Abstract: Methods are described that have the capability of producing submicron/nanoscale particles, in some embodiments dispersible, at high production rates. In some embodiments, the methods result in the production of particles with an average diameter less than about 75 nanometers that are produced at a rate of at least about 35 grams per hour. In other embodiments, the particles are highly uniform. These methods can be used to form particle collections and/or powder coatings. Powder coatings and corresponding methods are described based on the deposition of highly uniform submicron/nanoscale particles.

Abstract: Lithium ion secondary batteries are described that have high total energy, energy density and specific discharge capacity upon cycling at room temperature and at a moderate discharge rate. The improved batteries are based on high loading of positive electrode materials with high energy capacity. This capability is accomplished through the development of positive electrode active materials with very high specific energy capacity that can be loaded at high density into electrodes without sacrificing performance. The high loading of the positive electrode materials in the batteries are facilitated through using a polymer binder that has an average molecular weight higher than 800,000 atomic mass unit.

Abstract: Supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize lithium ion batteries with lithium rich metal oxides as the positive electrode active material. Dramatic improvements in the specific capacity at long cycling have been obtained. The supplemental lithium can be provided with the negative electrode, or alternatively as a sacrificial material that is subsequently driven into the negative electrode active material. The supplemental lithium can be provided to the negative electrode active material prior to assembly of the battery using electrochemical deposition. The positive electrode active materials can comprise a layered-layered structure comprising manganese as well as nickel and/or cobalt.

Abstract: Supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize lithium ion batteries with lithium rich metal oxides as the positive electrode active material. Dramatic improvements in the specific capacity at long cycling have been obtained. The supplemental lithium can be provided with the negative electrode, or alternatively as a sacrificial material that is subsequently driven into the negative electrode active material. The supplemental lithium can be provided to the negative electrode active material prior to assembly of the battery using electrochemical deposition. The positive electrode active materials can comprise a layered-layered structure comprising manganese as well as nickel and/or cobalt.

Abstract: Lithium ion batteries can be activated and then cycled to exploit a moderate fraction of the discharge cycling capacity such that the discharge capacity and average discharge voltage stay within initial values for thousands of cycles. The superior cycling performance has been achieved at relatively high discharge rates and for practical battery formats. Lithium ion battery performance can also be achieved with superior cycling performance with partially activated batteries such that good discharge capacities can be exploited for many thousands of cycles before the discharge capacity and average discharge voltage drops more than 20% from initial values. The positive electrode active material can be a lithium rich metal oxide. The activation of the battery can comprise phase changes of the active materials. As described herein, the phase changes can be manipulated to exploit a reasonable fraction of the available high capacity of the material while providing outstanding cycling stability.

Abstract: High performance battery packs are described especially for use in electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Based on high energy lithium ion battery designs, the battery packs can have pairs of parallel connected batteries to supply an energy capacity at full discharge of at least about 40 kilowatt-hours or in alternative embodiments a set of all series connected batteries that can produce at full discharge at least about 15 kilowatt-hours. In some embodiments, lithium rich positive electrode active materials can be used to faun the batteries in which the material comprises a composition approximately represented by a formula xLi2M?O3.(1?x)LiMO2 with x from about 0.05 to about 0.8.

Abstract: Methods are described that have the capability of producing submicron/nanoscale particles, in some embodiments dispersible, at high production rates. In some embodiments, the methods result in the production of particles with an average diameter less than about 75 nanometers that are produced at a rate of at least about 35 grams per hour. In other embodiments, the particles are highly uniform. These methods can be used to form particle collections and/or powder coatings. Powder coatings and corresponding methods are described based on the deposition of highly uniform submicron/nanoscale particles.

Abstract: Positive electrode active materials comprising a dopant in an amount of 0.1 to 10 mole percent of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd or a combination thereof are described that have high specific discharge capacity upon cycling at room temperature and at a moderate discharge rate. Some materials of interest have the formula Li1+xNi?Mn?-?Co?A?X?O2?zFz, where x ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.3, ? ranges from about 0.001 to about 0.15, and the sum x+?+?+?+?+? can approximately equal 1.0. The materials can be coated with a metal fluoride to improve the performance of the materials especially upon cycling. The materials generally can have a tap density of at least 1.8 g/mL. Also, the materials can have an average discharge voltage of around 3.6 V.

Abstract: Improved cycling of high voltage lithium ion batteries is accomplished through the use of a formation step that seems to form a more stable structure for subsequent cycling and through the improved management of the charge-discharge cycling. In particular, the formation charge for the battery can be performed at a lower voltage prior to full activation of the battery through a charge to the specified operational voltage of the battery. With respect to management of the charging and discharging of the battery, it has been discovered that for the lithium rich high voltage compositions of interest that a deeper discharge can preserve the cycling capacity at a greater number of cycles. Battery management can be designed to exploit the improved cycling capacity obtained with deeper discharges of the battery.

Abstract: High specific capacity lithium rich lithium metal oxide materials are coated with inorganic compositions, such as metal fluorides, to improve the performance of the materials as a positive electrode active material. The resulting coated material can exhibit an increased specific capacity, and the material can also exhibit improved cycling. The materials can be formed while maintaining a desired relatively high average voltage such that the materials are suitable for the formation of commercial batteries. Suitable processes are described for the synthesis of the desired coated compositions that can be adapted for commercial production.

