The present invention relates to a method for forming a capacitor having carbon or metal electrodes and an electrolyte which is also a source of electropolymerisable anions. Applying a sufficiently positive voltage, a thin dielectric layer forms at the positive electrode, enabling the use of cell voltages higher than 3.5 V. The construction and characteristics of capacitors with 5, 6.3, and 10 V of cell voltages, having reduced graphene oxide electrodes and an ionic liquid electrolyte, are shown. Further, a method of forming a capacitor, including the steps of: (a) providing a first electrode; (b) providing a first electrolyte including an anionic compound, wherein said compound includes at least one cyano group or at least one nitrile group; (c) electropolymerising said anionic compound in order to form a dielectric layer on at least part of the first electrode; (d) forming a capacitor including the electrode of step (c), a second electrode and a second electrolyte, which is the same or different to the first electrolyte, is claimed. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic device including a capacitor, a transistor or an electrode produced by means of a method as defined above. It is believed that a number of dielectric compounds produced by the method as defined above are new compounds not previously isolated. Accordingly, polytetracyanoborate, polycyani, or polytricyanomethanide.

The present invention relates to a method for forming a capacitor having carbon or metal electrodes and an electrolyte which is also a source of electropolymerisable anions. Applying a sufficiently positive voltage, a thin dielectric layer forms at the positive electrode, enabling the use of cell voltages higher than 3.5 V. The construction and characteristics of capacitors with 5, 6.3, and 10 V of cell voltages, having reduced graphene oxide electrodes and an ionic liquid electrolyte, are shown. Further, a method of forming a capacitor, including the steps of: (a) providing a first electrode; (b) providing a first electrolyte including an anionic compound, wherein said compound includes at least one cyano group or at least one nitrile group; (c) electropolymerising said anionic compound in order to form a dielectric layer on at least part of the first electrode; (d) forming a capacitor including the electrode of step (c), a second electrode and a second electrolyte, which is the same or different to the first electrolyte, is claimed. In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic device including a capacitor, a transistor or an electrode produced by means of a method as defined above. It is believed that a number of dielectric compounds produced by the method as defined above are new compounds not previously isolated. Accordingly, polytetracyanoborate, polycyani, or polytricyanomethanide.

A method of preparing a porous carbon material is provided. The method comprises a) freezing a liquid mixture comprising a polymer suspended or dissolved in a solvent to form a frozen mixture; b) removing the solvent from the frozen mixture to form a porous frozen mixture; and c) pyrolyzing the porous frozen mixture to obtain the porous carbon material. A porous carbon material prepared using the method, and uses of the porous carbon material are also provided.

A power storage device with high capacity or high energy density is provided. A highly reliable power storage device is provided. A long-life power storage device is provided. An electrode includes an active material, a first binder, and a second binder. The specific surface area of the active material is S [m.sup.2/g]. The weight of the active material, the weight of the first binder, and the weight of the second binder are a, b, and c, respectively. The solution of {(b+c)/(a+b+c)}×100÷S is 0.3 or more. The electrode includes a first film in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region with a thickness of 2 nm or more and 20 nm or less. The first film contains a water-soluble polymer.

A power storage device with high capacity or high energy density is provided. A highly reliable power storage device is provided. A long-life power storage device is provided. An electrode includes an active material, a first binder, and a second binder. The specific surface area of the active material is S [m.sup.2/g]. The weight of the active material, the weight of the first binder, and the weight of the second binder are a, b, and c, respectively. The solution of {(b+c)/(a+b+c)}×100÷S is 0.3 or more. The electrode includes a first film in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region with a thickness of 2 nm or more and 20 nm or less. The first film contains a water-soluble polymer.

The present invention relates to a hierarchical composite structure comprising an open cell graphene foam or graphene-like foam, wherein the graphene foam or graphene-like foam is coated with a conductive nanoporous spongy structure and wherein at least 10% v/v of the hollow of the pores of the graphene foam or graphene-like foam is filled with the conductive nanoporous spongy structure. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a hierarchical composite structure wherein a conductive nanoporous spongy structure is electrodeposited so as to coat the open-cell graphene foam or graphene-like foam and to partially fill the hollow of the pores of the graphene foam or graphene-like foam.

The present invention relates to a hierarchical composite structure comprising an open cell graphene foam or graphene-like foam, wherein the graphene foam or graphene-like foam is coated with a conductive nanoporous spongy structure and wherein at least 10% v/v of the hollow of the pores of the graphene foam or graphene-like foam is filled with the conductive nanoporous spongy structure. The invention also relates to a process for preparing a hierarchical composite structure wherein a conductive nanoporous spongy structure is electrodeposited so as to coat the open-cell graphene foam or graphene-like foam and to partially fill the hollow of the pores of the graphene foam or graphene-like foam.

A power storage device with a high capacity is provided. A power storage device with a high energy density is provided. A highly reliable power storage device is provided. A power storage device with a long lifetime is provided.

A method for manufacturing an electrode is characterized by including the steps of: mixing an active material, a binder, and a conductive additive to form a slurry; applying the slurry onto a current collector; drying the applied slurry to form an active material layer; and performing heat treatment in an atmosphere containing oxygen to form a film in contact with the current collector. The film is formed on a surface of the current collector where the active material layer is not provided and includes at least one component of the current collector and oxygen.

A catalyst-free synthesis method for the formation of a metalorganic compound comprising a desired (first) metal may include, for example, selecting another (second) metal and an organic solvent, with the second metal being selected to (i) be more reactive with respect to the organic solvent than the first metal and (ii) form, upon exposure of the second metal to the organic solvent, a reaction by-product that is more soluble in the organic solvent than the metalorganic compound. An alloy comprising the first metal and the second metal may be first produced (e.g., formed or otherwise obtained) and then treated with the organic solvent in a liquid phase or a vapor phase to form a mixture comprising (i) the reaction by-product comprising the second metal and (ii) the metalorganic compound comprising the first metal. The metalorganic compound may then be separated from the mixture in the form of a solid.

A power storage device with high capacity or high energy density is provided. A highly reliable power storage device is provided. A long-life power storage device is provided. An electrode includes an active material, a first binder, and a second binder. The specific surface area of the active material is S [m.sup.2/g]. The weight of the active material, the weight of the first binder, and the weight of the second binder are a, b, and c, respectively. The solution of {(b+c)/(a+b+c)}×100÷S is 0.3 or more. The electrode includes a first film in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region in contact with the active material. The first film preferably includes a region with a thickness of 2 nm or more and 20 nm or less. The first film contains a water-soluble polymer.