Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electrode active materials represented by the general formula AaMb(XY4)2Zd, wherein: (a) A is one or more alkali metals, and 0<a?8; (b) M is at least one metal capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, and 1?b?3; (c) XY4 is selected from the group consisting of X?O4?xY?x, X?O4?yY?2?y, X?S4, and a mixture thereof, where X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, S, and mixtures thereof; X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, and mixtures thereof, Y? is halogen, 0?x<3, 0<y<4, and 0<c?3; and (d) Z is OH, a halogen, or mixtures thereof, and 0<d?6.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative active material composition for a rechargeable lithium battery, a method of producing a negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery using the same, and a rechargeable lithium battery using the same. The negative active material composition includes a negative active material, an additive capable of forming a surface electrolyte interface film on a negative electrode during charge and discharge, a binder, and an organic solvent.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a secondary battery including a lithium-manganese composite oxide having a spinel structure and represented by the following general formula (I), Lia(MxMn2-x-y-zYyAz)(O4-wZw) (I), wherein 0.5?x?1.2, 0?y, 0?z, x+y+z<2, 0?a?1.2 and 0?w?1; M contains at least Co and may further contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Fe, Cr and Cu; Y is at least one element selected lo from the group consisting of Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, K and Ca; A is at least one of Ti and Si; and Z is at least one of F and Cl. When the cathode active material for the secondary battery is used as the cathode for the a secondary battery, a higher operating can be realized while suppressing the reliability reduction such as the capacity decrease after the cycles and the deterioration of the crystalline structure at a higher temperature.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating solid-state energy-storage devices including fabrication films for devices without an anneal step. A film of an energy-storage device is fabricated by depositing a first material layer to a location on a substrate. Energy is supplied directly to the material forming the film. The energy can be in the form of energized ions of a second material. Supplying energy directly to the material and/or the film being deposited assists in controlling the growth and stoichiometry of the film. The method allows for the fabrication of ultrathin films such as electrolyte films and dielectric films.

Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery in which high energy density can be obtained and charging/discharging cycle characteristic can be improved. A positive electrode (13) and a negative electrode (15) are stacked with a separator (16) interposed therebetween, and are enclosed inside an exterior can (11) to which an electrolyte is injected. The negative electrode (15) contains a negative electrode material capable of occluding/releasing lithium in an ionic state. Thereby, lithium metal precipitates in the negative electrode (15) in a state where the open circuit voltage is lower than the overcharge voltage. In other words, lithium is occluded in an ionic state in a negative electrode material capable of occluding/releasing lithium in the beginning of charging, and then lithium metal precipitates on the surface of the negative electrode material thereafter during charging. The amount of precipitation of lithium metal is preferable to be from 0.05 to 3.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating solid-state energy-storage devices including fabrication films for devices without an anneal step. A film of an energy-storage device is fabricated by depositing a first material layer to a location on a substrate. Energy is supplied directly to the material forming the film. The energy can be in the form of energized ions of a second material. Supplying energy directly to the material and/or the film being deposited assists in controlling the growth and stoichiometry of the film. The method allows for the fabrication of ultrathin films such as electrolyte films and dielectric films.

Abstract: A method for producing a rechargeable button cell having a negative electrode composed of a lithium/indium alloy, a positive lithium/intercalating electrode and an organic electrolyte, a lithium layer and an indium layer are introduced into a negative housing half-section. The positive electrode material is introduced into a positive housing half-section. The two housing half-sections are beaded to form the button cell once the organic electrolyte has been added and a separator has been placed in between, with a seal being inserted between the housing half-sections. A lithium-indium alloy is formed from the lithium layer and the indium layer by storage or a subsequent charging/discharge cycle.

Abstract: An active material for a battery has a surface treatment layer that includes a conductive agent and at least one coating-element-containing compound selected from the group consisting of a coating-element-containing hydroxide, a coating-element-containing oxyhydroxide, a coating-element-containing oxycarbonate, a coating-element-containing hydroxycarbonate, and a mixture thereof.

