Abstract: An imide derivative represented by the following formula (A): wherein Ra and Rb are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, an alkyl group, a fluoroalkyl group or an aryl group; at least one of Ra and Rb is a fluoroalkyl group; and Rc and Rd are each a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group, an aryl group, a heterocycle, a fluoroalkyl group or an imide group.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell includes an anode containing calcium hexaboride, where the electrochemical device is an alkaline cell or an air cathode cell.

Abstract: Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries having a cathode that includes a graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can exhibit improved characteristics. The graphene-sulfur nanocomposite can be characterized by graphene sheets with particles of sulfur adsorbed to the graphene sheets. The sulfur particles have an average diameter less than 50 nm.

Abstract: Electrochemical devices, methods, and systems for detecting and quantifying analytes are disclosed. A chemical detection reagent is locally generated in a test solution by electrochemical reaction of a precursor compound caused to migrate into the test solution from a precursor solution separated from the test solution by a cell separator. This approach provides precise metering of the reagent, via the charge passed, and avoids the need to store a reagent solution that may be chemically unstable. In one embodiment, the starch concentration in a colloidal solution can be measured via spectroscopic detection of a blue complex formed by the interaction of starch with iodine produced, on demand, by electrochemical oxidation of iodide ion. The approach may also be used to characterize certain types of analytes. The invention is amenable to automation and is particularly useful for on-line monitoring of production processes, including the inclusion of feed back loop mechanisms for process control.

Abstract: To present a carbon material which provides an electrical storage device not only ensuring a high energy density but also realizing a high output and an excellent low temperature performance. A negative electrode active material for an electrical storage device employing an aprotic organic solvent electrolyte solution containing a lithium salt as an electrolytes characterized in that it is made of a carbon material having a specific surface area of from 0.01 to 50 m2/g and a total mesopore volume of from 0.005 to 1.0 cc/g, wherein volumes of mesopores having pore diameters of from 100 to 400 ? occupy at least 25% of the total mesopore volume.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided an electrode material. The electrode material includes an active material which includes a titanium oxide compound having a monoclinic titanium dioxide crystal structure. The electrode material further includes a compound which exists on the surface of the active material and has a trialkylsilyl group represented by the formula (I). wherein R1, R2 and R3, which may be the same or different, respectively represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Disclosed are a positive active material composition for an electrochemical device, a positive electrode, and an electrochemical device including the same. The positive active material composition includes: a carbon-based additive including a hydroxyl group (—OH) and an enol group (—C?C—OH) on the surface, having a peak area ratio (OH/C?COH) of a hydroxyl group peak area and an enol group peak area of an infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum ranging from about 0.5 to about 10, having a specific surface area of about 50 m2/g to about 3000 m2/g, and having an oxygen-containing heterogeneous element in a content of less than about 15 wt %; a positive active material; a conductive material; and a binder.

Abstract: Secondary batteries for automobiles require good input/output characteristics and low internal resistance. Conventionally, the surface of an active material is coated with metal particles to reduce the internal resistance of a battery, but without achieving remarkable improvement in the conductivity of the active material or decreasing the internal resistance of the battery since an oxide film is formed on the metal particle surfaces. The present electrode material is produced by mixing and dispersing an active material and a metal source compound, then depositing metal particles on the surface of the active material by thermal decomposition, vapor phase reduction, liquid phase reduction or a chemical reaction combining any of these. Since an oxide film is not formed on the metal particles, an electrode material having high conductivity is obtained. The electrode material decreases the internal resistance of a battery and improves the input/output characteristics of a battery.

