Provided is a lithium-ion battery or lithium-ion capacitor electrode material that can compensate for the drawbacks of a hydrophobic active material, that can impart hydrophilicity to the hydrophobic active material, and that can exhibit excellent dispersibility without deteriorating electrode characteristics. Specifically provided is an electrode material for a lithium-ion battery or a lithium-ion capacitor, the electrode material comprising a composite powder in which a B component is supported or coated on a surface of an A component, the A component comprising a material capable of electrochemically occluding and releasing lithium ions, the B component being sulfur-modified cellulose, and the B component being contained in an amount of 0.01 mass % or more based on 100 mass % of the total amount of the A component and the B component.

Briefly, a carbon working electrode is described that has a plastic substrate of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or polylactic acid, and may be formed into an elongated wire. The carbon material coats the plastic substrate, and may be, for example, graphene, diamagnetic graphite, pyrolytic graphite, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black, carbon paste, or carbon ink, which is aqueously dispersed in an elastomeric material such as polyurethane, silicone, acrylates or acrylics. Optionally, selected additives may be added to the carbon compound prior to it being layered onto the plastic substrate. These additives may, for example, improve electrical conductivity or sensitivity, or act as a catalyst for target analyte molecules.

Briefly, a carbon working electrode is described that has a plastic substrate of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or polylactic acid, and may be formed into an elongated wire. The carbon material coats the plastic substrate, and may be, for example, graphene, diamagnetic graphite, pyrolytic graphite, pyrolytic carbon, carbon black, carbon paste, or carbon ink, which is aqueously dispersed in an elastomeric material such as polyurethane, silicone, acrylates or acrylics. Optionally, selected additives may be added to the carbon compound prior to it being layered onto the plastic substrate. These additives may, for example, improve electrical conductivity or sensitivity, or act as a catalyst for target analyte molecules.

An interfacial additive layer for decreasing the interfacial resistance/impedance of a silicon based electrode-containing device such as, for example, an energy storage device or a micro-resistor, is disclosed. The interfacial additive layer, which is composed of a molten lithium containing salt, is formed between a silicon based electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte layer of the device. The presence of such an interfacial additive layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the silicon based electrode interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device.

An interfacial additive layer for decreasing the interfacial resistance/impedance of a silicon based electrode-containing device such as, for example, an energy storage device or a micro-resistor, is disclosed. The interfacial additive layer, which is composed of a molten lithium containing salt, is formed between a silicon based electrode and a solid polymer electrolyte layer of the device. The presence of such an interfacial additive layer increases the ion and electron mobile dependent performances at the silicon based electrode interface due to significant decrease in the resistance/impedance that is observed at the respective interface as well as the impedance observed in the bulk of the device.

An active material (1) for a positive electrode includes an aggregate (10) of an electrochemically active polymer having an oxidized repeat unit and a reduced repeat unit. The aggregate (10) includes a first portion (11) forming a surface of the aggregate 10 and a second portion 12 covered by the first portion 11. In the active material 1, the percentage content of the oxidized repeat unit in the first portion 11 on a weight basis is lower than the percentage content of the oxidized repeat unit in the second portion 12 on a weight basis.

Briefly, a sensor for a continuous biological monitor is provided that has a working electrode with an enhanced carbon-enzyme layer that in one embodiment is made by mixing an aqueous polyurethane emulsion with an acrylic polyol emulsion to make a base emulsion. An enzyme and carbon materials are added to the base emulsion, which is applied to the working electrode and cured. The carbon materials may include carbon and graphite to provide strength, as well as graphene or pyrolytic graphite to provide a desirable electrical resistance for the carbon-enzyme layer. Optionally, other additives can be added to the base emulsion prior to application, such as hydophiles, cross linkers, adding imodeoesters, hydroxysuccimide, carboldilite, melamines, epoxies, benzoyl peroxide or dicumyl peroxide.

Briefly, a sensor for a continuous biological monitor is provided that has a working electrode with an enhanced carbon-enzyme layer that in one embodiment is made by mixing an aqueous polyurethane emulsion with an acrylic polyol emulsion to make a base emulsion. An enzyme and carbon materials are added to the base emulsion, which is applied to the working electrode and cured. The carbon materials may include carbon and graphite to provide strength, as well as graphene or pyrolytic graphite to provide a desirable electrical resistance for the carbon-enzyme layer. Optionally, other additives can be added to the base emulsion prior to application, such as hydophiles, cross linkers, adding imodeoesters, hydroxysuccimide, carboldilite, melamines, epoxies, benzoyl peroxide or dicumyl peroxide.

A method for manufacturing an electrochemical device includes the following steps: a step of preparing a positive electrode, the positive electrode including a first current collector and a positive electrode layer containing a conductive polymer; a step of preparing a negative electrode, the negative electrode including a second current collector and a negative electrode layer; and a step of sealing the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution in an exterior body. The step of preparing the positive electrode includes a step of holding the positive electrode in depressurized atmosphere and then introducing gas containing CO.sub.2 as a primary component into the depressurized atmosphere.

A method for manufacturing an electrochemical device includes the following steps: a step of preparing a positive electrode, the positive electrode including a first current collector and a positive electrode layer containing a conductive polymer; a step of preparing a negative electrode, the negative electrode including a second current collector and a negative electrode layer; and a step of sealing the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and an electrolytic solution in an exterior body. The step of preparing the positive electrode includes a step of holding the positive electrode in depressurized atmosphere and then introducing gas containing CO.sub.2 as a primary component into the depressurized atmosphere.