Abstract: A secondary battery comprising: a substrate; a first current collector; a first electrode; a solid electrolyte; a second electrode; and a second current collector; the first current collector being formed on the substrate and serving as a current collector of the first electrode, the first electrode being formed on the first current collector, the solid electrolyte being formed on the first electrode, the second electrode being formed on the solid electrolyte, the second current collector being formed on the second electrode and serving as a current collector of the second electrode, at least one electrode selected from the group consisting of the first electrode and the second electrode containing at least one material selected from the group consisting of an ion conductive material and an electron conductive material.

Abstract: Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, and a phosphate or similar moiety, of the formula: Aa+xMbP1?xSixO4 wherein (a) A is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and mixtures thereof, and 0<a<1.0 and 0?x?1; (b) M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, where 0<b?2; and wherein M, a, b, and x are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide such a battery that has a high capacity, is excellent in storage characteristics, cycle characteristics and continuous charging characteristics, and is small in gas generation amount, whereby size reduction and improvement in performance of a lithium secondary battery can be attained. The present invention relates to a nonaqueous electrolytic solution comprising a lithium salt and a nonaqueous solvent dissolving the same, wherein the electrolytic solution contains, as the lithium salt, LiPF6 in a concentration of from 0.2 to 2 mole/L, and LiBF4 and/or a compound represented by the following formula (1) in a molar ratio of from 0.005 to 0.4 with respect to LiPF6, and the nonaqueous solvent mainly comprises (1) ethylene carbonate and/or propylene carbonate, (2-1) a symmetric linear carbonate, (2-2) an asymmetric linear carbonate, and (3) vinylene carbonate.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a cathode/separator assembly for use in electrochemical cells in which a protective coating layer is coated on a temporary carrier substrate, a microporous separator layer is then coated on the protective coating layer, and a cathode is then coated or laminated on the separator layer, prior to removing the temporary carrier substrate from the protective coating layer. Also, methods of preparing electrochemical cells utilizing cathode/separator assemblies prepared by such methods, and cathode/separator assemblies and electrochemical cells prepared by such methods.

Abstract: Methods of preparing a cathode/separator assembly for use in electrochemical cells in which a protective coating layer, such as a single ion conducting layer, is coated on a temporary carrier substrate, a microporous separator layer is then coated on the protective coating layer, and a cathode active layer is then coated on the separator layer, prior to removing the temporary carrier substrate from the protective coating layer. Additional layers, including an edge insulating layer, a cathode current collector layer, an electrode insulating layer, an anode current collector layer, an anode layer such as a lithium metal layer, and an anode protective layer, such as a single ion conducting layer, may be applied subsequent to the coating step of the microporous separator layer. Also, methods of preparing electrochemical cells utilizing cathode/separator assemblies prepared by such methods, and cathode/separator assemblies and electrochemical cells prepared by such methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a metal phosphate which comprises milling in a carbonaceous vessel a lithium source, a phosphate source, such as LiH2PO4, and a metal oxide containing a metal ion wherein the metal ion is capable of being reduced, to produced a milled mixture and heating the milled mixture in an inert atmosphere at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form a metal phosphate wherein the metal ion of the metal oxide is reduced in oxidation state without the direct addition of a reducing agent to the starting materials.

Abstract: A new sandwich positive electrode design for a secondary cell is provided comprising a “sacrificial” alkali metal along with a cathode active material. In the case of silver vanadium oxide, the sacrificial alkali metal is preferably lithium. Upon activating the cells, the lithium metal automatically intercalates into the silver vanadium oxide. That way, the sacrificial lithium is consumed and essentially lithiates the silver vanadium oxide. This means that cathode active materials, such as silver vanadium oxide, which before now were generally only used in primary cells, are now useful in secondary cells. In some use applications, silver vanadium oxide is more desirable than typically used lithiated cathode active materials.

