Among other things the invention provides novel flame-retardant compounds useful for increasing the flame retardance of polymers.

There is provided herein a curing agent compound for curing thermosetting resins, e.g., epoxy resins, a composition comprising a thermoplastic and/or thermosetting resin, e.g., an epoxy resin and the curing agent, an article comprising the curing agent, and a method of making the curing agent.

An object of the present invention is to provide a crystal of a cyclic phosphonic acid sodium salt (2ccPA) with high purity and excellent storage stability and a method for producing the crystal. The present invention provides a crystal of a cyclic phosphonic acid sodium salt (2ccPA) represented by formula (1):

##STR00001##

The invention features compounds of the general formula (I) in which the variable groups are as defined herein, and to their preparation and use.

##STR00001##

Described herein are molecules for use in organic light emitting diodes. Example molecules comprise at least one moiety A and at least one moiety D. Values and preferred values of the moieties A and D are described herein. The molecules comprise at least one atom selected from Si, Se, Ge, Sn, P, or As.

A nonaqueous electrolytic solution having an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt having a specific α,β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid ester structure, phosphono hydroxy carboxylic acid structure, alkoxycarbonyl hydroxy carboxylic acid structure, or formyloxy structure; an energy storage device using the nonaqueous electrolytic solution; and a lithium salt used for the nonaqueous electrolytic solution. This nonaqueous electrolytic solution makes it possible not only to improve the electrochemical characteristics when the energy storage device is used at a high temperature and a high voltage and to improve the capacity retention rate after high-voltage and high-temperature storage, but also to suppress gas generation.

A nonaqueous electrolytic solution having an electrolyte salt dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent, the nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing a lithium salt having a specific α,β-dihydroxy carboxylic acid ester structure, phosphono hydroxy carboxylic acid structure, alkoxycarbonyl hydroxy carboxylic acid structure, or formyloxy structure; an energy storage device using the nonaqueous electrolytic solution; and a lithium salt used for the nonaqueous electrolytic solution. This nonaqueous electrolytic solution makes it possible not only to improve the electrochemical characteristics when the energy storage device is used at a high temperature and a high voltage and to improve the capacity retention rate after high-voltage and high-temperature storage, but also to suppress gas generation.

A lithium battery includes a cathode including a cathode active material; an anode including an anode active material; and an organic electrolytic solution between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode active material includes natural graphite and artificial graphite, an amount of the artificial graphite being about 50 wt % or more based on a total weight of the anode active material, and the organic electrolytic solution includes: a first lithium salt; an organic solvent; and a bicyclic sulfate-based compound represented by Formula 1 below: ##STR00001## wherein, in Formula 1, each of A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 is independently a covalent bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.5 alkylene group, a carbonyl group, or a sulfinyl group, in which both A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are not a covalent bond and both A.sub.3 and A.sub.4 are not a covalent bond.

A lithium battery includes a cathode including a cathode active material; an anode including an anode active material; and an organic electrolytic solution between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode active material includes natural graphite and artificial graphite, an amount of the artificial graphite being about 50 wt % or more based on a total weight of the anode active material, and the organic electrolytic solution includes: a first lithium salt; an organic solvent; and a bicyclic sulfate-based compound represented by Formula 1 below: ##STR00001## wherein, in Formula 1, each of A.sub.1, A.sub.2, A.sub.3, and A.sub.4 is independently a covalent bond, a substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.5 alkylene group, a carbonyl group, or a sulfinyl group, in which both A.sub.1 and A.sub.2 are not a covalent bond and both A.sub.3 and A.sub.4 are not a covalent bond.

Flame retardants produced by heating certain phosphonic acid salts at temperatures over 200° C. are readily compounded into high temperature polyamides that are processed at temperatures above 270° C. to provide flame retardant, high temperature polyamide compositions.