The present invention provides a lithium ion secondary cell excellent in high-temperature storage characteristics and high voltage cycle characteristics; and a nonaqueous electrolyte for the cell. The present invention relates to a lithium ion secondary cell, comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte containing nonaqueous solvents and an electrolyte salt, the nonaqueous solvents comprising a fluorine-containing ether represented by the formula (1):
Rf.sup.1ORf.sup.2(1)
wherein Rf.sup.1 and Rf.sup.2 are the same as or different from each other, each being a C.sub.1-10 alkyl group or a C.sub.1-10 fluoroalkyl group; and at least one of Rf.sup.1 and Rf.sup.2 is a fluoroalkyl group, and the following compounds (I) and (II): (I) a fluorine-containing unsaturated compound; and (II) a hydroxy group-containing compound represented by the formula (2):
Rf.sup.1OH(2)
wherein Rf.sup.1 is the same as above, and the nonaqueous solvents comprising the compounds (I) and (II) in a total amount of 5000 ppm or less for the fluorine-containing ether.

Methods compositions for controlling lithium-ion cell performance, using thermally responsive electrolytes incorporating compounds that exhibit a phase transition at elevated temperatures and are suited for incorporation into lithium-ion and lithium-metal cells are disclosed.

Methods compositions for controlling lithium-ion cell performance, using thermally responsive electrolytes incorporating compounds that exhibit a phase transition at elevated temperatures and are suited for incorporation into lithium-ion and lithium-metal cells are disclosed.

Disclosed are novel electrolytes, and techniques for making and devices using such electrolytes, which are based on compressed gas solvents. Unlike conventional electrolytes, disclosed electrolytes are based on compressed gas solvents mixed with various salts, referred to as compressed gas electrolytes. Various embodiments of a compressed gas solvent includes a material that is in a gas phase and has a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure at a room temperature. The disclosed compressed gas electrolytes can have wide electrochemical potential windows, high conductivity, low temperature capability and/or high pressure solvent properties. Examples of a class of compressed gases that can be used as solvent for electrolytes include hydrofluorocarbons, in particular fluoromethane, difluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane. Also disclosed are battery and supercapacitor structures that use compressed gas solvent-based electrolytes, techniques for constructing such energy storage devices. Techniques for electroplating difficult-to-deposit materials using compressed gas electrolytes as an electroplating bath are also disclosed.

Disclosed are novel electrolytes, and techniques for making and devices using such electrolytes, which are based on compressed gas solvents. Unlike conventional electrolytes, disclosed electrolytes are based on compressed gas solvents mixed with various salts, referred to as compressed gas electrolytes. Various embodiments of a compressed gas solvent includes a material that is in a gas phase and has a vapor pressure above an atmospheric pressure at a room temperature. The disclosed compressed gas electrolytes can have wide electrochemical potential windows, high conductivity, low temperature capability and/or high pressure solvent properties. Examples of a class of compressed gases that can be used as solvent for electrolytes include hydrofluorocarbons, in particular fluoromethane, difluoromethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane. Also disclosed are battery and supercapacitor structures that use compressed gas solvent-based electrolytes, techniques for constructing such energy storage devices. Techniques for electroplating difficult-to-deposit materials using compressed gas electrolytes as an electroplating bath are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to asymmetric sulfonamide compounds comprising at least: one polycyclic group, Ar, formed of two to six rings, at least one of which is aromatic, a linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic chain, said chain possibly being interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, said group Ar and said aliphatic chain being covalently bonded via a spacer represented by a sulfonamide unit SO.sub.2NH or its anionic form SO.sub.2N.sup.-; and, optionally a counter-cation of the anionic form of the sulfonamide unit, chosen among the alkali metals and the proton H.sup.+. These compounds are of particular interest as single-ion conducting polymer electrolyte.

A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode includes a positive active material represented by Formula 1, and the electrolyte includes a lithium salt; a non-aqueous solvent; and a phosphite compound represented by Formula 2, wherein the phosphite compound is present in amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % based on a total weight of the electrolyte:
Li.sub.xNi.sub.yM.sub.1-yO.sub.2-zA.sub.zFormula 1 ##STR00001## wherein, in Formula 1, 0.9x1.2, 0.7y0.98, and 0z<0.2; M comprises Al, Mg, Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu, B, Ca, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sr, Sb, W, Bi, or a combination thereof; and A is an element having an oxidation number of 1 or 2; wherein in Formula 2, R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 are independently an unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group or an unsubstituted C.sub.6-C.sub.60 aryl group.

A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode includes a positive active material represented by Formula 1, and the electrolyte includes a lithium salt; a non-aqueous solvent; and a phosphite compound represented by Formula 2, wherein the phosphite compound is present in amount of about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % based on a total weight of the electrolyte:
Li.sub.xNi.sub.yM.sub.1-yO.sub.2-zA.sub.zFormula 1 ##STR00001## wherein, in Formula 1, 0.9x1.2, 0.7y0.98, and 0z<0.2; M comprises Al, Mg, Mn, Co, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu, B, Ca, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sr, Sb, W, Bi, or a combination thereof; and A is an element having an oxidation number of 1 or 2; wherein in Formula 2, R.sub.1 to R.sub.3 are independently an unsubstituted C.sub.1-C.sub.30 alkyl group or an unsubstituted C.sub.6-C.sub.60 aryl group.

A lithium air battery includes: a negative electrode configured to occlude and release lithium ions; a positive electrode configured to use oxygen in air as a positive electrode active material; and an electrolyte liquid that is configured to function as a nonaqueous lithium ion conductor, and that is disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode.

A lithium air battery includes: a negative electrode configured to occlude and release lithium ions; a positive electrode configured to use oxygen in air as a positive electrode active material; and an electrolyte liquid that is configured to function as a nonaqueous lithium ion conductor, and that is disposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode.