A composite material includes vanadium lithium phosphate, and a conductive carbon. an amount of the conductive carbon is 2.5 mass % or more and 7.5 mass % or less.

A positive electrode active material includes a plurality of groups of particles. The plurality of groups of particles has a particle diameter of more than or equal to 300 nm and less than or equal to 3 m. Each of the groups includes two or more particles. The two or more particles are each a lithium-containing complex phosphate including one or more of iron, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. The group of particles includes a first particle and a second particle each having a major diameter and a minor diameter in the upper surface when seen from a predetermined direction. The major diameters of the first and second particles are substantially parallel to each other. The major diameter of the first particle is two to six times larger than the minor diameter of the first particle and the minor diameter of the first particle is more than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 130 nm.

A positive electrode active material includes a plurality of groups of particles. The plurality of groups of particles has a particle diameter of more than or equal to 300 nm and less than or equal to 3 m. Each of the groups includes two or more particles. The two or more particles are each a lithium-containing complex phosphate including one or more of iron, nickel, manganese, and cobalt. The group of particles includes a first particle and a second particle each having a major diameter and a minor diameter in the upper surface when seen from a predetermined direction. The major diameters of the first and second particles are substantially parallel to each other. The major diameter of the first particle is two to six times larger than the minor diameter of the first particle and the minor diameter of the first particle is more than or equal to 20 nm and less than or equal to 130 nm.

The present invention provides a dispersant for carbon materials, the dispersant containing a copolymer having a nitrogen-containing group, wherein the copolymer has a nitrogen content of 0.01 wt % or more and 5 wt % or less and the copolymer has an SP value of 8.0 to 12 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2.

The present disclosure provides supercapacitors that may avoid shortcomings of current energy storage technology. Provided herein are materials and fabrication processes of such supercapacitors. In some embodiments, an electrochemical system comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode comprises a three dimensional porous reduced graphene oxide framework.

A method of preparing a slurry composition for a secondary battery positive electrode includes preparing a positive electrode active material pre-dispersion by mixing a lithium iron phosphate-based positive electrode active material, a dispersant, and a solvent, and preparing a slurry for a positive electrode by further mixing a conductive agent, a binder, and an additional solvent with the positive electrode active material pre-dispersion is provided. A positive electrode for a secondary battery which is prepared by using the same method, and a lithium secondary battery including the positive electrode are also provided.

A lithium battery cathode layer containing multiple particles or coating of a cathode active material (metal fluoride or metal chloride) and a layer of exfoliated graphite worms composed of interconnected graphite flakes and inter-flake pores, wherein (a) the graphite worms are selected from exfoliated natural graphite, exfoliated artificial graphite, exfoliated meso carbon micro-beads, exfoliated coke, exfoliated meso-phase pitch, exfoliated carbon or graphite fiber, or a combination thereof; (b) the cathode active material particles or coating has a size from 0.4 nm to 10 m, and is in an amount from 1% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of graphite worms and the cathode active material combined; and (c) some of the pores are lodged with particles or coating of the cathode active material.

A lithium battery cathode layer containing multiple particles or coating of a cathode active material (metal fluoride or metal chloride) and a layer of exfoliated graphite worms composed of interconnected graphite flakes and inter-flake pores, wherein (a) the graphite worms are selected from exfoliated natural graphite, exfoliated artificial graphite, exfoliated meso carbon micro-beads, exfoliated coke, exfoliated meso-phase pitch, exfoliated carbon or graphite fiber, or a combination thereof; (b) the cathode active material particles or coating has a size from 0.4 nm to 10 m, and is in an amount from 1% to 99% by weight based on the total weight of graphite worms and the cathode active material combined; and (c) some of the pores are lodged with particles or coating of the cathode active material.

An energy storage device including a first electrode comprising lithium, a second electrode comprising a metal diboride, an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode. A method of forming an energy storage device including forming a first electrode to include lithium, forming a second electrode to include a metal diboride, disposing an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrolyte providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and disposing a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode.

An energy storage device including a first electrode comprising lithium, a second electrode comprising a metal diboride, an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode. A method of forming an energy storage device including forming a first electrode to include lithium, forming a second electrode to include a metal diboride, disposing an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrolyte providing a conductive pathway for lithium ions to move to and from the first electrode and the second electrode, and disposing a separator within the electrolyte and between the first electrode and the second electrode.