Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte comprising: a) a sodium salt; b) an additive comprising at least one additional metallic/metalloid cation having a standard reduction potential which is at least 2.5V more positive than that of sodium cation; wherein said sodium salt and said additive are dispersed in a solvent comprising at least one alkyl carbonate, and wherein the concentration of said metallic/metalloid cation in the electrolyte is 15 mM to 250 mM. The present disclosure also relates to a sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a microporous sulfur cathode, and the electrolyte as described herein. The present disclosure further provides a method of improving cycling life of a sodium-sulfur cell, wherein the sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a sulfur cathode, and an electrolyte containing a sodium salt dispersed in an alkyl carbonate solvent.

Abstract: There is provided a method of synthesizing a porous carbon-sulfur composite comprising the step of carbonizing a carbon material having a metal-organic framework (MOF) at a temperature of 800-1000° C. to produce a porous carbon, mixing and heating the porous carbon with sulfur to infuse the sulfur (melt diffusion) into the pores of the porous carbon and removing excess sulfur not infused into the pores or present on the surface of the porous carbon. There is also provided a cathode comprising the porous carbon-sulfur composite and a method of preparing the cathode by mixing with conductive carbon and a polymer binder. The cathode finds use in an electrochemical cell comprising a sodium or lithium anode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte comprising at least one magnesium salt having a polyatomic anion, an aluminium halide salt and a solvent comprising at least one ether group. The electrolyte described herein does not comprise magnesium chloride. The electrolyte described herein may be used in magnesium ion electrochemical cells.

Abstract: There is a liquid electrolyte composition comprising: i) a magnesium salt comprising a trifluoromethane sulfonate anion; ii) an additive comprising an organic halide salt, an inorganic halide salt or a mixture thereof; and iii) a solvent comprising one or more ethers, wherein the organic halide salt comprises a halide anion and a cation selected from an optionally substituted quaternary ammonium or a three to nine membered N-heterocyclic cation, and the cation comprises at least one protonated nitrogen capable of dissociating the trifluoromethane sulfonate anion from the magnesium salt, and wherein the total concentration of cations of the inorganic halide salt and magnesium ions of the magnesium salt divided by the concentration of anions of the inorganic halide salt is greater than 1 in the electrolyte composition.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an electrolyte comprising: a) a sodium salt; b) an additive comprising at least one additional metallic/metalloid cation having a standard reduction potential which is at least 2.5V more positive than that of sodium cation; wherein said sodium salt and said additive are dispersed in a solvent comprising at least one alkyl carbonate, and wherein the concentration of said metallic/metalloid cation in the electrolyte is 15 mM to 250 mM. The present disclosure also relates to a sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a microporous sulfur cathode, and the electrolyte as described herein. The present disclosure further provides a method of improving cycling life of a sodium-sulfur cell, wherein the sodium-sulfur cell comprising a sodium anode, a sulfur cathode, and an electrolyte containing a sodium salt dispersed in an alkyl carbonate solvent.

Abstract: There is provided a composite comprising a) a short chain sulfur; and b) a carbon-supported conductive polymer such as polyacrylonitrile, wherein sulfur atoms of said short chain sulfur are covalently linked to the conductive polymer of said carbon-supported conductive polymer via a C—S bond. A method of preparing said composite comprising polymerizing a plurality of monomers in the presence of a carbon scaffold, mixing elemental sulfur and heating the mixture to obtain said composite is also disclosed. An electrochemical cell comprising said composite as cathode, a sodium anode and a liquid electrolyte such as sodium trifluoromethanesulfonate dissolved in a mixture of solvents is disclosed.

Abstract: A carbonized composite comprising a sulfur chain and a conductive network, wherein said sulfur chain is covalently bonded to said conductive network via one or more C—S bonds. The present disclosure also provides a method of preparing the carbonized composite disclosed herein. The carbonized composite may be used in electrochemical cells comprising a reactive metal anode.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: There is provided a film material comprising a combination of at least two metal compounds selected from the group consisting of a metal amide, a metal oxide, a metal halide and a metal alloy, wherein said metal is selected from Group I of the Periodic Table of Elements. There is also provided a process of preparing a film material comprising the step of contacting a solid phase material and a vapor phase material, wherein the solid phase material is a metal selected from Group 1 of the Periodic Table, and wherein the vapor phase material comprises a precursor selected from the group consisting of an amide precursor, an oxide precursor, a metal halide precursor and a metalloid halide precursor.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) particle comprising the step of encapsulating a plurality of Raman molecules on the surface of a metallic core with a biocompatible protective shell at an elevated temperature selected to decrease the encapsulation time by more than one-fold relative to an encapsulation performed at 20° C.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a battery electrode includes: (1) mixing Li2S particles with a binder to form a slurry, the binder including at least one of: (a) an ester moiety, (b) an amide moiety, (c) a ketone moiety, (d) an imine moiety, (e) an ether moiety, and (f) a nitrile moiety; and (2) disposing the slurry on a current collector.

Abstract: A method of forming a sulfur-based cathode material includes: 1) providing a sulfur-based nanostructure; 2) coating the nanostructure with an encapsulating material to form a shell surrounding the nanostructure; and 3) removing a portion of the nanostructure through the shell to form a void within the shell, with a remaining portion of the nanostructure disposed within the shell.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a battery electrode includes: (1) mixing Li2S particles with a binder to form a slurry, the binder including at least one of: (a) an ester moiety, (b) an amide moiety, (c) a ketone moiety, (d) an imine moiety, (e) an ether moiety, and (f) a nitrile moiety; and (2) disposing the slurry on a current collector.

Abstract: There is provided a method of preparing a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) particle comprising the step of encapsulating a plurality of Raman molecules on the surface of a metallic core with a biocompatible protective shell at an elevated temperature selected to decrease the encapsulation time by more than one-fold relative to an encapsulation performed at 20° C.

Abstract: A battery includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode. The cathode includes a hollow structure defining an internal volume and a sulfur-based material disposed within the internal volume. A characteristic dimension of the internal volume is at least 20 nm, and the sulfur-based material occupies less than 100% of the internal volume to define a void.