Among other things, the present disclosure provides a particle comprising a form of sulfur and/or lithium sulfide (Li.sub.2S) that is doped with a group VIA element, such as selenium (e.g. Se34), tellurium (e.g. Te52), or polonium (e.g. Po84). The present disclosure also provides a cell comprising a negative electrode, a separator, and a positive electrode comprising the particles of the present disclosure.

A rechargeable metal halide battery fabricated with a liquid nitrogen treated metallic anode demonstrates a stable cycle life with a slow rate of degradation and high discharge capacity in comparison to battery cells with untreated anodes. The anode, which may be an alkali metal and/or an alkaline earth metal, is pretreated with the liquid nitrogen prior to formation in a battery stack. The liquid nitrogen treatment forms a metal nitride on a surface of the anode that (i) increases the surface area of the anode, (ii) acts as a passivation layer that prevents detrimental SEI-forming side reactions that degrade anodes, and (iii) suppresses dendrite growth. Where the anode is lithium, the metal nitride is lithium nitride (Li.sub.3N).

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a first gelated ionic liquid film in contact with a first electrically conductive surface, wherein the first gelated ionic liquid film comprises a first ionic liquid encapsulated within a gel matrix; and a second gelated ionic liquid film in contact with a second electrically conductive surface, wherein the second gelated ionic liquid film comprises a second ionic liquid encapsulated within a gel matrix; wherein the first and second gelated ionic liquid films are in contact with each other. There is also described an electrochemical cell comprising an assembly according to the invention, and methods for producing same.

An lithium-iodine electrochemical cell and method of making is described. The cell comprises a lithium anode and a cathode of a charge transfer complex which includes iodine and preferably polyvinylpyridine. The iodine-containing cathode is in operative contact with both the anode the cell casing serving as the cathode current collector. Preferably the casing is composed of stainless steel that has been thermally annealed at temperatures of 1,800 F. or less. The annealed stainless steel has a grain size of about ASTM 7 or finer. When the iodine-containing cathode material in liquid form is filled into the casing, it contacts the inner casing surface. The passivation layer that subsequently forms at the contact interface affects cell impedance during discharge. It is desirable to maintain the internal impedance as low as possible.

A main object of the present disclosure is to provide a novel cathode active material that may be used for a fluoride ion battery. The present disclosure achieves the object by providing a cathode active material used for a fluoride ion battery, comprising a composition represented by Pb.sub.2xCu.sub.1+xF.sub.6, wherein 0x<2.

Disclosed are cathodes having electron-conductive high-surface-area materials, aqueous non-halide-containing electrolytes, secondary zinc-iodine energy storage devices using the same, and methods for assembling the same. The disclosed high-surface-area materials and the aqueous non-halide-containing electrolyte solutions can contribute together to the confinement of the active iodine species in the cathode and to the minimization of shuttle effects and self-discharging. The non-halide-containing electrolyte salts can facilitate preferential adsorption of the iodine species to the cathode material rather than dissolution in the aqueous electrolyte solution, thereby contributing to the confinement of the active iodine species.

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a first gelated ionic liquid film in contact with a first electrically conductive surface, wherein the first gelated ionic liquid film comprises a first ionic liquid encapsulated within a gel matrix; and a second gelated ionic liquid film in contact with a second electrically conductive surface, wherein the second gelated ionic liquid film comprises a second ionic liquid encapsulated within a gel matrix; wherein the first and second gelated ionic liquid films are in contact with each other. There is also described an electrochemical cell comprising an assembly according to the invention, and methods for producing same.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fluoride-ion battery capable of achieving high charge and discharge capacities. The fluoride-ion battery of the present disclosure comprises a positive electrode active material layer, a negative electrode active material layer, and an electrolyte layer formed between the positive electrode active material layer and the negative electrode active material layer. In the fluoride-ion battery of the present disclosure, the negative electrode active material layer contains metallic magnesium, magnesium fluoride, and calcium barium fluoride, wherein a mass ratio of metallic magnesium to magnesium fluoride is 0.1 to 10.0.

A lithium ion secondary battery 10 includes at least one cell obtained by laminating a positive electrode 1, an electrolyte layer 2, and a negative electrode 3 in this order. The electrolyte layer 2 contains a fluoride. The negative electrode 3 has a negative electrode active material layer containing a silicon compound. At least one of the negative electrodes 3 has a mass ratio of fluorine/silicon (F/Si ratio) of 1.0 or less on a surface of the negative electrode active material layer.

An alkaline dry cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an alkaline electrolyte solution. The negative electrode includes a terephthalic acid compound and a negative electrode active material containing zinc. The terephthalic acid compound is terephthalic acid having an electron-withdrawing substituent or a salt thereof. The electron-withdrawing substituent is, for example, at least one selected from the group consisting of Br, F, and Cl. The terephthalic acid compound preferably includes terephthalic acid having one electron-withdrawing substituent or a salt thereof.