Abstract: A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell having a gel electrolyte. An electrochemical cell is provided having a cell casing, and a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte solution and a temperature activated gelling agent disposed within the cell casing. A gel electrolyte comprising the electrolyte solution and the gelling agent is formed by passing a current through the electrochemical cell such that the temperature of the gelling agent exceeds the activation temperature of the gelling agent.

Abstract: A composition comprising a first particulate electroactive material, a particulate graphite material and a binder, wherein at least 50% of the total volume of each said particulate materials is made up of particles having a particle size D50 and wherein a ratio of electroactive material D50 particle size:graphite D50 particle size is up to 4.5:1.

Abstract: A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

Abstract: A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrochemical cell having a gel electrolyte. An electrochemical cell is provided having a cell casing, and a first electrode, a second electrode, an electrolyte solution and a temperature activated gelling agent disposed within the cell casing. A gel electrolyte comprising the electrolyte solution and the gelling agent is formed by passing a current through the electrochemical cell such that the temperature of the gelling agent exceeds the activation temperature of the gelling agent.

Abstract: Composite electrode material for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electroactive material; and a polymeric binder including pendant carboxyl groups, characterized in that (i) the electroactive material includes one or more components selected from the group including an electroactive metal, an electroactive semi-metal, an electroactive ceramic material, an electroactive metalloid, an electroactive semi-conductor, an electroactive alloy of a metal, an electroactive alloy of a semi metal and an electroactive compound of a metal or a semi-metal, (ii) the polymeric binder has a molecular weight in the range 300,000 to 3,000,000 and (iii) 50 to 90% of the carboxyl groups of the polymeric binder are in the form of a metal ion carboxylate salt. A method of making a composite electrode material, an electrode, cells including electrodes and devices using such cells are also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least 50 weight % of a first particulate electroactive material and 3-15 weight % of a carbon additives mixture comprising elongate carbon nanostructures and carbon black, wherein: the elongate carbon nanostructures comprise at least a first elongate carbon nanostructure material and a different second elongate carbon nanostructure material; and the elongate carbon nanostructures: carbon black weight ratio is in the range 3:1 to 20:1.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery cell includes an anode having electroactive material-containing particles wherein the electroactive material is selective from one or more of silicon, germanium, and tin. A cathode includes an active material adapted to incorporate lithium and also to liberate lithium electrochemically. The anode is adapted to incorporate lithium during lithiation. Also provided is an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes both a cyclic carbonate having a vinyl group and a fluorinated cyclic carbonate. The total amount of the cyclic carbonate including a vinyl group and the fluorinated cyclic carbonate together is in the range of 3.5 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A composite particle for inclusion in a composite material of the sort used in electrochemical cells, metal ion batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, lithium air batteries, flow cell batteries, other energy storage devices such as fuel cells, thermal batteries, photovoltaic devices such as solar cells, filters and the like is provided. The composite particle comprises a particle core and a polymeric coating applied thereto. The present invention provides a composite material including a composite particle, methods of manufacturing both composite particles and composite materials and devices including such materials and particles.

Abstract: A lithium ion rechargeable battery cell includes an anode having electroactive material-containing particles wherein the electroactive material is selective from one or more of silicon, germanium, and tin. A cathode includes an active material adapted to incorporate lithium and also to liberate lithium electrochemically. The anode is adapted to incorporate lithium during lithiation. Also provided is an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte includes both a cyclic carbonate having a vinyl group and a fluorinated cyclic carbonte. The total amount of the cyclic carbonate including a vinyl group and the fluorinated cyclic carbonate together is in the range of 3.5 wt % to 70 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte solution.

Abstract: A composition comprising a first particulate electroactive material, a particulate graphite material and a binder, wherein at least 50% of the total volume of each said particulate materials is made up of particles having a particle size D50 and wherein a ratio of electroactive material D50 particle size:graphite D50 particle size is up to 4.5:1.

Abstract: The present invention claims the addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) and optionally also fluoroethylene carbonate to the electrolyte of lithium ion cells having a structural silicon composite anode, i.e. an anode containing fibers or particles of silicon. The additive significantly improves the cycling performance of the cells. A VC content in the range 3.5-8 wt % based on the weight of the electrolyte has been found to be optimum.

Abstract: A composition comprising at least 50 weight % of a first particulate electroactive material and 3-15 weight % of a carbon additives mixture comprising elongate carbon nanostructures and carbon black, wherein: the elongate carbon nanostructures comprise at least a first elongate carbon nanostructure material and a different second elongate carbon nanostructure material; and the elongate carbon nanostructures:carbon black weight ratio is in the range 3:1 to 20:1.

Abstract: A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

Abstract: A binder composition for inclusion in a composite material used in the formation of an electrode for inclusion in a secondary battery is provided. The binder composition comprises a metai ion sait of a carboxyiic acid of a poiymer or a copolymer, wherein the polymer or copolymer includes as a substituent one or more carboxyl comprising groups derived from a carboxyl comprising monomer unit selected from the group consisting an acrylic acid, an acrylic acid derivative, a maleic acid, a maleic acid derivative, a maleic anhydride and a maleic anhydride derivative, characterised in that 80 to 20% of the carboxyl groups are derived from an acrylic acid, an acrylic acid derivative, a maleic acid or a maleic acid derivative and 20 to 80% of the carboxyl groups are derived from maleic anhydride or a maleic anhydride derivative, but excluding lithium polyethylene-alt-maleic anhydride and lithium and sodium poly(maleic acid-co- acrylic acid).

Abstract: The present invention claims the addition of vinylene carbonate (VC) and optionally also fluoroethylene carbonate to the electrolyte of lithium ion cells having a structural silicon composite anode, i.e. an anode containing fibres or particles of silicon. The additive significantly improves the cycling performance of the cells. A VC content in the range 3.5-8 wt % based on the weight of the electrolyte has been found to be optimum.

Abstract: Composite electrode material for a rechargeable battery cell includes an electroactive material; and a polymeric binder including pendant carboxyl groups, characterised in that (i) the electroactive material includes one or more components selected from the group including an electroactive metal, an electroactive semi-metal, an electroactive ceramic material, an electroactive metalloid, an electroactive semi-conductor, an electroactive alloy of a metal, an electroactive alloy of a semi metal and an electroactive compound of a metal or a semi-metal, (ii) the polymeric binder has a molecular weight in the range 300,000 to 3,000,000 and (iii) 50 to 90% of the carboxyl groups of the polymeric binder are in the form of a metal ion carboxylate salt. A method of making a composite electrode material, an electrode, cells including electrodes and devices using such cells are also disclosed.