There is disclosed a method of making a surface-modified alkali metal material for electrochemical use, the method comprising bringing a barrier agent into frictional contact with an alkali metal substrate to form a tribochemical barrier layer on the substrate. Also disclosed is a surface-modified alkali metal material for electrochemical use, the material comprising an alkali metal substrate bearing a tribochemical barrier layer.

There is disclosed a method of making a surface-modified alkali metal material for electrochemical use, the method comprising bringing a barrier agent into frictional contact with an alkali metal substrate to form a tribochemical barrier layer on the substrate. Also disclosed is a surface-modified alkali metal material for electrochemical use, the material comprising an alkali metal substrate bearing a tribochemical barrier layer.

An electrode for a lithium battery contains a metal layer coated with a coating layer containing an organic binder and a metal compound. The metal compound is selected from aluminium oxide, silicon dioxide, zirconium oxide, mixed oxides including zirconium, mixed oxides including aluminium, lithium zirconium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. The metal compound is made of aggregates of primary particles with a number mean primary particle size d.sub.50 of 5 nm-100 nm, obtained by a pyrogenic process. The weight ratio of the metal compound to the organic binder in the coating layer is from 0.1 to 10.

A negative electrode material includes a silicon-based material, where a particle of the silicon-based material includes at least one recessed portion, and the recessed portion is 50 nm to 20 μm in width, and 50 nm to 10 μm in depth. The recessed structure leaves room for the silicon-based material to swell, thereby solving the problem of large volume swelling of the silicon-based material. In addition, when the silicon-based material with the recessed structure is composited with a carbon material, a conductive agent, and the like to form a negative electrode plate, small particles of the carbon material and the conductive agent are embedded into the recessed portion of the silicon-based material, solving the problem of low compacted density of the silicon-based negative electrode material with a recessed structure, and compensating for the low volumetric energy density of the recessed structure.

A silicon-polymer composite anode having two or more different molecular weight (MW) versions of the same polymer, method of making the anode and electrochemical energy storage device containing the anode are disclosed.

An improved structure of nano-scaled and nanostructured Si particles is provided for use as anode material for lithium ion batteries. The Si particles are prepared as a composite coated with MgO and metallurgically bonded over a conductive refractory valve metal support structure.

An improved structure of nano-scaled and nanostructured Si particles is provided for use as anode material for lithium ion batteries. The Si particles are prepared as a composite coated with MgO and metallurgically bonded over a conductive refractory valve metal support structure.

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.

Articles and methods including layers for protection of electrodes in electrochemical cells are provided. As described herein, a layer, such as a protective layer for an electrode, may comprise a plurality of particles (e.g., crystalline inorganic particles, amorphous inorganic particles). In some aspects, at least a portion of the plurality of particles (e.g., inorganic particles) are fused to one another. For instance, in some aspects, the layer may be formed by aerosol deposition or another suitable process that involves subjecting the particles to a relatively high velocity such that fusion of particles occurs during deposition. In some cases, the protective layer may be porous.

An electrode for batteries that does not include a metal-film-type current collector is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the electrode comprises a composite having a core-shell structure including a core having an electrode active material, and a metal material coated on or doped in the surface of the core. A secondary battery having the electrode has increased capacity and energy density and exhibits improved lifespan characteristics.