Abstract: A positive active material of a lithium-sulfur battery includes a sulfur-conductive agent-agglomerated complex in which a conductive agent particle is attached onto a surface of a sulfur particle having an average particle size less than or equal to 7 ?m. The sulfur-conductive agent-agglomerated complex is manufactured by mixing a sulfur powder and a conductive agent powder to form a mixture, and milling the mixture.

Abstract: A cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a spinel lithium manganese composite oxide expressed by the general formula: Lia(NixMn2?x?q?rQqRr)O4, wherein 0.4?x?0.6, 0<q, 0?r, x+q+r<2, 0<a<1.2, Q is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Na, K and Ca, and R is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Li, Be, B, Mg and Al.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electrode active materials represented by the general formula AaMb(XY4)cZd, wherein: (a) A is one or more alkali metals, and 0<a?8; (b) M is at least one metal capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, and 1?b?3; (c) XY4 is selected from the group consisting of X?O4?xY?x, X?O4?yY?2y, X?S4, and a mixture thereof, where X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, S, and mixtures thereof; X? is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, and mixtures thereof, Y? is halogen, 0?x<3, 0<y<4, and 0<c?3; and (d) Z is OH, a halogen, mixtures thereof, and 0<d?6.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for alleviating the problem of reaction of lithium or other alkali or alkaline earth metals with incompatible processing and operating environments by creating a ionically conductive chemical protective layer on the lithium or other reactive metal surface. Such a chemically produced surface layer can protect lithium metal from reacting with oxygen, nitrogen or moisture in ambient atmosphere thereby allowing the lithium material to be handled outside of a controlled atmosphere, such as a dry room. Production processes involving lithium are thereby very considerably simplified. One example of such a process in the processing of lithium to form negative electrodes for lithium metal batteries.

Abstract: The invention provides lithiated molybdenum oxides useful as cathode (positive electrode) active materials in rechargeable batteries, especially in lithium ion rechargeable batteries. In one aspect, the invention provides lithiated molybdenum oxides, some of which can be represented by nominal formulas LixMoO2 where x ranges from 0.1 to 2, and Li4Mo3O8. The crystal structure of the lithiated molybdenum oxides of the invention is characterized as being in a hexagonal space group with unit cell dimensions in a determined range. In a preferred embodiment, the lithiated molybdenum oxides of the invention can be formulated with known materials to provide electrodes for electrochemical cells. The invention also provides rechargeable batteries made by combining one or more such electrochemical cells.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a high power electrochemical energy storage device, comprising at least one stackable, monolithic battery unit. The monolithic battery unit includes at least two electrochemical energy storage cells. The cells have a lithium ion insertion anode and a lithium ion insertion cathode, a bipolar current collector between cells and end plate current collectors at the opposing ends of each battery unit. A frame may be associated with the perimeter of the current collector. The current collector comprises a high-conductivity metal. The device also has the at least two storage cells substantially aligned adjacent one another, a separator material associated between the anode and the cathode within each cell; and an electrolyte within each cell. Additionally, the present invention is drawn to a device combining two or more of the monolithic units, either in series or in parallel or any combination thereof, so as to create a high power, high voltage energy storage device.

Abstract: Disclosed is carbonaceous active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery. Conducting a differential thermal analysis on the carbonaceous active material results in the displaying of at least two exothermic peaks overlapping to form shoulders.

Abstract: Provided is a secondary battery in which high energy density can be obtained and charging/discharging cycle characteristic can be improved. A positive electrode (13) and a negative electrode (15) are stacked with a separator (16) interposed therebetween, and are enclosed inside an exterior can (11) to which an electrolyte is injected. The negative electrode (15) contains a negative electrode material capable of occluding/releasing lithium in an ionic state. Thereby, lithium metal precipitates in the negative electrode (15) in a state where the open circuit voltage is lower than the overcharge voltage. In other words, lithium is occluded in an ionic state in a negative electrode material capable of occluding/releasing lithium in the beginning of charging, and then lithium metal precipitates on the surface of the negative electrode material thereafter during charging. The amount of precipitation of lithium metal is preferable to be from 0.05 to 3.

