A method of preparing an elongate web of sheet material for dividing into discrete stacks of web portions after reeling the web onto a drum is provided. The method includes forming transverse discontinuities in the web at spaced intervals corresponding to edges of the discrete stacks to be formed, the intervals progressively increasing along the web so that the discontinuities form angularly-aligned groups when reeled onto the drum.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrode by doping an active material included a layer of an electrode precursor with alkali metal. The electrode precursor and a counter electrode member are brought into contact with a solution containing an alkali metal ion in a dope bath. The counter electrode member includes a conductive base material, an alkali metal-containing plate, and a member having an opening. The member having the opening is located between the conductive base material and the alkali metal-containing plate. The member having the opening is, for example, a resin film having an opening.

Provided is a method for manufacturing an electrode by doping an active material included a layer of an electrode precursor with alkali metal. The electrode precursor and a counter electrode member are brought into contact with a solution containing an alkali metal ion in a dope bath. The counter electrode member includes a conductive base material, an alkali metal-containing plate, and a member having an opening. The member having the opening is located between the conductive base material and the alkali metal-containing plate. The member having the opening is, for example, a resin film having an opening.

A method for generating hydrogen and making graphenic carbon particles is disclosed comprising introducing an inert carrier gas and a hydrocarbon precursor material comprising a material capable of forming a two-carbon-fragment species and/or methane into a thermal zone, heating the hydrocarbon precursor material in the thermal zone to decompose the hydrocarbon precursor material and form the hydrogen and the graphenic carbon particles, and contacting the gaseous stream with a quench stream. Graphenic carbon particles having an average aspect ratio greater than 3:1, a B.E.T. specific surface area of from 70 to 1000 square meters per gram, and a Raman spectroscopy 2D/G peak ratio of at least 1:1.

A method for generating hydrogen and making graphenic carbon particles is disclosed comprising introducing an inert carrier gas and a hydrocarbon precursor material comprising a material capable of forming a two-carbon-fragment species and/or methane into a thermal zone, heating the hydrocarbon precursor material in the thermal zone to decompose the hydrocarbon precursor material and form the hydrogen and the graphenic carbon particles, and contacting the gaseous stream with a quench stream. Graphenic carbon particles having an average aspect ratio greater than 3:1, a B.E.T. specific surface area of from 70 to 1000 square meters per gram, and a Raman spectroscopy 2D/G peak ratio of at least 1:1.

A method for manufacturing a novel electrode is provided. The method includes the steps of applying, to a current collector, a mixture comprising an active material, a conductive additive comprising a graphene compound, a binder, and a dispersion medium; performing a drying treatment on the mixture; performing a heat treatment on the mixture at a temperature higher than a temperature of the drying treatment; reducing the graphene compound in the mixture by a chemical reaction using a reducing agent; and performing a thermal reduction treatment on the mixture at a temperature higher than the temperature of the heat treatment.

An electrochemical device which includes an electrode plate and a porous layer formed on a surface of the electrode plate. The porous layer includes nanofibers and inorganic particles. The nanofibers and the inorganic particles are bonded together by a crosslinker. In addition, an electronic device, which includes this electrochemical device.

In certain embodiments, a method includes forming a battery electrode on a substrate. Forming the battery electrode on the substrate includes depositing a first electrode active material layer on a first portion of a surface of the substrate and depositing, to form a current collector, a conductive material using a thin film deposition process on a surface of the first electrode active material layer. The conductive material is deposited over an edge of the first electrode active material layer and onto a second portion of the surface of the substrate, the second portion of the substrate being adjacent to the first portion of the substrate. The method includes removing the battery electrode from the substrate, the battery electrode including the first electrode active material layer and the current collector.

Electrochemical devices that include porous layers, and associated methods, are generally described. In certain cases, the electrochemical device includes a first layer (e.g., a porous coating containing nanoparticles) between an anode and a separator, and a second layer (e.g., another porous coating containing nanoparticles) between a cathode and the separator. The first layer and/or the second layer may have a relatively high porosity, even after the application of an applied pressure to the electrochemical device. The presence of the first layer and the second layer in the electrochemical device may mitigate the occurrence of certain problematic phenomena during cycling of the electrochemical device.

Electrochemical devices that include porous layers, and associated methods, are generally described. In certain cases, the electrochemical device includes a first layer (e.g., a porous coating containing nanoparticles) between an anode and a separator, and a second layer (e.g., another porous coating containing nanoparticles) between a cathode and the separator. The first layer and/or the second layer may have a relatively high porosity, even after the application of an applied pressure to the electrochemical device. The presence of the first layer and the second layer in the electrochemical device may mitigate the occurrence of certain problematic phenomena during cycling of the electrochemical device.