An electrode material of the present invention includes surface-coated Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 particles obtained by coating surfaces of Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 (in which, A represents one or more selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni, Fe, Cu and Cr, D represents one or more selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sc, Y and rare earth elements, 0<x≦2, 0<y≦1, and 0≦z≦1.5) particles with a carbonaceous coat, and an elution amount of Li is in a range of 200 ppm to 700 ppm and an elution amount of P is in a range of 500 ppm to 2000 ppm when the surface-coated Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 particles are immersed in a sulfuric acid solution having a hydrogen-ion exponent of 4 for 24 hours.

An electrode material of the present invention includes surface-coated Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 particles obtained by coating surfaces of Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 (in which, A represents one or more selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Ni, Fe, Cu and Cr, D represents one or more selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sc, Y and rare earth elements, 0<x≦2, 0<y≦1, and 0≦z≦1.5) particles with a carbonaceous coat, and an elution amount of Li is in a range of 200 ppm to 700 ppm and an elution amount of P is in a range of 500 ppm to 2000 ppm when the surface-coated Li.sub.xA.sub.yD.sub.zPO.sub.4 particles are immersed in a sulfuric acid solution having a hydrogen-ion exponent of 4 for 24 hours.

A process of preparing an E-carbon nanocomposite includes contacting a porous carbon substrate with an E-containing material to form a mixture; and sonicating the mixture to form the E-carbon nanocomposite; where E is S, Se, Se.sub.xS.sub.y, or Te, x is greater than 0; and y is greater than 0.

Lithium-ion batteries are provided that variously comprise anode and cathode electrodes, an electrolyte, a separator, and, in some designs, a protective layer. In some designs, at least one of the electrodes may comprise a composite of (i) Li2S and (ii) conductive carbon that is embedded in the core of the composite. In some designs, the protective layer may be disposed on at least one of the electrodes via electrolyte decomposition. Various methods of fabrication for lithium-ion battery electrodes and particles are also provided.

Lithium-ion batteries are provided that variously comprise anode and cathode electrodes, an electrolyte, a separator, and, in some designs, a protective layer. In some designs, at least one of the electrodes may comprise a composite of (i) Li2S and (ii) conductive carbon that is embedded in the core of the composite. In some designs, the protective layer may be disposed on at least one of the electrodes via electrolyte decomposition. Various methods of fabrication for lithium-ion battery electrodes and particles are also provided.

This application relates to nanostructured materials having selectively permeable structures that separate a liquid phase contained within the nanostructure from a volume outside of the nanostructure, and methods of making same. Such materials may be used as electrode materials for secondary batteries or other energy storage devices.

An electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes an electrode active material and a carbonaceous film with which a surface of the electrode active material is coated, in which a powder resistance under compression at a pressure of 45 MPa is 130 Ω.Math.cm or lower and a lithium-ion secondary battery including a cathode including the electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery and an anode made of lithium metal exhibits battery characteristics that a difference between a sum of a charge capacity thereof obtained when constant current charged with an upper limit voltage with respect to the anode set to 4.20 V and a charge capacity thereof obtained when constant voltage charged at 4.20 V for ten days after the constant current charge and a discharge capacity thereof obtained when constant current discharged to 2 V after the constant voltage charge is set to 20 mAh/g or lower.

An electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery includes an electrode active material and a carbonaceous film with which a surface of the electrode active material is coated, in which a powder resistance under compression at a pressure of 45 MPa is 130 Ω.Math.cm or lower and a lithium-ion secondary battery including a cathode including the electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery and an anode made of lithium metal exhibits battery characteristics that a difference between a sum of a charge capacity thereof obtained when constant current charged with an upper limit voltage with respect to the anode set to 4.20 V and a charge capacity thereof obtained when constant voltage charged at 4.20 V for ten days after the constant current charge and a discharge capacity thereof obtained when constant current discharged to 2 V after the constant voltage charge is set to 20 mAh/g or lower.

The present invention provides a method of preparing a battery electrode, comprising: (a) providing electroactive particles; (b) mixing the electroactive particles with a graphene-based material to form a composite; and (c) spray coating the composite onto a substrate to form the battery electrode; wherein the percentage of the electroactive particles to the graphene-based material is 40-95 wt %. Furthermore, the present invention provides a high performance battery electrode and lithium sulfur battery or Lithium Metal Oxide-Sulfur battery.

Thick positive electrodes (e.g., cathodes) for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium and methods for making them are provided. A slurry may be applied to a current collector or other substrate. The slurry includes positive electroactive material particles, graphene nanoplatelets, polymeric binder, and solvent and has a solids content of ≥about 65% by weight and a kinematic viscosity of greater than or equal to about 6 Pa.Math.s to less than or equal to about 30 Pa.Math.s at a shear rate of about 20/s. The slurry is dried to substantially remove the solvent and pressure applied to form an electroactive material layer having a thickness of ≥about 150 μm and a porosity of ≥about 15% by volume to ≤about 50% by volume. The electroactive material layer is substantially free of macrocracks.