Abstract: Disclosed is a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. The positive active material includes at least one compound represented by formulas 1 to 4 andl a metal oxide or composite metal oxide layer formed on the compound.

Abstract: A layered structure manganese dioxide (MnO2) of which oxide lattices are in the pattern of pseudo-hexagonal close packing ( . . . AABB . . . ) and has hexagonal P63/mmc space group or orthorhombic Cmcm space group. The present invention also provides a process for producing said layered structure manganese dioxide (MnO2) which comprises heat treating a mixture of an alkali metal compound and a manganese compound at a high temperature. During the process, bismuth compounds or lead compounds may be added in order to stabilize the layered crystal structure of MnO2, or lithium compounds may be added in order to improve the reversibility of charge and discharge. The layered structure MnO2 is suitable for use as a cathode material in lithium rechargeable cells, since it does not transform into a spinel phase during charge and discharge cycling, thus having an excellent charging and discharging reversibility.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition comprising pellets, each of said pellets consisting essentially of an integral mass of polycrystalline material of randomly disposed crystals of hydrated alumina infused with an amount of LiX to produce LiX/Al(OH)3 having up to a mol fraction of 0.33 of LiX in the so-produced LiX/Al(OH)3, wherein LiX is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Li hydroxide, Li halide, Li nitrate, Li sulfate, and Li bicarbonate. The present invention further includes methods of preparing the composition and methods of recovery lithium values from brine using the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of preparing a positive active material for a rechargeable lithium battery. In this method, a lithium salt is reflux-reacted with a metal salt in a basic solution. The resulting positive active material is a compound represented by formulas 1 to 14. The positive active material has a spherical or spherical-like form, a diameter of 10 nm to 10 &mgr;m, and a surface area of 0.1 to 5 m2/g.

Abstract: In a process for producing a nickel compound containing lithium, a first substance comprising one selected from the group consisting of lithium and lithium compound and a second substance comprising at least one of nickel oxyhydroxide and a derivative thereof are reacted in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reclaiming a cathodic active material of lithium ion secondary batteries. The lithium ion secondary battery is broken and the casing and the content are separated to remove the casing from the content. The content is dissolved into a mineral acid to separate remaining non-dissolved content from the mineral acid to obtain a liquid containing the cathodic active material represented by the formula: LiMO2, where M is a transition metal element: cobalt, nickel and manganese. A lithium salt is added to the liquid, and the cathodic active material is recovered from the liquid in the form of a mixture of lithium compound and the transition metal compound, which is calcined and reclaimed into the cathodic active material.

Abstract: An infrared absorber which comprises containing as an effective ingredient a hydroxide complex salt represented by the formula [Al2(Li(1−x).+M2+(x+y)(OH)(6+2y)]n(An−)(1+x).mH2O (wherein M2+ is a divalent metal, An− is an anion having a valence of n, and m, x and y are numbers respectively in the ranges of 0≦m<5, 0.01≦x≦0.5 and 0≦y≦0.5), which has a high ability to absorp infrared rays and a refractive index close to that of the resin so that it has a good dispersibility with the resins when incorporated in the resin and the shaped film therefrom is excellent in the heat insulation property and transparency so that it is suitable as an agricultural film.

Abstract: A novel layered material for use in electrochemical cells is provided, together with a method for producing the layered material, and a cell having the layered material as the positive electrode. The material is of the form QqMnyMzO2, where Q and M are each any element, y is any number greater than zero, and q and z are each any number greater than or equal to zero, and the material has a layered structure. Methods of preparing the manganese oxide material are provided, using an ion exchange reaction or an ion removal reaction. Use of the material in an electrochemical cell is demonstrated.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel lithium fluorophosphates of the general formula Li+[PFa(CHbFc(CF3)d)e]−,  (I) wherein a is 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, b is 0 or 1, c is 0, 1, 2 or 3, d is 0, 1, 2 or 3 and e is 1, 2, 3 or 4, with the condition that the sum of a+e is equal to 6, the sum of b+c+d is equal to 3 and b and c are not simultaneously 0, with the proviso that the ligands (CHbFc(CF3)d) may be different, a process for producing said compounds, their use in electrolytes, and also lithium batteries produced using said electrolytes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the production of low sodium lithium carbonate and lithium chloride from a brine concentrated to about 6.0 wt % lithium are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for direct recovery of technical grade lithium chloride from the concentrated brine are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a process which provides a high purity lithiated manganese oxide (Li1+xMn2−yO4) from chemically made MnO2. The lithiated manganese oxide has an especially effective utility for use as a cathodic material in rechargeable batteries. The process of the invention includes blending a lithium compound with a chemically made manganese dioxide to form a manganese dioxide/lithium compound blend. The lithium compound in the blend is at least about one mole of lithium for every mole of manganese dioxide. The manganese dioxide and lithium compound in the blend undergo an ion exchange reaction to provide an ion replaced product where lithium ions have replaced sodium and potassium ions in the MnO2 to form an ion replaced product. Thereafter, the ion replaced product is heated or calcined to provide the lithiated manganese oxide.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously removing soluble minor constituents from brines containing soluble major and minor constituents by use of a Helminthoid evaporator.