Abstract: This invention relates to a negative electrode of a rechargeable battery. In particular, the active material for the negative electrode is a mixture of two types of graphite, graphite A and graphite B. Graphite A are of graphite granules having an average granule diameter between 10 and 40 ?m, and a crystallite interlayer spacing, d002, between 0.335 and 0.342 nm. Graphite B are graphite granules with an average granule diameter between 5 and 30 ?m and a crystallite interlayer spacing, d002, between 0.336 and 0.360 nm. The ratio of the weight of the graphite A and graphite B is between 25:75 to 80:20. To fabricate said negative electrode, take said mixture of graphite A and graphite B, add binder, dispersant, and solvent. Then stir to mix, coating the resultant mixture on a foil, heat to dry, and compress to form the negative electrode. A lithium ion rechargeable battery made with said negative electrode has high discharge capacity, long cycle life, excellent high current and safety characteristics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrode structure for an energy storage apparatus. The electrode structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a current collector; and an active material layer formed in the current collector, wherein the active material layer includes: an active material; and a conductive material having a relatively higher content than that of the active material as being away from the current collector.

Abstract: An object is to increase the conductivity of an electrode including active material particles and the like, which is used for a battery. Two-dimensional carbon including 1 to 10 graphenes is used as a conduction auxiliary agent, instead of a conventionally used conduction auxiliary agent extending only one-dimensionally at most, such as graphite particles, acetylene black, or carbon fibers. A conduction auxiliary agent extending two-dimensionally has higher probability of being in contact with active material particles or other conduction auxiliary agents, so that the conductivity can be improved.

Abstract: Methods of preparing negative active materials and negative active materials are provided herein. The preparation methods include: A) mixing a carbon material, an organic polymer, a Sn-containing compound—optionally with water—to obtain a mixed solution system; B) adding a complexing agent into the mixed solution system obtained in step A optionally while stirring to form an intermediate solution; C) adding a reducing agent into the intermediate solution obtained in step B to a reaction product; D) optionally filtering, washing and then drying the reaction product to obtain the negative active material.

Abstract: An active material for a rechargeable lithium battery and a rechargeable battery, the active material including an active material core; and a thin film graphite layer on the core.

Abstract: Negative active materials, negative electrodes, and rechargeable lithium batteries are provided. A negative electrode according to one embodiment includes a non-carbon-based active material, a lithium salt having an oxalatoborate structure, and a high-strength polymer binder. The negative active material may include a non-carbon-based material and a coating layer on the non-carbon-based material. The coating layer includes a lithium salt having an oxalatoborate structure and a high-strength polymer binder. A rechargeable lithium battery including the negative electrode or negative active material has good cycle life characteristics and high capacity.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery, which is capable of further improving the charge/discharge cycle characteristics. Also disclosed is a lithium ion secondary battery which uses the negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery. The negative electrode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery is composed of composite particles each of which has a core/shell structure configured of a core part that is formed from a polymer and a shell part that is formed of a metal layer. The metal layer of the shell part is formed by metal plating. Preferably, the metal layer comprises at least a metal layer (a1) that is formed by electroless plating and a metal layer (a2) that is formed by electrolytic plating, in this order from the core part side.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte includes: a nonaqueous solvent; an electrolyte salt; an imide salt; and at least one of a heteropolyacid and a heteropolyacid compound.

Abstract: Provided is a lithium secondary battery which uses a lithium manganese metal oxide as a cathode active material and a non-graphitic carbon material as an anode active material, and based on the total weight of the electrolyte, contains 0.1 to 20% by weight of a salt represented by Formula I in a lithium salt-containing non-aqueous electrolyte: R4X+YZn???(I) wherein R, X, Y, Z and n are as defined in the specification. The lithium secondary battery of the present invention can improve low-temperature properties of the battery by increasing the lithium ion-electrode reactivity and decreasing the electrode-interface resistance, via the formation of a charge double layer at the cathode-anode interface upon charging/discharging of the battery at a low temperature, and therefore can be preferably used in medium/large battery systems such as power sources for electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) requiring operation under severe conditions.

