Provided is a shortened fibrous carbon nanohorn aggregate (CNB) obtained by shortening a CNB having a length of 1 μm or more and a diameter in the short direction in the range of 30 to 100 nm, by oxidizing, stirring in an acid solution, subjecting to an ultrasonic treatment in a liquid, followed by cutting. The shortened CNB has an end surface on which no tip of the plurality of single-walled carbon nanohorns is disposed toward the longitudinal direction at least one end in the longitudinal direction, and has an excellent dispersibility by shortening the length to less than 1 μm.

An alkali metal ion capacitor that is capable of operating in a high-temperature environment at 85° C. The alkali metal ion capacitor is provided with: a positive electrode active material capable of adsorbing and desorbing alkali metal ions; a positive electrode binder for binding the positive electrode active material; a negative electrode active material capable of storing and releasing alkali metal ions; a negative electrode binder for binding the negative electrode active material; and an electrolytic solution that contains an organic solvent and an imide-based alkali metal salt. The negative electrode active material is predoped with alkali metal ions. The positive electrode binder has a Hansen solubility parameter-based RED value of more than 1 with respect to the electrolytic solution.

An alkali metal ion capacitor that is capable of operating in a high-temperature environment at 85° C. The alkali metal ion capacitor is provided with: a positive electrode active material capable of adsorbing and desorbing alkali metal ions; a positive electrode binder for binding the positive electrode active material; a negative electrode active material capable of storing and releasing alkali metal ions; a negative electrode binder for binding the negative electrode active material; and an electrolytic solution that contains an organic solvent and an imide-based alkali metal salt. The negative electrode active material is predoped with alkali metal ions. The positive electrode binder has a Hansen solubility parameter-based RED value of more than 1 with respect to the electrolytic solution.

A process for producing a composite material comprising at least one particulate material and at least one polymeric binder, wherein the at least one particulate material and the at least one polymeric binder are mixed with one another and mechanically processed in the presence of at least one process auxiliary which reduces the mechanical and/or chemical interaction between the surfaces of the at least one particulate material and of the at least one polymeric binder, essentially dispensing with the use of solvents, characterized in that the weight ratio of process auxiliary to polymeric binder is within a range from 3:10 to 0.1:20.

A process for producing a composite material comprising at least one particulate material and at least one polymeric binder, wherein the at least one particulate material and the at least one polymeric binder are mixed with one another and mechanically processed in the presence of at least one process auxiliary which reduces the mechanical and/or chemical interaction between the surfaces of the at least one particulate material and of the at least one polymeric binder, essentially dispensing with the use of solvents, characterized in that the weight ratio of process auxiliary to polymeric binder is within a range from 3:10 to 0.1:20.

A lithium-ion battery may include a cathode, an anode, and a polymer electrolyte. The anode may include a current collector. The current collector may include a metal oxide layer provided in a first pattern overlaying a metal layer. The anode may also include a patterned lithium storage structure. The patterned lithium storage structure may include a continuous porous lithium storage layer overlaying at least a portion of the first pattern of metal oxide. These and other lithium-ion batteries are described.

A method is provided for manufacturing an electrolytic capacitor for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The method includes forming an ester material by adding at least one acid to a glycol, and quenching the ester material for a determined period. The method also includes adding an ammonium based material to the ester material after the ester material is quenched, and adding an additional acid after adding the ammonium based material to form an electrolytic material for the electrolytic capacitor.

The present application is generally directed to composites comprising a hard carbon material and an electrochemical modifier. The composite materials find utility in any number of electrical devices, for example, in lithium ion batteries. Methods for making the disclosed composite materials are also disclosed.

The present application is generally directed to composites comprising a hard carbon material and an electrochemical modifier. The composite materials find utility in any number of electrical devices, for example, in lithium ion batteries. Methods for making the disclosed composite materials are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional structure electrode, a method for manufacturing same, and an electrochemical element including the electrode. The present invention is characterized by comprising: (a) an upper conductive layer and a lower conductive layer which have a structure constituting an assembly within which a conductive material and a porous nonwoven fabric including a plurality of polymeric fibers are three-dimensionally connected in an irregular and continuous manner, thereby forming a mutually connected porous structure; and (b) an active material layer forming the same assembly structure as the conductive layers and forming a three-dimensionally filled structure in which electrode active material particles are uniformly filled inside the mutually connected porous structure formed in the assembly structure, wherein the active material layer is formed between the upper conductive layer and the lower conductive layer.