High energy density and long cycle life all solid-state electrolyte lithium-ion batteries use ceramic-polymer composite anodes which include a polymer matrix with ceramic nanoparticles, silicon-based anode active materials, conducting agents, lithium salts and plasticizer distributed in the matrix. The silicon-based anode active material are anode active particles formed by high energy milling a mixture of silicon, graphite, and metallic and/or non-metallic oxides. A polymer coating is applied to the particles. The networking structure of the electrolyte establishes an effective lithium-ion transport pathway in the electrode and strengthens the contact between the electrode layer and solid-state electrolyte resulting in higher lithium-ion battery cell cycling stability and long battery life.

A membrane-electrode assembly including a catalyst layer that includes a catalyst-supporting carrier in which a catalyst is supported on a carrier made of an inorganic oxide, and a highly hydrophobic substance having a higher degree of hydrophobicity than the inorganic oxide, the catalyst layer being formed on at least one surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane. It is preferable that, in the membrane-electrode assembly, the degree of hydrophobicity of the highly hydrophobic substance is from 0.5 vol % to 45 vol % at 25° C., the degree of hydrophobicity being defined as a concentration of methanol (vol %) when a light transmittance of a dispersion obtained by dispersing the highly hydrophobic substance in a mixed solution of water and methanol reaches 80%.

Provided are an electrode catalyst layer, a membrane electrode assembly and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, having sufficient drainage property and gas diffusibility with high power generation performance over a long term. An electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to a surface of a polymer electrolyte membrane (11) includes at least a catalyst substance (12), a conductive carrier (13), a polymer electrolyte (14) and fibrous substances (15). The number of the fibrous substances (15) in which inclination θ of axes with respect to a surface of the electrode catalyst layer (10) bonded to the surface of the polymer electrolyte membrane (11) is 0°≤θ<45°, among the fibrous substances (15), is greater than 50% of the total number of the fibrous substances (15) contained.

A boron-containing proton-exchange solid support may include a proton-exchange solid support comprising an oxygen atom and a tetravalent boron-based acid group comprising a boron atom covalently bonded to the oxygen atom.

The copolymer includes divalent units represented by formula —[CF.sub.2—CF.sub.2]—, at least one divalent unit represented by formula (I): and at least one divalent unit independently represented by formula (II): A is —N(RF.sup.a).sub.2 or a is non-aromatic, 5- to 8-membered, perfluorinated ring comprising one or two nitrogen atoms in the ring and optionally comprising at least one oxygen atom in the ring, each RFa is independently linear or branched perfluoroalkyl having 1 to 8 carbon atoms and optionally interrupted by at least one catenated O or N atom, each Y is independently —H or —F, with the proviso that one Y may be —CF.sub.3, h is 0, 1, or 2, each i is independently 2 to 8, and j is 0, 1, or 2. A catalyst ink and polymer electrolyte membrane including the copolymer are also provided.

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A method of manufacturing a membrane-catalyst assembly including an electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer bonded to the electrolyte membrane, the method including: a liquid application step of applying, in the atmosphere, a liquid to only a surface of the electrolyte membrane before bonding; and a thermocompression bonding step of bonding, to the catalyst layer, the electrolyte membrane to which the liquid is applied, by thermocompression bonding. Provided is a method of manufacturing a membrane-catalyst assembly including a polymer electrolyte membrane and a catalyst layer bonded to the polymer electrolyte membrane, in which the manufacturing method can achieve both the relaxation of thermocompression bonding conditions and the improvement of adhesion between the catalyst layer and the electrolyte membrane with high productivity.

An EB-PVD technique was used to fabricate ceramic/polymer/ceramic (LAGP/PE/LAGP) hybrid separator for rechargeable LIBs and Li batteries. The application of a ceramic electrolyte (LAGP) layer on traditional PE separator soaked in 1-M LiAsF.sub.6 liquid electrolyte combined the best attributes of traditional PE separator and solid inorganic electrolytes. The synergistic behavior of hybrid separator resulted in a high mechanical stability/flexibility, increased liquid uptake, high ion conduction, reduced cell voltage polarization, no lithium dendrite formation, and increased usable lithium content as compared to the state-of-the-art PE separator used in LIBs. The functional separator can be used to prolong life cycle and power capability of present LIBs. Thickness and density optimization of LAGP or similar electrolytes on polymer or other battery separators and their use in full Li battery (LIB, Li—S, Li—O.sub.2, Li—Ph, flow battery) cells are expected to further improve performance.

An article includes a polymer. The polymer includes a product of a crosslinking reaction including at least one cross-linker selected from the group consisting of: a) di-acrylates, tri-acrylates, and tetra-acrylates; b) modified tri-acrylates and tetra-acrylates; c) silanes and siloxanes; and d) triazinane-triones.

This disclosure relates to improved electrolytes and electrode pastes that include ground state metal nanoparticles formed by laser ablation, improved rechargeable lithium-ion batteries made using the improved electrolytes and/or electrode pastes that include ground state metal nanoparticles formed by laser ablation, and methods for manufacturing rechargeable batteries of improved performance. The metal nanoparticles may comprise or consist of gold. The metal nanoparticles may by spherical-shaped and/or coral-shaped.

Disclosed is a power storage element including a positive electrode current collector layer and a negative electrode current collector layer which are arranged on the same plane and can be formed through a simple process. The power storage element further includes a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode current collector layer; a negative electrode active material layer on the negative electrode current collector layer; and a solid electrolyte layer in contact with at least the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer. The positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer are formed by oxidation treatment.