In some embodiments, a lithium ion battery includes a first substrate, a cathode, a second substrate, an anode, and an electrolyte. The cathode is arranged on the first substrate and can contain a cathode mixture including Li.sub.xS.sub.y, wherein x is from 0 to 2 and y is from 1 to 8, and a first particulate carbon. The anode is arranged on the second substrate and can contain an anode mixture containing silicon particles, and a second particulate carbon. The electrolyte can contain a solvent and a lithium salt and is arranged between the cathode and the anode. In some embodiments, the first particulate carbon or the second particulate carbon contains carbon aggregates comprising a plurality of carbon nanoparticles, each carbon nanoparticle comprising graphene. In some embodiments, the particulate carbon contains carbon meta particles with mesoporous structures.

The invention provides a method of improving the anode stability and cycle-life of an alkali metal-sulfur. The method comprises implementing two anode-protecting layers between an anode active material layer and an electrolyte or electrolyte/separator assembly. These two layers comprise (a) a first anode-protecting layer, in physical contact with the anode active material layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 μm and comprising a thin layer of an electron-conducting material having a specific surface area greater than 50 m.sup.2/g; and (b) a second anode-protecting layer in physical contact with the first anode-protecting layer, having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 μm and comprising an elastomer having a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% and a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.−8 S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm when measure at room temperature.

Provided is a method of producing a rechargeable alkali metal-sulfur cell, comprising: (a) providing an anode layer; (b) providing particulates comprising primary particles of a sulfur-containing material encapsulated or embraced by a thin layer of a conductive sulfonated elastomer composite, wherein the conductive sulfonated elastomer composite comprises from 0% to 50% by weight of a conductive reinforcement material dispersed in a sulfonated elastomeric matrix material, and the conductive sulfonated elastomer composite has a thickness from 1 nm to 10 μm, a fully recoverable tensile strain from 2% to 500%, a lithium ion conductivity from 10.sup.−7 S/cm to 5×10.sup.−2 S/cm, and an electrical conductivity from 10.sup.−7 S/cm to 100 S/cm; (c) forming the particulates, a resin binder, and an optional conductive additive into a cathode layer; and (d) combining the anode layer, the cathode layer, an optional porous separator, and an electrolyte to form the alkali metal-sulfur cell.

A method for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery more safely at a lower cost is provided. A method for manufacturing a positive electrode for a secondary battery includes a step of forming slurry by mixing graphene oxide, a binder, and a positive electrode active material in a solvent containing water; a step of applying the slurry on a positive electrode current collector; and a step of reducing graphene oxide by at least one of chemical reduction and thermal reduction. As a reducing agent for the chemical reduction, ascorbic acid can be used.

A method for manufacturing a lithium-ion secondary battery more safely at a lower cost is provided. A method for manufacturing a positive electrode for a secondary battery includes a step of forming slurry by mixing graphene oxide, a binder, and a positive electrode active material in a solvent containing water; a step of applying the slurry on a positive electrode current collector; and a step of reducing graphene oxide by at least one of chemical reduction and thermal reduction. As a reducing agent for the chemical reduction, ascorbic acid can be used.

Disclosed is a process for producing semiconductor nanowires having a diameter or thickness from 2 nm to 100 nm, the process comprising: (A) preparing a semiconductor material particulate having a size from 50 nm to 500 m, selected from Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Sb, Bi, Te, a combination thereof, a compound thereof, or a combination thereof with Si; (B) depositing a catalytic metal, in the form of nanoparticles having a size from 1 nm to 100 nm or a coating having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 nm, onto surfaces of the semiconductor material particulate to form a catalyst metal-coated semiconductor material; and (C) exposing the catalyst metal-coated semiconductor material to a high temperature environment, from 100 C. to 2,500 C., for a period of time sufficient to enable a catalytic metal-assisted growth of multiple semiconductor nanowires from the particulate.

Disclosed is a process for producing semiconductor nanowires having a diameter or thickness from 2 nm to 100 nm, the process comprising: (A) preparing a semiconductor material particulate having a size from 50 nm to 500 m, selected from Ga, In, Ge, Sn, Pb, P, As, Sb, Bi, Te, a combination thereof, a compound thereof, or a combination thereof with Si; (B) depositing a catalytic metal, in the form of nanoparticles having a size from 1 nm to 100 nm or a coating having a thickness from 1 nm to 100 nm, onto surfaces of the semiconductor material particulate to form a catalyst metal-coated semiconductor material; and (C) exposing the catalyst metal-coated semiconductor material to a high temperature environment, from 100 C. to 2,500 C., for a period of time sufficient to enable a catalytic metal-assisted growth of multiple semiconductor nanowires from the particulate.

According to a novel fabrication method, a new composition of matter includes a large percentage (e.g., 75% or higher percentage) of primary nanoparticles in the new composition of matter. The novel fabrication method reduces the size of nanoparticle clusters in material of the new composition of matter, allows fabrication of specific nanoparticle cluster sizes, and allows fabrication of primary nanoparticles. This new composition of matter can include a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new composition of matter, according to certain examples, has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples, the new composition of matter constitutes a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle.

A composite cathode material includes a gel polymer electrolyte and particles of a cathode material. The particles of the cathode material are arranged in the gel polymer electrolyte.

A composite cathode material includes a gel polymer electrolyte and particles of a cathode material. The particles of the cathode material are arranged in the gel polymer electrolyte.