Abstract: A method comprises: providing a metal salt solution including nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, or a combination thereof; combining the metal salt solution with a basic solution wherein the combination of the metal salt solution and the basic solution is maintained at a pH of no greater than 10 to form a metal hydroxide precursor. To form cathode active material the method further includes adding a lithium compound to the metal hydroxide precursor to form a metal hydroxide precursor mixture; and heat-treating the metal hydroxide precursor mixture to form the single-crystal cathode active material.

Abstract: A method of making a cathode active material includes providing a first mixture including a mixed metal composition and phosphoric acid or a mixed metal composition and water. The mixed metal composition includes nickel, cobalt, manganese, or a combination thereof. A salt of iron, manganese, cobalt, or a combination thereof is added to adjust the stoichiometry of the mixed metal composition. The stoichiometrically-adjusted mixed metal composition in water can be contacted with a phosphorus-containing compound. The stoichiometrically-adjusted mixed metal phosphate is further contacted with a lithium-containing compound to provide the cathode active material having at least one phase having an olivine structure.

Abstract: A method of making a cathode active material includes contacting a mixed metal composition with water to form a first solution. The mixed metal composition includes nickel, manganese, or nickel and manganese. A salt of nickel, manganese, or a combination thereof is added to the first solution to provide a second solution which can be further combined with a cosolvent to provide a third solution. The third solution can be further combined with a basic solution to provide a precipitate, which can be combined with a lithium compound and treated to provide the cathode active material having at least one phase having a spinel structure.

Abstract: A carbon-based additive for negative active materials includes carbon nanostructures free of a fiber substrate, carbon nanostructures fused to a fiber substrate or any combination thereof. In many cases, the carbon-based additive further includes carbon black. The additive is used to prepare electrode compositions for lead acid batteries. Batteries that include such electrode compositions are characterized by improved dynamic charge acceptance and lead utilization, typically at acceptable water loss levels. Some of the batteries described herein exhibit a negligible memory effect.

Abstract: A method of making a cathode active material includes contacting a mixed metal composition with water to form a first solution. The mixed metal composition includes nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, or a combination thereof, and greater than 0 to 2 weight percent, based on the total weight of the mixed metal composition, of a compound comprising Cu, Fe, Mg, Na, Ca, Zn, F, Si, Li, or a combination thereof. A salt of nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum, or a combination thereof is added to the first solution to provide a second solution, which can be further combined with a basic solution to provide a precipitate. The precipitate can be combined with a lithium compound and treated to provide the cathode active material.

Abstract: A method for forming lithium metal oxides comprised of Ni, Mn and Co useful for making lithium ion batteries comprises providing precursor particulates of Ni and Co that are of a particular size that allows the formation of improved lithium metal oxides. The method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides having improved safety while retaining good capacity and rate capability. In particular, the method allows for the formation of lithium metal oxide where the primary particle surface Mn/Ni ratio is greater than the bulk Mn/Ni. Likewise the method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides with secondary particles having much higher densities allowing for higher cathode densities and battery capacities while retaining good capacity and rate performance.

Abstract: An electroplated copper metal having certain grain misorientations between adjacent grains at a <111> crystal plane direction provides for improved properties of the copper. A method of electroplating the copper metal on substrates, including dielectric substrates, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lithium metal oxide powder comprises secondary particles comprised of agglomerated primary lithium metal oxide particles bonded together, the primary lithium metal oxide particles being comprised of Li, Ni, Mn, Co and oxygen and having a median primary particle size of 0.1 micrometer to 3 micrometers, wherein the secondary particles have a porosity that is at least about 10%. The lithium metal oxide powders are useful make lithium ion battery having improved performance particularly when the secondary particles deagglomerate when forming the cathode used in the lithium ion battery.

Abstract: Thin film substrates are electroplated with copper from low internal stress, high ductility acid copper electroplating baths. During the copper electroplating process the thin film substrates can warp or bow. To address the problem of warping or bowing during copper electroplating the thin film substrate is held by a securing means which inhibits the thin film substrate from excessive activity.

