An energy storage device can include a first electrode, a second electrode and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the first electrode or the second electrode includes elemental lithium metal and carbon particles. A method for fabricating an energy storage device can include forming a first electrode and a second electrode, and inserting a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, where forming the first electrode or the second electrode can include combining elemental lithium metal and a plurality of carbon particles.

An energy storage device can include a first electrode, a second electrode and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode wherein the first electrode or the second electrode includes elemental lithium metal and carbon particles. A method for fabricating an energy storage device can include forming a first electrode and a second electrode, and inserting a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, where forming the first electrode or the second electrode can include combining elemental lithium metal and a plurality of carbon particles.

Provided are a current collector which has an excellent high-rate property and exerts a sufficient safety function when employed in a secondary battery or a capacitor, as well as an electrode, a secondary battery or a capacitor in which said current collector is employed. According to the invention, a current collector is provided which comprises: metal foil; and a conductive layer with a film thickness of 0.1 μm to 10 μm formed on a surface of said metal foil. Here, said conductive layer includes a conductive material and a binder material. A melting point of said binder material is 80° C. to 150° C. Further, said binder material shows, in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in a range from room temperature to 200° C., one or more endothermic peaks in the heating-up process. In a case where said binder material shows two or more endothermic peaks, each difference between said peaks is 15° C. or more. Moreover, said binder material shows one or more exothermic peaks in the cooling-down process. In a case where said binder material shows only one exothermic peak, said exothermic peak falls within a range of 50 to 120° C., and a width at half maximum of said exothermic peak is 10° C. or less. On the other hand, in a case where said binder material shows two or more exothermic peaks, a maximum exothermic peak among said exothermic peaks falls within a range of 50 to 120° C., and a width at half maximum of said exothermic peak is 10° C. or less.

An electrode manufacturing apparatus dopes an active material in a strip-shaped electrode precursor having a layer including the active material with alkali metal. The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a doping bath configured to store a solution including alkali metal ions; a conveyor unit configured to convey the electrode precursor along a path passing through the doping bath; a counter electrode unit housed in the doping bath and comprising a conductive base material and an alkali metal-containing plate arranged on the conductive base material; and a connection unit configured to electrically connect the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit. A distance between the alkali metal-containing plate and the electrode precursor becomes greater as a measurement position of the distance becomes closer to a connection position in which the electrode precursor and the connection unit connect each other.

An electrode manufacturing apparatus dopes an active material in a strip-shaped electrode precursor having a layer including the active material with alkali metal. The electrode manufacturing apparatus includes a doping bath configured to store a solution including alkali metal ions; a conveyor unit configured to convey the electrode precursor along a path passing through the doping bath; a counter electrode unit housed in the doping bath and comprising a conductive base material and an alkali metal-containing plate arranged on the conductive base material; and a connection unit configured to electrically connect the electrode precursor and the counter electrode unit. A distance between the alkali metal-containing plate and the electrode precursor becomes greater as a measurement position of the distance becomes closer to a connection position in which the electrode precursor and the connection unit connect each other.

A conductive paste for an electrode mixed material layer has a water content of 1,000 ppm or less. The paste contains a conductive additive, not less than 3 parts by mass and not more than 200 parts by mass of a polymer per 100 parts by mass of the conductive additive, and not less than 12 parts by mass and not more than 350 parts by mass of expandable particles per 100 parts by mass of the conductive additive. The polymer includes at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, an amino group, an epoxy group, an oxazoline group, a sulfo group, a nitrile group, an ester group, and an amide group. The expandable particles have an initial thermal decomposition temperature of not lower than 120° C. and not higher than 400° C.

The present invention is directed toward a coating system for electrodepositing a battery electrode coating onto a foil substrate, the system comprising a tank structured and arranged to hold an electrodepositable coating composition; a feed roller positioned outside of the tank structured and arranged to feed the foil into the tank; at least one counter electrode positioned inside the tank, the counter electrode in electrical communication with the foil during operation of the system to thereby deposit the battery electrode coating onto the foil; and an in-line foil drier positioned outside the tank structured and arranged to receive the coated foil from the tank. Also disclosed are methods for electrocoating battery electrode coatings onto conductive foil substrates, coated foil substrates, and electrical storage devices comprising the coated foil substrates.

The present invention is directed toward a coating system for electrodepositing a battery electrode coating onto a foil substrate, the system comprising a tank structured and arranged to hold an electrodepositable coating composition; a feed roller positioned outside of the tank structured and arranged to feed the foil into the tank; at least one counter electrode positioned inside the tank, the counter electrode in electrical communication with the foil during operation of the system to thereby deposit the battery electrode coating onto the foil; and an in-line foil drier positioned outside the tank structured and arranged to receive the coated foil from the tank. Also disclosed are methods for electrocoating battery electrode coatings onto conductive foil substrates, coated foil substrates, and electrical storage devices comprising the coated foil substrates.

A hybrid supercapacitor has two electrodes, one of which functions as a cathode, and the other as an anode. The hybrid supercapacitor further includes an electrolyte arranged between the cathode and the anode. The electrolyte contains a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, 1-propanol, 1-heptanol, ethyl acetoacetate, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, benzyl alcohol, di-n-butyl phthalate and mixtures thereof.

A hybrid supercapacitor has two electrodes, one of which functions as a cathode, and the other as an anode. The hybrid supercapacitor further includes an electrolyte arranged between the cathode and the anode. The electrolyte contains a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, 1-propanol, 1-heptanol, ethyl acetoacetate, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, glycerol, benzyl alcohol, di-n-butyl phthalate and mixtures thereof.