The present disclosure relates to a novel surface-modified carbonaceous particulate material having a hydrophilic non-graphitic carbon coating. The material can for example be produced by CVD-coating of a carbonaceous particulate material such as graphite followed by an oxidation treatment under defined conditions. The resulting material exhibits a more hydrophilic surface compared to an unmodified CVD-coated carbon material, which is desirable in many applications, such as when used as an active material in the negative electrode of lithium ion batteries or in a polymer composite material.

A positive active material including a core including a compound capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating lithium and LiNaSO.sub.4 that is coated on at least a part of a surface of the core or that blends with the core.

A positive active material including a core including a compound capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating lithium and LiNaSO.sub.4 that is coated on at least a part of a surface of the core or that blends with the core.

A charging device for charging a lithium-ion secondary battery based on at least a constant voltage method is provided. In the charging device, before starting charging with a constant voltage or while performing charging with a constant voltage, a first current pulse having a peak current value i.sub.1 larger than a charge current value i.sub.0 is applied at least once.

A charging device for charging a lithium-ion secondary battery based on at least a constant voltage method is provided. In the charging device, before starting charging with a constant voltage or while performing charging with a constant voltage, a first current pulse having a peak current value i.sub.1 larger than a charge current value i.sub.0 is applied at least once.

Set forth herein are garnet material compositions, e.g., lithium-stuffed garnets and lithium-stuffed garnets doped with alumina, which are suitable for use as electrolytes and catholytes in solid state battery applications. Also set forth herein are lithium-stuffed garnet thin films having fine grains therein. Disclosed herein are novel and inventive methods of making and using lithium-stuffed garnets as catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes for all solid state lithium rechargeable batteries. Also disclosed herein are novel electrochemical devices which incorporate these garnet catholytes, electrolytes and/or anolytes. Also set forth herein are methods for preparing novel structures, including dense thin (<50 um) free standing membranes of an ionically conducting material for use as a catholyte, electrolyte, and, or, anolyte, in an electrochemical device, a battery component (positive or negative electrode materials), or a complete solid state electrochemical energy storage device. Also, the methods set forth herein disclose novel sintering techniques, e.g., for heating and/or field assisted (FAST) sintering, for solid state energy storage devices and the components thereof.

An anodeless coating layer for an all-solid battery, the anodeless coating layer includes: an anode active material capable of forming an alloy with lithium or a compound with lithium; and a binder, wherein the binder includes a block copolymer including a conductive domain, a non-conductive domain, or a combination thereof, and wherein the conductive domain includes an ion-conductive domain, an electron-conductive domain, or a combination thereof.

Provided is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer disposed on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer disposed on a negative electrode current collector; a separator; and an electrolyte solution. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material containing lithium nickel composite oxide. The electrolyte solution contains a disulfonic acid compound as an additive. A mass of the disulfonic acid compound adsorbed on the positive electrode is 1.0 g/m.sup.2 or less per unit surface area of the lithium nickel composite oxide.

Provided is a lithium ion secondary battery including: a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer disposed on a positive electrode current collector; a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer disposed on a negative electrode current collector; a separator; and an electrolyte solution. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material containing lithium nickel composite oxide. The electrolyte solution contains a disulfonic acid compound as an additive. A mass of the disulfonic acid compound adsorbed on the positive electrode is 1.0 g/m.sup.2 or less per unit surface area of the lithium nickel composite oxide.

A solid electrolyte represented by general formula Li.sub.ySiR.sub.x(MO.sub.4), where x is an integer from 1 to 3 inclusive, y=4x, each R present is independently C1-C3 alkyl or C1-C3 alkoxy, and M is sulfur, selenium, or tellurium. Methods of making the solid electrolyte include combining a phenylsilane and a first acid to yield mixture including benzene and a second acid, and combining at least one of an alkali halide, and alkali amide, and an alkali alkoxide with the second acid to yield a product d represented by general formula Li.sub.ySiR.sub.x(MO.sub.4).sub.y. The second acid may be in the form of a liquid or a solid. The phenylsilane includes at least one C1-C3 alkyl substituent or at least one C1-C3 alkoxy substituent, and the first acid includes at least one of sulfuric acid, selenic acid, and telluric acid.