Methods of applying as-prepared alkaline source materials for a secondary battery. The cathode includes an alkaline source material with or without coating including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof. An as-prepared spread coating layer for a secondary battery, the coating layer includes an alkaline source material, including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, and an alkali metal salt, with or without coating, a conductive carbon, a catalyst, or a combination of any two or more thereof. An as-prepared electrolyte for a secondary battery, the electrolyte includes an alkaline source material including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.

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.

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).

Embodiments described herein relate generally to devices, systems and methods of producing high energy density batteries having a semi-solid cathode that is thicker than the anode. An electrochemical cell can include a positive electrode current collector, a negative electrode current collector and an ion-permeable membrane disposed between the positive electrode current collector and the negative electrode current collector. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a first distance from the positive electrode current collector and at least partially defines a positive electroactive zone. The ion-permeable membrane is spaced a second distance from the negative electrode current collector and at least partially defines a negative electroactive zone. The second distance is less than the first distance. A semi-solid cathode that includes a suspension of an active material and a conductive material in a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte is disposed in the positive electroactive zone, and an anode is disposed in the negative electroactive zone.

A negative electrode of a lithium battery includes a current collector and a negative electrode layer disposed on a major surface of the current collector. The negative electrode layer exhibits a gradient structure including a proximal portion adjacent the major surface of the current collector and an opposite distal portion that defines a facing surface of the negative electrode layer. The negative electrode layer is configured such that a power density of the distal portion of the negative electrode layer is greater than that of the proximal portion of the negative electrode layer, and an energy density of the proximal portion of the negative electrode layer is greater than that of the distal portion of the negative electrode layer.

Provided are methods of producing a negative electrode including comminuting Li-Group IVA alloy particles in a solvent to a desired particle size distribution range, exposing surfaces of the Li-Group IVA alloy particles to a monomer or polymer surface modifier present during the comminution process, the surface modifier forming a continuous coating on an exposed surface of the Li-Group IVA alloy particles, removing the solvent, and adding the surface-modified Li-Group IVA alloy particles to a negative electrode material by a coating process.

An ECU is configured to execute SOC estimation control for estimating an SOC of a battery. The ECU obtains “first voltage” indicating an OCV of the battery in the SOC estimation control. The ECU controls an engine and a PCU such that the battery is charged with an amount of electric power equal to or larger than a prescribed amount, when the first voltage is within a voltage range where hysteresis occurs. The ECU obtains “second voltage” indicating an OCV of the charged battery, and estimates the SOC of the battery from the second voltage.

A secondary battery, a preparation method thereof, and a battery module, a battery pack, and an apparatus containing such secondary battery are provided. In some embodiments, the secondary battery includes a negative-electrode plate, where the negative-electrode plate includes a negative-electrode current collector and a negative-electrode film layer, the negative-electrode film layer includes a first negative-electrode film layer and a second negative-electrode film layer, and the second negative-electrode film layer is located between the negative-electrode current collector and the first negative-electrode film layer; and the first negative-electrode film layer includes a first negative-electrode active material, the first negative-electrode active material includes a first graphite, the first graphite is artificial graphite, and a distribution of volume-based particle size D.sub.v99 of the first negative-electrode active material is ≤23 μm.

Disclosed herein is a composite particulate comprising a plurality of active material particles; and a single graphene sheet or a plurality of graphene sheets surrounds the plurality of active material particles and a surface of the composite particulate, wherein a single graphene sheet or a plurality of graphene sheets provides an electron-conducting path.

Provided herein are battery cells comprising artificial solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layers used as protective coatings on electrodes. The SEI layers are produced by liquid-phase deposition (LDP). The battery cell may comprise an anode, a cathode, an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the cathode, a polymer separator disposed between the anode and the cathode, and a casing containing the anode, the cathode, the electrolyte, and the polymer separator, wherein at least one or the anode or cathode comprises an SEI layer produced by an LDP method.