Abstract: High capacity silicon based anode active materials are described for lithium ion batteries. These materials are shown to be effective in combination with high capacity lithium rich cathode active materials. Supplemental lithium is shown to improve the cycling performance and reduce irreversible capacity loss for at least certain silicon based active materials. In particular silicon based active materials can be formed in composites with electrically conductive coatings, such as pyrolytic carbon coatings or metal coatings, and composites can also be formed with other electrically conductive carbon components, such as carbon nanofibers and carbon nanoparticles. Additional alloys with silicon are explored.

Abstract: Positive electrode active materials are formed with various metal oxide coatings. Excellent results have been obtained with the coatings on lithium rich metal oxide active materials. Surprisingly improved results are obtained with metal oxide coatings with lower amounts of coating material. High specific capacity results are obtained even at higher discharge rates.

Abstract: Lithium rich and manganese rich lithium metal oxides are described that provide for excellent performance in lithium-based batteries. The specific compositions can be engineered within a specified range of compositions to provide desired performance characteristics. Selected compositions can provide high values of specific capacity with a reasonably high average voltage. Compositions of particular interest can be represented by the formula, xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiNiu+?Mnu??CowAyO2. The compositions undergo significant first cycle irreversible changes, but the compositions cycle stably after the first cycle.

Abstract: Batteries with high energy and high capacity are described that have a long cycle life upon cycling at a moderate discharge rate. Specifically, the batteries may have a room temperature fifth cycle discharge specific energy of at least about 175 Wh/kg discharged at a C/3 discharge rate from 4.2V to 2.5V. Additionally, the batteries can maintain at least about 70% discharge capacity at 1000 cycles relative to the fifth cycle, with the battery being discharged from 4.2V to 2.5V at a C/2 rate from the fifth cycle through the 1000th cycle. In some embodiment, the positive electrode of the battery comprises a lithium intercalation composition with optional metal fluoride coating. Stabilizing additive maybe added to the electrolyte of the battery to further improve the battery performance. The batteries are particularly suitable for use in electric vehicles.

Abstract: Inorganic particle/polymer composites are described that involve chemical bonding between the elements of the composite. In some embodiments, the composite composition includes a polymer having side groups chemically bonded to inorganic particles. Furthermore, the composite composition can include chemically bonded inorganic particles and ordered copolymers. Various electrical, optical and electro-optical devices can be formed from the composites.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are described for distinguishing between a computing system that is hung in a hang state and systems that are in an idle or otherwise non-hang state which do not need intervention before regaining the ability to adequately process work. According to some approaches, heuristics are employed to perform hang and idle system detection and validation. Data representative of systems resources are analyzed and transformed in order to identify systems that are in a hang state.

Abstract: Provided is a positive electrode for a lithium ion battery, the electrode comprising a nano-crystalline layered-layered composite structure of a material having the general formula xLi2MO3(1?x)LiM?O2 in which 0<x<1, where M? is one or more ion with an average oxidation state of three and with at least one ion being Mn or Ni, and where M is one or more ions with an average oxidation state of four. Another aspect provides a positive electrode for a lithium ion battery, the electrode comprising a nano-crystalline layered-spinel composite structure of a material having the general formula XLi2MnO3. (1?X)LiMn2?yMyO4 in which 0.5<x<1.0, 0?y<1, and where M is one or more metal cations. Also provided is the positive electrode which comprises a nano-coating of inert oxide, inert phosphate or inert fluoride on the nano-crystalline composite structure.

Abstract: Inorganic particle/polymer composites are described that involve chemical bonding between the elements of the composite. In some embodiments, the composite composition includes a polymer having side groups chemically bonded to inorganic particles. Furthermore, the composite composition can include chemically bonded inorganic particles and ordered copolymers. Various electrical optical and electro-optical devices can be formed from the composites.

Abstract: Methods are described that have the capability of producing submicron/nanoscale particles, in some embodiments dispersible, at high production rates. In some embodiments, the methods result in the production of particles with an average diameter less than about 75 nanometers that are produced at a rate of at least about 35 grams per hour. In other embodiments, the particles are highly uniform. These methods can be used to form particle collections and/or powder coatings. Powder coatings and corresponding methods are described based on the deposition of highly uniform submicron/nanoscale particles.

Abstract: Nanoscale particles, particle coatings/particle arrays and corresponding consolidated materials are described based on an ability to vary the composition involving a wide range of metal and/or metalloid elements and corresponding compositions. In particular, metalloid oxides and metal-metalloid compositions are described in the form of improved nanoscale particles and coatings formed from the nanoscale particles. Compositions comprising rare earth metals and dopants/additives with rare earth metals are described. Complex compositions with a range of host compositions and dopants/additives can be formed using the approaches described herein. The particle coating can take the form of particle arrays that range from collections of disbursable primary particles to fused networks of primary particles forming channels that reflect the nanoscale of the primary particles. Suitable materials for optical applications are described along with some optical devices of interest.