Lithium-utilizing electrochemical cells, providing battery and hybrid-capacitor activity, are formed of one or more lithium battery anodes, one or more lithium battery cathodes, and one or more positive-charge or negative-charge hybrid capacitor electrodes which are formed of a combination of capacitor particles with one of anode or cathode particles. The anode and cathodes are formed of porous layers of particles of anode or cathode material, bonded to each side of a current collector foil. The hybrid capacitor electrodes are formed of porous layers of capacitor particles, mixed or layered with anode or capacitor particles, bonded to each side of a current collector foil. The compositions of the hybrid capacitors are determined to balance the capacities of the electrodes in the lithium-ion electrochemical cell to intercalate or adsorb lithium cations and corresponding anions in the electrolyte infiltrating the pores of the electrode materials.

This application proposes the use of rechargeable and replaceable zinc cartridges to expand cycle life and lifetime of nickel-zinc and silver-zinc batteries. Two types of possible battery cell assemblies are demonstrated: a battery that includes face-to-back arrangement of cells, and side-by-side linked flat batteries that can be used as wall mounted batteries. An improved composition of the replaceable zinc electrode is suggested.

Solid state or bulk hybrid batteries comprising a plurality of composite electrodes with high loading of electrochemically-active materials, a dendrite-blocking separator placed between the anode and the cathode, a secondary phase between the electrochemically-active materials and the solid-state or hybrid electrolyte and methods thereof are disclosed. Methods of making and using the same are also disclosed.

An electricity storage device 20 includes a positive electrode 22, a negative electrode 23 containing a layered structure of an aromatic dicarboxylic acid metal salt as an electrode active material, and an ion conducting medium 27 capable of conducting carrier ions. The layered structure is formed by spray-drying a solution prepared by containing aromatic dicarboxylic acid anions and alkali metal cations by using a spray-drying apparatus.

Provided is an internal hybrid electrochemical cell comprising: (a) a pseudocapacitance-like cathode comprising a cathode active material that contains both graphene sheets and a porphyrin compound, including porphyrin or a porphyrin complex, wherein the porphyrin compound is bonded to or supported by primary surfaces of graphene sheets to form a redox pair for pseudocapacitance; (b) a battery-like anode comprising an anode active material selected from sodium metal, a sodium metal alloy, a sodium intercalation compound, a sodium-containing compound, or a combination thereof, and (c) a sodium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the anode and the cathode; wherein the cathode active material has a specific surface area no less than 100 m.sup.2/g which is in direct physical contact with the electrolyte.

Provided is an internal hybrid electrochemical cell comprising: (a) a pseudocapacitance-like cathode comprising a cathode active material that contains both graphene sheets and a porphyrin compound, including porphyrin or a porphyrin complex, wherein the porphyrin compound is bonded to or supported by primary surfaces of graphene sheets to form a redox pair for pseudocapacitance; (b) a battery-like anode comprising an anode active material selected from sodium metal, a sodium metal alloy, a sodium intercalation compound, a sodium-containing compound, or a combination thereof, and (c) a sodium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the anode and the cathode; wherein the cathode active material has a specific surface area no less than 100 m.sup.2/g which is in direct physical contact with the electrolyte.

A fast charge system 20 including a fast charge composite 60 and a secondary battery 22 enables the secondary battery 22 to be charged in less time than is possible with traditional charging means. The fast charge composite 60 includes a separator 62 of cellulose wetted with a second electrolyte 64 that contains third ions 94 having a positive charge and fourth ions 96 having a negative charge and contacting the adjacent electrode 32, 46 of the secondary battery 22. A fast charge layer 30 of thermally expanded graphite is disposed adjacent and parallel to the separator 62. A second electrical power P.sub.FC, which may be greater than a maximum charging power P.sub.MAX transferred through traditional charging, is transferred as a function of a second voltage V.sub.2 applied between the fast charge layer 30 and the battery lead 34, 50 of the adjacent electrode 32, 46, which causes the third ions 94 and the fourth ions 96 to migrate through the separator 62 to cause the secondary battery 22 to become charged.

A capacitor-assisted, solid-state lithium-ion battery is formed by replacing at least one of the electrodes of the battery with a capacitor electrode of suitable particulate composition for the replaced battery particulate anode or cathode material. The solid-state electrodes typically contain solid-state electrode material and are separated with solid-state electrode material. In another embodiment the capacitor anode or cathode particles may be mixed with lithium-ion battery anode or cathode particles respectively. Preferably, the battery comprises at least two positively-charged electrodes and two negatively-charged electrodes, and the location and compositions of the capacitor material electrode(s) may be selected to provide a desired combination of energy and power.

The invention pertains to the field of electronic devices and the preparation thereof. In an aspect is an electronic device comprising a nanocomposite of carbon nanodomains homogeneously embedded in an insulating ceramic matrix, wherein the size and distribution of carbon nanodomains is such that the nanocomposite has a permittivity of greater than or equal to 200.

A secondary electrochemical cell includes a negative electrode including as an output conductor, a metallic or metal-coated open-pore form or a metallic or metal-coated nonwoven, as a carbon-based storage material that enables storage of electrical charge in the electrode through formation of an electrical double layer (Helmholtz double layer), activated carbon having a BET surface area of at least 800 m.sup.2/g, a non-carbon-based H2 storage material that can chemisorb hydrogen and/or store it as a metal hydride, a positive electrode including as an output conductor, a metallic or metal-coated open-pore form or a metallic or metal-coated nonwoven, and nickel hydroxide and/or nickel oxyhydroxide, a porous separator that separates the negative electrode and the positive electrode from one another, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte with which the electrodes and the separator are soaked, and a housing that encases the electrodes, the separator and the electrolyte.