An electrolytic solution for an electrochemical device a solvent, an ionic substance, and an additive agent, the additive agent containing α-methyl-γ-butyrolactone and δ-valerolactone.

An electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector and a positive electrode mixture layer supported on the positive current collector. The positive electrode mixture layer contains a positive electrode active material reversibly doped with an anion. The negative electrode includes a negative current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer supported on the negative current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer contains a negative electrode active material reversibly doped with lithium ions. The negative electrode active material contains non-graphitizable carbon. A ratio Mp/Mn of a mass Mp of the positive electrode active material supported on a unit area of the positive electrode to a mass Mn of the negative electrode active material supported on a unit area of the negative electrode is in a range from 1.1 to 2.5, inclusive.

An electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte having lithium ion conductivity. The positive electrode includes a positive current collector and a positive electrode mixture layer supported on the positive current collector. The positive electrode mixture layer contains a positive electrode active material reversibly doped with an anion. The negative electrode includes a negative current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer supported on the negative current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer contains a negative electrode active material reversibly doped with lithium ions. The negative electrode active material contains non-graphitizable carbon. A ratio Mp/Mn of a mass Mp of the positive electrode active material supported on a unit area of the positive electrode to a mass Mn of the negative electrode active material supported on a unit area of the negative electrode is in a range from 1.1 to 2.5, inclusive.

A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material and at least one compound of formula (I) with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture. Formula (I) is defined as: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and X.sup.− is an anion.

A process of forming a cross-linked electronically active hydrophilic co-polymer is provided and includes the steps of: a. mixing an intrinsically electronically active material and at least one compound of formula (I) with water to form an intermediate mixture; b. adding at least one hydrophilic monomer, at least one hydrophobic monomer, and at least one cross-linker to the intermediate mixture to form a co-monomer mixture; and c. polymerising the co-monomer mixture. Formula (I) is defined as: ##STR00001##
where R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are independently optionally substituted C.sub.1-C.sub.6 alkyl and X.sup.− is an anion.

A power system adapted for supplying power in a high temperature environment is disclosed. The power system includes a rechargeable energy storage that is operable in a temperature range of between about seventy degrees Celsius and about two hundred and fifty degrees Celsius coupled to a circuit for at least one of supplying power from the energy storage and charging the energy storage; wherein the energy storage is configured to store between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a joule and about one hundred megajoules of energy, and to provide peak power of between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a watt and about one hundred megawatts, for at least two charge-discharge cycles. Methods of use and fabrication are provided. Embodiments of additional features of the power supply are included.

A power system adapted for supplying power in a high temperature environment is disclosed. The power system includes a rechargeable energy storage that is operable in a temperature range of between about seventy degrees Celsius and about two hundred and fifty degrees Celsius coupled to a circuit for at least one of supplying power from the energy storage and charging the energy storage; wherein the energy storage is configured to store between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a joule and about one hundred megajoules of energy, and to provide peak power of between about one one hundredth (0.01) of a watt and about one hundred megawatts, for at least two charge-discharge cycles. Methods of use and fabrication are provided. Embodiments of additional features of the power supply are included.

Flexible and stretchable electronics, including supercapacitors and pressure sensors, are made using carbon nanostructures produced by providing a first composite structure which includes a temporary substrate and an array of carbon nanotubes arranged in a stack on a surface of the temporary substrate such that the stack of carbon nanotubes is oriented generally perpendicular to the surface of the temporary substrate, which may include silicon dioxide. The stack of carbon nanotubes is transferred from the temporary substrate to another substrate, which includes a curable polymer, thereby forming another composite structure comprising the stack of carbon nanotubes and the cured polymer.

A device for harvesting and storing triboelectric charge generated on an exterior surface of a moving vehicle is provided. It is characterised by comprising; a supercapacitor comprised of nano-carbon-containing electrodes; an ionic liquid electrolyte and at least one ion-permeable porous membrane; at least one first element exposed to aerodynamically-induced frictional forces acting thereon and on which the charge is caused to build up and connected to at least one of the electrodes of one polarity; at least one second element having a lower electrostatic potential than the charge-collecting element and connected to at least one of the electrodes of the other polarity; a voltage modification or impedance conversion circuit arranged between the first and/or second elements and the supercapacitor; means to connect the device to an operative component requiring electrical power and a controller for managing the performance of the device and switching between energy-harvesting and energy-utilisation modes. The device is especially use for deployment in the wing of an aircraft to utilised triboelectric charge generated thereon.

An electrode assembly for an ultracapacitor is provided. The electrode assembly contains a first electrode comprising a first current collector electrically coupled to a first carbonaceous coating, a second electrode comprising a second current collector electrically coupled to a second carbonaceous coating, and a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least a portion of the first current collector projects beyond the first longitudinal edge to define a first projecting portion, wherein the offset ratio of the first projecting portion is from about 0.02 to about 0.3.