A nanowire energy storage device such as a nanowire battery or a capacitor having a cathode comprising a plurality of nanowires and an anode comprising a plurality of nanowires interlaced with the plurality of nanowires of the cathode, and embedded in a PMMA gel electrolyte.

Materials having charge-storing properties and made variously of dipyridine-fused benzoquinones of formula (1) below or derivatives thereof, dipyridine-fused benzoquinones of formula (4) below or derivatives thereof, or dipyridine-fused benzoquinone skeleton-containing polymers are provided. ##STR00001##
In the formulas, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are each independently a pyridine ring that forms together with two carbon atoms on a benzoquinone skeleton, or a derivative thereof. When used as electrode active materials, these charge storage materials are capable of providing high-performance batteries possessing a high capacity, high rate characteristics and high cycle characteristics.

Materials having charge-storing properties and made variously of dipyridine-fused benzoquinones of formula (1) below or derivatives thereof, dipyridine-fused benzoquinones of formula (4) below or derivatives thereof, or dipyridine-fused benzoquinone skeleton-containing polymers are provided. ##STR00001##
In the formulas, Ar.sup.1 and Ar.sup.2 are each independently a pyridine ring that forms together with two carbon atoms on a benzoquinone skeleton, or a derivative thereof. When used as electrode active materials, these charge storage materials are capable of providing high-performance batteries possessing a high capacity, high rate characteristics and high cycle characteristics.

Hybrid electrochemical cells and modules include an anode two-sided current collector a coated with host material in anode region(s) and a cathode two-sided current collector coated with active material in cathode region(s), and one or more of the anode current collector and the cathode current collector is coated with capacitor material in one or more distinct, non-overlapping capacitor regions. A hybrid anode and/or cathode can include gaps between capacitor regions and anode regions and cathode regions. The capacitor material applied to an electrode is different from the host or active material thereof. Active material includes lithium metal oxides and lithium metal phosphates such as LiFePO.sub.4, Li(Ni.sub.xMn.sub.yCo.sub.z)O.sub.2, and/or LiMn.sub.2O.sub.4; host material includes graphite, silicon, silicon-Li/Sn/Cu alloys, Si/Co/Fe/TiSn oxides, and low-surface area carbon; and capacitor material includes activated carbon, metal oxides, and metal sulfides.

Hybrid electrochemical cells and modules include an anode two-sided current collector a coated with host material in anode region(s) and a cathode two-sided current collector coated with active material in cathode region(s), and one or more of the anode current collector and the cathode current collector is coated with capacitor material in one or more distinct, non-overlapping capacitor regions. A hybrid anode and/or cathode can include gaps between capacitor regions and anode regions and cathode regions. The capacitor material applied to an electrode is different from the host or active material thereof. Active material includes lithium metal oxides and lithium metal phosphates such as LiFePO.sub.4, Li(Ni.sub.xMn.sub.yCo.sub.z)O.sub.2, and/or LiMn.sub.2O.sub.4; host material includes graphite, silicon, silicon-Li/Sn/Cu alloys, Si/Co/Fe/TiSn oxides, and low-surface area carbon; and capacitor material includes activated carbon, metal oxides, and metal sulfides.

At least one of the anode and cathode of a lithium-ion processing electrochemical cell are prepared with a layer of mixed partides of both active lithium battery electrode materials and lithium ion adsorbing capacitor materials, or with co-extensive, contiguous layers of battery electrode particles in one layer and capacitor particles in the adjoining layer. The proportions of active battery electrode particles and active capacitor particles in one or both of the electrodes are predetermined to provide specified energy density (Wh/kg) and power density (W/kg) properties of the cell for its intended application.

Lithium-ion battery cells and a lithium-ion utilizing capacitor cells are placed spaced-apart in a common container and infiltrated with a common lithium-ion transporting, liquid electrolyte. The lithium-ion-utilizing capacitor and lithium-ion cell battery are combined such that their respective electrodes may be electrically connected, either in series or parallel connection for energy storage and management in an automotive vehicle or other electrical power supply application.

An electrochemical energy storage device includes an anode having a first mixture which includes a first plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a first average porosity, and lithium metal materials. The weight ratio of the first plurality of carbon-comprising and lithium metal materials is from 30:1 to 3:1. A cathode includes a second mixture having a second plurality of electrically conductive carbon-comprising particles having a second average porosity greater than the first average porosity, and lithium-intercalating metal oxide particles. The weight ratio of the second plurality of carbon-comprising and lithium-intercalating metal oxide particles is from 1:20 to 5:1. The weight ratio between the lithium metal materials loaded in the anode and the second plurality of carbon-comprising particles in the cathode is from 0.1-10%. An electrolyte physically and ionically contacts the anode and the cathode, and fills the pore volume in the anode, cathode and a porous separator.

Disclosed is a hybrid electrochemical cell with a first conductor having at least one portion that is both a first capacitor electrode and a first battery electrode. The hybrid electrochemical cell further includes a second conductor having at least one portion that is a second capacitor electrode and at least one other portion that is a second battery electrode. An electrolyte is in contact with both the first conductor and the second conductor. In some embodiments, the hybrid electrochemical cell further includes a separator between the first conductor and the second conductor to prevent physical contact between the first conductor and the second conductor, while facilitating ion transport between the first conductor and the second conductor.

A novel high cycle life, low cost hybrid redox flow battery that has application in the storage of energy generated by solar cells, windmills and other means is described. By combining a solid battery positive electrode with a redox flow negative electrode, the volumetric energy density of the system is maximized and footprint minimized for medium scaled installations of multi kilowatt-hour size as may be envisioned in domestic distributed power systems. The positive electrode is a high cycle life rechargeable nickel hydroxide electrode in alkaline solution. The negative active material is a low cost organic chemical such as a substituted anthroquinone dissolved in an alkaline electrolyte and stored external to the negative plate of the electrochemical device. The material of the negative plate is high surface area and capable of facilitating the oxidation and reduction reactions of the negative active material. The negative and positive electrodes are separated by an electronically insulating but ionically conducting separator material that allows ionic mobility and the generation of electric current when charging or discharging of the battery takes place. Ideally, an ion exchange membrane would separate the positive and negative active material in order to maximize service life and reduce intermingling of active material.