A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

A powder comprising pillared particles for use as an active component of a metal ion battery, the pillared particles comprising a particle core and a plurality of pillars extending from the particle core, wherein the pillared particles are formed from a starting material powder wherein at least 10% of the total volume of the starting material powder is made up of starting material particles having a particle size of no more than 10 microns.

A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.

A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes secondary particles of a lithium transition metal complex oxide as a main component. The main component is represented by a formula: Li.sub.t(Ni.sub.1-xCo.sub.x).sub.1-yMn.sub.yB.sub.P.sub.S.sub.O.sub.2, where t, x, y, , , and satisfy inequalities of 0x1, 0.00y0.50, (1x).Math.(1y)y, 0.0000.020, 0.000=0.030, 0.0000.030, and 1+3+3+2t1.30, and satisfy at least one of inequalities of 0.002, 0.006, and 0.004. The secondary particles exhibit a pore distribution, where a pore volume Vp(1) having a pore diameter of not less than 0.01 m and not more than 0.15 m satisfies an inequality of 0.035 cm.sup.3/gVp(1) and where a pore volume Vp(2) having a pore diameter of not less than 0.01 m and not more than 10 m satisfies an inequality of Vp(2)0.450 cm.sup.3/g.

A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes secondary particles of a lithium transition metal complex oxide as a main component. The main component is represented by a formula: Li.sub.t(Ni.sub.1-xCo.sub.x).sub.1-yMn.sub.yB.sub.P.sub.S.sub.O.sub.2, where t, x, y, , , and satisfy inequalities of 0x1, 0.00y0.50, (1x).Math.(1y)y, 0.0000.020, 0.000=0.030, 0.0000.030, and 1+3+3+2t1.30, and satisfy at least one of inequalities of 0.002, 0.006, and 0.004. The secondary particles exhibit a pore distribution, where a pore volume Vp(1) having a pore diameter of not less than 0.01 m and not more than 0.15 m satisfies an inequality of 0.035 cm.sup.3/gVp(1) and where a pore volume Vp(2) having a pore diameter of not less than 0.01 m and not more than 10 m satisfies an inequality of Vp(2)0.450 cm.sup.3/g.

The invention relates to a new generation of alkali-ion-sulphur batteries in which specific sulphur allotropes, particularly the Psi allotrope of sulphur, are used as the active material of the cathode. Alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals are used as anodes. A preferred production method describes the production of the Psi-sulphur fibres by a special form of electrospinning. Another preferred production method describes the addition of the cation source in liquid form during the production of battery stacks. Finally, the invention relates to specific preferred novel forms of embodiment of alkali-ion-sulphur batteries, which are characterised by significant advantages in terms of capacity and service life.

The invention relates to a new generation of alkali-ion-sulphur batteries in which specific sulphur allotropes, particularly the Psi allotrope of sulphur, are used as the active material of the cathode. Alkali metals or alkaline-earth metals are used as anodes. A preferred production method describes the production of the Psi-sulphur fibres by a special form of electrospinning. Another preferred production method describes the addition of the cation source in liquid form during the production of battery stacks. Finally, the invention relates to specific preferred novel forms of embodiment of alkali-ion-sulphur batteries, which are characterised by significant advantages in terms of capacity and service life.

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.

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.