible with the lithium metal on a first side in contact with the lithium metal electrode, and chemically compatible with electrolyte environments on a second side of the surface layer.

Abstract: Thin film alloy electrodes are provided that are useful as negative electrodes in lithium-ion electrochemical cells. The alloys include aluminum and at least one additional electrochemically active metal or composite. They can be used as a current collector or as a complete electrode.

Abstract: Irreversible first cycle capacity loss in lithium secondary cells having a cell electrode based on a powdered material and a binder may be significantly decreased or eliminated by using an aliphatic or cycloaliphatic polyimide binder. Compared to conventional polyimide binders prepared by reacting an aromatic dianhydride and a diamine, the disclosed polyimide binders have decreased aromatic carbonyl content, may be less likely to undergo electrochemical reduction, and may be less likely to consume electrons that might otherwise help lithiate the electrode.

Abstract: Thin film alloy electrodes are provided that are useful as negative electrodes in lithium-ion electrochemical cells. The alloys include aluminum and at least one additional electrochemically active metal or composite. They can be used as a current collector or as a complete electrode.

Abstract: The silicon as an anode material for use in lithium ion batteries according to the present invention provides a method for cell manufacturing. The degree to which the silicon is lithiated during cycling can be controlled, thereby lowering the volume expansion while maintaining an acceptable volumetric capacity, and reducing the failure rate of the silicon containing anodes in lithium ion batteries. The crystalline silicon anode is first charged so that the anode becomes partially lithiated. The voltage of the anode during this charging step is typically less than the lithiation potential of crystalline silicon at ambient temperatures, for example, less than 170 mV versus lithium metal. The total number of charge-discharge cycles during conditioning is at least two or more.

Abstract: The silicon as an anode material for use in lithium ion batteries according to the present invention provides a method for cell manufacturing. The degree to which the silicon is lithiated during cycling can be controlled, thereby lowering the volume expansion while maintaining an acceptable volumetric capacity, and reducing the failure rate of the silicon containing anodes in lithium ion batteries. The crystalline silicon anode is first charged so that the anode becomes partially lithiated. The voltage of the anode during this charging step is typically less than the lithiation potential of crystalline silicon at ambient temperatures, for example, less than 17 OmV versus lithium metal. The total number of charge-discharge cycles during conditioning is at least two or more.

Abstract: An electrode composition for a lithium ion battery comprises a binder, electrochemically active particles, metallic conductive diluent particles, and non-metallic conductive diluent particles. The electrochemically active particles and the metallic conductive diluent particles do not share a common phase boundary, and are present in a molar ratio less than or equal to 3. Methods of making the electrode composition and lithium ion batteries using the same are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes an electrode material consisting essentially of at least one electrochemically inactive elemental metal and at least one electrochemically active elemental metal in the form of an amorphous mixture at ambient temperature. The mixture remains amorphous when the electrode composition is incorporated into a lithium battery and cycled through at least one full charge-discharge cycle at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes an electrode material consisting essentially of at least one electrochemically inactive elemental metal and at least one electrochemically active elemental metal in the form of an amorphous mixture at ambient temperature. The mixture remains amorphous when the electrode composition is incorporated into a lithium battery and cycled through at least one full charge-discharge cycle at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes a plurality of composite particles and a plurality of electrically conductive diluent particles admixed with the composite particles. Each of the composite particles includes an electrochemically active metal particle and an electrically conductive layer partially covering the particle. In one aspect, the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 wt. % of the composite, while in another aspect the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 vol. % of the composite. Also featured are lithium ion batteries featuring electrodes made from these compositions.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes an electrode material consisting essentially of at least one electrochemically inactive elemental metal and at least one electrochemically active elemental metal in the form of an amorphous mixture at ambient temperature. The mixture remains amorphous when the electrode composition is incorporated into a lithium battery and cycled through at least one full charge-discharge cycle at ambient temperature.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes (a) an electrochemically active metal element which, prior to cycling, is in the form of an intermetallic compound or an elemental metal and (b) a non-electrochemically active metal element. The electrode compositions have high initial capacities that are retained even after repeated cycling. The electrode compositions also exhibit high coulombic efficiencies.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes a plurality of composite particles and a plurality of electrically conductive diluent particles admixed with the composite particles. Each of the composite particles includes an electrochemically active metal particle and an electrically conductive layer partially covering the particle. In one aspect, the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 wt. % of the composite, while in another aspect the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 vol. % of the composite. Also featured are lithium ion batteries featuring electrodes made from these compositions.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes a plurality of composite particles and a plurality of electrically conductive diluent particles admixed with the composite particles. Each of the composite particles includes an electrochemically active metal particle and an electrically conductive layer partially covering the particle. In one aspect, the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 wt. % of the composite, while in another aspect the layer is present in an amount no greater than about 75 vol. % of the composite. Also featured are lithium ion batteries featuring electrodes made from these compositions.

Abstract: An electrode composition that includes (a) an electrochemically active metal element which, prior to cycling, is in the form of an intermetallic compound or an elemental metal and (b) a non-electrochemically active metal element. The electrode compositions have high initial capacities that are retained even after repeated cycling. The electrode compositions also exhibit high coulombic efficiencies.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium battery that includes (a) an electrochemically active metal element which, prior to cycling, is in the form of an intermetallic compound or an elemental metal and (b) a non-electrochemically active metal element. The electrode have high initial capacities that are retained even after repeated cycling. The electrode also exhibit high coulombic efficiencies.

Abstract: A high performance battery containing an aluminum current collector is described which includes a noncorrosive salt disposed in a matrix, said salt being a bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide having a total of at least 3 carbon atoms or a cyclic(perfluoroalkylenedisulfonyl)-imide.

Abstract: A high performance battery containing an aluminum current collector is described which includes a noncorrosive salt disposed in a matrix, said salt being a bis(perfluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide having a total of at least 3 carbon atoms or a cyclic(perfluoroalkylenedisulfonyl)-imide.

Abstract: An electrolyte composition that includes a salt disposed in a matrix in which the salt has a formula selected from the group consisting of ##STR1## in which X.sup.- is --O.sup.-, --N.sup.- SO.sub.2 R.sub.f.sup.3, or ##STR2## Z is --CF.sub.2 --, --O--, --NR.sub.f.sup.8 --, or --SF.sub.4 --; R.sub.f.sup.1 and R.sub.f.sup.2, independently, are --CF.sub.3, --C.sub.m F.sub.2m+1, or --(CF.sub.2).sub.q --SO.sub.2 --X.sup.- M.sup.+ ; R.sub.f.sup.3, R.sub.f.sup.4, and R.sub.f.sup.5, independently, are --CF.sub.3, --C.sub.mf.sub.2m+1, --(CF.sub.2).sub.q --X.sup.- M.sup.+, ##STR3## R.sub.f.sup.8 is --CF.sub.3, --C.sub.m F.sub.2m+1, or --(CF.sub.2).sub.q --SO.sub.2 --X.sup.- M.sup.+ ; R.sub.f.sup.6 and R.sub.f.sup.7, independently, are perfluoroalkylene moieties having the formula --C.sub.r F.sub.2r ; n is 1-4; r is 1-4; m is 1-12; q is 1-4; and M.sup.+ is a counterion.