Lithium-containing nanofibers, as well as processes for making the same, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments described herein, using high throughput (e.g., gas assisted and/or water based) electrospinning processes produce nanofibers of high energy capacity materials with continuous lithium-containing matrices or discrete crystal domains.

The invention provides coated substrates comprising a substrate and a barrier coating on at least one surface of the substrate. The barrier coating comprises (i) vermiculite, (ii) polymer capable of forming a film, (iii) chemical stabilizing agent selected from materials that contain cationic functionality selected from lithium, alkyl C.sub.2-C.sub.6 ammonium, allyl ammonium, heterocylclic ammonium, morpholonium, ammonium and amino C.sub.3-C.sub.6 alkyl carboxylic acids; lithium cations in combination with anions selected from carboxylic, phosphoric, phosphonic, sulfonic and fatty acids, lithium chelating agents, and lithium salts, ammonia, C.sub.3-C.sub.6 amine, heterocyclic amines, lithium hydroxide, morpholine, and morpholine oleate; and (iv) cross-linking agent. The invention also provides articles coated with such coatings, methods and mixtures for making such coated substrates and articles.

A binder for preparing a positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery, and a method for preparing a positive electrode using the same. The binder includes two or more different lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids with different molecular weights. The lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids include two different lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids differing in weight average molecular weight by 500,000 or more from each other.

A binder for preparing a positive electrode of a lithium secondary battery, and a method for preparing a positive electrode using the same. The binder includes two or more different lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids with different molecular weights. The lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids include two different lithium-substituted polyacrylic acids differing in weight average molecular weight by 500,000 or more from each other.

Electrodepositable compositions including an aqueous medium, an ionic resin and particles including thermally produced graphenic carbon nanoparticles are disclosed. The compositions may also include lithium-containing particles. Electrodeposited coatings comprising a cured ionic resin, thermally produced graphenic carbon nanoparticle and lithium-containing particles are also disclosed. The electrodeposited coatings may be used as coatings for lithium ion battery electrodes.

Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting an aqueous dispersion of alkali swellable polymer particles with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L; and b) neutralizing the alkali swellable particles with a non-volatile base after or upon contact with the rheology modifier and the binder to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles; wherein the alkali swellable polymer particles comprise a shell having a T.sub.g of not greater than 25 C. and an acid functionalized core; and wherein the core-to-shell ratio is in the range of from 1:3.2 to 1:10. The composition arising from the process of the present invention is useful for improving open time, especially for low VOC coatings applications.

In another aspect the present invention relates to the preparation of the coatings composition with an open time additive comprising the steps of a) contacting the open time additive with a rheology modifier and a binder to form a coatings composition with a VOC of less than 50 g/L, then b) neutralizing the open time additive to form swelled multi-staged polymer particles, wherein the coatings composition with the open time additive exhibits less than a 50% increase in viscosity than the coating composition without the open time additive.

Methods are disclosed in which an electrically conductive substrate is immersed in electrodepositable composition including graphenic carbon particles, the substrate serving as an electrode in an electrical circuit comprising the electrode and a counter-electrode immersed in the composition, a coating being applied onto or over at least a portion of the substrate as electric current is passed between the electrodes. The electrodepositable composition comprises an aqueous medium, an ionic resin, and solid particles including graphenic carbon particles. The solid particles may also include lithium-containing particles.

Setter plates are fabricated from Li-stuffed garnet materials having the same, or substantially similar, compositions as a garnet Li-stuffed solid electrolyte. The Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, reduce the evaporation of Li during a sintering treatment step and/or reduce the loss of Li caused by diffusion out of the sintering electrolyte. Li-stuffed garnet setter plates, set forth herein, maintain compositional control over the solid electrolyte during sintering when, upon heating, lithium is prone to diffuse out of the solid electrolyte.

The present invention relates to a binder which can be used in a lithium-ion battery, comprising at least one polyvinylidene fluoride and at least one acrylic copolymer including monomers having functional groups which have an affinity for metals or are capable of fixing to the metals. According to the invention, in a characteristic manner, said polyvinylidene fluoride is such that a solution of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone containing 5 wt % of said polyvinylidene fluoride has a viscosity, measured at 23 C. with an imposed shear rate of 30 rpm, of 125 mPa.Math.s to 1500 mPa.Math.s.