Abstract: A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a negative electrode core member and a negative electrode mixture layer adhering to the negative electrode core member. The negative electrode mixture layer includes graphite particles, a water-soluble polymer coating the surfaces of the graphite particles, and a binder bonding the graphite particles coated with the water-soluble polymer. The negative electrode mixture layer has a specific surface area of 2.2 to 3 m2/g, and the bonding strength between the graphite particles coated with the water-soluble polymer is 14 kgf/cm2 or more. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including this electrode has good coulombic efficiency, since decomposition of the components of the non-aqueous electrolyte due to reaction between the graphite particles and the non-aqueous electrolyte is suppressed.

Abstract: A negative active material containing super-conductive nanoparticles coated with a high capacity negative material and a lithium battery including the same are provided, wherein the super-conductive nanoparticles have a structure in which polycyclic nano-sheets are stacked upon one another along a direction perpendicular to a first plane. The polycyclic nano-sheets include hexagonal rings of six carbons atoms linked to each other, wherein a first carbon and a second carbon have a distance therebetween of L1. L2 is a distance between a third carbon and a fourth carbon, and the arrangement of the polycyclic nano-sheets is such that L1?L2. The super-conductive nanoparticle is used as a negative active material in a lithium battery, and the super-conductive nanoparticle increases the capacity, thereby improving the capacity and lifespan of the lithium battery.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, an electrode assembly comprising the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode assembly. The positive electrode active material contains at least cobalt or manganese. The positive electrode has an end-of-charge potential of 4.40 V versus the potential of a lithium reference electrode. The positive electrode active material layer is superficially coated with a polymer layer composed of a polymer having a partially cross-linked structure and a molecular weight of 800,000 or greater.

Abstract: A conductive agent having a nonzero surface charge, a positive electrode slurry composition of a lithium secondary battery, including the conductive agent, and a lithium secondary battery including the conductive agent.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anode for lithium secondary battery comprising vapor grown carbon fiber uniformly dispersed without forming an agglomerate of 10 ?m or larger in an anode active material using natural graphite or artificial graphite, which anode is excellent in long cycle life and large current characteristics. Composition used for production for the anode can be produced, for example, by mixing a thickening agent solution containing an anode active material, a thickening agent aqueous solution and styrene butadiene rubber as binder with a composition containing carbon fiber dispersed in a thickening agent with a predetermined viscosity or by mixing an anode active material with vapor grown carbon fiber in dry state and then adding polyvinylidene difluoride thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of porous structures comprising sulfur in electrochemical cells. Such materials may be useful, for example, in forming one or more electrodes in an electrochemical cell. For example, the systems and methods described herein may comprise the use of an electrode comprising a conductive porous support structure and a plurality of particles comprising sulfur (e.g., as an active species) substantially contained within the pores of the support structure.

Abstract: A rechargeable oxide-ion battery cell 20, operating below 800° C., containing a molten salt-containing electrode 22, made of active metal-active metal oxide-active metal salt, preferably a Fe—FeO—Fe halide; which electrode is associated with an electrolyte 24 and an air electrode 26 to provide the cell 20.

Abstract: Solid organic matter coated fine solid particles and the applications of such coated particles are described. These uniformly coated carbonaceous particles provide an improved material for use as an electrochemical material. In one example, methods of manufacturing uniformly coated particles from lignin and graphite are described. In another embodiment, petroleum pitch coated calcined coke powder is demonstrated.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery of this invention includes a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixture, a negative electrode including a negative electrode mixture, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode mixture includes a material capable of absorbing and desorbing Li and a carbon material. The material capable of absorbing and desorbing Li includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Sn, and the amount of the carbon material is 3 to 60% by weight of the negative electrode mixture. At least one of the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a lithium perfluoroalkylsulfonyl imide represented by the following general formula (1): LiN(CmF2m+1SO2)(CnF2n+1SO2)??(1) where m and n each represent an integer of 1 to 5 and may be m=n. The ratio of the weight of the lithium perfluoroalkylsulfonyl imide to the weight of the carbon material is 10?3 to 10.

