Provided is a method for producing a composite alloy for use in an electrode for an alkaline storage battery, including a powder preparation step of preparing a hydrogen storage alloy powder containing Ti and Cr and having a BCC structure, an etching step of applying an acid to the hydrogen storage alloy powder prepared in the powder preparation step, a Pd film forming step of coating the surface of the hydrogen storage alloy powder subjected to the etching step with Pd using a substitution plating method, and a heat treatment step of heating the hydrogen storage alloy powder having a Pd film formed, at said heating being a temperature of 500° C. or less, wherein in the Pd coating forming step, the hydrogen storage alloy powder is coated with Pd under the condition that the Pd element weight ratio of the composite alloy to be produced is 0.47% or more.

The present nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery positive electrode comprises a positive electrode core, and a positive electrode composite material layer formed on the surface of the positive electrode core. The positive electrode composite material layer includes at least a positive electrode active material, and lithium phosphate. The positive electrode active material includes a first positive electrode active material wherein the Ni content relative to the total molar amount of metal elements other than Li is 50-65 mol%, and a second positive electrode active material wherein the Ni content relative to the total molar amount of metal elements other than Li is 45 mol% or less. The ratio of the first positive electrode active material to the second positive electrode active material in the positive electrode composite material layer is, by mass ratio, from 80:20 to 50:50.

The present invention provides an anode composition comprising (i) a core material (10) comprising a microparticle; (ii) a lithium alloy of said microparticle (14) on a surface of said core material (10); and (iii) a solid electrolyte interface (“SEI”) comprising (a) a LiF and (b) a polymer. The microparticle comprises Si, Al, Bi, Sn, Zn, or a mixture thereof. The present invention also relates to an electrolyte comprising a high lithium fluoride salt concentration in a low reduction potential solvent that is used produce the solid electrolyte interface comprising LiF and a polymer. The anode composition of the invention has an initial coulombic efficiency of at least 90%, a cycling coulombic efficiency of at least 99%, or both.

A positive electrode for a secondary battery includes a positive electrode current collector, and a positive electrode mixture layer containing a positive electrode active material and provided on a surface of the positive electrode current collector, wherein the positive electrode active material contains a lithium-containing composite oxide which has a layered structure, and in the lithium-containing composite oxide, nickel occupies 80 atom % or more of a metal other than lithium, and the positive electrode mixture layer has a carbon fiber having an outermost diameter of 5 nm or less, and the carbon fiber is contained by 0.1 parts by mass or less relative to 100 parts by mass of the positive electrode active material.

A meta-material is disclosed that includes a first layer composed of graphene, and one or more additional layers, each composed of glassy carbon or graphene. A method of producing an engineered material includes depositing a graphene precursor on a substrate, pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene, depositing a glassy carbon precursor the graphene, pyrolyzing to allow the formation of glassy carbon from the glassy carbon precursor, depositing a graphene precursor on the glassy carbon, and pyrolyzing the graphene precursor to allow the formation of graphene.

A method for forming at least one electrode, said method comprising: a) providing an electronically conductive, inert material; b) cutting the substrate material to form at least one current collector; c) placing at least one current collector on a carrier; d) applying one or more protection layers to one or both sides of the current collector to form a coated electrode; and e) removing the electrode from the carrier.

A method for making a material of formula Li.sub.xM.sub.1-zD.sub.zPO.sub.4, where M is one or more transition metals, D represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ti, Zn, B, Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, Sc, Y, and rare earth elements, 0.8≤x≤1.2 and 0≤z≤0.2, the method comprising the steps of: a) forming a mixture comprising a source of the one or more transition metals, a source of phosphorus, a source of lithium and a surfactant, and optionally a source of D, wherein (i) a ratio of Li:PO.sub.4:(M+D) relative to the stoichiometry required to form the material is within the range of 1.04-1.10:1.00-1.05:1, or (ii) a ratio of (Li+PO.sub.4):(M+D) relative to the stoichiometry required to form the material is greater than 2.05; b) drying the mixture from step (a) to form particles r a powder; and c) thermally treating the particles or powder from step (b) to form the material.

A solid state battery is described, which has a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer including silicon (Si) as a negative electrode active material. The Si may be present as particles, e.g., microparticles, having an average particle size (D50) of 0.1 μm to 10 μm. The negative electrode active material layer may include the silicon (Si) in an amount of 75 wt % or more, 95 wt % or more, 99 wt % or more, or 99.9 wt % or more, based on 100 wt % of the negative electrode active material layer. The negative electrode active material layer can be free or substantially free of conductive material, carbon, solid state electrolyte, and/or binder. Preferably, after charge/discharge cycles, the negative electrode active material layer forms densified and interconnected large particles of Li—Si alloy, e.g., the Li—Si alloy may have at least one columnar structure and at least one void.

A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a positive electrode active material comprises a positive electrode active material powder and a coating layer on a surface of the positive electrode active material powder, where the coating layer comprising a lithium molybdenum compound. The positive electrode active material may improve output and stability in a lithium secondary battery.

An electrochemical apparatus including an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator disposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a current collector and an active material layer, the current collector includes a first zone and a second zone, the second zone is provided with an active material layer, the first zone includes a third zone and a fourth zone, the third zone is arranged in overlap with the separator, and the fourth zone is provided with a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed in a zone of the current collector that has no active material layer disposed thereon and that does not overlap the separator.