Abstract: A carbon fiber has a coaxial stacking morphology of truncated conical tubular graphene layers, wherein each of the truncated conical tubular graphene layers includes a hexagonal carbon layer and has a large ring end at one end and a small ring end at the other end in an axial direction. The hexagonal carbon layers are exposed on at least a part of the large ring ends. Part of carbon atoms of the hexagonal carbon layers are replaced with boron atoms, whereby projections with the boron atoms at the top are formed. An electrode material for a secondary battery using the carbon fiber excels in lifetime performance, has a large electric energy density, enables an increase in capacity, and excels in conductivity and electrode reinforcement.

Abstract: An electrochemical element with improved energy density is provided. The electrochemical element has electrochemical cells which are multiply stacked. The electrochemical cell is stacked with the full cell or bicell as a basic unit and a separator film is interposed between the adjoining portion of the cells. The electrochemical element is easy to manufacture, has a structure which uses the space available efficiently, and can maximize the content of the active electrode material so that a highly integrated battery can be implemented.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method of preparing a cathode material in a sequential two-part reaction process. In the first step, silver nitrate and vanadium oxide are decomposed by heat under an inert atmosphere. In the second part of the process, the resulting intermediate material is heat treated under an oxidizing atmosphere. The sequential combination of steps produces a highly crystalline silver vanadium oxide cathode material which has properties not heretofore exhibited by SVO prepared by prior art methods.

Abstract: Sodium ion batteries are based on sodium based active materials selected among compounds of the general formula: AaMb(XY4)cZd, wherein A comprises sodium, M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, Z is OH or halogen, and XY4 represents phosphate or a similar group. The anode of the battery includes a carbon material that is capable of inserting sodium ions. The carbon anode cycles reversibly at a specific capacity greater than 100 mAh/g.

Abstract: Disclosed is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, comprising a case having a wall thickness not larger than 0.3 mm, a positive electrode provided in the case, a negative electrode provided in the case and the negative electrode containing a carbonaceous material capable of absorbing-desorbing lithium ions, and a nonaqueous electrolyte provided in the case and the nonaqueous electrolyte containing a nonaqueous solvent including ?-butyrolactone and a solute dissolved in the nonaqueous solvent, wherein after being discharged to 3V with a current of 0.2 C at room temperature, the voltage reduction caused by the self-discharge at 60° C. is not larger than 1.5V in 3 weeks.

Abstract: Active materials for rechargeable batteries have a general formula

Abstract: An extruded wire of sodium metal is cold rolled into a thin foil and passed through a misting chamber coating both surfaces with a depolarizing agent and subsequently encased in an aluminized polymer membrane forming a consumable electrode for second generation fuel cells. In an alternate method of construction a polymer bead chain is attached at one edge of the electrode to facilitate its travel through the chemically reacting electrolyte.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel electrode active materials represented by the general formula AaMb(XY4)2Zd, wherein:

Abstract: A solid-state battery including at least one thin film layer, and method for making same.

Abstract: An organic electrolytic solution containing an organic solvent and a compound that contains an anionic polymerization monomer with an added component capable of being chelated with a lithium metal cation. A lithium battery may utilize the organic electrolytic solution. The lithium battery may have improved stability to reductive decomposition, reduced first cycle irreversible capacity, and improved charging/discharging efficiency and lifespan. Moreover, reliability of the battery may be improved because the battery, after formation and standard charging at room temperature, may not swell beyond a predetermined thickness. Even when the lithium battery swells significantly at a high temperature, the capacity of the lithium battery may be high enough for practical applications due to its recovery capacity.

