Composites of silicon and various porous scaffold materials, such as carbon material comprising micro-, meso- and/or macropores, and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The compositions find utility in various applications, including electrical energy storage electrodes and devices comprising the same.

A nickel-free and cobalt-free cathode material for a lithium (Li) battery is provided. The cathode material includes, Li.sub.aAl.sub.1-x-y-z Fe.sub.xMn.sub.yZn.sub.zO.sub.2-δ, wherein a, x, y, z, and δ are in the following ranges: 0.95 ≤ a ≤ 1.2; 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3; 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.3; 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.3; 0.5 ≤ x + y + z ≤ 0.99; 0 ≤ δ ≤ 0.1. In various embodiments, the present invention provides an improved Co-free/Ni-free Li-ion battery (LIB) cathode that exhibits good thermal stability and is capable of realizing a high cell voltage and specific capacity comparable to, or exceeding, currently known Li(NiCoMn)O.sub.2 cathodes. The novel cathode chemistry in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention eliminates any potential cobalt supply issues and lowers the overall cost of the battery.

Powders, electrodes, zinc-air batteries and corresponding methods are provided. Powders comprise perforated shells having a size of at least 100 nm and comprising openings smaller than 10 nm. The shells are electrically conductive and/or comprise an electrically conductive coating. Powders further comprise zinc and/or zinc oxide which resides at least partially within the shells. Methods comprise wetting the shells with a zinc solution to yield at least partial penetration of the zinc solution through the openings, and coating zinc internally in the shells by application of electric current to the shells. Upon electrode preparation from the powder, cell construction and cell operation, zinc is oxidized to provide energy and the shells retain formed Zn O therewith, providing sufficient volume for the associated expansion and maintaining thereby the mechanical stability and structure of the electrode—to enable many operation cycles of the rechargeable zinc-air batteries.

Provided is a secondary battery with a high electric characteristic and reliability that prevents the short circuit between a positive electrode and a negative electrode by an insulating member and that prevents or reduces the volume increase and deformation of a battery electrode assembly. A secondary battery includes a battery electrode assembly in which positive electrode 1 and negative electrode 6 are alternately laminated while separator 20 is interposed therebetween. Positive electrode 1 and negative electrode 6 include current collectors 3, 8 and active materials 2, 7, each surface of current collectors 3, 8 is provided with an application portion and a non-application portion of active materials 2, 8, and the active materials 2, 7 include a thin portion whose thickness is small. A charging capacity ratio A/C between negative electrode 6 and positive electrode 1 that face each other at an outer edge portion containing the thin portion is greater than the charging capacity ratio A/C between negative electrode 6 and positive electrode 1 that face each other at a center side with respect to the outer edge portion.

The present invention provides a conductive paste for positive electrodes of lithium-ion batteries and a mixture paste for positive electrodes of lithium-ion batteries that are inhibited from increasing in viscosity and gelling, and that have an easy-to-apply viscosity. The conductive paste of the present invention contains a dispersion resin (A), polyvinylidene fluoride (B), conductive carbon (C), a solvent (D), and a dehydrating agent (E).

An anode passivation slurry of anti-dendritic lithium and a method of preparation are provided. The method comprises the steps of dissolving a divalent copper metal compound and a non-ionic polymer to obtain a first solution, dissolving trimesic acid to obtain a second solution, and mixing the first and second solutions to obtain a copper-based metal-organic framework. The dried precursor are mixed with ionic liquid, which has contained a first lithium salt, and then dried to obtain an anion impregnated copper-based metal-organic framework. Thereafter, an anion impregnated copper-based metal-organic framework, a second lithium salt, polymer materials, and a second solvent are mixed to obtain the anode passivation slurry. The anode passivation slurry homogenizes the concentration of conduction of lithium ions and improves ionic conductivity, reducing the formation of lithium dendrites, and improving the cycle life of batteries. A battery with the anode passivation slurry dried on an anode is also disclosed.

An energy storage device can include a cathode, an anode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode, where the anode and/or electrode includes an electrode film having a super-fibrillized binder material and carbon. The electrode film can have a reduced quantity of the binder material while maintaining desired mechanical and/or electrical properties. A process for fabricating the electrode film may include a fibrillization process using reduced speed and/or increased process pressure such that fibrillization of the binder material can be increased. The electrode film may include an electrical conductivity promoting additive to facilitate decreased equivalent series resistance performance. Increasing fibrillization of the binder material may facilitate formation of thinner electrode films, such as dry electrode films.

The present invention relates to a method for easily producing nanoparticles by expansion, explosion, vaporization, condensation and cooling of plasma in a liquid by means of heat resistance and, more particularly, to a method for preparing a silicon nanocomposite dispersion having a uniform carbon layer coated on the surface of silicon of which at least one area is connected to a silicon carbide formed by reacting a carbon in liquid (C) during expansion, explosion, vaporization, condensation and cooling, and applied products thereof.

A battery cell includes at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and at least one separator. The positive electrode includes a positive electrode porous solid-state electrolyte polymer foam that includes at least one lithium salt, and a positive electrode material located in the pores of the positive electrode foam. The negative electrode includes a negative electrode porous solid-state electrolyte polymer foam that includes at least one lithium salt, and a negative electrode material located in the pores of the negative electrode foam.

An electrochemical device electrode pertaining to one mode of the present invention has a current collector, an aluminum oxide layer, a conductive layer, and an active material layer. The current collector is an aluminum foil. The aluminum oxide layer is formed on a principle surface of the current collector and contains aluminum hydroxide and aluminum oxide. The conductive layer is formed on the aluminum oxide layer and contains conductive material, while the active material layer is formed on the conductive layer.