Abstract: A method for forming lithium metal oxides comprised of Ni, Mn and Co useful for making lithium ion batteries comprises providing precursor particulates of Ni and Co that are of a particular size that allows the formation of improved lithium metal oxides. The method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides having improved safety while retaining good capacity and rate capability. In particular, the method allows for the formation of lithium metal oxide where the primary particle surface Mn/Ni ratio is greater than the bulk Mn/Ni. Likewise the method allows the formation of lithium metal oxides with secondary particles having much higher densities allowing for higher cathode densities and battery capacities while retaining good capacity and rate performance.

Abstract: Acid copper electroplating baths provide improved low internal stress copper deposits with good ductility. The acid copper electroplating baths include one or more polyallylamines and certain sulfur containing accelerators. The acid copper electroplating baths may be used to electroplate thin films on relatively thin substrates to provide thin film copper deposits having low internal stress and high ductility.

Abstract: Electroactive compositions are disclosed for use in lithium ion battery electrodes. The compositions, such as multifunctional mixed metal olivines, provide an electrochemical cell having a plurality of open circuit voltages at different states of charge. The compositions afford improved state-of-charge monitoring, overcharge protection and/or overdischarge protection for lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: Acid copper electroplating baths provide improved low internal stress copper deposits with good ductility. The acid copper electroplating baths include one or more branched polyalkylenimines and one or more accelerators. The acid copper electroplating baths may be used to electroplate thin films on relatively thin substrates to provide thin film copper deposits having low internal stress and high ductility.

Abstract: Olivine lithium manganese iron phosphate is made in a coprecipitation process from a water/alcoholic cosolvent mixture. The LMFP particles so obtained exhibit surprisingly high electronic conductivities, which in turn leads to other advantages such as high energy and power densities and excellent cycling performance.

Abstract: An inexpensive method for making lithium transition metal olivine particles that have high specific capacities is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) combining precursor materials including at least one source of lithium ions, at least one source of transition metal ions, at least one source of HxP04 ions where x is 0-2 and at least one source of carbonate, hydrogen carbonate, formate and/or acetate ions in a mixture of water and a liquid cosolvent which is miscible with water at the relative proportions of water and cosolvent that are present and which liquid cosolvent has a boiling temperature of at least 130° C.; wherein the mole ratio of lithium ions to HxP04 ions is from 0.9:1 to 1.2:1, and a lithium transition metal phosphate and at least one of carbonic acid, formic acid or acetic acid are formed, b) heating the resulting mixture at a temperature of up to 120° C.

Abstract: Olivine lithium transition metal phosphate cathode materials are made in a microwave-assisted process by combining precursors in a mixture of water and an alcoholic cosolvent, then exposing the precursors to microwave radiation 5 to heat them under superatmospheric pressure. This process allows rapid synthesis of the cathode materials, and produces cathode materials that have high specific capacities.

Abstract: Electroactive compositions are disclosed for use in lithium ion battery electrodes. The compositions, such as multifunctional mixed metal olivines, provide an electrochemical cell having a plurality of open circuit voltages at different states of charge. The compositions afford improved state-of-charge monitoring, overcharge protection and/or overdischarge protection for lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: Electroactive compositions are disclosed for use in lithium ion battery electrodes. The compositions, such as multifunctional mixed metal olivines, provide an electrochemical cell having a plurality of open circuit voltages at different states of charge. The compositions afford improved state-of-charge monitoring, overcharge protection and/or overdischarge protection for lithium ion batteries.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the manufacture of a novel environmental-protection shoe tree, and particularly to the manufacture of an environmental-protection shoe tree made by molding a primary material of rice husk, in which fibrous plant materials, such as rice husks and wheat husks are sieved and pulverized and are mixed with natural rubber and additives, followed by mechanical mixing to carry out a uniform mixing operation for forming an environmental-protection material block, which is then processed by a rolling machine to uniformly mix with a crosslinking agent and form an environmental-protection material plate, which is then cut into a desired size and put in a mold to be heated and pressurized by a hydraulic machine for performing molding to eventually form a final product of a shoe tree showing characteristics of environmental protection.

Abstract: Electroactive compositions are disclosed for use in lithium ion battery electrodes. The compositions, such as multifunctional mixed metal olivines, provide an electrochemical cell having a plurality of open circuit voltages at different states of charge. The compositions afford improved state-of-charge monitoring, overcharge protection and/or overdischarge protection for lithium ion batteries.