The invention relates to Chevrel-phase materials and methods of preparing these materials utilizing a precursor approach. The Chevrel-phase materials are useful in assembling electrodes, e.g., cathodes, for use in electrochemical cells, such as rechargeable batteries. The Chevrel-phase materials have a general formula of Mo.sub.6Z.sub.8 (Z=sulfur) or Mo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y (Z.sup.1=sulfur; Z.sup.2=selenium), and partially cuprated Cu.sub.1Mo.sub.6S.sub.8 as well as partially de-cuprated Cu.sub.1-xMg.sub.xMo.sub.6S.sub.8 and the precursors have a general formula of M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sub.8 or M.sub.xMo.sub.6Z.sup.1.sub.8-yZ.sup.2.sub.y, M=Cu. The cathode containing the Chevrel-phase material in accordance with the invention can be combined with a magnesium-containing anode and an electrolyte.

In order to overcome the problem of metal dendrites caused by uneven deposition on the surface of the existing metal electrode, the present application provides a metal electrode, comprising a metal layer and a coating, the coating comprises at least one block copolymer; the block copolymer comprises a first polymer block for independently conducting metal ions and a second polymer block for providing mechanical strength; a shear modulus of the coating is ≥10.sup.7 Pa, and a thickness of the coating is 500 nm-50 μm. Meanwhile, the application also discloses a battery comprising the metal electrode. The metal electrode provided by the application has good ionic conductivity and inhibition capability for metal dendrite.

Novel, high voltage cathode active materials for non-aqueous ammonia based primary and reserve batteries are described therein, as well as non-aqueous electrolytes supporting high voltage, and various anodes, separators and cell constructions are disclosed. Said materials provide higher power output at low temperatures over prior art ammonia based batteries.

An apparatus for a rechargeable battery is disclosed. The battery includes an anode including magnesium, a cathode including carbon, an electrolyte solution including water, and an amino acid. The electrolyte solution may further include a mixture of alkali, and alkaline earth metal salts, and the amino acid may be configured to have a chelating effect on one or more of alkali, and alkaline earth metal ions in the electrolyte solution.

A rechargeable calcium battery formed from a calcium metal anode, a cathode formed from a composite carbon/sulfur (C/S), a metal oxide, or a metal sulfide, and a multi-component electrolyte containing a mixture of different salts. The calcium anode is formed as a thin, pure calcium metal foil that is polished and combined with a copper collector for redox activity. The cathode may be formed from a carbon-sulfur (CS) composite or metal oxide/sulfide, such as CaM.sub.xO.sub.y or CaM.sub.xS.sub.y, or formed from binary and ternary metals, such as CaM1aM2bO.sub.y/S.sub.y and CaM.sub.1aM.sub.2bM.sub.3cO.sub.y/S.sub.y. The battery also includes a multi-component electrolyte including calcium salts, such as Ca(TSFI).sub.2, Ca(ClO.sub.4).sub.2, Ca(BF.sub.4).sub.2, and CaPF.sub.6, or the pairing of lithium, sodium and potassium salts with one of the anions, such as Ca(TFSI), NaPF.sub.6, and Li(TFSI).

Provided is a metal negative electrode that has an excellent repeat resistance and is excellent in charge and discharge cycle characteristics even in a high charge and discharge rate, a method for fabricating the same, and a secondary battery using the metal negative electrode. The metal negative electrode is a metal negative electrode used for a secondary battery, which includes an active material portion, a current collector, and a non-electronically conductive reaction space divider. The active material portion forms metal during charging and forms an oxidation product of the metal during discharging. The metal is used as a negative-electrode active material. The current collector is electrically connected to the active material portion. The non-electronically conductive reaction space divider is integrally formed with or connected to the current collector and/or the active material portion. The reaction space divider has a plurality of electrolyte holder portions configured to hold a liquid electrolyte.

An improved rechargeable battery may utilize materials that are entirely solid-state. The battery may utilize at least one organic active material for an electrode. The battery may utilize a cathode that comprises quinone(s). An electrolyte of the battery may be an ion-conducting inorganic compound. An anode of the battery may comprise an alkali metal. Further, a carbonyl group of the quinone(s) of the cathode may be reduced into a phenolate and coordinated to an alkali metal ion during discharge and vice versa during charging.

The present disclosure is directed to fluoride (F) ion batteries and F shuttle batteries comprising an anode with a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, a cathode comprising a core shell structure, and a liquid fluoride battery electrolyte. According to some aspects, the components therein enable discharge and recharge at room-temperature.

There is provided an electrode active material for a sodium secondary battery, containing Na and M.sup.1. Here, M.sup.1 is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, and Bi, and a molar ratio (Na:M.sup.1) of Na to M.sup.1 is t:1, where t is a number of 2 or more and 3 or less.

Provided is a metal negative electrode used for a secondary battery. The metal negative electrode includes an active material portion, a current collector, and a non-electronically conductive reaction space divider. The active material portion forms metal during charging and forms an oxidation product of the metal during discharging. The metal is used as a negative-electrode active material. The current collector is electrically connected to the active material portion. The non-electronically conductive reaction space divider is integrally formed with or connected to the current collector and/or the active material portion. The reaction space divider has a plurality of electrolyte holder portions configured to hold a liquid electrolyte.