A production method is provided in which submicronic particles containing silicon are incorporated into a matrix, wherein, during the incorporation of the particles, the particles are in a compacted state with a bulk density of more than 0.10 grams per cubic centimeter, and the compacted particles have a specific surface area at least 70% of that of the particles considered separately without contact between each other.

A multistage centrifugal atomizer comprises an outer shell that contains an inlet port and an outlet port and that encloses a tundish, a first inclined rotating surface and a second inclined rotating surface. The first inclined rotating surface is opposedly disposed to the second inclined rotating surface. The inlet is used to introduce a molten material into the multistage atomizer and the outlet is used to remove ultrafine particles having a D50 of less than 20 micrometers.

An electrolyte for a lithium-secondary battery including a solvent, a lithium salt and an additive, wherein the additive includes a diamine-based compound, and a lithium-secondary battery including the same.

A process of synthesizing a solid state lithium ion conductor includes mechanically milling at least two precursors so as to form crystalline Li.sub.6MgBr.sub.8. For instance, the mechanical milling can be carried out using a planetary mill. Moreover, in a practical application, the precursors include LiBr and MgBr.sub.2.

A sulfur cathode generated at least in part by in situ electrochemical pulverization of a metallic sulfide compound is provided. The in situ generated sulfur cathode suppresses the unfavorable process of polysulfide shuttling to provide enhanced sulfur cathode performance and is envisioned for use in Li—S, Na—S, K—S, Ca—S, Mg—S or Al—S batteries used to support rechargeable electronic devices and electric vehicles.

A lithium secondary battery includes: a metal anode capable of being doped and dedoped with lithium ions; a cathode capable of being doped and dedoped with the lithium ions; and an electrolyte disposed between the metal anode and the cathode, in which the metal anode has a plate shape, and is composed of lithium and a base material in which the lithium is solid-dissolved, the metal anode in a discharged state has a layer of a substitutional solid solution, the substitutional solid solution has a structure in which a part of a crystal lattice of a metal constituting the base material is substituted with the lithium, and the layer is located on a surface of the metal anode opposite to a surface facing the cathode or inside the metal anode.

An all-solid secondary battery includes: a cathode layer; an anode layer; and a solid electrolyte between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein the anode layer includes an anode current collector and a first anode active material layer on the anode current collector, the first anode active material layer includes a modified ordered mesoporous carbon, and an oxygen content of a surface of the modified ordered mesoporous carbon is about 3 atomic percent to about 10 atomic percent, based on a total content of the surface, when determined by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum of the surface of the modified ordered mesoporous carbon.

An all-solid secondary battery includes: a cathode layer; an anode layer; and a solid electrolyte between the cathode layer and the anode layer, wherein the anode layer includes an anode current collector and a first anode active material layer on the anode current collector, the first anode active material layer includes a modified ordered mesoporous carbon, and an oxygen content of a surface of the modified ordered mesoporous carbon is about 3 atomic percent to about 10 atomic percent, based on a total content of the surface, when determined by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum of the surface of the modified ordered mesoporous carbon.

Various embodiments provide a battery, a bulk energy storage system including the battery, and/or a method of operating the bulk energy storage system including the battery. In various embodiment, the battery may include a first electrode, an electrolyte, and a second electrode, wherein one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises direct reduced iron (“DRI”). In various embodiments, the DRI may be in the form of pellets. In various embodiments, the pellets may comprise at least about 60 wt % iron by elemental mass, based on the total mass of the pellets. In various embodiments, one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises from about 60% to about 90% iron and from about 1% to about 40% of a component comprising one or more of the materials selected from the group of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, CaO, and TiO.sub.2.

Various embodiments provide a battery, a bulk energy storage system including the battery, and/or a method of operating the bulk energy storage system including the battery. In various embodiment, the battery may include a first electrode, an electrolyte, and a second electrode, wherein one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises direct reduced iron (“DRI”). In various embodiments, the DRI may be in the form of pellets. In various embodiments, the pellets may comprise at least about 60 wt % iron by elemental mass, based on the total mass of the pellets. In various embodiments, one or both of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises from about 60% to about 90% iron and from about 1% to about 40% of a component comprising one or more of the materials selected from the group of SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, MgO, CaO, and TiO.sub.2.