A separator for a battery formed from a polymer gel electrolyte that is disposed within the pores of a polymer mesh. The polymer gel electrolyte is formed from a crosslinked ion-conducting polymer and an ionic liquid. The separator is formed from a gel loaded with an electrolyte, which prevents issue with electrolyte leakage. The polymer mesh provides stability to the polymer gel electrolyte, allowing for use of thin films of the polymer gel electrolyte and use of soft polymer gel electrolytes.

Disclosed is an electrode active material that has a large charge discharge capacity, a high initial efficiency, as well as excellent cycle characteristics and rate characteristics and is favorably used in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. An organo sulfur-based electrode active material contains sodium and potassium in a total amount of 100 ppm by mass to 1000 ppm by mass; an electrode for use in a secondary battery, the electrode containing the organo sulfur-based electrode active material as an electrode active material; and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the electrode. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material further contains iron in an amount of 1 ppm by mass to 20 ppm by mass. Preferably, the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is sulfur-modified polyacrylonitrile, and the amount of sulfur in the organo sulfur-based electrode active material is 25 mass % to 60 mass %.

A block or graft copolymer coated lithium metal electrode provides the negative electrode and the solid electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium metal battery that further includes a positive electrode. Optionally, the positive electrode includes elemental sulfur in a conductive matrix. The copolymer coated lithium metal electrode may be manufactured by a process involving electroplating lithium metal through a copolymer coated conductive substrate, for which the copolymer coated conductive substrate has been prepared by coating the conductive substrate in a copolymer solution followed by evaporating the solvent. Alternatively, a lithium metal electrode may be coated directly with copolymer. Rechargeable lithium batteries according to embodiments of the invention have improved cycle life and combustion resistance compared to lithium metal batteries manufactured by conventional methods.

The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that includes a double-sided electrode. The double-sided electrode includes a first electroactive material layer, a second electroactive material layer, and a current collector disposed between the first and second electroactive material layers. Each of the first and second electroactive material layers may include a plurality of electroactive material sub-films and a plurality of buffer layers disposed between adjacent electroactive material sub-films. The electrochemical cell further includes a first single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the first electroactive material layer; a first separator physically separating the first single-sided electrode and the first electroactive material layer; a second single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the second electroactive material layer; and a second separator physically separating the second single-sided electrode and the second electroactive material layer. The current collector may include at least one surface coated with an adhesive layer.

The present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell that includes a double-sided electrode. The double-sided electrode includes a first electroactive material layer, a second electroactive material layer, and a current collector disposed between the first and second electroactive material layers. Each of the first and second electroactive material layers may include a plurality of electroactive material sub-films and a plurality of buffer layers disposed between adjacent electroactive material sub-films. The electrochemical cell further includes a first single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the first electroactive material layer; a first separator physically separating the first single-sided electrode and the first electroactive material layer; a second single-sided electrode substantially aligned with the second electroactive material layer; and a second separator physically separating the second single-sided electrode and the second electroactive material layer. The current collector may include at least one surface coated with an adhesive layer.

The disclosure provides a method of prelithiating an anode for a lithium-ion cell, the method comprising: (a) providing a pre-fabricated anode comprising an anode active material; (b) prelithiating the pre-fabricated anode by exposing the anode to a lithium source and an electrolyte solution, comprising a lithium salt dissolved in a liquid solvent, to enable lithium ions to intercalate into the anode active material until a level of lithium interaction from 5% to 100% of the maximum lithium storage capacity is achieved to form a prelithiated anode; and (c) introducing a protective polymer onto the prelithiated anode to prevent exposure of the prelithiated anode active material to the open air or into the anode to bond the prelithiated anode active material or to improve a structural integrity of the prelithiated anode, wherein the protective polymer has a lithium-ion conductivity from 10.sup.−8 S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm at room temperature.

This application relates to a positive electrode plate and an electrochemical device. The positive electrode plate comprises a metal current collector, a positive electrode active material layer and a safety coating disposed between the metal current collector and the positive electrode active material layer; the safety coating comprises a polymer matrix, a conductive material and an inorganic filler; the positive electrode active material layer comprises Li.sub.1+xNi.sub.aCo.sub.bMe.sub.(1−a−b)O.sub.2, wherein −0.1≤x≤0.2, 0.6≤a<1, 0<b<1, 0<(1−a−b)<1, and Me is at least one of Mn, Al, Mg, Zn, Ga, Ba, Fe, Cr, Sn, V, Sc, Ti and Zr; and the metal current collector is a porous aluminum-containing current collector. The positive electrode plate can improve safety and electrical performances of an electrochemical device (such as a capacitor, a primary battery, or a secondary battery).

This application relates to a positive electrode plate and an electrochemical device. The positive electrode plate comprises a metal current collector, a positive electrode active material layer and a safety coating disposed between the metal current collector and the positive electrode active material layer; the safety coating comprises a polymer matrix, a conductive material and an inorganic filler; the positive electrode active material layer comprises Li.sub.1+xNi.sub.aCo.sub.bMe.sub.(1−a−b)O.sub.2, wherein −0.1≤x≤0.2, 0.6≤a<1, 0<b<1, 0<(1−a−b)<1, and Me is at least one of Mn, Al, Mg, Zn, Ga, Ba, Fe, Cr, Sn, V, Sc, Ti and Zr; and the metal current collector is a porous aluminum-containing current collector. The positive electrode plate can improve safety and electrical performances of an electrochemical device (such as a capacitor, a primary battery, or a secondary battery).

Set forth herein are electrochemical cells which include a negative electrode current collector, a lithium metal negative electrode, an oxide electrolyte membrane, a bonding agent layer, a positive electrode, and a positive electrode current collector. The bonding agent layer advantageously lowers the interfacial impedance of the oxide electrolyte at least at the positive electrode interface and also optionally acts as an adhesive between the solid electrolyte separator and the positive electrode interface. Also set forth herein are methods of making these bonding agent layers including, but not limited to, methods of preparing and depositing precursor solutions which form these bonding agent layers. Set forth herein, additionally, are methods of using these electrochemical cells.

Set forth herein are electrochemical cells which include a negative electrode current collector, a lithium metal negative electrode, an oxide electrolyte membrane, a bonding agent layer, a positive electrode, and a positive electrode current collector. The bonding agent layer advantageously lowers the interfacial impedance of the oxide electrolyte at least at the positive electrode interface and also optionally acts as an adhesive between the solid electrolyte separator and the positive electrode interface. Also set forth herein are methods of making these bonding agent layers including, but not limited to, methods of preparing and depositing precursor solutions which form these bonding agent layers. Set forth herein, additionally, are methods of using these electrochemical cells.