Abstract: An anode for lithium-ion secondary battery is provided as one capable of ensuring sufficient safety (suppression of dendrites) while achieving a higher capacity (higher density of the electrode), and permitting formation of a lithium-ion secondary battery with excellent high-rate discharge performance. An anode for lithium-ion secondary battery has a current collector, and an active material-containing layer formed on the current collector, the active material-containing layer is comprised of an outermost layer disposed on the farthest side from the current collector, and a lower layer composed of at least one layer disposed between the outermost layer and the current collector, and a degree of flexion of the outermost layer is smaller than that of the lower layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrogen-containing carbon material characterized in that it satisfies a specific relational expression between the number ratio of nitrogen atoms to carbon atoms and the number ratio of hydrogen atoms to carbon atoms and has peaks in specific regions in the X-ray diffraction and in the laser Raman spectrum. The nitrogen-containing carbon material of the present invention can be produced by carbonizing azulmic acid in an inert gas atmosphere, and it is useful as an electrode material or the like because it has a high nitrogen content and a low hydrogen content.

Abstract: An electrochemical device of the present invention comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes a compound having a structure represented by the general formula (1): It is thereby possible to obtain a lightweight and high energy-density electrochemical device having an excellent cycle characteristic.

Abstract: Provided are a core-shell type anode active material for lithium secondary batteries including a carbonaceous material core; and a shell formed outside the carbonaceous material core, the shell including a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) medium. The core-shell type anode active material for lithium secondary batteries has the shell including the PTC medium, and thus has the improved conductivity and high output density, exhibiting excellent electrical characteristics. And, a lithium secondary battery manufactured using the anode active material has excellent safety, in particular safety against overcharge and external short circuit.

Abstract: A lithium hydride activation method includes: a nitrification treatment process of reacting lithium hydride with a nitride and therefore forming a chemical compound layer stable to the nitride, on a surface of the lithium hydride; and a particle size reduction process of reducing a particle size of the lithium hydride provided with the chemical compound layer by a mechanical pulverization treatment after the nitrification treatment process is performed. A hydrogen generation method includes generating hydrogen by reacting ammonia with the lithium hydride activated by the activation method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising: an acrylate compound; a sulfinyl group-containing compound; an organic solvent; and an electrolyte salt. Also, disclosed is an electrode comprising a coating layer formed partially or totally on a surface thereof, the coating layer comprising: (i) a reduced form of an acrylate compound; and (ii) a reduced form of a sulfinyl group-containing compound. Further, disclosed is an electrochemical device comprising a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein (i) the non-aqueous electrolyte is the aforementioned non-aqueous electrolyte; and/or (ii) the cathode and/or the anode is the aforementioned electrode.

Abstract: Ion storage electrodes formed by coating an underlying substrate with a nanofibrillar film of structured conjugate polymer nanofibers and methods of forming such electrodes are described herein. The electrical properties of the electrodes may be customized by modifying the structure of the polymer nanofibers, the thickness of the nanofiber film, and the pore size of the nanofiber films.

Abstract: A primary battery includes a cathode having a cathode active material including a blend or composite of ?-MnO2 and one or more additional cathode active materials, an anode, a separator between the cathode and the anode, and an alkaline electrolyte.

Abstract: An anode of a lithium battery includes a composite film, the composite film comprising a carbon nanotube film structure and a plurality of nanoscale tin oxide particles dispersed therein. A method for fabricating an anode of a lithium battery, the method includes the steps of: (a) providing an array of carbon nanotubes; (b) pulling out, by using a tool, at least two carbon nanotube films from the array of carbon nanotubes to form a carbon nanotube film structure; and (c) dispersing a plurality of nanoscale tin oxide particles in the carbon nanotube film structure to form a composite film, and thereby, achieving the anode of the lithium battery.

