Abstract: Disclosed herein is a non-flammable sodium-ion battery having a cathode and an anode and which uses an electrolyte that includes NaBF4 and a glyme solvent, where the battery has an average voltage of from 1.5 V to 6.0 V and has a coulombic efficiency after 5 charge/discharge cycles of at least 90%.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a phosphate framework electrode material for sodium ion battery and a method for synthesizing such electrode material. A surfactant and precursors including a sodium precursor, a phosphate precursor, a transition metal precursor are dissolved in a solvent and stirred for sufficient mixing and reaction. The precursors are reacted to yield a precipitate of particles of NaxAbMy(PO4)zXn compound and with the surfactant attached to the particles. The solvent is then removed and the remaining precipitate is sintered to crystallize the particles. During sintering, the surfactant is decomposed to form a carbon network between the crystallized particles and the crystallized particles and the carbon matrix are integrated to form the electrode material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: A mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 (0?x?1) particle that has a uniform carbon coating on the surface of the particle. Also disclosed is a mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4particle prepared by a process including steps: (i) providing a mixture of a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, an iron ion-containing compound, a manganese ion-containing compound, and a phosphate ion-containing compound in a solvent; (2) removing the solvent to obtain a LiMn1-xFexPO4 precursor; and (3) calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing to obtain the LiMn1-xFexPO4particle.

Abstract: A process of preparing mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 (0?x?1, e.g., x=0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) particles. The process contains the steps of providing a mixture of a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, an iron ion-containing compound, a manganese ion-containing compound, and a phosphate ion-containing compound in a solvent, removing the solvent to obtain a LiMn1-xFexPO4 precursor, and calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing. Also disclosed is a mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 particle prepared by this process.

Abstract: A process of preparing nanostructured lithium titanate particles. The process contains the steps of providing a solvent containing a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, and a titanium ion-containing compound; removing the solvent to obtain a lithium titanate precursor; and calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing. Also disclosed is a nanostructured lithium titanate particle prepared by this process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a phosphate framework electrode material for sodium ion battery and a method for synthesizing such electrode material. A surfactant and precursors including a sodium precursor, a phosphate precursor, a transition metal precursor are dissolved in a solvent and stirred for sufficient mixing and reaction. The precursors are reacted to yield a precipitate of particles of NaxAbMy(PO4)zXn compound and with the surfactant attached to the particles. The solvent is then removed and the remaining precipitate is sintered to crystallize the particles. During sintering, the surfactant is decomposed to form a carbon network between the crystallized particles and the crystallized particles and the carbon matrix are integrated to form the electrode material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: A process of preparing nanostructured lithium titanate particles. The process contains the steps of providing a solvent containing a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, and a titanium ion-containing compound; removing the solvent to obtain a lithium titanate precursor; and calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing. Also disclosed is a nanostructured lithium titanate particle prepared by this process.

Abstract: A process of preparing mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 (0?x?1, e.g., x=0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8) particles. The process contains the steps of providing a mixture of a soft-template compound, a lithium ion-containing compound, an iron ion-containing compound, a manganese ion-containing compound, and a phosphate ion-containing compound in a solvent, removing the solvent to obtain a LiMn1-xFexPO4 precursor, and calcining the precursor followed by milling and annealing. Also disclosed is a mesoporous nano-composite LiMn1-xFexPO4 particle prepared by this process.

Abstract: A method of preparing mesoporous nanostructured particles of a transition metal oxide. The method contains the steps of dissolving a soft-template compound in a solvent, dispersing a first or second row transition metal ion-containing compound, adjusting the pH value if necessary, and removing the solvent to obtain mesoporous nanostructured transition metal oxide powders, calcining the powders optionally to afford mesoporous nanostructured particles of the transition metal oxide. Also disclosed is particle prepared by the above-described method.

Abstract: Mesoporous particles each including LiFePO4 or Li3V2(PO4)3 crystallites and uniform coating of amorphous carbon on the surface of each of the crystallites. The crystallites have a size of 20-50 nm and the carbon coating has an average thickness of 2-7 nm. Also disclosed is a soft-template method of preparing the above-described mesoporous particles and the use of these mesoporous particles in lithium batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of materials comprises the steps of: a) taking a first material comprising a compound of a first metal or of a first metal alloy, b) inserting said first material into an electrochemical cell as a first electrode, the electrochemical cell including a second electrode including a second metal different from a metal incorporated in the first material and an electrolyte adapted to transport the second metal to the first electrode and insert it into the first material by a current flowing in an external circuit resulting in the formation of a compound of the second metal in the first electrode material, the method being characterized by the step of treating the first electrode material after formation of the compound of the second metal to chemically remove at least some of the compound of the second metal to leave a material with a nanoporous structure.

Abstract: The description relates to the use of at least one transition metal halide with a binder, e.g. at least one of PVDF, PTFE, PAN and ETDM and optionally with at least one conductive additive such as carbon black, graphite, metal powder and metal fibres as an electrode in an Li-based electrochemical energy storage device. Further electrode materials are also described based on ruthenium oxide, molybdenum oxide, a nano-composite composed of transition metal and lithium fluoride or lithium oxide clusters with a typical grain size of 1-10 mm.