A silicon-based negative electrode material and a method for preparing the same, a battery including the silicon-based negative electrode material, and a terminal are provided. The silicon-based negative electrode material includes a silicon-based matrix with a low silicon-oxygen ratio and silicon-based particles with a high silicon-oxygen ratio dispersed in the silicon-based matrix with the low silicon-oxygen ratio. A silicon-oxygen ratio of the silicon-based matrix with the low silicon-oxygen ratio is 1:x, and 1<x≤2. A silicon-oxygen ratio of the silicon-based particles with the high silicon-oxygen ratio is 1:y, and 0≤y≤1. The silicon-based matrix with the low silicon-oxygen ratio is silicon dioxide, or the silicon-based matrix with the low silicon-oxygen ratio includes silicon dioxide and silicon-containing crystal particles dispersed in the silicon dioxide.

Alkaline electrochemical cells are provided, containing cathodes with a nickel compound active material, wherein active material particles are coated with at least one of a number of materials so as to improve the shelf life of the electrochemical cell. Methods of preparing such cathodes and electrochemical cells are also provided.

Disclosed are a solid ion conductor compound represented by Formula 1, and having an argyrodite-type crystal structure, a solid electrolyte and an electrochemical cell each comprising the same, and a method of preparing the same:

Li.sub.xP.sub.yM1.sub.vS.sub.zM2.sub.wM3.sub.w′  <Formula 1> where in the above formula, M1 is an element substituted at P sites and having a larger ionic radius than that of P, M2 and M3 are different elements selected from elements of Group 17 in the periodic table, and 4≤x≤8, 0<y<1, 0<v<1, 0<z<6, 0<w<3, 0≤w′<3, and y≥v.

An anode includes a mixed ionic-electronic conductor (MIEC) with an open pore structure. The open pore structure includes open pores to facilitate motion of an alkali metal into and/or out of the MIEC. The open pore structure thus provides open space to relieve the stresses generated by the alkali metal when charging/discharging a battery. The MIEC is formed from a material that is thermodynamically and electrochemically stable against the alkali metal to prevent the formation of solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) debris and the formation of dead alkali metal. The MIEC may also be passive (the MIEC does not store or release alkali metal). In one example, the open pore structure may be an array of substantially aligned tubules with a width less than about 300 nm, a wall thickness between about 1 nm to about 30 nm, and a height of at least 10 um arranged as a honeycomb.

An electrode and a lithium-ion battery employing the electrode are provided. The electrode includes an active layer, a conductive layer, and a non-conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed on the top surface of the active layer. The conductive layer includes a first porous film and a conductive lithiophilic material, and the conductive lithiophilic material is within the first porous film and covers the inner surface of the first porous film. The non-conductive layer includes a second porous film and a non-conductive lithiophilic material, and the non-conductive lithiophilic material is within the second porous film and covers the inner surface of the second porous film. The conductive layer is disposed between the active layer and the non-conductive layer. The binding energy (ΔG) of the lithiophilic material with lithium is less than or equal to −2.6 eV.

A battery, having polyvalent aluminum metal as the electrochemically active anode material and also including a solid ionically conducting polymer material.

Provided are methods of producing materials suitable for use as a component of an electrochemical cell such as electrode active layers or solid state electrolyte and/or separator materials. Processes include combining an active with a fibrillizable binder and intermixing in a screw fibrillator to produce a fibrillized material with greatly increased physical and optionally electrochemically characteristics relative to those materials produced by other processes such as simple slurry casting or intermixing in a jet mill.

The present invention provides a battery electrode comprising an active battery material enclosed in the pores of a conductive nanoporous scaffold. The pores in the scaffold constrain the dimensions for the active battery material and inhibit sintering, which results in better cycling stability, longer battery lifetime, and greater power through less agglomeration. Additionally, the scaffold forms electrically conducting pathways to the active battery nanoparticles that are dispersed. In some variations, a battery electrode of the invention includes an electrically conductive scaffold material with pores having at least one length dimension selected from about 0.5 nm to about 100 nm, and an oxide material contained within the pores, wherein the oxide material is electrochemically active.

A negative electrode includes a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode mixture layer provided on at least one surface of the negative electrode current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes a negative electrode active material, a binder, and an additive containing a conductive polymer and a template compound. The conductive polymer included in the negative electrode may lower resistance of the electrode by providing an electron movement path for the negative electrode active material and the conductive material of the negative electrode. Stable electrical conductivity may be maintained while significantly reducing the content of conductive materials such as carbon black and carbon nanotubes, thereby improving lifespan characteristics of the secondary battery.

A sodium-ion conducting (e.g., sodium-sulfur) battery, which can be rechargeable, comprising a microporous host-sulfur composite cathode as described herein or a liquid electrolyte comprising a liquid electrolyte solvent and a liquid electrolyte salt or electrolyte additive as described herein or a combination thereof. The batteries can be used in devices such as, for example, battery packs.