Abstract: The invention provides an anodic carbon material for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery anode having excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristics, and a lithium secondary battery using the same. More specifically, an anodic carbon material for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention comprises: composite particles composed of silicon-containing particles containing an alloy, oxide, nitride, or carbide of silicon capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions and a resinous carbon material enclosing the silicon-containing particles; and a network structure formed from nanofibers and/or nanotubes that bond to surfaces of the composite particles and that enclose the composite particles, and wherein: the network structure contains silicon.

Abstract: Provided is a sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile manufacturing method that is characterized in that a starting base powder that comprises sulfur powder and polyacrylonitrile powder is mixed and the mixture is heated in a non-oxidizing environment while outflow of sulfur vapor is prevented. Also provided are a cathode for lithium batteries that uses, as the active substance, the sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile manufactured with the method, and a lithium secondary battery that includes the cathode as a component element. This enables the practical use of an inexpensive sulfur-based material as the cathode material for lithium secondary batteries, and in particular, a sulfur-based cathode material that enables higher output and has excellent cycle life characteristics, as well as other characteristics, and secondary lithium batteries using the same can be obtained.

Abstract: A secondary battery that includes a sheet-like member containing at least an electrode active material and an electrolyte; and first and second conductive layers containing at least a conductive aid and which are positioned on the opposed principal surfaces of the sheet-like member. The electrode active material contains an organic compound (for example, an organic compound having a stable radical) which participates in both oxidation and reduction reactions such that the positive electrode active material and negative electrode active material are formed from the same organic compound. In addition, the sheet-like member includes at least a polymer compound, and the organic compound contains at least one of a nitroxyl radical, a verdazyl radical, and a nitronyl nitroxyl radical.

Abstract: A secondary particle and a lithium battery including the same are provided wherein the secondary particle includes a plurality of primary particles and each primary particle contains n polycyclic nano-sheets disposed upon one another. The polycyclic nano-sheets include hexagonal rings of six carbon atoms linked to each other, wherein a first carbon and a second carbon have a distance therebetween of L1. L2 is a distance between a third carbon and a fourth carbon, and the arrangement of the polycyclic nano-sheets is such that L1?L2. The secondary particle is used as a negative active material in the lithium battery, and the secondary particle contains pores, thereby allowing for effective intercalating and deintercalating of the lithium ions into the secondary particle to impart improved capacity and cycle lifespan.

Abstract: This method enables the use of nanowire or nano-textured forms of Polyaniline and other conductive polymers in energy storage components. The delicate nature of these very high surface area materials are preserved during the continuous electrochemical synthesis, drying, solvent application and physical assembly. The invention also relates to a negative electrode that is comprised of etched, lithiated aluminum that is safer and lighter weight than conventional carbon based lithium-ion negative electrodes. The invention provides for improved methods for making negative and positive electrodes and for energy storage devices containing them. The invention provides sufficient stability in organic solvent and electrolyte solutions, where the prior art processes commonly fail. The invention further provides stability during repetitive charge and discharge. The invention also provides for novel microstructure protecting support membranes to be used in an energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly reliable secondary battery, as well as an electrode and a conductive agent used therefor, which battery has a long cycle life and is also less likely to be damaged or rupture even when the battery temperature becomes abnormally high. The conductive agent of the battery electrode contains, as the main component, a reaction product between a ?-conjugated carbon material and a soluble polyimide, preferably a soluble block copolymerized polyimide. The battery electrode is formed by coating a composition containing this conductive agent and an electrode active substance onto a current collector. The battery comprises this electrode.

Abstract: A negative electrode carbon material for a lithium ion secondary battery manufactured by calcinating a rice starch portion obtained by removing the pericarp and tests from unpolished rice and a method for manufacturing the same. The rice starch portion is preferably middle-grade white bran or high-grade white bran each obtained when unpolished rice is polished. The above negative electrode carbon material may have a relatively broad peak at a 2? of 40 to 50° and a sharp peak at a 2? of 42 to 44° in its powder X-ray (CuK?) diffraction. According to the present invention, a negative electrode carbon material for a lithium ion secondary battery which has the same quality as the prior art product can be manufactured at a low cost by making effective use of middle-grade white bran or high-grade white bran of rice.

Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode including a lithium composite oxide represented by the general formula (1): LixM1-yLyO2 (0.85?x?1.25 and 0?y?0.50; M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni and Co; and L is at least one selected from the group of alkaline earth elements, transition elements other than Ni and Co, rare earth elements, and elements of Group IIIb and Group IVb). The lithium composite oxide is treated with a coupling agent having a plurality of hydrolyzable groups, and the remaining hydrolyzable group is inactivated.

Abstract: An electrode active material for a power storage device of the invention includes an organic compound having, in the molecule, a plurality of electrode reaction sites and a linker site. The electrode reaction sites are residues of a 9,10-phenanthrenequinone compound that contributes to an electrochemical redox reaction. The linker site is disposed between the plurality of electrode reaction sites, does not contain any ketone group, and does not contribute to the electrochemical redox reaction. The electrode active material for a power storage device of the present invention is inhibited from being dissolved in an electrolyte and has a high energy density. By using the electrode active material, it is possible to obtain a power storage device having a high energy density and excellent charge/discharge cycle characteristics.

Abstract: A lithium-ion secondary battery allowed to improve cycle characteristics and initial charge-discharge characteristics is provided. The lithium-ion secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode including an anode active material layer; and an electrolytic solution. The anode active material layer includes an anode active material and an inorganic compound, and the inorganic compound includes one or both of an alkoxysilane compound and a hydrolysate thereof.

Abstract: A secondary battery using a polymer radical material and a conducting additive in which the performance of a conductive auxiliary layer is further improved and the internal resistance is reduced, thereby achieving a higher output. Specifically disclosed is a secondary battery in which at least one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode uses, as an electrode active material, a polymer radical material and a conducting additive having electrical conductivity. By providing a conductive auxiliary layer between a current collector and the polymer radical material/conducting additive electrode which is mainly composed of graphite, fibrous carbon or a granular carbon having a DBP absorption of not more than 110 cm3/100 g, the secondary battery with a higher output can be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for oxygen reduction comprising a porous organic material and at least one inherently conducting polymer such as a charge transfer complex or a conductive polymer, optionally combined with a non-conducting polymer. A current conductor may be located intermediate the porous organic material and the inherently conductive polymer. The electrode is suitable for use with an ion-conducting membrane and fuel such as hydrogen, an alcohol or borohydride to form a fuel-cell. The electrode is also suitable for use with an anode, such as a reactive metal and an electrolyte to form a battery.

Abstract: Improved polymer-based materials are described, for example for use as an electrode binder in a fuel cell. A fuel cell according to an example of the present invention comprises a first electrode including a catalyst and an electrode binder, a second electrode, and an electrolyte located between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrolyte may be a proton-exchange membrane (PEM). The electrode binder includes one or more polymers, such as a polyphosphazene.

Abstract: Cathodes for use in open electrochemical cells, open electrochemical cells, and devices comprising the cathodes and open electrochemical cells are disclosed. The open electrochemical cells generally comprise a cathode, an electrolyte, and an anode. One example cathode comprises: (i) a catalyst; (ii) an electronic conductor; and (iii) a hydrophobic gas permeable binder. The open electrochemical cells may function as metal-air batteries.

Abstract: A method for producing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide represented by the general formula: Li[Lix(NiaM1?a)1?x]O2 where M is metal other than Li and Ni, 0?x, and 0<a. The method includes: (i) mixing a transition metal compound containing Ni and M in a molar ratio of a:(1?a) with lithium carbonate in a predetermined ratio; (ii) causing the temperature of the mixture to reach a predetermined temperature range while repeatedly raising and lowering the temperature thereof; and (iii) thereafter reacting the transition metal compound with the lithium carbonate in the predetermined temperature range.