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.

Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

A gellable system is suitable for use in lithium-air batteries, organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries. The organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries comprise a gel electrolytes and/or a solid electrolytes, which are prepared from a gellable system comprising the following components: (a) lithium salts and (b) ether compounds; the gellable system for lithium-air batteries also comprises (c) electrolytes or their solvents used in lithium-air batteries; in the system, the mass fraction of the gellable polymers and/or the gellable prepolymers is less than or equal to 1 wt %; by adjusting the composition and type of each component in the system, the gel and/or solid electrolytes, having adjustable strength, formation time, transition temperature, and also reversibility, can be prepared; the preparation method has simple procedure, mild reaction conditions, short reaction period, high yield, low manufacture cost, which makes it easy to realize industrialized production.

A gellable system is suitable for use in lithium-air batteries, organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries. The organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries comprise a gel electrolytes and/or a solid electrolytes, which are prepared from a gellable system comprising the following components: (a) lithium salts and (b) ether compounds; the gellable system for lithium-air batteries also comprises (c) electrolytes or their solvents used in lithium-air batteries; in the system, the mass fraction of the gellable polymers and/or the gellable prepolymers is less than or equal to 1 wt %; by adjusting the composition and type of each component in the system, the gel and/or solid electrolytes, having adjustable strength, formation time, transition temperature, and also reversibility, can be prepared; the preparation method has simple procedure, mild reaction conditions, short reaction period, high yield, low manufacture cost, which makes it easy to realize industrialized production.

An electrolytic solution comprising N-(fluorosulfonyl)-N-(fluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide or di(fluorosulfonyl)imide, from which a residual solvent that affects the properties of the electrolyte solution material is reduced, is provided. A method for producing an electrolyte solution material containing fluorosulfonyl imide salt represented by the following general formula (1) and an electrolyte solution preparation solvent comprises decompressing and/or heating a solution containing the fluorosulfonyl imide salt and the electrolyte solution preparation solvent to volatilize a production solvent for the fluorosulfonyl imide salt. ##STR00001## In general formula (1), R.sub.1 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 represents an alkali metal ion.

An electrolytic solution comprising N-(fluorosulfonyl)-N-(fluoroalkylsulfonyl)imide or di(fluorosulfonyl)imide, from which a residual solvent that affects the properties of the electrolyte solution material is reduced, is provided. A method for producing an electrolyte solution material containing fluorosulfonyl imide salt represented by the following general formula (1) and an electrolyte solution preparation solvent comprises decompressing and/or heating a solution containing the fluorosulfonyl imide salt and the electrolyte solution preparation solvent to volatilize a production solvent for the fluorosulfonyl imide salt. ##STR00001## In general formula (1), R.sub.1 represents a fluorine atom or a fluorinated alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 represents an alkali metal ion.

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.

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.

Ultra-thin lithium ion capacitors with ultra-high power performance are provided. Ultra-thin electrodes and ultra-thin lithium films can be used for the ultra-thin lithium ion capacitor. A lithium ion capacitor can include a first positive electrode and a second positive electrode, a negative electrode disposed between the first positive electrode and the second positive electrode, a first lithium film disposed between the first positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a second lithium film disposed between the second positive electrode and the negative electrode. Each of the first and second lithium films can include an electrolyte. In addition, at least one separator can be provided between the first positive electrode and the first lithium film, and at least one separator can be provided between the second positive electrode and the second lithium film.