An immobilized selenium body, made from carbon and selenium and optionally sulfur, makes selenium more stable, requiring a higher temperature or an increase in kinetic energy for selenium to escape from the immobilized selenium body and enter a gas system, as compared to selenium alone Immobilized selenium localized in a carbon skeleton can be utilized in a rechargeable battery Immobilization of the selenium can impart compression stress on both the carbon skeleton and the selenium. Such compression stress enhances the electrical conductivity in the carbon skeleton and among the selenium particles and creates an interface for electrons to be delivered and or harvested in use of the battery. A rechargeable battery made from immobilized selenium can be charged or discharged at a faster rate over conventional batteries and can demonstrate excellent cycling stability.

An immobilized selenium body, made from carbon and selenium and optionally sulfur, makes selenium more stable, requiring a higher temperature or an increase in kinetic energy for selenium to escape from the immobilized selenium body and enter a gas system, as compared to selenium alone Immobilized selenium localized in a carbon skeleton can be utilized in a rechargeable battery Immobilization of the selenium can impart compression stress on both the carbon skeleton and the selenium. Such compression stress enhances the electrical conductivity in the carbon skeleton and among the selenium particles and creates an interface for electrons to be delivered and or harvested in use of the battery. A rechargeable battery made from immobilized selenium can be charged or discharged at a faster rate over conventional batteries and can demonstrate excellent cycling stability.

A lithium electrode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. By using an olefin-based ion conducting polymer as a protective layer-forming material of a lithium electrode having a protective layer formed on a lithium metal layer, the lithium electrode may be protected from moisture or open air during a lithium electrode preparation process, lithium dendrite formation and growth from the lithium electrode may be prevented, and performance of a battery using the lithium electrode may be enhanced.

A lithium electrode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. By using an olefin-based ion conducting polymer as a protective layer-forming material of a lithium electrode having a protective layer formed on a lithium metal layer, the lithium electrode may be protected from moisture or open air during a lithium electrode preparation process, lithium dendrite formation and growth from the lithium electrode may be prevented, and performance of a battery using the lithium electrode may be enhanced.

Lithium ion batteries, methods of making the same, and equipment for making the same are provided. In one implementation, a method of fabricating a pre-lithiated electrode is provided. The method comprises disposing a lithium metal target comprising a layer of lithium metal adjacent to a surface of a prefabricated electrode. The method further comprises heating at least one of the lithium metal target and the prefabricated electrode to a temperature less than or equal to 180 degrees Celsius. The method further comprises compressing the lithium metal target and the prefabricated electrode together while applying ultrasound to the lithium metal target to transfer a quantity of lithium from the lithium metal target to the prefabricated electrode.

Cathodes are provided, wherein at least one of the cathode's active material, binder, or graphite are in the form of carbon-coated particles. Alternatively, rings of the cathode, or the cathode itself, may be coated with carbon. The coating may be as thin as a single layer of carbon. Electrochemical cells comprising such cathodes are also provided. Methods of preparing such cathodes and electrochemical cells are also provided.

Cathodes are provided, wherein at least one of the cathode's active material, binder, or graphite are in the form of carbon-coated particles. Alternatively, rings of the cathode, or the cathode itself, may be coated with carbon. The coating may be as thin as a single layer of carbon. Electrochemical cells comprising such cathodes are also provided. Methods of preparing such cathodes and electrochemical cells are also provided.

A binder solution for manufacturing silicon-based anodes useful for lithium-ion electrochemical cells is described herein. The binder solution comprises a poly(carboxylic acid) binder dissolved in a mixed solvent system comprising an amide solvent of Formula I, as described herein, and a second solvent which can be water and/or an organic solvent. The binder preferably comprises poly(acrylic acid). The mixed solvent system comprises about 10 to about 99 vol % of the amide solvent of Formula I. The binder solution is utilized as a solvent for a slurry of silicon-containing particles for preparing a silicon-containing electrode. The slurries made with the mixed solvent systems have higher viscosity and are more stable than slurries containing the same concentrations of silicon particle, carbon particles, and binder in water as the sole solvent.

A binder solution for manufacturing silicon-based anodes useful for lithium-ion electrochemical cells is described herein. The binder solution comprises a poly(carboxylic acid) binder dissolved in a mixed solvent system comprising an amide solvent of Formula I, as described herein, and a second solvent which can be water and/or an organic solvent. The binder preferably comprises poly(acrylic acid). The mixed solvent system comprises about 10 to about 99 vol % of the amide solvent of Formula I. The binder solution is utilized as a solvent for a slurry of silicon-containing particles for preparing a silicon-containing electrode. The slurries made with the mixed solvent systems have higher viscosity and are more stable than slurries containing the same concentrations of silicon particle, carbon particles, and binder in water as the sole solvent.

A negative electrode for a lithium metal battery, a manufacturing method thereof, and a lithium metal battery comprising the same are provided. The negative electrode includes a metal current collector, a lithium metal layer formed on at least one surface of the metal current collector, and a protective layer formed on the lithium metal layer, the protective layer comprising a metal powder or metal wire, an alloyable metal powder or alloyable metal wire, or a mixture thereof.