Abstract: Active metal anodes can be protected from deleterious reaction and voltage delay in an active metal anode-solid cathode battery cell can be significantly reduced or completely alleviated by coating the active metal anode (e.g., Li) surface with a thin layer of a chemical protective layer incorporating aliovalent (multivalent) anions on the lithium metal surface. Such an aliovalent surface layer is conductive to Li-ions but can protect lithium metal from reacting with oxygen, nitrogen or moisture in ambient atmosphere thereby allowing the lithium material to be handled outside of a controlled atmosphere, such as a dry room. Particularly, preferred examples of such protective layers include mixtures or solid solutions of lithium phosphate, lithium metaphosphate, and/or lithium sulphate. These protective layers can be formed on the Li surface by treatment with diluted solutions of the following acids: H3PO4, HPO3 and H2SO4 or their acidic salts in a dry organic solvent compatible with Li by various techniques.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high crystalline polypropylene microporous membrane and a preparation method of the same, and it provides a preparation method of a polypropylene microporous membrane comprising the steps of preparing a precursor film using high crystalline polypropylene having a crystallinity of 50% or more and a very high isotacticity, annealing, stretching at a low temperature, stretching at a high temperature, and heat setting, and a polypropylene microporous membrane having superior permeability and mechanical properties prepared by the preparation method.

Abstract: Voltage delay in an active metal anode/liquid cathode battery cell can be significantly reduced or completely alleviated by coating the active metal anode (e.g., Li) surface with a thin layer of an inorganic compound with Li-ion conductivity using chemical treatment of Li surface. Particularly, preferred examples of such compounds include lithium phosphate, lithium metaphosphate, and/or their mixtures or solid solutions with lithium sulphate. These compounds can be formed on the Li surface by treatment with diluted solutions of the following individual acids: H3PO4, HPO3 and H2SO4, their acidic salts, or their binary or ternary mixtures in a dry organic solvent compatible with Li, for instance in 1,2-DME; by various deposition techniques. Such chemical protection of the Li or other active metal electrode significantly reduces the voltage delay due to protected anode's improved stability toward the electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery separator for a lithium battery is disclosed. The separator has a microporous membrane and a coating thereon. The coating is made from a mixture of a gel forming polymer, a first solvent, and a second solvent. The first solvent is more volatile than the second solvent. The second solvent acts as a pore former for the gel-forming polymer.

Abstract: The invention presents an air battery comprising a battery container having a surface in which air pores are formed, an electrode group provided in the battery container and including an air positive electrode, and a laminated sheet including a barrier film which is provided between the surface and the air positive electrode, and of which oxygen permeation coefficient is 1×10−14 mol·m/m2·sec·Pa or less, and a gap holding member which is laminated on the barrier film and is opposite to the air positive electrode, and the gap holding member comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of a porous film, a nonwoven fabric, and a woven fabric, wherein the air pores of the battery container are closed by the laminated sheet.

Abstract: A secondary power source, which comprises a positive electrode containing activated carbon, a negative electrode containing Li4Ti5O12, and an organic electrolyte containing a lithium salt.

Abstract: Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, and a phosphate or similar moiety, of the formula: Aa+xMbP1−xSixO4 wherein (a) A is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and mixtures thereof, and 0<a<1.0 and 0≦x≦1; (b) M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, where 0<b≦2; and wherein M, a, b, and x are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of the compound. In a preferred embodiment, M comprises at least one transition metal selected from Groups 4 to 11 of the Periodic Table. In another preferred embodiment, M comprises M′cM″d, where M′ is at least one transition metal from Groups 4 to 11 of the Periodic Table; and M″ is at least one element from Groups 2, 3, 12, 13, or 14 of the Periodic Table, and c+d=b. Preferably, 0.1≦a≦0.8.

Abstract: A negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery is provided. The negative active material includes a core and a carbon shell formed around the core. The core includes a crystalline carbon, an amorphous carbon or a mixture thereof, and the carbon shell includes an amorphous carbon with a metal selected from a transition metal, a semi-metal, an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical cell comprising a lithium anode and a sulfur-containing cathode and a non-aqueous electrolyte solvent. In the fully charged state of the cell the concentration of lithium ions is preferably less than 0.3 M. The cell delivers high discharge capacity at discharge rates, for example, C/5, over temperatures ranges of from +25° C. to −20° C. Also disclosed is a battery including an electrochemical cell according to the invention and a device that utilizes such a battery to derive power.

