Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A method for preparing a material composition comprising a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported upon a carbon material support includes a solution impregnation process step, followed by a thermal reduction process step and finally a thermal oxidation process step. The material composition, an electrode and an electrical component such as but not limited to a battery are all predicated at least in-part upon the material composition prepared in accord with the foregoing method. The foregoing material composition, electrode, battery and method may ultimately provide a LIB with enhanced performance.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A positive electroactive material for a lithium-ion battery can have a tap density ranging from 2.50 to 2.90 g/cm3, a Span value ranging from 1.04 to 1.68 and/or a capacity ranging from 195 to 210 mAh/g obtained using a discharging current of C/5 current rate. The material can have a formula Lia[NixMnyCo1?x?y]zM1?zO2, wherein a is between approximately 1.02 and 1.07, x is between approximately 0.60 to 0.82, y is between approximately 0.09 to 0.20, z is between approximately 0.95 to 1.0, and 1?x?y is greater than 0. A cost-effective and large-scale synthetic method for preparing the positive electroactive material, an electrochemical cell containing the positive electroactive material, and a battery comprising one or more lithium ion electrochemical cells are also described.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to materials for batteries and other applications. For instance, certain embodiments are directed to a positive electroactive material, e.g., for use in a lithium-ion battery. In some embodiments, the material may have the formula LiaMb[NixMnyCoz]1-bO2, where 1.00?a<1.01, 0<b?0.08, 0.34<x?0.58, 0.21?y?0.38, and 0.21?z?0.38. In some cases, the material may have a D50 ranging from 4.0 to 7.8 micrometers, a tap density from 2.00 to 2.40 g/cm3, and/or a discharge capacity of ranging from 74.0% to 80.3% at a 30 C current rate (vs. the capacity obtained at 0.1 C). Methods for preparing or using the various Pt materials and formulations, as well as electrochemical cells containing the material, are also described in various embodiments. In some cases, the materials may be formed from relatively small particle sizes, which may lead to improved performance.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to materials for electrochemical cells, e.g., for use in batteries such as lithi- um-ion batteries, and other applications. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a positive electroac- tive material, which may have a core-shell structure. The material, in certain embodiments, has the formula (Li1+a[NiqMrCo1-q-r] O2)x.(Li1?a[NisMntCO1-s-t]O2)1-x, where M may be Mn and/or Al. In some cases, the first portion may represent the core, while the second portion may represent the shell in a core-shell particle. In certain embodiments, x is a numerical value inclusively ranging from 0.70 to 0.95, a is a numerical value inclusively ranging from 0.01 to 0.0 7, q is a numerical value inclusively ranging from 0.80 to 0.96, r is a numerical value inclusively ranging from 0.01 to 0.10, s is a numerical value inclusively ranging from 0.34 to 0.70, t is a numerical IN value inclusively ranging from 0.20 to 0.40.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to poly(lithium acrylate) (PLA) and other materials, which may be used in polymer blend membranes and other applications. Certain embodiments, for example, relate to methods of preparing poly(lithium acrylate), or membranes comprising poly(lithium acrylate). In some embodiments, lithium acrylate monomer may be obtained through neutralization reaction between a strong inorganic base and a weak organic acid. Such materials can be used in electrochemical cells, for example, as a membrane, e.g., for use in batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, or other applications. In certain cases, the molecular weight of the PLA may be between 102 Da to 106 Da. In some embodiments, the membrane may have a mechanical strength of elastic stress modulus between 5 kPa to 500 MPa with strain from 0% to 200%. In some embodiments, the membrane may have an ionic conductivity between 10?9 S cm?1 to 10?3 S cm?1.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to materials for electrochemical cells, e.g., for use in batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, and other applications. For example, certain embodiments of the present invention provide a composition for a slurry or a slurry for the manufacture of an electrode for an electrochemical cell. The slurry, in certain embodiments, comprises a combination of ionomer, binder, conducting additive, electroactive materials, and water. The ionomer, in some embodiments, includes a polymer backbone, one or more anionic substituents (which may be in the backbone and/or in one or more pendant groups), and one or more cations.

Abstract: A method for preparing a material composition comprising a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported upon a carbon material support includes a solution impregnation process step, followed by a thermal reduction process step and finally a thermal oxidation process step. The material composition, an electrode and an electrical component such as but not limited to a battery are all predicated at least in-part upon the material composition prepared in accord with the foregoing method. The foregoing material composition, electrode, battery and method may ultimately provide a LIB with enhanced performance.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A method for preparing a material composition comprising a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported upon a carbon material support includes a solution impregnation process step, followed by a thermal reduction process step and finally a thermal oxidation process step. The material composition, an electrode and an electrical component such as but not limited to a battery are all predicated at least in-part upon the material composition prepared in accord with the foregoing method. The foregoing material composition, electrode, battery and method may ultimately provide a LIB with enhanced performance.

Abstract: A positive electroactive material for a lithium-ion battery can have a tap density ranging from 2.50 to 2.90 g/cm3, a Span value ranging from 1.04 to 1.68 and/or a capacity ranging from 195 to 210 mAh/g obtained using a discharging current of C/5 current rate. The material can have a formula Lia[NixMnyCo1-x-y]zM1-zO2, wherein a is between approximately 1.02 and 1.07, x is between approximately 0.60 to 0.82, y is between approximately 0.09 to 0.20, z is between approximately 0.95 to 1.0, and 1?x?y is greater than 0. A cost-effective and large-scale synthetic method for preparing the positive electroactive material, an electrochemical cell containing the positive electroactive material, and a battery comprising one or more lithium ion electrochemical cells are also described.

Abstract: A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

Abstract: A method for preparing a material composition comprising a hollow transition metal oxide nanoparticle supported upon a carbon material support includes a solution impregnation process step, followed by a thermal reduction process step and finally a thermal oxidation process step. The material composition, an electrode and an electrical component such as but not limited to a battery are all predicated at least in-part upon the material composition prepared in accord with the foregoing method. The foregoing material composition, electrode, battery and method may ultimately provide a LIB with enhanced performance.

Abstract: A materials composition and a method for preparing the materials composition provide: (1) a core material comprising a reactive carbon material-sulfur material composite; surrounded by and chemically coupled with (2) a shell material comprising a reactive sheath material. The material composition is useful within electrodes within electrical components including but not limited to electrochemical gas cells, supercapacitors and batteries where enhanced cycling may be realized.