A battery electrode composition is provided that comprises a composite material comprising one or more nanocomposites. The nanocomposites may each comprise a planar substrate backbone having a curved geometrical structure, and an active material forming a continuous or substantially continuous film at least partially encasing the substrate backbone. To form an electrode from the electrode composition, a plurality of electrically-interconnected nanocomposites of this type may be aggregated into one or more three-dimensional agglomerations, such as substantially spherical or ellipsoidal granules.

Provided herein are energy storage devices. In some cases, the energy storage devices are capable of being transported on a vehicle and storing a large amount of energy. An energy storage device is provided comprising at least one liquid metal electrode, an energy storage capacity of at least about 1 MWh and a response time less than or equal to about 100 milliseconds (ms).

In a method for printing a three dimensional structure, a continuous length of fiber that includes, interior to a surface of the fiber, a plurality of different materials arranged as an in-fiber functional domain, with at least two electrical conductors disposed in the functional domain in electrical contact with at least one functional domain material, is dispensed through a single heated nozzle. After sections of the length of fiber are dispensed from the heated nozzle, the sections are fused together in an arrangement of a three dimensional structure. The structure can thereby include a continuous length of fiber of least three different materials arranged as an in-fiber functional device, with the continuous length of fiber disposed as a plurality of fiber sections that are each in a state of material fusion with another fiber section in a spatial arrangement of the structure.

An anode active material layer for a lithium battery, the layer comprising multiple anode active material particles and a conductive additive that are protected by (embedded in and bonded by) a matrix resin comprising an ion-conducting elastomer or rubber having a recoverable tensile strain from 5% to 700% when measured without an additive or reinforcement in the polymer and a lithium ion conductivity no less than 10.sup.−6 S/cm at room temperature. The amount of conductive additive is preferably sufficient to form a 3D network of electron-conducing pathways that are in electrical contact with the anode material particles. Such an elastomeric or rubbery matrix also acts to maintain the structural integrity of the anode electrode, preventing interruption of the electron- and lithium ion-conducting pathways when the anode active material particles repeatedly expand and shrink in volume during battery cycling.

A binder includes a cross-linked product of at least a first polymer, a second polymer, and a third polymer, wherein the cross-linked product is cross-linked by at least two ester bonds; the first polymer includes polyimide, polyamic acid, a copolymer thereof, or a combination thereof, wherein the first polymer includes a structural unit including an alkali metal and a structural unit including at least one hydroxyl functional group; the second polymer includes poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), a copolymer thereof, or a combination thereof; and the third polymer includes polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide, polymethacrylamide, a copolymer thereof, or a combination thereof.

A compound of Formula 1:
Li.sub.1+2x−yZn.sub.1−xPS.sub.4−y−δA.sub.y  (1)
wherein A is halogen, 0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤0.5, and 0≤δ≤0.5, and wherein the compound of Formula 1 has an body centered cubic crystal structure. Also a lithium battery and an electrode including the compound.

An acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodisperse nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H.sub.0>−12, at least on its surface. The AMO material is useful in applications such as a battery electrode, catalyst, or photovoltaic component.

An electrode comprises a current collector and a multi-layer active material formed on the current collector. The multi-layer active material includes at least one active composite unit having a first layer consisting essentially of a first carbon material having electrochemical activity and a binder and a second layer formed on the first layer comprising a high energy density material. A top layer is formed on the active composite unit consisting essentially of a second carbon material having electrochemical activity and a binder. The electrode provides even current distribution and compensates for particle volume expansion.

A secondary battery includes a cathode; an anode (1) including a plurality of carbon particles and a plurality of non-carbon particles, (2) the carbon particles containing graphite, (3) the non-carbon particles containing a material including, as a constituent element, one or more of silicon (Si), tin (Sn), and germanium (Ge), and (4) a distribution of a first-order differential value of an integrated value Q of a relative particle amount with respect to a particle diameter D of the plurality of carbon particles having one or more discontinuities, where a horizontal axis and a vertical axis of the distribution indicate the particle diameter D (μm) and a first-order differential value dQ/dD, respectively; and an electrolyte.

As an electrode for a power storage device, an electrode including a current collector, a first active material layer over the current collector, and a second active material layer that is over the first active material layer and includes a particle containing niobium oxide and a granular active material is used, whereby the charge-discharge cycle characteristics and rate characteristics of the power storage device can be improved. Moreover, contact between the granular active material and the particle containing niobium oxide makes the granular active material physically fixed; accordingly, deterioration due to expansion and contraction of the active material which occur along with charge and discharge of the power storage device, such as powdering of the active material or its separation from the current collector, can be suppressed.