Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising an electrode active layer comprising a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network; a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; and a surface treatment on the surface of the high aspect ratio carbon elements which promotes adhesion between the high aspect ratio carbon elements and the active material particles.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor (H-LIBC) energy storage device includes a hybrid composite cathode electrode having a lithium ion battery (LIB) cathode active material and a lithium ion capacitor (LIC) cathode active material. An anode electrode having a surface is pre-loaded and pressed with a lithium (Li) thin film source. The anode electrode is pre-lithiated with the lithium film source by positioning the Li film source on the surface of anode electrode after electrolyte filling and soaking processes, a separator and an organic solvent electrolytic solution including a lithium salt electrolyte are also provided. A method of making a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor and a method of making a hybrid composite cathode for a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrode active layer is disclosed that includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements (e.g., carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube bundles, graphene flakes, or the like) that provides a highly electrically conductive scaffold that entangles or enmeshes the active material, thereby supporting the layer. A surface treatment can be applied to the high aspect ratio carbon elements to promote adhesion to the active material and any underlying electrode layers improving the overall cohesion and mechanical stability of the active layer. This surface treatment forms only a thin (in some cases even monomolecular) layer on the network, leaving the large void spaces that are free of any bulk binder material and so may instead be filled with active material. The resulting active layer may be formed with excellent mechanical stability even at large thickness and high active material mass loading.

Abstract: A lithium ion capacitor includes binder free positive and negative electrode active layers. The capacitor exhibits high energy density, power density and cycle life and provides a good compromise in performance between an electric double layer capacitor and a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: An electrode for an energy storage device is disclosed. The electrode includes an active layer. The active layer includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network, a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network, wherein the active material particles comprise silicon, and a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being at least one of a polyolefin, a Poly(acrylic acid), and a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an energy storage cell comprising a first electrode; a second electrode; a permeable separator disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an electrolyte wetting the first and second electrodes; wherein the first electrode comprises a network of dements defining void spaces within the network; and active material comprising lithium metal oxide disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; wherein the electrode active layer contains less than 0.1% percent by weight of polymeric binders disposed in the void spaces; and wherein the active layer is greater than 99% by weight active material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for an energy storage device is provided. The method includes heating a mixture of solvent and materials for use as energy storage media; adding active material to the mixture; adding dispersant to the mixture to provide a slurry; coating a current collector with the slurry; and calendaring the coating of slurry on the current collector to provide the electrode.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for an energy storage device is provided. The method includes heating a mixture of solvent and materials for use as energy storage media; adding active material to the mixture; adding dispersant to the mixture to provide a slurry; coating a current collector with the slurry; and calendering the coating of slurry on the current collector to provide the electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a composition comprising a shell that is substantially carbon encapsulating a volume that contains a nanoform of silicon and a void space. Disclosed herein too is a method of fabricating a composition comprising combining a nanoform of silicon with a carbon precursor and sintering the combination with a laser.

Abstract: An electrode for an energy storage device is disclosed. The electrode includes an active layer. The active layer includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network, a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network, wherein the active material particles comprise silicon, and a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being at least one of a polyolefin, a Poly(acrylic acid), and a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).

Abstract: An electrode for an energy storage device is disclosed. The electrode includes an active layer. The active layer includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network, a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network, and a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being at least one of (i) selected from a family of polyamides, or (ii) a modified polyamide or derivative of a polyamide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an anode, comprising an active layer comprising a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network; a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network, wherein the active material particles comprise silicon; and a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being at least one of (i) selected from a family of polyamides, or (ii) a modified polyamide or derivative of a polyamide. Disclosed herein too is a cathode, comprising an active layer comprising a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network; a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network; and a polymeric additive, the polymeric additive being at least one of (i) selected from a family of polyamides, or (ii) a modified polyamide or derivative of a polyamide.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus comprising an electrode active layer comprising a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements defining void spaces within the network; a plurality of electrode active material particles disposed in the void spaces within the network and enmeshed in the network; and a surface treatment on the surface of the high aspect ratio carbon elements which promotes adhesion between the high aspect ratio carbon elements and the active material particles.

Abstract: An electrode active layer is disclosed that includes a network of high aspect ratio carbon elements (e.g., carbon nanotubes, carbon nanotube bundles, graphene flakes, or the like) that provides a highly electrically conductive scaffold that entangles or enmeshes the active material, thereby supporting the layer. A surface treatment can be applied to the high aspect ratio carbon elements to promote adhesion to the active material and any underlying electrode layers improving the overall cohesion and mechanical stability of the active layer. This surface treatment forms only a thin (in some cases even monomolecular) layer on the network, leaving the large void spaces that are free of any bulk binder material and so may instead be filled with active material. The resulting active layer may be formed with excellent mechanical stability even at large thickness and high active material mass loading.

Abstract: Ultra-thin lithium ion capacitors with ultra-high power performance are provided. Ultra-thin electrodes and ultra-thin lithium films can be used for the ultra-thin lithium ion capacitor. A lithium ion capacitor can include a first positive electrode and a second positive electrode, a negative electrode disposed between the first positive electrode and the second positive electrode, a first lithium film disposed between the first positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a second lithium film disposed between the second positive electrode and the negative electrode. Each of the first and second lithium films can include an electrolyte. In addition, at least one separator can be provided between the first positive electrode and the first lithium film, and at least one separator can be provided between the second positive electrode and the second lithium film.

Abstract: A hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor (H-LIBC) energy storage device includes a hybrid composite cathode electrode having a lithium ion battery (LIB) cathode active material and a lithium ion capacitor (LIC) cathode active material. An anode electrode having a surface is pre-loaded and pressed with a lithium (Li) thin film source. The anode electrode is pre-lithiated with the lithium film source by positioning the Li film source on the surface of anode electrode after electrolyte filling and soaking processes, a separator and an organic solvent electrolytic solution including a lithium salt electrolyte are also provided. A method of making a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor and a method of making a hybrid composite cathode for a hybrid lithium-ion battery-capacitor are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for an energy storage device is provided. The method includes heating a mixture of solvent and materials for use as energy storage media; adding active material to the mixture; adding dispersant to the mixture to provide a slurry; coating a current collector with the slurry; and calendaring the coating of slurry on the current collector to provide the electrode.

Abstract: A lithium ion capacitor includes binder free positive and negative electrode active layers. The capacitor exhibits high energy density, power density and cycle life and provides a good compromise in performance between an electric double layer capacitor and a lithium ion battery.

Abstract: A lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) is provided which includes positive electrodes, negative electrodes pre-loaded on surface with lithium sources including lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films having holes, separators and organic solvent electrolyte with lithium salt for high performance including high energy density, high power density, long cycle life, long DC life and wide temperature ranges. A method for making an LIC is also provided, where cell components important to optimize the electrochemical performance of LIC's are configured, said components include PE active material and binders, NE active material and binders, thickness/mass ratio of positive electrode (PE) to negative electrode (NE) active layers, PE and NE's size designs and layer numbers, types of material for Separators and NE pre-lithiation methods, NE pre-lithiation includes loading various lithium (Li) sources including lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films having holes onto the surface of NE.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vehicle, comprising a drivetrain configured to provide the vehicle with propulsion; and a controller configured to obtain power from an energy source and to provide the drivetrain with power, wherein the controller regulates an amount of power provided to the drivetrain.