A secondary battery includes a cathode; an anode; and an electrolyte between the cathode and the anode, wherein the electrolyte includes a first electrolyte layer including a first polymer, a first lithium salt, and a first particle inorganic material having an average particle diameter (D50) of less than 500 nm; and a second electrolyte layer including a second polymer, a second lithium salt, and a second particle inorganic material having an average particle diameter (D50) of 500 nm or greater, wherein the first electrolyte layer is disposed in a direction facing the anode.

A rechargeable electrochemical battery cell with a housing, a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte which contains SO.sub.2 and a conducting salt of the active metal of the cell, whereby at least one of the electrodes contains a binder chosen from the group: Binder A, which consists of a polymer, which is made of monomeric structural units of a conjugated carboxylic acid or of the alkali salt, earth alkali salt or ammonium salt of this conjugated carboxylic acid or a combination thereof or binder B which consists of a polymer based on monomeric styrene structural units or butadiene structural units or a mixture of binder A and B.

An activated carbon-coated carbon black material having a nitrogen BET surface area of about 850 to 1800 m.sup.2/g, a packing density of at least 0.8 g/cc as determined at a compressive force of 500 kgf/cm.sup.2 on dry carbon powder, an electrical conductivity of a least 10 S/cm at a compressive force of 500 kgf/cm.sup.2 on dry carbon powder and electrodes and batteries comprising the carbon material. Methods for preparing such carbon materials from sugar, dextrose, oils and carbon black are described. The material is comprised of carbon black particles coated with a porous activated carbon shell.

An electrode precursor or slurry according to various aspects of the present disclosure includes a blended electroactive material and a binder solution. The blended electroactive material includes a first electroactive material and a second electroactive material. The first electroactive material includes nickel. The first electroactive material is selected from the group consisting of LiNi.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zO.sub.2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNi.sub.xCo.sub.yAl.sub.zO.sub.2 where x is greater than 0.6, LiNi.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zAl.sub.αO.sub.2 where x is greater than 0.6, or any combination thereof. The second electroactive material includes a phosphor-olivine compound at less than or equal to about 30 weight percent of the blended electroactive material. The binder solution including a polymeric binder and a solvent including N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a high-nickel-content positive electrode formed from the slurry. In various aspects, the present disclosure provides an electrochemical cell including the positive electrode and a lithium metal negative electrode.

In some implementations, a cathode is formed by (1) providing a cathode additive including (a) a matrix including a lithium compound, and (b) metal nanostructures embedded in the matrix; and (2) combining the cathode additive with a cathode active material to form a mixture. In other implementations, a cathode is formed by (1) providing a cathode additive including a compound of lithium and at least one non-metal or metalloid; and (2) combining the cathode additive with a cathode active material to form a mixture.

The present invention discloses a hydrothermal process of preparing lithium iron phosphate (LiFePCO.sub.4) nanoparticles. It further discloses a composite electrode comprising lithium iron phosphate, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and polyvinylidene fluoride as well as a method of manufacturing this composite electrode. It also discloses a free-standing composite electrode comprising spinel-Li.sub.4Ti.sub.5O.sub.12, multiwalled carbon nanotubes and carboxymethyl cellulose as well as a method of manufacturing this free-standing composite electrode.

The present application relates to a composite current collector, and a composite electrode and an electrochemical device comprising the same. The composite current collector of the present application comprises an intermediate layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a through hole. The intermediate layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first metal layer is disposed on the first surface, and the second metal layer is disposed on the second surface. The through hole penetrates through the intermediate layer, the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein the through hole is filled with an electrically insulated ionic conductor.

The present application relates to a composite current collector, and a composite electrode and an electrochemical device comprising the same. The composite current collector of the present application comprises an intermediate layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, and a through hole. The intermediate layer has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first metal layer is disposed on the first surface, and the second metal layer is disposed on the second surface. The through hole penetrates through the intermediate layer, the first metal layer and the second metal layer, wherein the through hole is filled with an electrically insulated ionic conductor.

A method of producing Sulfur cathodes for Li—S batteries utilising dry mixing of constituents (sulphur, carbon and binder) or semi-dry mixing. The resultant structure binds the neighbouring particles without covering them, i.e. by attaching a few parts of a particle to other neighbouring particles provides a solution for the successful cycling of thick and ultra-thick sulfur cathodes. Such an approach provides a robust thick cathode where particles are strongly bonded with minimal surface coverage with the polymer providing sufficient room to expand during lithiation. Bridging bonds are formed within the cathodes.

A method of producing Sulfur cathodes for Li—S batteries utilising dry mixing of constituents (sulphur, carbon and binder) or semi-dry mixing. The resultant structure binds the neighbouring particles without covering them, i.e. by attaching a few parts of a particle to other neighbouring particles provides a solution for the successful cycling of thick and ultra-thick sulfur cathodes. Such an approach provides a robust thick cathode where particles are strongly bonded with minimal surface coverage with the polymer providing sufficient room to expand during lithiation. Bridging bonds are formed within the cathodes.