An electrode includes at least one of sulfur (S) or selenium (Se), and a functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF), the functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF) having a functional group (R) attached to an organic portion of a metal organic framework (MOF). The functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF) is adapted to react with at least one of electrochemically accessible sulfur (S) or selenium (Se) to capture at least one of lithium polysulfide or sodium polysulfide via covalent attachment of sulfur (S) or selenium (Se), respectively, to the functional group (R) of the functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF).

An electrode includes at least one of sulfur (S) or selenium (Se), and a functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF), the functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF) having a functional group (R) attached to an organic portion of a metal organic framework (MOF). The functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF) is adapted to react with at least one of electrochemically accessible sulfur (S) or selenium (Se) to capture at least one of lithium polysulfide or sodium polysulfide via covalent attachment of sulfur (S) or selenium (Se), respectively, to the functional group (R) of the functionalized metal organic framework (R-MOF).

Separators for zinc metal batteries, zinc metal batteries, and methods of fabricating a separator for use in a zinc metal battery are provided. The separator includes a hydrophilic membrane having a first side for facing a negative electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery and a second side for facing a positive electrode when arranged in the zinc metal battery. The hydrophilic membrane includes a plurality of pores traversing the hydrophilic membrane from the first side to the second side enabling flow of zinc cations between the negative electrode and the positive electrode through the separator. Each of the pores may have a pore size ranging from about 0.1 to 1.3 μm.

A composite negative electrode based on pure metallic lithium, pure metallic sodium or one of their alloys and a polymer membrane, a method for manufacturing such an electrode, as well as an electrical energy storage system, in particular an electrochemical accumulator such as a secondary (rechargeable) lithium or sodium battery comprising at least one such negative electrode. It is particularly applicable to Lithium-Metal-Polymer or LMP™ batteries.

Disclosed are a positive electrode binder for a lithium secondary battery capable of improving battery performance, by being constituted by a cationic monomer, and thus capturing lithium polysulfide that occurs during charging and discharging of the battery, and a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. The positive electrode binder for the lithium secondary battery comprises a cationic (meth)acrylate-based monomer containing one or more cations, or a derivative thereof.

Various implementations of a method of forming an electrochemical cell include providing a first electrode, a second electrode, a separator between the first and second electrodes, and an electrolyte in a cell container. The first electrode can include silicon-dominant electrochemically active material. The silicon-dominant electrochemically active material can include greater than 50% silicon by weight. The method can also include exposing at least a part of the electrochemical cell to CO.sub.2, and forming a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer on the first electrode using the CO.sub.2.

Electrolytes and electrolyte additives for energy storage devices comprising a sulfonate ester compound are disclosed. The energy storage device comprises a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a Si-based electrode, a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, an electrolyte, and at least one electrolyte additive selected from a sulfonate ester compound.

The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery that has high energy density and capacity and has excellent cycle characteristics. The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode that is free of a negative electrode active material, a separator that is disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode, a positive electrode that is disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the separator and contains a positive electrode active material, and electrolytic solution, wherein the lithium secondary battery includes a layer containing an anion-absorbing conductive polymer between the positive electrode current collector and the separator.

The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery that has high energy density and capacity and has excellent cycle characteristics. The present invention relates to a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode that is free of a negative electrode active material, a separator that is disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode, a positive electrode that is disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the separator and contains a positive electrode active material, and electrolytic solution, wherein the lithium secondary battery includes a layer containing an anion-absorbing conductive polymer between the positive electrode current collector and the separator.

A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, a lithium secondary battery including the negative electrode, and a method for manufacturing the lithium secondary battery, where the negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector; and a negative electrode active material layer on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode active material layer includes a Si-containing negative electrode active material, a conductive material and a first binder polymer. The Si-containing negative electrode active material has cracks formed after activation, and a second binder polymer is present in the cracks. The first binder polymer and the second binder polymer are heterogeneous (e.g., different from each other). The lithium secondary battery shows improved life characteristics.