Alkaline electrochemical cells are provided, wherein a conductive carbon is included in the cell's cathode in order to decrease resistivity of the cathode, so as to improve the discharge of the cell, particularly in high drain applications. The conductive carbon may comprise carbon nanotubes and/or graphene. Methods for preparing such cells are also provided.

Rechargeable, non-aqueous lithium batteries which contain, as active anode material, either lithium metal or a lithium alloy, an active cathode material with a redox potential in the range of between 1.5 and 3.4 V vs Li/Li.sup.+ and lithium rhodanide (LiSCN) as electrolyte component. One or more related methods for providing overcharge protection are also described herein.

Provided herein are nano structured electrode separators comprising metal organic materials capable of attaching to one or more electrodes and electrically insulating at least one electrode while allowing migration of ionic charge carriers through the nanostructured electrode separator. Methods of using such electrode separators include positioning a nanostructured electrode separator between two electrodes of an electrochemical cell.

Provided herein are nano structured electrode separators comprising metal organic materials capable of attaching to one or more electrodes and electrically insulating at least one electrode while allowing migration of ionic charge carriers through the nanostructured electrode separator. Methods of using such electrode separators include positioning a nanostructured electrode separator between two electrodes of an electrochemical cell.

A positive electrode active material includes: a particle including a lithium composite oxide; a first layer that is provided on a surface of the particle and includes a lithium composite oxide; and a second layer that is provided on a surface of the first layer. The lithium composite oxide included in the particle and the lithium composite oxide included in the first layer have the same composition or almost the same composition, the second layer includes an oxide or a fluoride, and the lithium composite oxide included in the first layer has lower crystallinity than the lithium composite oxide included in the particle.

The invention features an electrochemical cell having an anode and a cathode; wherein at least one of the anode and cathode includes a solid ionically conducting polymer material that can ionically conduct hydroxyl ions.

An improved battery separator and an energy cell comprising the improved battery separator are provided. The improved battery separator comprises a porous membrane having at least one of the following properties when wet with electrolyte: has no or low volume; has no or low mass; soaks as much liquid electrolyte as possible; blocks or removes any harmful substances in the electrolyte; never melts at any high temperature; does not react with the cathode or the anode under any conditions; has a mechanical strength equal to or greater than steel; is an electronic insulator under any conditions; and blocks metal dendrite growth.

An improved battery separator and an energy cell comprising the improved battery separator are provided. The improved battery separator comprises a porous membrane having at least one of the following properties when wet with electrolyte: has no or low volume; has no or low mass; soaks as much liquid electrolyte as possible; blocks or removes any harmful substances in the electrolyte; never melts at any high temperature; does not react with the cathode or the anode under any conditions; has a mechanical strength equal to or greater than steel; is an electronic insulator under any conditions; and blocks metal dendrite growth.

Disclosed is a lithium complex oxide and method of manufacturing the same, more particularly, a lithium complex oxide effective in improving the characteristics of capacity, resistance, and lifetime with reduced residual lithium and with different interplanar distances of crystalline structure between a primary particle locating in a internal part of secondary particle and a primary particle locating on the surface part of the secondary particle, and a method of preparing the same.

Disclosed is a lithium complex oxide and method of manufacturing the same, more particularly, a lithium complex oxide effective in improving the characteristics of capacity, resistance, and lifetime with reduced residual lithium and with different interplanar distances of crystalline structure between a primary particle locating in a internal part of secondary particle and a primary particle locating on the surface part of the secondary particle, and a method of preparing the same.