Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemically active materials capable of absorbing and desorbing an ion suitable for use in secondary cells. The provided materials include a core consisting of a plurality of silicon particulates of a particle size less than 1 micrometer, the particulates intermixed with and surrounded by a silicon metal alloy composite, and an electrochemically active buffering shell layer enveloping at least a portion of the core such that the resulting electrochemically active material has an overall particle size with a maximum linear dimension of greater than one micrometer.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/2 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are processes to form microporous silicon useful as an active material in an electrode of an electrochemical cell the processes including subjecting a mixture of silicon oxide and a metal reducing agent, optionally aluminum, to mechanical milling to form mechanically activated silicon oxide/aluminum, thermally treating the silicon oxide/aluminum to reduce the silicon oxide and form Si/Al2O3, and removing at least a portion of the alumina from the Si to form a microporous silicon. The resulting electrochemically active microporous silicon is also provided with residual alumina present at 15% by weight or less that demonstrates excellent cycle life and safety.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/72 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are electrochemically active materials capable of absorbing and desorbing an ion suitable for use in secondary cells. The provided materials include a core consisting of a plurality of silicon particulates of a particle size less than 1 micrometer, the particulates intermixed with and surrounded by a silicon metal alloy composite, and an electrochemically active buffering shell layer enveloping at least a portion of the core such that the resulting electrochemically active material has an overall particle size with a maximum linear dimension of greater than one micrometer.

Abstract: Provided are electrodes that may be used in electrochemical cells that incorporate relatively high loading of active material while also demonstrating excellent adhesion, resistance to mechanical breakdown, and also offer improved capacity retention, particularly at discharge rates of C/72 or greater.

Abstract: Provided are processes to form microporous silicon useful as mi active material in an electrode of an electrochemical cell the processes including subjecting a mixture of silicon oxide and a metal reducing agent, optionally aluminum, to mechanical milling to form mechanically activated silicon oxide/aluminium, thermally treating the silicon oxide/aluminium to reduce the silicon oxide and form Si/Al2O3 and removing at least a portion of the alumina from the Si to form a microporous silicon. The resulting electrochemically active microporous silicon is also provided with residual alumina present at 15% by weight or less that demonstrates excellent cycle life and safety.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for charging a lithium sulfur (Li—S) battery. The Li—S battery has at least one unit cell comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method provides controlled application of voltage pulses at the beginning of the charging process. An application period is initiated after a discharge cycle of the Li—S battery is complete. During the application period, voltage pulses are provided to the Li—S battery. The voltage pulses are less than a constant current charging voltage. Constant current charging is initiated after the application period has elapsed.

Abstract: An anode active material for a lithium-ion battery cell comprises low density silicon. The anode active material is provided in an anode for a lithium-ion battery. Also disclosed are methods of making the anode active material.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery cell includes positive active material comprising sulfur and carbon coated onto an electrode substrate and gold nanoparticles affixed to the positive active material and configured to direct growth and deposition of lithium sulfide. A lithium ion battery cell, battery stack and method of making the cathodes are also provided.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for charging a lithium sulfur (Li—S) battery. The Li—S battery has at least one unit cell comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method provides controlled application of voltage pulses at the beginning of the charging process. An application period is initiated after a discharge cycle of the Li—S battery is complete. During the application period, voltage pulses are provided to the Li—S battery. The voltage pulses are less than a constant current charging voltage. Constant current charging is initiated after the application period has elapsed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for discharging a Li—S battery having at least one battery unit comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method comprises electrochemically surface treating the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge of the battery. A method of electrochemically surface treating a cathode of a lithium-sulfide battery comprises applying at least one oxidative voltage pulse during a pulse application period while the lithium-sulfur battery discharges and controlling pulse characteristics during the pulse application period, the pulse characteristics configured to affect a morphology of lithium sulfide forming on the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for charging a lithium sulfur (Li—S) battery. The Li—S battery has at least one unit cell comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method provides controlled application of voltage pulses at the beginning of the charging process. An application period is initiated after a discharge cycle of the Li—S battery is complete. During the application period, voltage pulses are provided to the Li—S battery. The voltage pulses are less than a constant current charging voltage. Constant current charging is initiated after the application period has elapsed.

Abstract: A cathode for a lithium-sulfur battery cell includes positive active material comprising sulfur and carbon coated onto an electrode substrate and gold nanoparticles affixed to the positive active material and configured to direct growth and deposition of lithium sulfide. A lithium ion battery cell, battery stack and method of making the cathodes are also provided.

Abstract: An anode active material for a lithium-ion battery cell comprises low density silicon. The anode active material is provided in an anode for a lithium-ion battery. Also disclosed are methods of making the anode active material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for discharging a Li—S battery having at least one battery unit comprising a lithium-containing anode and a sulfur-containing cathode with an electrolyte layer there between. One method comprises electrochemically surface treating the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge of the battery. A method of electrochemically surface treating a cathode of a lithium-sulfide battery comprises applying at least one oxidative voltage pulse during a pulse application period while the lithium-sulfur battery discharges and controlling pulse characteristics during the pulse application period, the pulse characteristics configured to affect a morphology of lithium sulfide forming on the sulfur-containing cathode during discharge.