An electrode including an electrode active material and a ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger is provided. The ceramic hydrofluoric acid (HF) scavenger includes M.sub.2SiO.sub.3, MAlO.sub.2, M.sub.2OAl.sub.2O.sub.3SiO.sub.2, or combinations thereof, where M is lithium (Li), sodium (Na), or combinations thereof. Methods of making the electrode are also provided.

The present invention relates an electro-active polymeric ionic liquid including imidazolium-based molecules, said imidazolium-based molecule comprising each at least: one imidazolium moiety associated with a negatively-charged counter-ion, and one reducible group selected from: Formula (IV), an anthraquinone derivative of formula (IV): with R.sub.1 representing a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group, a viologen group, and a metallocene reducible group such as a cobaltocene group.

The present invention relates an electro-active polymeric ionic liquid including imidazolium-based molecules, said imidazolium-based molecule comprising each at least: one imidazolium moiety associated with a negatively-charged counter-ion, and one reducible group selected from: Formula (IV), an anthraquinone derivative of formula (IV): with R.sub.1 representing a hydrogen atom or a C.sub.1-C.sub.6-alkyl group, a viologen group, and a metallocene reducible group such as a cobaltocene group.

Functionalized Group IVA particles, methods of preparing the Group IVA particles, and methods of using the Group IVA particles are provided. The Group IVA particles may be passivated with at least one layer of material covering at least a portion of the particle. The layer of material may be a covalently bonded non-dielectric layer of material. The Group IVA particles may be used in various technologies, including lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells.

Functionalized Group IVA particles, methods of preparing the Group IVA particles, and methods of using the Group IVA particles are provided. The Group IVA particles may be passivated with at least one layer of material covering at least a portion of the particle. The layer of material may be a covalently bonded non-dielectric layer of material. The Group IVA particles may be used in various technologies, including lithium ion batteries and photovoltaic cells.

Sulfur containing nanoparticles that may be used within cathode electrodes within lithium ion batteries include in a first instance porous carbon shape materials (i.e., either nanoparticle shapes or bulk shapes that are subsequently ground to nanoparticle shapes) that are infused with a sulfur material. A synthetic route to these carbon and sulfur containing nanoparticles may use a template nanoparticle to form a hollow carbon shape shell, and subsequent dissolution of the template nanoparticle prior to infusion of the hollow carbon shape shell with a sulfur material. Sulfur infusion into other porous carbon shapes that are not hollow is also contemplated. A second type of sulfur containing nanoparticle includes a metal oxide material core upon which is located a shell layer that includes a vulcanized polymultiene polymer material and ion conducting polymer material. The foregoing sulfur containing nanoparticle materials provide the electrodes and lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance.

Sulfur containing nanoparticles that may be used within cathode electrodes within lithium ion batteries include in a first instance porous carbon shape materials (i.e., either nanoparticle shapes or bulk shapes that are subsequently ground to nanoparticle shapes) that are infused with a sulfur material. A synthetic route to these carbon and sulfur containing nanoparticles may use a template nanoparticle to form a hollow carbon shape shell, and subsequent dissolution of the template nanoparticle prior to infusion of the hollow carbon shape shell with a sulfur material. Sulfur infusion into other porous carbon shapes that are not hollow is also contemplated. A second type of sulfur containing nanoparticle includes a metal oxide material core upon which is located a shell layer that includes a vulcanized polymultiene polymer material and ion conducting polymer material. The foregoing sulfur containing nanoparticle materials provide the electrodes and lithium ion batteries with enhanced performance.

A freestanding composite electrode film is made of an n-type or p-type electrochemically active polymer an electrolyte and/or a conductive carbon material. The freestanding composite electrode film may be used to form an anode or cathode layer of a polymer battery. The polymer battery may be formed from a stack/plurality of anode or cathode layers, each layer being formed from a freestanding composite electrode film.

A freestanding composite electrode film is made of an n-type or p-type electrochemically active polymer an electrolyte and/or a conductive carbon material. The freestanding composite electrode film may be used to form an anode or cathode layer of a polymer battery. The polymer battery may be formed from a stack/plurality of anode or cathode layers, each layer being formed from a freestanding composite electrode film.

The invention relates to a cathode composition usable in a lithium-ion battery, to a process for the preparation of this composition, to such a cathode and to a lithium-ion battery incorporating this cathode.

The composition comprises an active material which comprises an alloy of lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxides, an electrically conductive filler and a polymeric binder, and it is such that said polymeric binder comprises at least one modified polymer (Id2) which is the product of a thermal oxidation reaction of a starting polymer and which incorporates oxygenated groups comprising CO groups, the composition being capable of being obtained by the molten route and without evaporation of solvent by being the product of said thermal oxidation reaction applied to a precursor mixture comprising said active material, said electrically conductive filler, said starting polymer and a sacrificial polymer phase.