Abstract: The invention provides an electrochemical cell which includes a first electrode and a second electrode which is a counter electrode to said first electrode, and an electrolyte material interposed there between. The first electrode includes an active material having a high proportion of alkali metal per formula unit of material.

Abstract: Electrode active materials comprising two or more groups of particles having differing chemical compositions, wherein each group of particles comprises a material selected from:

Abstract: A MEMS volumetric lithium-ion battery formed using a soft lithography technique. The battery includes a reduced footprint area with a corresponding increase in capacity by exploiting the Z dimension through increased volume, while utilizing a chemistry capable of one Joule per cubic millimeter. The battery may be manufactured to cell sizes of one millimeter and cell volumes of one cubic millimeter. The battery can be formed into battery banks, electrically connected in series and parallel, and integrated into a system-on-a-chip. The battery may also be implemented for on-board applications and is suitable for space, air, and terrestrial applications, and in particular, for providing a MEMS volumetric battery.

Abstract: A new cathode design having a second cathode active material of a relatively high energy density but of a relatively low rate capability sandwiched between two current collectors with a first cathode active material having a relatively low energy density but of a relatively high rate capability in contract with the opposite sides of the two current collectors, is described. At least the first cathode active material is of particles having an average diameter less than about 1&mgr;. The present cathode design is useful for powering an implantable medical device requiring a high rate discharge application.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of an electrode for an energy storage or conversion device comprises thermally spraying a feedstock mixture comprising an effective quantity of a source of a thermally protective salt and an active material or active material precursor onto a substrate to produce a film of the active material and salt. The film can have a thickness of about 1 to about 1000 microns. In a particularly advantageous feature, the active materials which ordinarily decompose or are unavailable at the high temperatures used during thermal spray processes, such as metal chalcogenides such as pyrite, CoS2, WS2, Ni(OH)2, MnO2, and the like may be thermally sprayed to form an electrode when the feedstock mixture employs an effective amount of a source of the thermally protective salt coating. The active material feedstock may comprise microstructured or nanostructured materials, which after thermal spray results in electrodes having microstructured or nanostructured active materials, respectively.

Abstract: A positive electrode material for a lithium secondary battery includes a lithium manganese oxide having a spinel structure, expressed by one of the general formulae; LixMnyO4 (where 1≦x≦1.33 and 3−x<y≦3.1−x); and LixMnyMzO4 (where M is a metallic element other than Li and Mn, 1≦x≦1.33, 3−x−z<y≦3.1−x−z, and o<z≦1.0). The metallic element M may be at least one selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Cr and Ni. A lithium secondary battery includes at least a positive electrode of the positive electrode material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compound having a high conductivity for electrons, characterized in that it is of the type ABCO(x-&dgr;)Hal(y-&zgr;) with a potassium nickel fluorite structure, where x+y=4, and &dgr; and &zgr; lie between −0.7 and +0.7, and wherein A comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, Ca, Ba, La, Pr, Sr, Ce, Nb, Pb, Nd, Sm and Gd, and wherein B comprises at least one metal selected from the same group, and wherein C comprises at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Cu, Mg, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Nb, Mo, W and Zr and/or a metal selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ru, Ir, Rh, Pd and Ni, wherein A and B are not identical and wherein A and C are not both Nb and wherein Hal comprises at least one halogen atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a lithium carbonate passivation layer on lithium through exposure of the active material to gaseous carbon dioxide prior to cell assembly. This results in an electrochemical cell which possesses improved safety and voltage delay characteristics in comparison to prior art cells comprising unexposed lithium. The preferred cell is of a lithium oxyhalide chemistry.