The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo.sub.6Z.sub.8 (Z=sulfur) or Mo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y (Z.sup.1=sulfur; Z.sup.2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu.sub.1Mo.sub.6S.sub.8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu.sub.1-xMg.sub.xMo.sub.6S.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8 or M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

A composite containing phosphorus, lithium, iron, sulfur, and carbon as constituent elements wherein lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S) is present in an amount of 90 mol % or more, and wherein the crystallite size calculated from the half-width of a diffraction peak based on the (111) plane of Li.sub.2S as determined by X-ray powder diffraction measurement is 80 nm or less. The composite exhibits a high capacity (in particular, a high discharge capacity) useful as an electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery (in particular, a cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery), without the need for stepwise pre-cycling treatment.

A composite containing phosphorus, lithium, iron, sulfur, and carbon as constituent elements wherein lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S) is present in an amount of 90 mol % or more, and wherein the crystallite size calculated from the half-width of a diffraction peak based on the (111) plane of Li.sub.2S as determined by X-ray powder diffraction measurement is 80 nm or less. The composite exhibits a high capacity (in particular, a high discharge capacity) useful as an electrode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery (in particular, a cathode active material for a lithium-ion secondary battery), without the need for stepwise pre-cycling treatment.

A positive electrode plate (11) includes a current collector (30) and a mixture layer (31) disposed on the current collector (30). The mixture layer (31) has a thin portion (32) with a thickness of less than 200 μm disposed on an inner coil half of the current collector (30) and a thick portion (33) having a larger thickness than the thin portion (32), the thick portion (33) having a yield loop height H measured by a stiffness test of 6 mm<H<15 mm.

Disclosed is an electrode. An electrode according to the present invention includes an active material layer; and a current collector which includes a plurality of conductive filaments, wherein at least one from among the plurality of conductive filaments is embedded in the active material layer so that a set length is exposed from the surface thereof.

A method for preparing an electrode for use in lithium batteries and the resulting electrodes are described The method comprises coating a slurry of silicon, sulfur doped graphene and polyacrylonitrile on a current collector followed by sluggish heat treatment.

A method for preparing an electrode for use in lithium batteries and the resulting electrodes are described The method comprises coating a slurry of silicon, sulfur doped graphene and polyacrylonitrile on a current collector followed by sluggish heat treatment.

This disclosure relates to an SO.sub.2-based electrolyte for a rechargeable battery cell containing at least one conducting salt of the Formula (I) ##STR00001##
wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, metals of group 12 of the periodic table of the elements and aluminum; x is an integer from 1 to 3; the substituents R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkynyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.14 aryl, and C.sub.5-C.sub.14 heteroaryl; and Z is aluminum or boron.

This disclosure relates to an SO.sub.2-based electrolyte for a rechargeable battery cell containing at least one conducting salt of the Formula (I) ##STR00001##
wherein M is a metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, metals of group 12 of the periodic table of the elements and aluminum; x is an integer from 1 to 3; the substituents R, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each independently selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkenyl, C.sub.2-C.sub.1 alkynyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10 cycloalkyl, C.sub.6-C.sub.14 aryl, and C.sub.5-C.sub.14 heteroaryl; and Z is aluminum or boron.

Provided herein is a method for recycling lithium-ion batteries in a polar solvent such as an aqueous media or water. The method disclosed herein isolates a mixture of anode and cathode materials from waste lithium-ion batteries. The separated electrode materials can easily be collected with high recovery rate, providing a rapid, efficient and low-cost method for recycling electrode materials from waste lithium-ion batteries.