A method of preparing an electrochemical electrode which is partially or totally covered with a film that is obtained by spreading an aqueous solution comprising a water-soluble binder over the electrode and subsequently drying same. The production cost of the electrodes thus obtained is reduced and the surface porosity thereof is associated with desirable resistance values.

The method for manufacturing a positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first step for adding an alkaline solution having a tungsten compound dissolved therein to a lithium-metal composite oxide powder represented by general formula Li.sub.zNi.sub.1-x-yCo.sub.xM.sub.yO.sub.2 (where 0≤x≤0.1, 0≤y≤0.1, and 0.97≤z≤1.20 are satisfied, and M is at least one type of element selected from among Mn, W, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, Si, and Al), and mixing same; and a second step for heating the mixture of the alkaline solution and the lithium-metal composite oxide powder at 100-600° C., wherein the amount of the alkaline solution to be added in the first step is 0.1-10 mass % with respect to the amount of the lithium-metal composite oxide powder.

The present invention generally relates to electrolytes for use in various electrochemical devices. In some cases, the electrolytes are relatively safe to use; for example, the electrolytes may be resistant to overheating, catching on fire, burning, exploding, etc. In some embodiments, such electrolytes may be useful for certain types of high-voltage cathode materials. In some cases, the electrolytes may include ion dissociation compounds that can dissociate tight ion pairs. Non-limiting examples of ion dissociation compounds include trialkyl phosphates, sulfones, or the like. Other aspects of the invention are generally directed to devices including such electrolytes, methods of making or using such electrolytes, kits including such electrolytes, or the like.

Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

Methods of making an anode for a lithium-based energy storage device such as a lithium-ion battery are disclosed. Methods may include providing a current collector. The current collector may include an electrically conductive layer and a surface layer overlaying over the electrically conductive layer. The surface layer may have an average thickness of at least 0.002 μm. The surface layer may include a metal chalcogenide including at least one of sulfur or selenium. Methods may include depositing a continuous porous lithium storage layer onto the surface layer by a PECVD process. The continuous porous lithium storage layer may have an average thickness in a range of 4 μm to 30 μm and comprises at least 85 atomic % amorphous silicon.

An electrolyte and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The electrolyte includes a lithium salt; an organic solvent; and at least one siloxane compound represented by Formula 1 or Formula 2, wherein an amount of the at least one siloxane compound is about 0.05 wt % to about 20 wt % based on a total weight of the electrolyte. ##STR00001## In Formulae 1 and 2, group substituents and number indices are as defined in the specification.

A system and method for optimizing electrochemical cells including electrodes employing coordination compounds by mediating water content within a desired water content profile that includes sufficient coordinated water and reduces non-coordinated water below a desired target and with electrochemical cells including a coordination compound electrochemically active in one or more electrodes, with an improvement in electrochemical cell manufacture that relaxes standards for water content of electrochemical cells having one or more electrodes including one or more such transition metal cyanide coordination compounds.

A system and method for optimizing electrochemical cells including electrodes employing coordination compounds by mediating water content within a desired water content profile that includes sufficient coordinated water and reduces non-coordinated water below a desired target and with electrochemical cells including a coordination compound electrochemically active in one or more electrodes, with an improvement in electrochemical cell manufacture that relaxes standards for water content of electrochemical cells having one or more electrodes including one or more such transition metal cyanide coordination compounds.

A gellable system is suitable for use in lithium-air batteries, organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries. The organic supercapacitors or capacitor batteries comprise a gel electrolytes and/or a solid electrolytes, which are prepared from a gellable system comprising the following components: (a) lithium salts and (b) ether compounds; the gellable system for lithium-air batteries also comprises (c) electrolytes or their solvents used in lithium-air batteries; in the system, the mass fraction of the gellable polymers and/or the gellable prepolymers is less than or equal to 1 wt %; by adjusting the composition and type of each component in the system, the gel and/or solid electrolytes, having adjustable strength, formation time, transition temperature, and also reversibility, can be prepared; the preparation method has simple procedure, mild reaction conditions, short reaction period, high yield, low manufacture cost, which makes it easy to realize industrialized production.

An additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte solution that can suppress the initial gas generation amount when used in a non-aqueous electrolyte solution battery. The additive for a non-aqueous electrolyte solution is represented by any one of formulae [1] to [4]: ##STR00001## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4, X.sup.1, X.sup.2 and Y are as defined in the specification.